HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 04/18/1966. MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE WATER BOARD Held
Monday, April 18, 1966, at 4:30 o'clock P.M. in the Council
Chambers.
Present: President Ward Fischer, Secretary John
Bartel, Board Members Norman Evans, W. G. Wilkinson, Owen
Moore, Fred Fait. Also present was City Manager Tom Coffey,
Assistant Mayor Dr. Tom Bennett, City Engineer C. Adam Fischer,
and Councilmen Dr. Karl Carson, Alvin Kruchten and Harry E.
Troxell, Jr.
Ward Fischer opened the meeting with another offer
of 40 acre foot units of Big T. water at $125.00 per unit.
After considerable discussion, it was unanimously recommended
that the City Manager contact the other 4 cities, namely,
Loveland, Greeley, Boulder and Longmont, to obtain their
opinion on increasing the price of water.
At the Water Board meeting held on April 7, 1966,
motion was made and seconded to recommend the purchase of the
435 acre foot units from Mr. Robinett at $125.00 per unit.
It was brought out that Mr. Robinett has an agree -
meet with the City of Greeley that reads in part:
Tn case the Shareholder wishes to remove the project
water from the Greeley -Loveland District, then the Shareholder
shall give the Citv the first opportunity to purchase. The
price on said water shall be established at a price which the
Shareholder has a written offer from a third part and is
• willing to accept said offer from the third party. This
opportunity shall be exercised by Resolution of the Greeley
City Council within 15 days after receipt notice given by the
Shareholder of his intention to sell the project water.
•
Failure
of the
City to pass said Resolution
within 15 days
of said
notice
of intent shall release the
Shareholder.
Motion was made by Fred Fait, seconded by Owen
Moore, to reconsider this offer to purchase until the City
Manager could compile and prepare a report on the feelings of
the other four cities. The Board suggested that we try to
hold Big T. water at $100.00 per unit.
The No. 1 Priorties on the Big Thompson River
offered by Mr. Rider of Loveland, were again brought before
the Board. After considerable discussion, the Board recom-
mended that the City Attorney, in cooperation with the Water
Board, negotiate with Mr. Rider and other water users for
an option for the purchase of direct flow decrees.
• There being nothing further to discuss the Board
adjourned.
Secretary
•
L
• MEMO:
To Arthur E. March, Sr., City Attorney, from the
Water Board, reference John R. Brown's 12 second feet of
Poudre River water offer.
At the meeting of the Water Board held May 17, 1966,
it was recommended that the City Attorney be authorized to
negotiate with Mr. Brown for this Poudre River water. The
Board recommended a maximum price of $8,000.00 per second foot
be offered and that this water can be exchanged at the point
of diversion# that would be advantageous to the City.
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE WATER BOARD Held
Tuesday, May 17, 1966, at 4:00 o'clock P.M. in the Council
Chambers.
• Present: President Ward Fischer, Secretary John
Bartel, City Manager Tom Coffey and Board members Fred Feit,
W. G. Wilkinson and Owen Moore.
At the Council meeting of May 12, 19660 the City
Attorney stated that he had an offer from Mr. John R. Brown
consisting of 12 second feet of Poudre River water priority
No. 14. This matter was referred to the Board for recommenda-
tion as to price and need by the City. After considerable dis-
cussion, the Board recommended that the City Attorney be auth-
orized to negotiate for this water.
President Ward Fischer stated he had attended a meeting
in which the Bureau of Reclamation and the South Platt Conser-
vancy District proposed building a dam to be called the Narrows
• Reservoir on the South Platt river in the vicinity of Fort
Morgan. This reservoir would store approximately 807,000 Acre.
feet of water. It is the opinion of the Board that Fort Collins
of dIpf0Sia�/
d� should be reco&zein the meetings call Pwith reference to
this reservoir. //''
• Motion was made by Evans, seconded by Fait, that the
Board recommend to the Council that the City of Fort Collins join
the Poudre River Water Users Association, thereby becoming a part
of this reservoir organization, as 0f76s,7•67.
Mr. Ward Fischer stated he would be present at the next
Council meeting to explain the detai4s and make the recommendation
of joining this organization.
