School board approves about $80,345 to power Red Devil Ranch center pivot after debate over costs and water
Summary
The Uinta County School District #1 Board approved roughly $80,345 to complete electrical work for a center-pivot irrigation system at the district’s Red Devil Ranch after discussion about transformer and Rocky Mountain Power costs, water rights and long-term operations.
The Uinta County School District #1 Board of Trustees voted to fund electrical work to power a center-pivot irrigation system at the district’s Red Devil Ranch, approving a motion that specified roughly $80,345 for installation and related work.
Board members spent extended time reviewing the project’s electrical and water infrastructure before voting. Mr. Ellis, who leads the ranch program, told the board the project requires a 200-amp service and a step-down transformer. “CD Electric” provided a quote in the board packet for about $33,000 to supply and step down the transformer, he said. Rocky Mountain Power’s cost to set new poles and wiring was discussed as roughly $46,000–$46,500, and board members and staff added conduit and related work to reach the total near $80,000–85,000.
The board’s business officer said the one-time purchases could be covered from the district’s carryover funds and that staff would perform a budget adjustment in June to account for the spending. “We can take money from the carryover and then do a budget adjustment in June to indicate that money’s gone out,” the business officer said.
Board members questioned how many acres the pivot would serve (the presenters said roughly 50 acres would be irrigated and that the school district section is about 60 acres, with the bus barn occupying about 10 acres). Mr. Ellis described engineering and water-control work planned at the ditch, including a metal flume and a Kiwanis-style screen intended to manage flow and reduce waste when neighboring users divert water. He said the installed meter system and the flume were selected to ensure the district does not exceed its adjudicated water rights.
Board members also discussed operational details: the district has already run a 3-inch conduit from the pivot to the transformer location and has purchased above-ground mainline and smaller wheel lines for distribution. Mr. Ellis described planned run cycles for the pivot (examples given: runs of 36 hours or 72 hours depending on scheduling) and said the project will improve water use efficiency compared with older ditch delivery.
After questions about water availability during short years and whether neighbors would coordinate shares, the board voted to approve the funding. The motion passed with the chair announcing, “Motion carries.” The recorded proceedings do not include a roll-call vote or a vote tally by name in the public transcript.
Next steps recorded by staff include finishing conduit work, contracting CD Electric to install the transformer once funds are available, and coordinating with Rocky Mountain Power to set new poles and run service. Staff noted additional permitting and possible engineered drawings will be completed before construction of any accessory structures (a barn) proceeds under city requirements.
The board’s action authorizes staff to proceed with the electrical scope described and to adjust the budget accordingly. The board then moved on to other agenda items, including contract renewals and policy adoptions.
