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Conservation district to seek public comment on canal bond By
Andrea Nixon WELLSVILLE -- Amid the drizzle of rain outside and the clanking of the furnace inside, the Wellsville-Mendon Conservation District met Wednesday at the Wellsville Tabernacle. The purpose of the meeting? To get approval to hold another meeting. Board members unanimously agreed to hold a public hearing to get shareholders' comments about the issuance of a $192,000 bond to be used for the construction of a canal-lining project and related improvements. By law, in order to issue the bond the board must hold a public hearing and also give notice of that hearing within a specified time frame, said Todd Hallock, attorney for Wellsville-Mendon Conservation District. Once people have had a chance to voice their opinions, the board will vote on the bond. "Once we hold the public hearing, get the bond passed, we hope to have the money available by the end of May," Hallock said. The canal, south of Wellsville, stretches for 22 miles and supplies both Wellsville and Mendon shareholders with water. Though it's in the best shape it has been in for years, it's still in need of repair. The board plans to use the bond money to line the canal with a rubber that has a felt lining underneath. "According to what we have learned, nothing can puncture it," said board member Ray Bankhead. Wellsville resident Jed Clark pointed out a potential setback. "Punctures won't be a problem," said Clark. "It'll be something coming in at an angle. It'll tear." Even if the rubber is damaged it could easily be repaired, said Bankhead. Bankhead also said PVC pipe was considered but later not recommended for this area because of the rocky terrain. Getting funding to repair the canal is something the board has been working on for months now. "There's a lot of things we'd like to do to improve water flow," said board member Tony Hardman. "But we are required to do anything we can out of our pocket." The district can no longer rely on federal aid, said Bankhead, and it has to go to the Utah Department of Water Resources for money. The district would be required to pay 20 percent of the bond on its own. To accommodate this in the budget, Bankhead said the rate for shareholders has been raised $1 per acre foot. Shareholders paid $13.25 per acre foot last year. Some shareholders who attended the meeting thought the $192,000 price tag was a little steep. Bankhead pointed out that with a project of this magnitude, there are a lot of hidden costs. "Once you count all the lawyers and engineering, it's going to be costly,ö he said. Board members and shareholders alike are also skeptical whether there's enough time to accomplish the project and line the canal before spring hits full force. "The time limit's going to kill us," said Clark. "We need to get rolling on this and do it before the water comes through or it'll be mud city." Depending on when the bond is approved and construction begins, the water might have to momentarily be shut off, which could harm shareholders. "If we do it in sections and manage it right, we can accommodate everyone," said Hardman. "We need to do part of the canal in a hurry to get water not only for farmers, but for the people. We want to accommodate people the best we can." Hallock estimates once everything's approved, it will take two to three weeks to do the labor.
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