Committee recommends Fairfield Mayor Holly McKinney for Utah Division of Drinking Water board

The Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Confirmation Committee on the morning of the hearing voted to favorably recommend Holly McKinney, mayor of Fairfield, to the full Senate for confirmation to the Utah Division of Drinking Water board. McKinney told the committee she was nominated because of hands-on experience trying to secure safe, reliable water for a very small, fast-changing town.

McKinney said Fairfield has fewer than 150 residents and about 35 hookups to the culinary water system and that rapid regional growth has placed immediate pressure on the town’s infrastructure. “All my residents have my phone number,” she said, describing how water issues dominate local council business and require constant attention.

The nomination drew questions from committee members about local treatment and natural gas and industrial development near Fairfield. McKinney said the town recently extended roughly 1.5 miles of water line at a cost “just under $1,000,000,” and that residents face costs of roughly $90,000 to connect to culinary water or to drill private wells; she said a water right in the area can cost about $40,000. McKinney also said that during an extension project the town discovered some water rights had not been transferred correctly to the point of diversion and that the town had not formally registered with the division; she said those issues have since been corrected.

Nathan Lundstad, director of the Division of Drinking Water and executive secretary to the drinking water board, addressed the committee in support of McKinney, saying the division agreed she would be “a perfect fit” for the board. After public comment, Senator Hinkins moved that the committee endorse McKinney’s nomination; the committee approved the motion unanimously and recommended her to the full Senate.

Discussion versus action: committee questioning and public comment comprised the substantive discussion; the committee then took formal action in a single motion to forward a favorable recommendation to the full Senate. No legislation or policy change was adopted at this hearing; the committee’s action was a confirmation recommendation only.

McKinney said she hopes to bring a “hands-on practical perspective” to the board to help ensure access to safe, reliable and affordable drinking water for Utah communities of all sizes. The nomination will next be considered by the full Senate.