Call to Order

Approval of Minutes:  April 13, 2009 minutes

Reports:
A.    Financials
B.    Water usage:
1.    Culinary Water
2.    Secondary Water

Unfinished Business:  (None)

New Business:
A.    Presentation, discussion and possible action on pig system
B.    Secondary Water Presentation

Public Concerns for Council Consideration: Identification of issues for consideration of future meetings.

Board members concerns

Adjourn

The meeting was moved from 435 N. Main with expectation of a crowd and limited seating. The building was posted and staff remained at the site to inform public of the change of location.

Present: Board Members: Chair – Virgil Bice, Karl Wilson, Derek Imlay, Anna Andregg, Pat Andregg, Doug Gubler, Dan Howard, Norman Gubler; Staff: June Jeffery, Kyle Gubler, Troylinn Benson; Public: Doug Wilson, Garry Owens, Kevin Allen, Ellen Owens, Charles Hardy, Lynn Gubler, Stephen Sanders, Thell Gubler, John Wilson

Call to Order: Virgil Bice at 6:10 p.m. to allow for any public to arrive late from 435 N. Main.

Approval of Minutes:  Motion by Karl Wilson to approve the April 13, 2009 minutes, second by Pat Andregg. Motion carried unanimously.

Reports:
Financials:
Water usage:
Culinary Water
Secondary Water
Karl Wilson gave paperwork reports for financial and water usage. He mentioned an increase in fund equity of over $15,000 this year so far.

New Business:
Presentation, discussion and possible action on pig system: Derek and Doug were looking at a pig system to clean the sediment out of the lines. They expected to be able to run from the filters to the end of Zion View Estates. It is not feasible, there are 4 butterfly valves that prohibit the pig from passing through. They are looking at a drain system at the cemetery to clean dirt out of the lines.

Secondary Water Presentation: Karl presented a power point showing the concerns with the Virgin River sediment and diversion difficulties. As he has applied for grants to support the water systems in LaVerkin, “secondary water” rather than “irrigation water” is the correct terminology to describe the type of use in LaVerkin. Irrigation connotes agricultural use, secondary connotes home and garden use.

Karl had asked Doug Wilson to represent the Washington County Water Conservancy District (WCWCD) to answer any questions the public may have at the end of the presentation. This same presentation will be on the agenda for city council this week.

The presentation covered history of the LaVerkin Fruit & Nursery Company in 1881 to the LaVerkin Bench Canal Company in 1927 with 600 shareholders, to its current ownership under the city in 2007.

There are issues and challenges faced by the city that have not been concerns with the past management. Regardless of ownership, the concerns would be the same.

Sand traps were the method of debris collection in the past. In 2007 there were issues with cotton seed plugging the filters. Last year was better and prior to last year the WCWCD could sluice the debris.

Unprecedented growth has made it more important to conserve culinary water and to encourage the use of the secondary system. Ordinances were passed to help conserve and educate the residents about the valuable resource. The time of day ordinance is voluntary, but it is hoped that citizens will use the water conservatively. The stand by fee for availability is to encourage the use of secondary water and does not mandate connection.

The regulatory environment of the river has changed. There are more regulations than in the past under old systems. Sediment from erosion caused by fires have increased the difficulty to clean the river and the regulatory agencies have strict guidelines about flushing the diversion.

The main complaints from citizens have come from the quality of water, pressure, and the stand by fee.

The presentation showed pictures of the diversion, the dredge, and the track hoe now in use to move the sediment more effectively. It also showed slides of the current filter system that services the city. Slides of the Amiad filters in use by Hurricane where shown as well. Karl has just received the engineer estimate for the city to purchase two 12” filters to place behind the current filters. These are self cleaning and would create maximum flow. The engineer estimate of $328,400 is for the filters and a building to house the system in. He is working on financing ideas. With these filters, the system doesn’t have to shut down during cleaning. They sense the sediment and flush.

There were a couple of slides to show ways that the public can hook up their systems to self flush.

The city is allocated 2650 acre feet  of irrigation water per year. Last year the city used 2429 or about 303.6 per month (8 months). This year that monthly usage is 415 acre feet average for March and April with the heaviest usage ahead. The higher use may be due to the city flushing the system more often.

Culinary water use in 2008 was 237,511,000 or about 20,000,000 gallons per month. There was slippage of 18% that the city has worked to correct. So far 2009 is 70,874,000 as of the last reading with slippage at about 24%.

Karl believes the least expensive and most effective way to deal with the sediment is to purchase the Amiad filters. Other solutions could include a settling pond. WCWCD/Ash Creek lines that are already installed (15”) could be used for better pressure and looping of the system.

