Logan mayor selects north-side Canyon Road alignment for water transmission line; council gives informal OK

Mayor (name not specified) told the Logan City Council on Feb. 18 that City staff and consultants recommend placing the First Dam tank water transmission line along the north side of Canyon Road and that Whitaker Construction has been contracted as general contractor for the transmission-line and Canyon Road improvements.

The mayor said JUV engineers evaluated seven possible alignments and the city has received a final geotechnical report. He said the least expensive alternative to the Canyon Road route would affect about 90 additional properties and would add roughly $2.4 million in pipe and installation costs; with added right-of-way purchases and utility relocations the longer route "could easily double that cost," he said. The mayor also said an added $4.8 million would require at least a 2.5% water-rate increase for every household over the 20-year life of the bond.

Why it matters: The selected alignment would require removal of a stand of ash trees along Canyon Road but, the mayor said, would allow planned bike and pedestrian improvements, potential curb and gutter or sidewalk options and the planting of about 200 new trees over time. The corridor is identified in the city's transportation master plan as a collector road with an 80-foot right of way, the mayor said.

Council discussion focused on tradeoffs between cost, roadway and active-transportation improvements, and tree loss. Councilmember Amy (last name not specified) said she wished the project could avoid removing trees and asked staff to continue looking for ways to preserve any that can be saved while remaining mindful of budget limits. "I'll hope we'll continue maybe look to see if there's any additional way to preserve those trees, but, yeah, within a budget," she said.

Councilmember Mike (last name not specified) said keeping costs low for residents remains a priority and that the bike and pedestrian improvements have been in planning documents for years. "Keeping costs low for citizens I think is very, very important," he said. He added that if design work during construction allows saving a few trees, the city should pursue that option.

One councilmember said the project would personally affect their property and declined to participate in a formal vote, saying, "I'm just gonna abstain because it does personally affect me." The mayor asked for a general head nod from council to proceed with design and budgeting; councilmembers signaled support while reserving a formal vote for a future meeting that will include a budget hearing and public comment.

The mayor said the city will continue design work with Public Works and will involve the Wilson Neighborhood Council on final roadway-rebuild options scheduled for 2026. He also said the project website will be updated in the coming days with an addendum to the alignment memo and the new geotechnical report.

Next steps: Public Works was directed to prepare a budget request for the selected alignment for a future city-council agenda; that budget item will include a public hearing allowing additional citizen comment before any formal appropriation or contract award.