Mayfield council authorizes $8,000 offer for half irrigation share, gives staff authority to go to $10,000

The Mayfield Town Council on June 24 authorized an $8,000 offer to purchase a half share of irrigation water and granted staff authority to increase the offer up to $10,000 if required to finalize the sale. The motion was made by a council member (S4), seconded, and approved by voice vote.

Council members reviewed recent discussions with a seller identified as Shannon, who believed the price might be $10,000 while the town's prior authorization had been $8,000. S2 summarized prior sales history and past town purchases; members noted a full share had sold for higher amounts in previous years and that water shares are "hard to come by" in some parts of town.

Before the purchase vote, members also noted an offer to lease three-quarters of a share for the rest of the irrigating season for a flat $50; council members agreed no formal motion was required for that lease and that any council member could approve the $50 lease.

The council discussed that acquiring the half share could create irrigation capacity for a common area and new development on the west side of town where shares are scarce. S1 also reported the town had returned about 3,000,000 gallons from its springs and that the town was over by roughly 15,000 gallons, which prompted staff to prepare a reply to the overuse notice.

The motion language recorded in the meeting: "Offer $8,000 for the half share and go up to $10,000 if the town has to." The council adopted that motion by voice vote and instructed staff to proceed with negotiations under the authorized limits.