All Board members received the following letter:
April 28, 1966
TO: Tom Coffey, City Manager
FROM: John Baudek, Administrative Assistant
SUBJECT: Letter to other cities requesting a hold the line pur-
chase price of Big Thompson water.
Reference is made to ,your letter to other Big Thompson
Water user cities which you encourage a hold the line purchase
price of said water at $100.00 per acre foot.
• Ben Cruce, City Manager of Greeley, called today in refer-
ence to your letter. He stated that Greeley is very interested in
holding the price at $100.00 per acre foot as requested on Big
Thompson water purchases. However, Greeley has a share holders
contract with the Greeley -Loveland water people. This contract
covers 80010 of all the Greeley -Loveland company's water and says that
If an owner of water covered under the contract is offered a price
for his water, the City of Greeley has first choice of purchase
at the offered price.
This situation did arise last week in Greeley with the
Great Western Sugar Company offering $110.00 per acre foot for
300 acre feet. Since this water was covered under Greeley's contract,
the City of Greeley was requested to either purchase the water
themselves, or turn down the purchase so that Great Western could
buy the same.
After some consideration, the Greeley City Council did pur-
chase the water at $110.00; although, there was reluctance on the
Council's part to pay this amount. This contractural arrangement does
out Greeley in somewhat a different position than the other cities
involved.
In order to avoid any price increase, all cities should de-
termine if water offered is not included in the water of the Greeley -
Loveland Company and the City of Greeley share holders contract.
If water covered by the contract was offered, it could cause com-
petition between cities on an accompanying price increase.
•
This appears to be exactly what has happened in the
• recent offer to sell Fort Collins some 325 acre feet of Big
Thompson water at $125.00 per acre foot. Obviously, for a
person or persons who wish to profiteer on the sale of water,
getting the City of Fort Collins to offer $125.00 for water
and then telling Greeley that they have been offered $125.00
would unjustly inflate water prices, cause unrealistic com-
petition between cities, and provide the profiteer with a nice
profit.
In conclusion, Fort Collins must stick to it's $100.00
per acre foot if Possible, and double check on water owner-
ship and its relation to Greeley's contract very carefully to
avoid the complications mentioned above.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/John L. Baudek
Administrative Assistant
PS Mr. Cruce also said that if any water became available,
he would direct it to Fort Collins for consideration.
ct the (j 0Q W
It was the concensus of opinionnthat we try to
maintain the 0100.00 per acre foot price on Big Thompson
• water.
The following letter was presented to all members
and to be concurred with Mr. Evans' views:
MEMORANDUM
TO: Ward Fischer, Chairman, Fort Collins
Water Board May 12, 1966
FROM: Norman Evans, Board Member
SUBJECT: Meeting with Five -Cities Committee on Water
Coordination
REMARKS:
A committee meeting and dinner was held at the Imperial Hotel
in Longmont on Thursday, May 5, 1966, hosted by the City of
Longmont. Mayor Ralph Price acted as temporary chairman.
Representatives from Boulder, Longmont, Loveland, Estes Park
and Fort Collins attended the meeting. The City of Greeley
declined to send representatives on the basis that the City
40
is not in position to seek additional water at this time.
0
Mr. Wilkinson and I represented the City of Fort Collins.
• After some discussion of the Elliott Project, it was con-
cluded that the committee should meet with Mr. Elliott at
an early date to bring about a firm understanding of his propos-
itions. A meeting at Loveland will be scheduled about May 20,
which will include both Mr. Flliott and Mr. Bob Barkley of the
Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District.
40
The committee elected MVor Price as the chairman to serve for
an indefinite period. The City of Longmont will supply secre-
tarial services for this committee.
Discussion on price to be offered for Colorado Big Thompson
water resulted in general agreement that $100.00 per acre foot
would be the maximum offering price. Other topics were intro-
duced but no definite decisions were reached. I assume a com-
plete set of minutes from the meeting will be supplied to us
by Mayor Price.
The purpose of this memorandum is to inform you that the organ-
izational meeting of this committee was held and that a meet-
ing with Mr. Elliott is planned.
There being nothing further to discuss, the Board
adjourned.
Secretary %