By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Juab County does want to be part of the board for the Mt. Nebo Water Agency.
Brent Ventura, a municipal engineer and Principal of Horrocks Engineers, and Richard Nielson, Technical Committee, met with commissioners, to discuss how much Juab County wanted to be involved in Mt. Nebo Water Agency.
Payson, Spanish Fork, Salem, Utah County, Central Utah Water Conservancy District, Goshen Valley Local District and High Line Canal Company joined together in creating Mt. Nebo Water Agency.
"I am the consulting engineer," said Ventura.
"We don't want to assume that you do or do not want to be part of the agency and be on the board," said Nielson.
"What will be the cost?" asked Rick Carlton, commissioner.
He was commissioned to go around and speak to the different groups who would benefit from membership. The costs for the various groups depended on what they could and wanted to pay. Some were paying up to $15,000 and others were paying $3,000.
The cost would provide a study that would be invaluable for future planning. The study would cost $200,000 with Utah County having agreed to $15,000 and Genola agreeing to $3,000.
Carlton agreed that Juab County is in the geographic area of the study. He said that the county had completed the water study they did just two years ago and it was "pretty extensive."
If Juab County wanted to participate, they could also turn their information over to the agency to be included in the study. The agency could modify the scope of the study to include the Juab study.
"If Juab County wants to participate, the study would not stop at the county line," said Nielson.
Perhaps mine water could be included in the water use but all of the sources would be determined by the study and by the participants.
To date, he said, Santaquin, the LDS church, Payson, Spanish Fork, Goshen, Strawberry Highline are included.
The agency will be very beneficial in making sure there is sufficient water for South Utah Valley well into the future, said Ventura.
The Board of Directors of the Mt. Nebo Water Agency invited the Juab County Commission to attend a regular public meeting in the Council Chambers in the Salem City Office Building at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, May 16, 2016.
Byron Woodland, commissioner, asked what the residents of the county could expect for that membership.
"We look at it as a planning tool," said Nielson. "What will the future needs of the various groups be. South Utah County will need water. Water doesn't recognize boundaries."
Neilson said that the agency did not want all the water from this part of the state end up flowing to the Salt Lake Valley.
"Juab County does have a water master plan," said Clinton Painter, commission chairman.
Planning in conjunction with neighbors can only benefit both. A regional master plan would be wise, said Ventura. Such a regional plan could be a Payson/Juab plan.
Neilson said that the county might pay $5,000 to $6,000 but was not bound to that amount.
That would amount to $1,000 a year, Ventura said.
The county would need to apply by making a request and then by completing a written application for membership or for inclusion in the agency.
"If we were accepted, then would we share in the costs?" asked Carlton.
South Springville and Goshen Valley would be included in the water study but not Eagle Mountain.
"We are a key element," said Carlton. "A lot of water flows from this county into Utah Lake. I think it is important to participate and become a board member."
Both the Mt. Nebo Water Agency and Juab County have been working and planning separately but it would be smart to get together and plan together for the benefit of both.
"We have been working on water a significant amount of time," said Carlton.
He said that the correspondence for an application to be on the board of the Mt. Nebo Water Agency should be sent to the commission so that the work to be done could be completed and the county could apply.
