Amador County – The Plymouth City Council last week discussed the city’s Arroyo Ditch water supply and discussed seeking a flat-rate monthly fee to help pay for continued operation of the ditch.
City Manager Jeff Gardner said it takes about $5,000 a year to operate the ditch, which was inspected by Gardner, Vice Mayor Jon Colburn and city staff went on a 7-mile hike of the ditch last week. Gardner said he took 280 photographs on the hike, during which maintenance workers and city officials did not find the damage they expected on the ditch, after the strong rainy season. He said there were no blowouts. Gardner said during the rainy season, water turnouts on every creek and tributary from the Arroyo Ditch were opened, and the water still crested in the ditch as it ran through town.
The Amador County Fair and the 49er Village mobile home facility have requested raw water service from the city, via the Arroyo Ditch, for the summer. In a report to the council, Gardner said he spoke with Fair CEO Troy Bowers, who “is very concerned that the Fair Grounds be properly landscaped and in prime condition in light of the budget cuts from the state and their need to attract new capital to keep the operations running.”
Gardner asked both Bowers and 49er Village owner Chuck Hayes if they “would be willing to pay in advance the amount we billed last year for Arroyo Ditch water.” He told the council that its budget has “$5,000 in funds earmarked for the Arroyo Ditch.”
He said the Arroyo Ditch is a “significant asset” for Plymouth and “maintaining the ditch and utilizing it on an annual basis is critical to maintaining the water rights for the city.” He said the water rights “potentially are worth millions of dollars.”
He recommended the Council direct staff to develop and implement a plan to run the Arroyo Ditch for the summer using “budgeted expenditures and any anticipated revenues.” The “fiscal impact will be limited to the revenues collected and the amount budgeted for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.”
In e-mail to Gardner May 5, Hayes said to “get a man in the field now, I would be receptive to making a 50% payment with future payments on the balance contingent on water delivery through the summer.” His needs are different than the fair, as the 49er Village needs water to flow up to mid-October.
Bowers in an e-mail May 4 said they planned to empty their tank starting that day, “with the hope that we can fill it up one more time. There is some urgency though. If ever we needed a green, successful Fair, this is the year.” The fair faces a state cut of 25% of its operating budget next fiscal year.
Gardner said after last Thursday’s meeting that Mayor Jon Colburn will speak with Hayes about the fees.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
