March 6, 2008
Bills from Vidler Water Concern Lincoln Ciounty Water District

By Dave Maxwell, Staff Writer

Getting a better handle on water exploration in Tule and Kane Springs valleys was discussed at the February 26 regular meeting of the Lincoln County Water District.

Member Paul Mathews said he feels the Board needs more say relating to the scope of work being done by Vidler Water. “As a district with limited financial resources,” Mathews said “how much money they spend will influence what actions we take, and it puts the Board at a real disadvantage as to who is running the ship. It would be better in my opinion,” he said, “if they gave us the scope of work ahead of time, informing us in what sites’ drilling is going to take place. Then we have a little more preliminary approval process then deciding where they want to drill, rather than having to react to it when we get the bill.”

Water District General Manager Dylan Frehner said the contracts the District currently has with Vidler Water are quite general and do not mention a specific valley, instead referring to Toquop Development and Coyote Springs Development. “Any water that we have identified throughout the county going to those developments, they are authorized to begin management and development of those waters,” he said.

Money spent, and the explorations for water to use at Toquop, is causing concern among Board members; prompting the discussion about the Board being more aware of what is being done, when and where. “We have to be specific to pay the bills and the only way to pay the bills is to use the water,” Mathews said. However, right now, the water is not being used, yet Vidler Water is still drilling exploratory wells and the bills are rising.

County Building Director Ken Dixon agreed that Vidler Water should provide the Board with some kind of a plan of action, informing the Board about steps that are going to be taken.

Frehner said that LCWD is not billed by Vidler Water for their time. “The only bills we receive are for outside agencies doing the actual work. We do not get billed for any of Vidler’s time. It’s the things that they hire to someone else that we get billed for.”

Member Wade Poulsen said he felt the Board should have more of a say as to when a well should be drilled as well as, most particular, when to stop work on sites that are proving unproductive.

Ronda Hornbeck of Eagle Valley, said Vidler Water knows what the State Water Engineer requests of them for the water applications, and therefore should be able to come up with a plan for specific areas.

Frehner said he would put together a memo outlining the agreements LCWD has with Vidler Water and include copies of those with a letter of request to Vidler Water that information be presented beforehand on work that is to be done.

Mathews admitted that since LCWD is at “a disadvantage in every area, that if we’re not well informed even with specifics, then often we’re approving something after the fact.” Frehner said LCWD is hindered because there is nobody on staff with the geologic understanding to give the go ahead, or not, to something Vidler recommends.

In the future, Mathews said, “We, as a Water District Board, need to feel that we’re driving the thing.”

One of the ways the Board members have discussed to become more proactively involved would be to hire a full-time manager for the Water District.