Iron County approves land disposal and interlocal swap to support aquifer recharge
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Summary
The commission voted to dispose of a county parcel and advance a draft exchange with Perr(e)win City to align landfill and recharge-site ownership, enabling planned aquifer recharge and continued county access to gravel resources; survey, easement and road-dedication work remains to be completed.
Iron County commissioners approved the disposal of a county parcel (APN A-20-3-1) and signaled support for a negotiated land exchange with Perrewin City intended to secure a planned aquifer recharge site and clarify ownership of landfill and gravel-pit parcels.
County staff explained the swap during a public hearing, saying Perrewin will deed the recharge pit parcel to Iron County while the county will deed portions of landfill/gravel holdings to Perrewin. The exchange is structured so each jurisdiction will own the parcels they currently use, consolidating management of the landfill, preserving county access to gravel resources and creating a location where Perrewin can divert high water into the ground for recharge.
Staff cautioned the agreement is not final and still requires survey work, recording of easements and a road dedication to carve off an east-side public road segment. The county attorney and city representatives plan to finalize legal descriptions and update the draft agreement; Dan Jessen and other county staff said the easement to the city water tank is already of record.
Supporters told the commission the transfer benefits long-term water management. County staff noted that deeper excavation of the gravel pit increases both material availability and the potential volume for aquifer recharge; one staffer estimated the county could excavate in phases and extend the useful life of the pit. The county also said it had installed an outlet in the gravel pit and is progressing on a diversion structure that could allow high water this fall or next spring.
The commission opened a public hearing, received no public testimony on the item, then moved and approved the disposal motion. Commissioners noted the agreement remains subject to edits and that no money will change hands as part of the exchange. Next steps include finalizing the legal easements, confirming survey lines and returning to the council for any municipal approvals where required.
