By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Nephi City Council members are not interested in
supplying culinary water to a development west of the
community unless the owners are willing to annex into the
city first.
In addition, council members indicated that, were a
vote taken, council members would not favor paying for nor
contributing to the payment of building the water-conveying
system.
Dell Chryst, representing Hans Braun, who is
interested in developing a conference center, asked council
members how they would react to the request for the city to
help pay for installation of the culinary water delivery
system.
"The county has approved the project depending on the
water supply," said Chryst. "We wanted to see what you
think. We are not opposed to annexation but we do not want
to wait for that lengthy process to begin work on the
project."
Brent Bowles, council member, said that the policy of
the city was to have the property annexed to the city before
city services were supplied. It was also policy that a
developer pay all costs for the construction and addition of
city services to the property.
"What would the citizens get out of supplying water to
your project?" asked Kent Park, council member.
Chryst said that, down the road, there would be
increased business resulting from the development. "This is
a bedroom community," he said. "We are trying to bring
people from all over the world here to our facility."
Those visitors would utilize city businesses and would
contribute to the cash-flow in the community.
The development would also connect to the community
sewer system.
If the city were to split costs of laying the culinary
water pipe to the center, it would benefit the residents of
the community in the long run. In addition, those who built
between the development and the city could use the line.
"It works out best for the person doing the
development to pay the costs of installing the culinary
water delivery system," said Chad Brough, city council
member. "Others who come in later and connect to the system
then pay back a percentage of the installation costs to the
first person to put in the line."
Not too long ago, said Brough, the water department
superintendent came into the council and reported that the
sewer lagoons were nearly full and further development of
that source might need to be made in the near future.
Chryst said the development was investigating the cost
to the project of drilling a well in order to supply water
but would much prefer to connect to the city water and sewer
system.
"If you do annex, you will get culinary water, but you
will still be responsible for paying for the water delivery
line being laid&emdash;you will stand the cost," said
Brough.
While they understood the desire the development
owners had to make the process shorter and quicker, culinary
water for the project depended on annexation and annexation
took time because state statutes must be followed.
Park said he understood. "We were in the same
situation when the south interchange was developed."
Mike Jones, council member, said he, too, understood.
"I was the same way and Bill Westfall was the same way. We
all want to hurry the process but annexation take time."
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