© 2024 KPCW

KPCW
Spencer F. Eccles Broadcast Center
PO Box 1372 | 460 Swede Alley
Park City | UT | 84060
Office: (435) 649-9004 | Studio: (435) 655-8255

Music & Artist Inquiries: music@kpcw.org
News Tips & Press Releases: news@kpcw.org
Volunteer Opportunities
General Inquiries: info@kpcw.org
Listen Like a Local Park City & Heber City Summit & Wasatch counties, Utah
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Park City Water Director Comments On Impacts Of Virus, Future Projects

Officials at Park City Municipal have to consider the fiscal impacts they’re facing due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

One person trying to gauge the future is Utilities Director Clint McAffee who spoke to us last week.  

McAffee, who keeps an eye on the city’s water operations, said it’s no surprise that they’ve seen a dramatic drop in water use by commercial establishments since the lockdown ordered in March.

We asked McAffee if that means a revenue loss, which could lead the city to ask for more water rate increases than what they’ve already planned.   But he said at this point, he doesn’t think so.        

“I ran a scenario in the long-term financial model that programmed a ten pecent reduction in this current fiscal year in revenue, and a 23 percent reduction in the next three years.   The three percent maximum water rate increases still work.  If this is a permanent change and this continues, we’d have to relook at that.   But I don’t anticipate more than a 23 percent or longer time period than three years.”

He said he came to his calculations by looking at two critical years for the city.        

“We looked at a combination of the effects of the 2008 recession and the current situation, and kinda took the worst case and kinda estimated what the  impacts could be in the near term.   So we’re feeling comfortable.   The water fund is resilient.  We’ve set rates well.   We’ve got a bonding strategy to pay for projects.   So we’re pretty confident that we will not see higher rate increases.”

McAffee said they’re aware the current lockdown may leave many residents with problems paying their water bills to the city.   Given that, he said they are presenting an Emergency Proclamation to Park City Council this Thursday, April 30th.      

“And we are not charging interest rates on any past due balances.  And we are also not shutting water off to customers who aren’t—who can’t pay.  And in addition, we’ll be proposing a significant storm water reduction for this temporary  period, in the storm water fee to Council.  I think Council expressed interest in it and support.   And we’re bringing a proposal to them on the 30th.”

Finally, he said that at some point in the future, commercial locations will open up again.    But they will need to know what to do with water systems that have been dormant for weeks, or even months.        

“Kinda some procedures and best practices to kinda flush that old water outa your system, mitigate the risk for biological growth in those building plumbing systems.  It’s not something you think about, but bringing a hotel or a restaurant or any commercial property that’s been dormant for a few weeks or months, there’s a consideration there for biological growth in those building systems.”

Meanwhile, the City Council recently authorized a revenue bond, up to $160 million, to finance water projects over the next two or three years.

The major item for this financing, he said, is the reconstruction of the Three Kings Water Treatment Plant.   That’s a long-term project, which will begin in 2022 and finish up the following year.   

McAffee said the cost for reconstructing the plant is $77 million.   The associated costs, with design and pipelines, will boost it up to $110 million.

More in the near-term future, the city is upgrading the Quinn’s Junction water plant, beginning in May and June.   That will increase the capacity of the plant, which receives water supply from the Rockport Reservoir.       

“Park City has a total of about 3,600-gallons-a-minute capacity out of that system, where the original build of Quinn’s could only treat about 2100 gallons-a-minute.  So now we’re expanding that facility to treat the full 3600-gallons-a-minute, again to meet the needs during the reconstruction of Three Kings.”

Park City Utilities Director Clint McAffee, who said they are also replacing the pipeline connection along Highway 248, from the Quinn’s plant to Three Kings.

Known for getting all the facts right, as well as his distinctive sign-off, Rick covered Summit County meetings and issues for 35 years on KPCW. He now heads the Friday Film Review team.
Related Content