Water, sewers head Clay City board issues

The board passed a motion to rearrange sewage adjustments, which Board President Guy Dickerson said was "getting out of control." In recent years, the town has provided a service where if people had water leakage between their house and their water meter, the city would make adjustments for them free of charge.

The board agreed to modify services, as it has become increasingly difficult to monitor services when people used them for measures such as washing their cars and houses.

The board passed a motion to implement a master plan, which allowed for the above mentioned services to be provided strictly for pools, leaks and emergency services, such as putting out fires.

Town attorney Chris Gambill said he was informed by state officials the town may have to once again raise water prices unless adjustment were made to the current water and sewage plan.

Clay City has paid into the water fund by borrowing money from its sewer fund, and was recently told by the state this action was not allowed. Gambill said he thought it would work "in theory" to raise water and lower sewage, but did not believe the state would approve such a measure. Gambill said he intended to "talk with someone who had authority" on the matter before he encouraged the board to proceed on the matter.

The final matter of discussion was the need to install an updated pipe system at the Free Methodist Campground, located at 304 E. County Road, 650 S. in Clay City.

The grounds use a three-four inch system, which is flown into by a two-inch system from Clay City. Dickerson said the towns system was too flawed to provide adequate flow in the first place, and to make matters worse, the Clay City system has been repaired so frequently over the years, "it looks like it's been covered in band-aids."

Water and Sewage Superintendent Rick Nelson said he recommended replacing the current two-inch pipes with six-inch pipes, which would be more cost effective when considering the quality increase they would bring over a four-inch system.

Nelson said it would cost between $17-18,000 for a full-fledged upgrade, but said his proposed upgrade was the best way to go to assure the finest quality pipes at the campgrounds.

"If we're going to do this, we have got to do it right," Nelson said.

The Board will meet again on Thursday, July 2, at the Town Hall in Clay City.