Residents in Highland and Alpine apparently shower, flush toilets and wash dishes less frequently than do people in neighboring north Utah County cities.
Now before anyone concludes that people who live in these fine communities are slobs, an explanation is in order.A recent Legislative audit of the Timpanogos Special Service District shows that its wastewater metering devices were not working properly for part of 1994. Flows from at least two of the six cities that comprise the district were inaccurately calculated, meaning those cities were undercharged for sewer service.
The average American uses 100 gallons per day, according to national engineering estimates. According to the meters, Highland and Alpine residents used 33 gallons and 44 gallons, respectively, in 1994. In comparison American Fork and Pleasant Grove residents used 116 gallons and 108 gallons, respectively, the audit shows.
Several cities, particularly American Fork, have lost confidence in the metering process and in the way the district is run. Mayor Jess Green believes while Alpine and Highland were undercharged, his city was overcharged.
"What kind of confidence would you have in management?" he said.
The legislative audit, requested by Rep. Lowell Nelson, R-Highland, recommends four ways in which the district could improve. The board should:
- Assume more of an oversight role by delegating more assignments and responsibility to management.
- Reassign staff duties and hire additional employees.
- Explore options and create a policy regarding how cities will be charged.
- Take action to make Highland and Cedar Hills members of the district.
Alpine Mayor Joel Hall, board chairman, and district manager Garland Mayne concur with the suggestions and said they would work to follow them.
Ironically, the audit attributes management problems to the district's eight-member board, not its full-time staff. The board is made up of mayors and city council members from Alpine, American Fork, Lehi and Pleasant Grove. The district provides sewer service to Highland and Cedar Hills on contract.
The board has been in turmoil since last year when it tried to fire operations manager Rick Storrs, who also is an American Fork city councilman. Storrs does not represent the city on the board. Green said Storrs was terminated for finding discrepancies in the meter readings. Other board members said it was for improper conduct on the job. The board ultimately voted to reinstate Storrs.
Legislative auditors said the board needs to stop fighting and change its focus. Board members should assume a policymaking role rather than trying to manage the district.
"Time spent dealing with management issues on the board's part takes away from time that could be spent dealing with other important issues such as growth, wrote Wayne L. Welsh, legislative auditor general.
The district plans to build a new plant west of Lehi to handle Micron Technology's effluent. *****
Additional Information
Water usage
Average Average Average Gallons
Monthly Monthly Used per day
Community Flow Billing Per person
American Fork 60,949 $65,314 116
Pleasant Grove 47,345 $51,444 108
Lehi 29,585 $33,309 94
Cedar Hills 2,951 $3,957 77
Alpine 5,180 $6,444 44
Highland 1,951 $1,656 33
Source: Office of the Legislative Auditor General