Meeting goals – Board Agenda:
Approve a contract to order pipes for the SLAR-CC Project Tab 2
Approve a contract for the reuse of Central Utah Project Water Tab 2
Approve the Utah State University water audits program for 2024 Tab 3
Initiate the process to produce a new Vision Statement Tab 4
Attendance:
Present:
Tom Godfrey - Chair
John Kirkham - Vice Chair
Patricia Comarell - Secretary
John Mabey Jr.
Donald Milne
Cindy Cromer
Joan Degiorgio
Work Session:
Before every meeting, a work session occurs between board members. This session varies, from members touring the Metropolitan Water District Salt Lake and Sandy grounds to discussions regarding items set for a vote after the work session. Today, the work session discussed a contract that the water district had with Pleasant Grove City to monitor water quality in Grove Creek and Battle Creek. One issue was with water quality samples being taken at the bottom of the creek.This ignored the water quality when it occurred higher up, which had different results. Recent tests of the water quality show that there has been an increase in harmful chemicals of both Grove Creek and Battle Creek - Tab 1.
Approve a contract to order pipes for the SLAR-CC Project
The Salt Lake Aqueduct Replacement - Cottonwoods Conduit (SLAR- CC) has been an ongoing project in this district. This pipe order is designated for the “west portion” of the Cottonwoods Conduit project and will result in 3,116 feet of new pipe. The cost for this order was $913,875. Kelly Stevens, who is part of the district’s engineering committee, spoke about this contract to order pipes. This west portion follows Fort Union Boulevard until it meets with the Salt Lake Aqueduct. Stevens emphasized the need to approve the order of the pipes to limit construction delays.
Approve a contract for the reuse of Central Utah Project Water
This contract does not affect the water district, but it still requires a vote. This contract allows Salt Lake City to divert outgoing water to the Great Salt Lake instead of using the water for another reason. This contract was between Central Utah Water Conservancy District, Salt Lake City, and the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy (MWDSLS). In this contract, Salt Lake City would send water from a water treatment plant that the city owns into the Great Salt Lake. Some of the water going into the plant originates from the Central Utah Water District, which is why they are part of this contract. The MWDSLS is involved because the contract deems them a “water supplier”. The contract explains that the district “sells or delivers water under the water right designated for use in the Reuse Project”. The engineering committee had already discussed this item on January 9th, 2024 where they made the recommendation that the district board approve the contract.
Approve the Utah State University water audits program for 2024
The district has an annual contract with Utah State University that allows Utahns to see how much water they are using. Last year, the budget USU gave was $116,000 but it ended up being under $90,000. The vote was to extend this contract. Joan Degiorgio, who is on the board of trustees, emphasized how well this program is run. Degiorgio explained that after some audits occurred in Logan, Utah, water use in those homes went down by 30%. The board members were impressed with USU’s work and their technology to identify high residential water users.
Initiate the process to produce the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy Vision Statement
Annalee Munsey, the general manager of the district, recommended that the district start producing a new mission statement. Patricia Comerell, who is the secretary on the board of trustees has experience in developing the vision statement. The last statement was developed in 2007. Munsey explained that each board member, along with some managers, will get the opportunity to improve the mission statement. The employees would then give their input on the statement, with the statement set to be confirmed during the February 2024 meeting. Munsey believes that the statement should be more concise, so employees could be able to recite the vision statement.
Water supply and demand update
The water levels are beginning to look hopeful based on recent snowfall. The median water levels for this time of year are at 90-130%. The current level is less than in the last two years but more than in other recent years. Utah Lake and Jordanelle are both nearly full.
Additional Notes
The public session was closed to “discuss pending or reasonably imminent litigation” and “character, professional competence, or physical or mental health of an individual”. Some bills are not yet public that will affect the Great Salt Lake. There are 63 easements out for the SLAR-CC project. The easements are mostly through front and backyards.
What Passed
Approval of contract for pipe preorder for SLAR-CC Project (CC-1 West) Tab 2
Approval of the Reuse Authorization Contract for the reuse of Central Utah Project Water Tab 2 (with a slight clarification in the language)
Approval of Utah State University water audits program for 2024 Tab 3
Approval of Board Meeting minutes dated December 11, 2023 Tab 5
Acceptance of financial reports Tab 6
Motion to close the session
Water Documenters is a collaboration between The Salt Lake Tribune and City Bureau and funded through grants from the Great Salt Lake Collaborative and the Rita Allen Foundation. College student journalists from all over Utah are hired to attend and take notes at public water meetings in Utah. These notes are then published for anyone to read or use. The project is aimed at providing better public access to meetings where major decisions are made about a limited Utah resource. For more meeting notes, click here. For more information, click here.