Richfield city officials will apply for a $600,000 loan to build a secondary irrigation water system. The council has also approved an annexation move that is expected to allow construction of the city's first condominium complex.
The city is applying to the Utah State Board of Water Resources for a low-interest loan to develop the irrigation system. It will be limited to serving state and local properties that currently consume large amounts of culinary water for irrigation purposes.Mayor Paul Lyman suggested several months ago that the council approve a complete underground pressurized irrigation system throughout the city. The suggestion received a cool reception from City Council members, but they have now agreed to the limited irrigation system, even though some members have reservations about it.
Pending outcome of the application and approval for funding from the Water Board, the secondary system will provide irrigation water for parks, schools and the cemetery. The system will alleviate some of the demand on the culinary system.
Although some concern was voiced about whether cost projections are accurate, engineers said the $600,000 figure will be the maximum. The mayor added that there will be further study by the Water Board before a loan is approved. He explained that the board, through its own engineer, will further examine the need and costs of the project.
A representative of the Richfield engineering firm of Jones and DeMille told the City Council it would not be bound to borrow the entire $600,000 if it is determined the cost will be less than that figure.
Furthermore, the application could be withdrawn if the City Council decides to do so at a later date, said Tristan DeMille, an associate of the firm that contracts for much of the city's engineering needs.
An open-ditch irrigation system is still in use in Richfield, but only for a limited number of residents. Ditches have never been extended to many areas of the community, so irrigation water can't be delivered.
Builders of new homes have long been required to purchase water shares and turn them over to the city, even though many property owners have never had access to irrigation water. Consequently, the majority of property owners use culinary water for lawn and garden irrigation, and the city has accumulated hundreds of shares of water.
The City Council is also considering a hike in connection fees and water rates. Finance Director Mike Langston is studying that possibility and will make recommendations to the council.
Meanwhile, annexation was approved for property south of the Rotary Park for a condominium complex in the southwest sector of the city. It may ultimately include as many as 196 units, built by Houston Construction of Sandy in Salt Lake County.
"Annexing will take about a month, and the project will be built in phases," Langston said. "They will probably start with a few units and then expand as the need develops."
Condominiums have not yet appeared on the construction scene in Richfield and in most rural Utah communities and counties.