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Daniel council awards Southfield water-line contract; resident questions water-share requirement for hookup
Summary
Council approved the Southfield Waterline Extension contract and discussed a resident's objection to surrendering HOA irrigation shares as a condition for a culinary hookup. Staff said impact-fee funds and water-right transfers (or market purchase) are standard mechanisms.
The Daniel Town Council voted Feb. 2 to award the Southfield Waterline Extension construction contract and later answered questions from a resident about water-rights and hookup requirements.
Eric (town staff) told the council two bidders responded, one bidder was disqualified and staff recommended awarding the remaining bid so bonding and construction could proceed. Council member (Speaker 4) moved to accept the bid and award the contract; the motion passed on a roll-call vote (Bennett yes; Holt yes; Trady yes; Rose yes; Kohler yes).
After the contract vote, resident Jennifer Whaley (building at 984 West Valley View Road) asked for clarification: she said her family is willing to install a fire hydrant at their expense and to pay monthly hookup fees but does not want to surrender HOA-owned irrigation shares for culinary water use. Town staff explained the town converts Daniel irrigation shares into culinary water and that the town typically charges a hookup fee ($10,700) that can be credited toward private-line construction. Staff also said options include negotiating a transfer from the HOA, leasing water rights, or purchasing a share on the open market.
Mary (council member) reported the town had not appropriated funding for the contract in the current fiscal year and that a budget amendment and public hearing will be required in a future meeting to allocate the funds. She also said the town submitted a CDBG application seeking funds for a stormwater master plan, with an expected decision in late February or March.
Residents and council members discussed technical reasons for not connecting to a trunk line (3000 South) and the maintenance rationale for requiring a hookup that keeps dead-end lines flushed. Jennifer Whaley said delays and shifting requirements had caused her family hardship while trying to build; council members acknowledged the sensitivity and said staff would provide clarification and next steps.