Doug Wilson explained the Ash Creek projects. There is a pipeline expected to pick up water from Ash Creek, Leap Creek, South Ash Creek, and Wet Sandy and deliver about 3500 acre feet to a new reservoir to be constructed just south of Anderson Junction. This will also be a recharge reservoir. They are in the process of doing the environmental paperwork. This project is a couple of years until construction and about 5 years for completion.

He then described the concerns and protocols involved with the Virgin River. When the organic material that decays in the river release, it sucks the air out of the water and that kills the fish. There is work with endangered species group to start a sluicing plan. When the river is at a certain level, or if there is a good flood, the extra water dilutes the anaerobic materials and the sluicing is allowed.

Karl presented that Ash Creek Sewer District is creating a filter system in the north of Confluence Park that will eventually discharge type 1 water that will be allowed back into the city irrigation system. The cities and WCWCD-depending on who owns the original water rights- will be the owners of that discharge water. The line will loop the city in a 10” line.

He is looking at grants, including a 100% Culinary Water Master Plan, and a 50% matching drainage and street design plan through CIB.

City is looking at purchasing more valves so that the whole system doesn’t need to shut down when there are leaks or repairs.

Time was given to the residents in attendance to ask questions about the presentation and the secondary water system.

Thell Gubler stated that in Chinle, Arizona there is no grass, no water, nothing. It was pretty desolate. With the difficulty being able to use the secondary water this year, he wondered what the board would do. It was clarified the Mr. Gubler arrived late at the meeting and missed the slides concerning the new filter system. Karl went back over some of the points from the presentation.

Garry Owens wondered about the time line for the filters. Karl restated that the Ash Creek/Sewer District projects are 3-5 years off. Now that the track hoe is at the Diversion, the water has clean up some. City staff has worked hard to keep the current filter system clean. It is better this week than it was last.

Kevin Allen wondered why his pressure drops when he turns on his sprinklers. Discussion about end of line and high water users.

Karl mentioned that he would like to be able to install the Amiad filters by the end of the year.

Doug Wilson informed that the WCWCD has some of the Amiad filters in their system and have been extremely pleased with the results. He wondered why the city wanted to keep the old filters. Karl stated that there is some stuff still getting through the filters.  Doug believes that the city could remove its current filter system and install the Amiad filters in the same housing as the current system for less money. Neither would there be any engineering costs.

Garry Owens wondered if the city was into the bid process. Not yet, the board needs to decide when that could happen. Response that the city was working towards better water and that the canal company could never have met the challenges that the city has had to meet.

Kevin Allen stated that the city is charging for services that are not there. Dan reviewed a history of the water in LaVerkin. There were times when the canal company was in danger of losing the irrigation water because the agricultural use had diminished. Moving to the city allowed the water rights to stay on the bench. Funding has been kept separate from the city funds. Political issues have been “rammed down the throats”. The board wants to move quickly to install a good filter system. The city has the ability to work with the different political forces. Dan expressed appreciation to Karl and Doug for their work with the water.

Motion by Dan Howard to proceed with the bid process for a filter system, to get it in place as soon as possible, second by Pat Andregg. Motion carried unanimously.

Karl Wilson asked the recorder to amend the agenda for the May 20th city council meeting with an item to begin the bid process for a filter system.

Stephen Sanders asked what citizens can do, if it would work for them to be involved with the political agencies. He suggested that citizens can help educate others about the challenges faced. There was discussion about keeping individual systems flushed. Garry Owens wondered if the city could put together an example of a personal filter/flush system to be viewed at the city office.

John Wilson arrived late at the meeting and asked about treatment of the water. Several of the presentation slides were reviewed. Karl reiterated that the presentation would be given again at city council meeting on the 20th.

Board members concerns:
Norman Gubler started to discuss the letters that were sent in the packet to the water board members concerning the stand-by fee. He referred to one letter where the individual stated that they didn’t have a yard and would never have a yard. He would like to see a mechanism in place for people to opt-out in extreme cases.

Karl responded that the stand-by fee was not to provide water. The fee amounts to $27.00 per year. Other cities hide the fees for irrigation in their culinary charges. This is meant support the relationship between the secondary and culinary water. Norman was on the board and voted on the charge.

Norman restated that he would like to see an opt-out for individuals with hardship.

There are three large agricultural uses in town – Howard property, Duane Squires property, and Marilyn Johnson property. There was concern that those users should use water at night, not during the day. Karl is looking at the allocation and monitoring water.

Adjourn: Motion by Dan Howard to adjourn, second by Norman Gubler. Motion carried unanimously at 7:20 p.m.

Minutes taken by June Jeffery


Water Board Chair, Virgil Bice

 

Date Approved, June 15, 2009