Potter feels like Cache County needs to gain greater control of its water

The Bear River Association of Governments met Tuesday in Garden City and Cache County Council Member Val Potter, who is chairman of the BRAG governing board, says water was a key topic of discussion. BRAG’s executive director Roger Jones talked about the statewide water infrastructure plan and there was a discussion on the value of water conservancy districts.

Potter says after meeting with water shareholders, canal companies and water experts, he believes Cache County should move toward a conservancy district.

“I don’t like tax increases but this is one situation that I feel like if Cache County is going to get in control of the Bear River development and work with the Bear River development,” Potter says, “and get in synch as a county we need to have a water conservancy district.

“It’s what the state legislature, what the other water districts recognize as the law behind water. I think we have to do it. It gives us a seat at the table at the state with regard to water issues.”

Potter says Cache is one of very few counties in the state that does not already have a water conservancy district. He says that county councilmembers are unanimous in their support for a district. Potter says that is because a district is the best way the county can protect and conserve its water, not just now but into the future.

An effort was made several years ago to form a district and Potter says some mistakes were made at that time. He also says the method of forming a district has been improved and reformed. He says there are people who feel it would be a threat on their water shares.

“It’s not a threat on water shares,” explains Potter. “This will be established so that over half of the board are elected officials who are accountable to the people.

“This wouldn’t be a huge operation with huge overhead, huge salary to anybody who oversees this. It will be a conservative operation and it’s going to be one that will benefit us for the long term.”

Potter says there are two different ways a district can be formed: by petition or by a ballot vote. He says it has not been decided which way Cache County would go.

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