Coach asks Gunnison council to allow culinary water for baseball field as drought bites

A community member speaking for South Sanpete School District baseball said the fields are unusually dry this year and asked whether the city would permit the district to use culinary water for irrigation to keep the field playable. The coach said he did not seek direct city funding but asked for permission and coordination; council members recalled prior cost-sharing arrangements and said the school normally pays some portion while the city covers some use during summer recreation seasons.

Council and staff emphasized the need to monitor tank levels and pump availability, and to ensure backflow prevention is tested before any culinary connection is used. "If we allow it, we let JD kind of watch the tank, make sure it's, you know, let's look at the negative effects from it," one council member said, and staff confirmed they could test the backflow and monitor pump performance to avoid risking the town's water supply. No formal vote was recorded; council asked staff and district representatives to coordinate further and report back.