HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 11/09/1971r • _
%umber 9, 1971
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE WATER BOARD Held November 9, 1971, at 3:00 P.M.
• in the City Manager's office.
Present: Ward Fischer, Owen Moore, E. V. Richardson, Dugan Wilkinson, Harvey
Johnson and Fred Feit. Also City Manager Coffey, Assistant City Manager Mike
DiTillio, Director of Public Works, Charles Liquin, Director of Finance Charlie
Cain, City Engineer Roy Bingman, Superintendent of Water and Sewer Ed Hilgenberg
and Assistant City Attorney Arthur March, Jr., also Mort Bittinger of Bittinger
and Associates and Stan Thorfinnson of Woodward -Clevenger $ Associates.
The meeting was opened by President Ward Fischer. He introduced Mort
Bittinger, who stated that Stan Thorfinnson would get up to date a report on the
progress of Joe Wright Reservoir. He said that the soil and general aspect of
the project had been completed and the work now being done is in the laboratory,
and tests were approximately 10% completed. They propose to complete their
study by January 1972. All soils in the area will go for the construction of a new
dam or extension of the present dam, also, sand and gravel needs can be processed
at the site, or if necessary, additional material is available up or down the stream,
either one. He stated that there would not be much rif raf required in the location
and what will be necessary, is close at hand. Due to the additional drilling that
• is required, his request is for additional $5,000 before the job can be completed.
Up to this time Woodward -Clevenger has billed the City $21,482.38; several of the
holes drilled were in excess of 100 feet, and it was necessary to move the various
locations before striking bed rock. It was stated that approximately 1,000,000
yards of material would be necessary for enlarging the reservoir. Of this amount,
specifically billed, $17,727.42 was for drilling only. After further discussion,
motion was made by Richardson, seconded by Moore, that the contract in the amount of
$25,000 be increased to $30,000, and the City Manager request Council approval. The
Chairman put the motion, which was unanimously adopted.
The matter of the value of Sherwood Irrigation Co. stock was brought up, and
the City Attorney stated that many people have called and asked whether the City was
interested in Sherwood Irrigation stock. He stated that Sherwood Irrigation ditch's
only value is agstorm drainage and recommended the City accept no more of this stock.
It was the opinion of the members present, that the City Manager recommend to the
Council that the City not accept any of this stock.
Chuck Liquin, Director of Public Works, stated it is becoming necessary to
increase the present water plants and storage areas. He said that the Army Corp of
Engineers were objecting to the discharge of our plants into the river, and they
suggested we build a lagoon to filter the algae before returning the water to the
river and use the lagoon as a settling pond, also that the plant investment fee of
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to -day does not cover our capital outlay, and he recommended waiting for the study by
Black 4 Veatch to be completed before requesting any change. Also it appears that
in the near future, there will be another filtering plant in the Horsetooth vicinity,
that the outlying districts have agreed to pressurize their system in serving their
areas; the City is now working with the districts to improve our services. After
further discussion on the amount of water in the foothills and the cost of equipment
to furnish water to the high areas, motion was made by Moore, seconded by Richardson,
that the Board recommend to the Council that water service under Fort Collins
ordinances be limited in all cases to areas which can be served by gravity under the
present system; that exceptions be made only upon application to the Council upon the
recommendation of the Water Board. The Chairman put the motion, which was unani-
mously adopted.
Mr. Liquin also stated that Colorado State University has some 18 meters and our
rates are not adequate; it casts the City approximately 20,o per 1000 gallons, the agree-
ment between the City and C.S.U. is 44�, 31� and 22¢ per 1,000 gallons, however, the
City has never billed according to the contract, but have charged on a flat rate basis
of 22¢ for all water used. The City Manager stated that the Wheeler report estimated
an average of 260 acre feet of water per 1,000 populstion and that the City presently
has enough water for a population of approximately 90,000. When the Joe,Wright
reservoir and Windy Gap area are developed, the City would have sufficient supply for
180,000 population, and if all water was metered, this could be refined.
Mr. Don Anderson brought up the matter of the value of water rights, that Pleasant
Valley and Lake Canal shares approximate 104 acre feet, and his concern was, does the
City get its full value. It was suggested that a new valuation of City owned stock
be made. Mr. Fischer commented that there is always a large fluctuation through
each year due to dry weather. After futher discussion, Mr. Anderson stated that he
must have misunderstood the comments made on the amount of water and felt that it
was second feet instead of acre feet. Dugan Wilkinson stated that he would review
any figure that Mr. Anderson could present to determine whether or not there was an
error.
Motion was made by Moore, seconded by Feit, that the Board adjourn. The Chairman
put the motion which was unanimously adopted and the Board adjourned. y
Secretary