Council agrees to approve water‑lease policy once written agreement is provided

Chair said the council reopened the meeting after a closed session and reported that an agreement between the town and the canal company exists but the town did not yet have the written document: "They do have an agreement, but we do not have the agreement in our possession," the Chair said.

Why it matters: A young resident seeking a water connection for a house is waiting on the agreement; council members said they will not finalize action until they can review a written policy, while emphasizing they have previously given verbal approval.

Staff member proposed a narrowly framed motion: to approve the policy contingent upon the council having the written policy in hand. Staff member said verbally everything had been agreed upon but noted the town requires the written policy so it can approve the text. Committee member volunteered to retrieve the typed policy from Trent Jackson, photograph and circulate it to members so the document can be read before the next meeting. "I'll call Trent tomorrow and go get the policy," Committee member said.

During discussion Chair described the local supply context: the town typically uses about 20 acre‑feet of culinary water a year, but this year the canal company expects to provide roughly 14–14.5 acre‑feet, which participants said would translate to about 56 shares. Speakers mentioned a $1,500 connection or share fee and an estimated annual cost for the reduced 14 acre‑foot delivery of about $500. The Chair said the town had previously agreed to sell five connections without turning in a share and that earlier meetings recorded that understanding.

The council did not record a roll‑call vote in the transcript. Instead, a motion to approve the policy pending receipt of the written agreement was made by Staff member and seconded by Committee member; members indicated agreement and set next Wednesday as the target for having the document available for review. If the written policy is not delivered by that time, participants said they would reconsider next steps.

The meeting also included discussion of annexation procedures and parcel numbers, which members said require review by the lieutenant governor's office and a public hearing before final approval. The Chair said Trent Jackson is drafting the agreement and that Tracy must sign it before the council can have the final copy.

Next step: Committee member will attempt to retrieve and circulate the written policy from Trent Jackson; the council expects to consider the document at its next scheduled meeting.