By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
PacifiCorp officials and Mona City Council members are
concerned about impact the construction phase could have on
Mona.
As J. Rand Thurgood, Ph.D., Managing Director of
Resource Development for PacifiCorp, DeLynn Rodeback, Utah
Power Regional Community Manager, David Eskelsen, Utah Power
News Media Relations, and Lee Taylor, Utah Power Supervisor
D&T, met with Mona City Council members they found those
council members had done some thinking.
His biggest concern, said Thurgood, is the amount of
truck traffic using the roadways and the shock that may be
to the community.
For that reason, there would be zero tolerance for
traffic and safety violations.
"One contractor has already been fired and has been
replaced," said Thurgood.
That occurred, he said, because the contractor hired
to haul gravel to the site had six drivers working and five
of them were cited by the county sheriff's office for
speeding.
Harry Newell, council member, said the community had
seen an increase in the coverage the sheriff's office was
giving the community and thought, as in the case of the five
drivers cited for speeding, that the force was keeping
control of the situation.
Several council members expressed ideas for ways
impact from the Current Creek Power Project could be
mitigated.
Newell said he was interested in finding out what it
would take to create a special service district.
"I don't know if that is even possible," said Newell.
"A special service district could take care of a lot of
problems a small community has."
The community could take some mitigation funds, but,
to his way of thinking, that was not the way to go. If a
special service district was set up, as had been done in
Emery County, Mona would be better-served in the long
run.
Newell said he had talked with several officials from
Emery County.
"Those power plants saved them," he said.
County residents he had spoken with, said Newell, had
great appreciation for what the plants had done for the
area, economically speaking, and also appreciated the way
the company had worked with the communities to improve the
quality of life for residents.
John Southerland, Mona Fire Chief, said he did think
the fire department would need help in adding to the fire
department equipment if the department's services were
needed in order to provide fire protection for the
plant.
There would be no need for building two systems,
agreed Thurgood, and the plant would need fire support from
Mona.
"My very first thought was water," said Mayor Bryce
Lynn.
He thought the power company may be in a position to
contribute 100 acre feet of water to the city.
Rick Kolsen, council member, said he would like the
power company to help with the fire station since it was
undersized for the service which may be demanded and also
thought a that a new council room was a reasonable
request.
A resident, Natalie Anderson, presented a list of
items she thought the power company could provide to
Mona.
She said the school needed books, the town needed curb
and gutter, a recreation center, and indoor track, and
Olympic-Sized pool, basketball courts, a weight room, a
staffed and maintained art and dance building, an equestrian
park, a veteran's memorial park, a timer for where the kids
crossed roads on the way to school, a ball field, and
improved sewer system, a community center, and that each
person should receive five trees.
"I know I am being outrageous," she said.
Nevertheless, one ever received anything without
asking and she did know that some of the items on the wish
list could be provided.
"We all need to be realistic," said Thurgood.
The Current Creek Project was not an IPP or Hunter
Plant and would not have that kind of impact on the county.
"This is a big plant but it is not a huge one," he
said. "The impact is commensurate."
Ray Huffman said he thought the city council should
approach the county commission and ask if the county would
give a percentage of the tax money which would be paid by
the power company to the city.
One resident asked if there would be noise pollution
created as the engines work to produce power.
While he did have some concerns about the home located
closest to the plant site, the most noise will not happen
until phase two in on line. However, the noise level will be
controlled and will meet state and federal regulations.
For example, there is a similar turbine on North
Temple in Salt Lake City which can't be heard over the noise
of traffic.
"It doesn't make as much noise as a diesel truck,"
said Lynn.
As for job opportunities, the plan will be one-third
the size and one eighth the cost of IPP.
After the construction phase is completed,
approximately 30 people will be employed. This permanent
work force will consist of laborers, computer board
operators, and specialists and will be a union plant.
"My concern is for the short-term construction phase,"
said Thurgood. He said it was difficult to portray what
it meant to a community to have the sort of increase in
traffic that would occur because of the construction. The
zero tolerance policy for safety violations and the safety
training given all employees was an important part of the
plan for reducing that sort of impact.
|
