Lake County says Aurora IGA is final step to launch water enterprise

Lake County staff said during a work session that the county is close to finalizing an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the City of Aurora that would allow the county to start contracting and selling portions of its water.

"Once we have that IGA finalized, obviously, it'll come before you to approve and sign, and I can basically start contracting water the next day," said Bryce, a county staff member who presented the update.

The IGA is the last outstanding element for the county's proposed water enterprise, a new administrative structure intended to let Lake County sell contracts for some of its water, collect revenue and administer county-owned natural resources. Bryce said lawyers are reviewing the agreement after staff-level negotiations and that the county is seeking several operational flexibilities inside the IGA, including year-round (365-day) use and additional diversion points beyond Turquoise Lake and Twin Lakes, such as Hayden Pond and the Mount Massive Golf Course, to improve delivery options.

Why it matters: County officials said the enterprise could create a new revenue stream, reduce the golf course's reliance on valuable augmentation water and give county managers more agency over long-term natural-resource planning. "There's so much pent up demand," Bryce said, adding that "10 folks [are] already ready to apply on day 1." Bryce also told commissioners that delayed finalization of the IGA affected this year's revenue and budget figures.

Most important facts first

• IGA as gatekeeper: County staff described the IGA with Aurora as the critical document required to operate the water enterprise. Staff said the agreement will be…