Price City approves easement search and feasibility study for aging spring water transmission line

Price City Council on Dec. 11 authorized two near‑term steps to address an aging spring water transmission line that staff said is at risk of failure.

Council voted to hire a consultant to perform an easement data search and related engineering and environmental studies for a portion of the city’s spring water transmission line. City staff said the work is “not to exceed $11,200.” Miles, speaking for city staff, told the council the spring line was installed across private property about 95 years ago and that the city needs to verify whether formal easements exist before undertaking large repairs: “The Spring Line was installed across private property. We’re doing that research to make sure we verify whether there is or not easements on that alignment.”

Council also approved a separate feasibility study by Johansen and Tuttle Engineering to evaluate whether a new parallel seven‑mile transmission line could be built adjacent to the existing alignment. The study was described as an assessment of whether crews can excavate beside the current line in mountainous, rocky terrain or whether the city must work within the existing trench. The estimated cost for that study is $35,274 and the council voted to proceed.

Staff emphasized the urgency. “The consultant has told us we have 2 years till we have failure,” Miles said, noting that the transmission line is roughly 95 years old. City staff and council members discussed constraints, including limited easement documentation, complex terrain and the potential need to take the existing line offline if work must occur in the same trench. That would require relying on the Price River and could necessitate upgrades at the city’s treatment plant.

Council members moved the two items separately. The easement‑search motion was made by Council Member Chrisman and seconded by Council Member Miller; the alignment‑investigation motion was made by Council Member Willis and seconded by Council Member Jesperson. Both motions carried on voice votes.

Next steps: the city will proceed with the data search and the Johansen and Tuttle feasibility study. The work is intended to inform later engineering decisions and potential funding requests; the council did not approve construction funds at the Dec. 11 meeting.