In November 2012, The Sentinel News reported on South Willard residents Don Visser’s and neighbor’s alarm when they learned that the self-governing (which means that the residents are shareholders) South Willard Water Company wanted to force them to tie-in to a water irrigation system that duplicates what they already had and would raise their rates. In December, Visser said that the South Willard Water Company had suspended its efforts. In January and February of 2013, the Sentinel News learned that a proposal to pressurize irrigation water was handed off from South Willard Water to the Weber Box Elder Conservation District, a government entity.
Terrel Grimley of Pine View Water Systems (facilities and staff for three organizations including Weber Box Elder Conservation District which supplies some irrigation water to S. Willard and Willard) said that of 165 properties, all but 10 owners voted by door to door survey to proceed into the district. However, not all residents of South Willard have been notified. Dawn Scothern, a resident of South Willard says that she and 5 or 6 others that she talked to were never notified. This means that at the request of the South Willard Water Company, Weber Box Elder Conservation District will take over plans, development, and operations for the proposed pressurized irrigation system, thus incorporating the areas that voted for it into the government control of irrigation water by the “local district” known as “Weber Box Elder Conservation District.” It will be subject to state laws and rules as a subdivision of the state.
Grimley says that this project will conserve water since before, unused water ran off and was wasted. In turn the District is engineering (60% complete on about the 1st of February), and will build the new pressurized system and reservoir. The project will be paid for by a 25-year bond that the property owners will be responsible for. Whereas now, users of the water pay for the water, with the pressurized system, costs will also include the bond plus maintenance. Governance and fee-setting will be by the Board of Trustees of the Weber Box Elder Conservation District. One of the five trustees, Paul Nelson, will represent the “South Willard Unit”. However, the entire board will make the decisions. Note that the “District” is set up so that each “Unit” has its own budget.
In a letter received by The Sentinel News written by Don Visser, he states that residents using South Willard Water received an insert in a recent billing which reads:
“Dear Shareholders(s)
South Willard Water Co. has considered a proposal, that if we had majority shareholder support, we would build and operate a joint pressurized secondary-irrigation system. After further consideration SWWC is deferring to Pine View Water Conservation District who will organize a vote of Pine View shareholders. If voted in by a majority, Pine View will build and manage the system. You will be receiving further instruction regarding secondary water from Pine View directly.” The state classifies SWWC as “Self Governing”.
Mr. Visser explained that this means users of South Willard Water are Shareholders and the resident’s vote controls the actions of South Willard Water. When receiving an insert in the water bill announcing the place and time of the annual meeting, residents need to attend to insure that water fees are used responsibly to: supply quality water, maintain water facilities and the availability of water for the user’s current and future needs.
Willard City Administrator/Planner Bryce Wheelwright, when asked about large water projects that had been discussed prior to his appointment as administrator, said that he is not aware of any water projects of any size going on in Willard, and that he has not been given any direction to do so by the mayor or council. However, he said that there may be a need for culinary water development on the north side of the City in the future.
Note: The Sentinel incorrectly reported previously that Mr. Wheelright has been a Willard resident for 6 years.
