HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 01/09/1968` • Oanuary 9, 1968
• MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE WATER BOARD Held January 9, 1968, at 3:30
o'clock P.M. in the City Managers office.
Present: President Ward Fischer, Vice President Frank Ghent, Board
members Harvey Johnson, W. G. Wilkinson, Owen Moore, Fred Feit and Secretaryt
John Bartel.
Also present were City Manager Tom Coffey, Administrative Assistant
John Baudek, Director of Finance Charlie Cain, Director of Public Works Charles
Liquin and Superintendent of Water Eddie Hilgenberg.
The meeting was opened with a report from the City Manager with
regard to installation of meters throughout the City. After considerable dis-
cussion, it was decided that an undertaking as large as this was not feasible
at this time due to expense involved, and with the rapid changes in types of
meters, electronic installation and electronic reading, etc., these units would
• soon be obsolete. Final decision was, not to recommend this change over at
present.
The following communication was read at length:
January 9, 1968
MEMORANDUM TO WATER BOARD
Re: Josh Ames Ditch
Mr. Ron Strahle has a client who is interested in selling shares of
t .e Josh Ames Ditch. No price was mentioned.
I have discussed the usefulness of these water rights to the City of
Fort Collins with Water Board member W. G. Wilkinson. His view is that these
rights would not at this time be beneficial to the City and, accordingly, I
recommend that the Water Board inform Mr. Strahle that the City is not interested
in these rights.
Respectfully submitted,
Ward H. Fische r
President
• Water Board of the City of Fort Collins
After some discussion, motion was made by Owen Moore, seconded by
Frank Ghent, that the president's recommendation be accepted and that Mr. Strahle
•
QJanuary 9, 1968
be so informed
The President put the motion which was unanimously adopted.
. The following memorandum was presented:
January 9, 1968
MEMORANDUM TO WATER BOARD AND CITY MANAGER
Mr. Coffey and I talked with Mr. John Elliott concerning ';he water
claims made by Mr. Elliott's father in the Rabbit Ears Pass area. Mr. Elliott
informed us that the corporation would be willing to sell all water and water
rights for the sum of two and one-half million dollars.
He further said that his company had a conditional decree for 50,000
acre feet but that study shows that there are additional 55,000 acre feet avail-
able for development. He proposed a alternative that the City of Fort Collins,
together with the City of Boulder, should each contribute the sum of $100,000.00,
plus anywhere from five to twenty thousand dollars per year for the development
of this water with the understanding that possibly we might in the future get
something out of it after the ehen owners of the original 50,000 acre feet of
water were satisfied.
I have talked with Mr. Charles Hollenbeck, an engineer who serves as
a consulting hydrologist to the City of Boulder. He has spent a considerable
time investigating the entire prlject and his opinion, as related to me, is:
1) That the cities of the Eastern Slope co uld hardly afford to develop
• the water of the Yampa even:.if it was given to them, let alone at a cost fo r the
water rights along, for two and one-half million dollars (and in connection with
this, Mr. Elliott's company has estimated the cost of development at sixteen to
eighteen million dollars, which cost would be in addition to the cost of the water).
2) The undeveloped water rights are too contingent to justify any
expenditure.
I personally concur in Mr. Hollenbakis view of this matter and recommend
to the Board and to the City Manager that we advise Mr. Elliott and his company
that we are not interested in either of his alternatives. In my opinion,
we owe Mr. Elliott the courtesy of a reply as he was kind enough to present his
offer at our request.
Respectfully submitted,
Ward H. Fischer
President
Water Board of the Cityo£ Fort Collins
Motion was made by W. G. Wilkinson, seconded by Fred Feit, to accept the
recommendation and that the City Manager advise the City Council. The President
put the motion which was unanimously adopted.
The City Manager said he had an opportunity to purchase 100 acreihet
of Horsetooth Water and that he made an offer of $125.00 per acre foot, but no
• wary 9, 1968
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reply was received.
Also
that the City of
Boulder
had purchased a
quantity of
Horsetooth water and
paid
$150.00 per acre
foot.
It was agreed by
all present
that the City of Fort Collins would meet the Market Price on water that becomes
available. The City Manager to advise the other cities of our intention.
The matter of the cost of water to the Districts was discussed. It
,as agreed to increase the cost per thousand gallon to LaPorte Water Asso, to
.20, plus furnishing an acre foot of water with each tap. Also that the
LaPorte Water District be made an offer of .25 per thousand gallon and a share of
Horsetooth water with each tap. All Board members concurred with these sug-
gestions.
The cost of water was again mentioned. After discussion, it was agreed
to table the matter and the City Manager would contact the other cities and
find out what they are doing along this line.
Next meeting called for January 23, 1968, at 3:30 o'clock P.M.
With nothing further to be brought up the Board/adjourned.
Secretary