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Council flags concerns in proposed irrigation agreement over "saved water" language and fees
Summary
Council members and residents urged careful review of a proposed irrigation-company agreement that would remove prior "safe water" language, require a $25,000 payment for Briarwater at signing, and charge $200 per acre-foot annually; the council asked members to review the draft and meet with the irrigation company.
S2 asked council members to review a new irrigation-company agreement that replaces the town’s prior arrangement, which S2 said expired in 2019.
Reading from the draft, S2 highlighted financial terms: "The town shall pay the sum of $200 per acre per year, for any water you use out of it," and that the company was asking for a $25,000 sum for Briarwater at signing. S2 said the new draft removes earlier "safe water" terminology that had previously guaranteed some portion of piped water to the town under the old agreement.
Public commenters pushed back. An attendee (S3) argued the town should retain water shares the irrigation company allocated when the town paid to pipe water: "My take on it is the same water belongs to town," S3 said, and warned the proposed contract language was open-ended and would allow the irrigation company to modify terms.
S2 said council members should read both the old and new agreements, flag concerns and meet with the irrigation company attorney soon. S2 also noted the council would seek attorney review on legal clarifications, including rights for fire or emergency use and whether the town retains any previously agreed saved-water allotments.
