By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
It just won't work—Mona cannot go in with Josh and Jeremy Newell to install a water line to their property.
The issue came to a head when Jeff Hearty, council member, was assigned to come up with an agreement that would be fair for the Newell brothers and for the city. As he worked on the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) he found that the expense was more than the city could afford.
"I just don't know how I could say, with a straight face, that it (paying for half of the water line construction) would be a good use of our taxpayer's money," said Hearty.
The Newell brothers attended council meeting two weeks ago to find out if the city had yet obtained an easement to run a water line along property owned by the Union Pacific Railroad on the west of the city. They also discussed an understanding they had that the city would pay 55 percent of the water line extension to their property.
However, the area needed to be engineered for fire suppression before the city could approve any sort of cooperative agreement.
The Newells have been trying to get permission to build two homes on the acreage given them by their father. That land has special significance to the Newells since it belonged to their grandfather and has been in the family for generations.
Hearty was assigned to come up with an MOA with the Newells. Before doing so, he contacted Jesse Ralphs, engineer with Sunrise Engineering, the company that did the culinary water master plan for the city.
"Jesse estimated that it would cost between $50,000 and $75,000 just for materials," said Hearty. "The engineering for the project could be as high as $90,000."
One of the lines coming into the proposed area is only a 4-inch line. An 8-inch line is needed. In addition, there was not a loop but a dead-end at the Newell property.
"We are willing to help pay for the line," Josh Newell told the council two weeks ago. "We thought we would be helping the city on a 45/55 percent split. We would be a team."
Jonathan Jones, council member, asked about different routes that could be taken to get to the property which might minimize the cost. However, Hearty said he asked Ralphs about smaller lines and different routes but the end result would be that the necessary state fire suppression codes would not be met.
The water line design would need to be reviewed by the state DEQ: Utah Division of Drinking Water.
A flow test would also need to be done. Low flows do not allow water to circulate properly and also do not provide adequate fire prevention. As water sets in the water system, a biofilm will form inside pipes and equipment where microorganisms can develop. Hard water deposits also provide good hiding places for microorganisms like bacteria and viruses. Low water flow will lead to biofilm formation and bacteria contamination risk.
"We would need a full loop," said Hearty.
Katrina Long, council member, asked what would happen if the city replaced the line from 200 West to the Newell property.
Hearty said that 1,000-foot of pipe would cost somewhere between $57 to $90 a foot depending on the pipe diameter. That did not include engineering costs. Those costs decreased the more line that was laid at a time. If the city were to pay half the cost, it would be between $25,000 and $40,000.
One of the biggest costs had not even been calculated and that was the cost of digging the trench needed to lay the pipe.
"We require all the other developers to pay for the necessary infrastructure," said Hearty. "Does the next person who comes in get the same deal?"
"How would the city go about justifying the expense?" he asked.
Everyone needed to be treated the same, said Greg Newton, mayor.
If a big time developer came to the city, said Molli Graham, council member, then they would be expected to build all the necessary infrastructure which would include all culinary water lines in their development.
"We were just trying to help two local residents," she said.
The city would have liked to take the water line to the Newells through 350 West but the current property owners, who would need to provide easements, were unwilling to do so, therefore, the line could not be built in the best place.
There was also the question of placement of a fire hydrant which needed to be within 500-feet of another fire hydrant. Those hydrants also needed to be able to pump 1,100 gallons per minute in order to provide adequate fire suppression.
Bill Mills, former mayor, said that when the city sewer system was built, the city looped the water line to the sewer treatment plant to show that the city was willing to do their part.
Josh, Tom, and Jeremy Newell met with the planning commission in a water line and subdivision concept meeting a year ago.
At that time Josh, Tom, and Jeremy Newell presented a concept for a subdivision on the property they own. The Newells had previously discussed with the city council doing the water line for the two homes at the same time Mona would update the water line in that area in order to save costs.
"One way we can help them," said Greg Newton, mayor, "is to continue to work with the railroad company to obtain an easement along the tracks west of town."
If the Newells decide, on their own, to build a water line along the only route open to them, they will need that easement.
