News
| Document outlines YC Water Authority |
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| Written by Tony Rayl | |
| Thursday, 10 April 2008 | |
| A Yuma County Water
Authority will be put into place when and if the effected
governmental entities sign an intergovermental agreement. Yuma County Commissioners Robin Wiley, Trent Bushner and Dean Wingfield voted to enter into an intergovernmental agreement to form the Yuma County Water Authority, during their regular meeting March 28. The vote included approval of sending drafts to the three municipalities in the county — Eckley, Yuma and Wray — for their possible approval. The state purpose of the Yuma County Water Authority, according to the intergovernmental agreement is to “develop resources, systems and facilities in whole or in part for the benefit of the individual member jurisdictions, located in the Yuma County Region.” It outlines the authorities powers and services to include acquiring, constructing, managing, maintaining or operating water systems, facilities, and works or improvements. It will be allowed to make and enter contracts, take action with real or personal property, incur debt, condemn property for use of right-of-way, among other items. Yuma City Manager Doug Sanderson said the realigned city council will take a look at the document at its April 15 meeting. He added that the commissioners have been invited to meet with the new council that same night. The city has taken some hits throughout the county for not automatically jumping on board with the water authority idea. Sanderson stressed the city is very much involved, informed and concerned with the water issues facing the county. He said the city is simply concerned about not getting into a situation where its citizens are faced with a long-term debt without at least first getting to vote. “We didn't want the authority taking on a major project without Yuma residents having a say,” Sanderson said. Commissioner Robin Wiley, who has spearheaded the formation of a water authority, said the way he sees it, any structuring for a long-term debt would have to go to the vote of the people. The Yuma County Water Authority is not initially being set up as a special district with its own taxing authority. At this point all revenues would come out of the general funds of each entity. Wiley said legal counsel told organizers this would be the quickest and easiest way to set up a water authority. It could be converted to a special district later by the vote of the county's residents. The intergovernmental agreement calls for the participating entities to contribute funds to help defray costs. The funding will be outlined in the by-laws formulated by the authority's board of directors. An example of base funding is included in the agreement, calling for a certain dollar amount times the population that live in the member jurisdiction. “Base funding” is defined as day-to-day operations and small capital purchases. The example also states large capital purchases could be funded by the entities at different percentages, based on the importance of the purchase to each member. There will be nine board members if all four entities sign the agreement. Yuma County gets three members, and Yuma, Eckley and Wray two each. The agreement calls for the board members to come from the elected governing bodies of each entity, and the governing body also may appoint alternates. Member jurisdictions may, by resolution of its board, appoint a senior administrative official to be a designated voting representative, subject to the approval of the Yuma County Water Authority. Participating entities may withdraw from the authority, but as of now the agreement states a six-month notice must be given. Monthly meetings would be held. Ratification by each governmental entity is required for the agreement to become effective. If one of the entities decides against signing it, Wiley said it would be taken out of the agreement, which would then reflect just the entities that are going to sign on for the Yuma County Water Authority. All the local government boards are expected to address the intergovernmental agreement at their next meetings. The Eckley Town Board of Trustees has already had its monthly meeting for April, with the Wray and Yuma councils still having a meeting scheduled this month. |