HomeMy WebLinkAboutP&Z MINUTES MARCH 23, 1951r
MINUTES OF THE JOINT MEETING OF THE PUNNING BOARD AND THE
CITY COUNCIL, HELD ON MARCH 23, 1951, AT
PARKINSON TRACTOR.
Those present were Mayor Joseph M. Parkinson, Richard L. Davis, Fd S.
Covington, Clyde P. Packer, Ralph Parker, John Clarke, D. G. Taylor, H. B. Fitzpatrick,
Secretary; David Benton, Engineer from Idaho Falls, arrived at approximately 9:30 p.m.
This meeting was called to discuss the problem of irrigation and drainage
and the question of eliminating the ditches in Rei~burg.
Mayor Joseph Parkinson made some comments on what had happened in the past
and what the City Council had discussed of doing this spring in regard to the
irrigation ditches.
The question of changing the rates for irrigation water to bring them up
to the actual cost to the City came up. John Clarke mentioned that any experiment
with these ditches should include the changing of the-rates on these ditches, and,
also, the changing of the rates for the big users of water if used from the City
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• Mayor Parkinson stated that the Council had discussed eliminating one
ditch this year as an experiment. The group then listened to a panel discussion
on the radio recorded earlier by Mayor Parkinson, Ralph Parker, and Richard Davis.
This was broadcast at 8:00 p.m. with a local radio program. This discussion pointed
out several phases of the problems and thoughts of these 3 men on their solutions.
Mayor Parkinson suggested a 3-point program for the City to carry out this
summer. 1. That seeding and soil conservation be practiced in the areas needed South
and East of the City to slow the run-off of water; 2. Dike and ditch system to drain
this water to the North and East of the City; and, 3. Curb and gutter on the South-
east section of the City to carry the run-off down the street in that end of town and
to eliminate the water from coming on down into the business district.
The Mayor asked Mr. Parker to appoint 2 men to work with Ed Covington in
the soil conservation work and check the feasibility of planting more shelter belts,.
also, to interest some of the farmers who own land above the City to practice better
soil conservation methods to stop the heavy run-off each spring. Chairman Ralph
Parker appointed himself and D. G. Taylor to act with Councilman Ed Covington who was
to be the Chairman of the Committee. The Mayor stated that he felt sure that the City
Council would appropriate what money was necessary for this program and that work
should be started on it immediately so that it can be completed before the freeze
comes this fall.
-David Benton, Engineer, came in and a discussion was opened on the pros and
cons of eliminating the ditches. Mr. Benton explained Plan A of his survey which is
• the plan suggested by the Planning Board to be used in elimination of ditches. Mr.
Benton was asked by Mayor Parkinson. whether or not he would make any change in his
recommendations at this time as set out in his survey. Mr. Benton stated that he was
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still very much in favor of going ahead with the Plan A as set out i.n his survey. In
Mr. Bentonts review of the survey he brought out the fact that the irrigation water
users should pay the City enough for this water to, at least, meet the actual cost
to the City. This would amount to $28.00 per share for the 1951 season. He, also,
suggested that a minimum of 1/2 share costing $14.00 be allotted for each user so
that no 2 or 3 persons could use a small amount of water and divide the-cost. In his
opinion it was not practical for the City to supply water to the very small users
as they have done in the past. Mr. Benton, also, stated that the Gity should not
notify the users of irrigation water that they were planning to try to eliminate the
ditches. in his belief the change in the rates would bring the people to see that
water from the City Mains would cost them less than the ditch water. The comparison
of the cost of the ditch water as outlined in Mr. Benton~s report and the cost of
Gity water from the City Mains was made. Cost of the-City water (Table SA in the
report} figuring enough water to water one acre would 'be $18.90 as compared with a
cost of, at least, $28.00 for one share of ditch water to water the same amount of
ground.
Mr. Benton, also, pointed out that if the water rates for irrigation water
were raised to the actual. cost to the City it would help people to realize that
gardening of their large lots was impracticable and that it would help people make
up their minds to open up the center of large blocks so that they could be used
for building lots.
The Mayor suggested that the City raise the cost of ditch water to $18.00 •
for this year and then go ahead and improve the City water mains in view of eliminating
the ditches.
Table 3 of the Engineerts survey shows a comparison of the City water used
by the people above the irrigation ditches and those below. It pointed out that the
people living above the ditches used more water than those below the ditch and it
shows that if the people living below the ditches had used culinary water to do their
gardening they would still be able to water all of their garden areas for about the
same amount it had cost them in the past for both City water and ditch water.
The question of beautification was brought up. Mr. Parker maintained that
if the rates for ditch water were raised, people would not try to raise gardens and,
consequently, the City would be over-run with weeds. Mr. Benton maintained that the
elimination of ditches would do far more to beautify the City than having people raise
gardens.
D. G. Taylor proposed that the group go on record to adopt the Mayorts
3-point program. The Mayor suggested that the Planning Board call a meeting to further
discuss the recommendations made previously on the elimination of ditches and then
make a report to the Council. The Planning Board stated that they had not changed
their minds and that they wished to go on record now as making the same recommendations
as they originally had made and that no further meeting was necessary to discuss this.
Thep, also,,recommended that the rate ditch water be raised to $18.00 for this year.-.~°~.
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Mr. Benton stated that in his report he had made a slight error in his
calculations for the rates for culinary water and that the actual rates now charged •
by the City would mean a cost of less to the users of large amounts of culinary water
than was shown in his report. It was suggested by Mr. Benton that the City should
definitely maintain the water right on the ditch water and that this right be
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retained in Madison County either by renting or loaning the water to some worthy
section of the County.
The meeting adjourned at 10:50 p.m.
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