It looks like the dispute over a water rate proposed by the Mountain Regional District has been settled.
Mountain Regional’s board met earlier this month. They decided to let stand a compromise water rate that was approved by the Summit County Council.
Last month, the Mountain Regional Board decided to raise the rate for surplus water sold through the Weber Basin Water District, an arrangement set up under the Master Plan Agreement of 2013. The rate was raised from about $4 per 1000 gallons to $6.40.
The increase brought objections from the private Summit Water Company, which was slated to buy some of the surplus.
On December 11, the County Council approved Mountain Regional’s 2020 budget. But, following a meeting between a Council sub-group and the Water District, they changed the rate to $5 per 1000 gallons, feeling that a more graduated rate was appropriate.
On December 12th, the Mountain Regional Board met. The group didn’t take any vote or pass a motion but decided not to oppose the $5 rate. Their official statement to KPCW was “The County Council is the governing body of the District and although we may not agree with their decision, we respect their authority to make it.”
We also asked the General Manager of Summit Water, Andy Garland, for any comment. He wrote to KPCW, “I am appreciative of their willingness to meet and have a cooperative discussion.”
