HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 05/18/1973WATER BOARD
• May 18, 1973
Present: Ward Fischer
Owen Moore
Everett Richardson
Harvey Johnson
Dougan Wilkinson
Fred Feit
Norman Evans
Staff members present: Brunton, Liquin, Cain, Hilgenberg, DiTullio and
Lewis
Also William Hansen
Approval of $6,000 payment to Six Cities Municipal
Subdistrict Recommended
Chairman Ward Fischer stated he would like Board discussion on a recommendation
to be submitted to the City Council for or against the payment of $6,000
requested by the Six Cities Municipal Subdistrict.
City Manager Brunton stated four of the Six Cities had paid their assess-
ment; Boulder, Greeley, Loveland and Estes Park. Longmont's Council had
voted four to three not to pay the additional amount. Mr. Brunton and
Charles Liquin discussed their recent conversation with Mr. Bob Barkley of
the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District and he had indicated that
if the cities were not interested, in oltaining the water in question, other
sources would be interested, such as Eastman Kodak.
Board member Dougan Wilkinson stated he felt the $6,000 would be "just a
drop in the bucket", in terms of future costs in litigation the need to
look at the two projects comparatively, Windy Gap or Joe Wright.
Board member Owen Moore stated he felt a need to protect our water rights,
and that water from the Michigan Ditch was not useful without a dam for
storage.
City Attorney March stated the Board should consider several alternatives.
Board member Harvey Johnson spoke to the possibility of storage in the
Barnes reservoir or in Peterson Lake, adding lie felt the City needed to
maintain its interest in the Six Cities.
Board member Everett Richardson stated that if the City had to choose
on the grounds of economical feasibility, it would be his recommendation
to choose Joe Wright.
Owen Moore made a motion, seconded by Fred Feit, that the Water Board
recomimend to the City Council approval of the additional payment of
$6,000. Chairman Ward Fischer polled the Water Board and it was the consensus
that they felt the payment was desirable on two counts; one, that it would
allow the City to keep its options open for other water acquisition and
two, that the retention of the Windy Gap Water in the area would be bene-
ficial to the urban area as a whole.
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Action authorized in pursuing permit` in National
Forest areas
. Board discussion continued on the premise that Joe Wright reservoir must
be built, that the estimates and time tables must be held in abeyance
pending the Black and Veatch rate study, and in the meantime the necessary
steps taken to protect the City's interest in the project.
City Attorney March reviewed the conversation with Mr. Roan Anderson of
the Forest Service relative to the City's permit to do work in the forest
area, the two choices available to the City would be to proceed on the
basis of the present permit, or apply for a new permit which would require
an environmental impact study.
Board member Harvey Johnson informed the Board that Mr. Anderson was no longer
with the Forest Service, that Mr. John Bell was now in charge, further he
felt the original permit was sufficient, and that this was established when
the City received its decree.
Chairman Ward Fischer stated it was the consensus that the City's permit
be pursued most actively on existing rights and to be followed through to
the point of litigation.
Expenditures 'approval recommended for
maintenance of lnchigan Ditch
City Attorney March and Board member Harvey Johnson inquired into the con-
dition of the ditch. Public Works Director, Charles Liquin, reported there
• was a problem where the old pipe was installed, the work to be done with the
D-7, the work needed on the 212 mile creek and the ditch bank. Member
Harvey Johnson spoke to the necessity of installing and improving the
spillways.
Chairman Ward Fischer stated the ditch must be open; that the Water Board
needed to go on record urging that the necessary funds be expended to
protect the ditch, including the improvement and installation of spillways,
and new pipes, as well as opening the ditch.
Exchange of City's Mountain and Plains
Water Stock, approved
City Attorney March referred to the re quest for an exchange of Mountain
and Plains water stock. Board member Dougan Wilkinson stated he felt this
should be made on a three to one basis for Horsetooth water.
Me;nber Harvey Johnson made a motion, seconded by Owen Moore, that the Water
Board approve of an exchange for Mountain and Plains water for Horsetooth
on a three to one basis. The motion carried with Ward Fischer abstaining.
The meeting adjourned at 4:15 P.M.
Secretary