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Lower Valley Energy updates hydro operations; town repairs water line and backs community events
Summary
Lower Valley Energy briefed the Council on the Swift Creek hydro project's higher-than-normal generation and minimal vandalism; Public Works reported a repaired Swift Creek Canyon water line and the Council approved community requests including use of the golf course for a Sept. 8 fundraiser.
Representatives of Lower Valley Energy updated the Afton Town Council on operations at the Swift Creek hydro project and thanked the Town for its partnership while noting maintenance challenges tied to runoff and snow slides.
John Hougland and Bill Spaulding provided a financial and operations update and Spaulding said after a recent FERC inspection the requested items had been addressed. Aaron Johnson said the prior winters snowpack led to higher-than-normal generation and added debris from runoff; "the snow pack received from last year was above normal, which was caused the generation of power to be higher than normal," he told the Council.
Public Works Director Joshua Peavler reported that a Town water line in Swift Creek Canyon had been repaired after an incident, thanked Kilroy LLC and Peavler Mountain Star for their work, and said crews were repairing the road damaged by the incident. Peavler also presented a $3,500 bid to remove willow trees at the Afton Cemetery (stumps excluded); the Council took no action on the bid at the meeting.
Community groups updated the Council on events and requests. Shirley Greenhoe of the Star Valley Quilt Trail asked to use the Afton Civic Center for an Aug. 17-19 event and distributed tickets; Abby Johnson asked the Council to donate golf-course use and carts for the Andy Johnson Memorial Golf Tournament on Sept. 8, 2017, with proceeds to benefit local families; the Council agreed to provide the course and carts. Sarah Hale of the Star Valley Chamber of Commerce outlined upcoming projects and was asked to coordinate with the Afton Tourism Board.
Gideon Gomm proposed using the Star View Park tennis court as the site for a volunteer-built skatepark. The Council said the organizers would need to supply and construct ramps and asked Town Attorney Dale Cottam to research liability before further action.
The Council also discussed spring and fall clean-up week debris disposal, including the possibility of hiring a commercial company to chip wood; the matter will be reviewed further.
The Council scheduled follow-ups with staff on liability research, cleanup guidelines and cemetery maintenance bids.
