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Provision would allow local districts to opt out of certain projects
The Parker Water and Sanitation District agreed to sign a bill that could establish a regional water conservation district, but not before a special provision was included.
By By:Chris Michlewicz
The Parker Water and Sanitation District agreed to sign a bill that could establish a regional water conservation district, but not before a special provision was included.
A third draft of the Douglas-Arapahoe Water Conservation District bill was delivered Jan. 27 to District Manager Frank Jaeger, but he was still not satisfied with the language of the draft.
Jaeger wanted a provision to give water entities in the conservation district the ability to opt out of a project if it did not benefit customers of that entity.
The conservation district would have authority to increase water rates and use taxes to finance future projects.
Jim Nikkel, project manager for Parker water, said Douglas County Commissioner Steve Boand, who is part of a legislative delegation supporting the bill, agreed to include the provision.
He said a leader of the state House extended a deadline to present the bill because the draft did not include the clause.
"Friday was the cut-off date, but (the bill) was given special status," Nikkel said. "If it goes forward without the provision, we will remove our name from it."
Jaeger, who recently described the bill as "egregious," said he was concerned conservation district members would be responsible for debt that could accrue on a project, even if the member did not stand to gain from it. Parker water would sign the bill only if the opt out provision were included. Jaeger said he does not want to put Parker water customers at risk of being encumbered with debt.
The Parker water district is nearly $100 million in debt for the construction of Rueter-Hess Reservoir. Voters approved a bond issue in May 2004 that uses tap fees to pay off the debt. Jaeger said he was apprehensive about joining the conservation district because he did not want to put any additional burden on his customers. The water conservation district board would have power to tax Parker Water customers only if they voted to join.
"I would not willingly and knowingly leave the tax base unprotected," Jaeger said.
Although the bill does not specifically reference Rueter-Hess Reservoir, members of the Parker water district board agreed that many future projects in the conservation district would "revolve around" the 16,000-acre-foot body of water.
Senate Bill 232 was introduced to the state Legislature last year because of continuing growth in the southeast portions of Denver and a looming water crisis caused in part by the rapid depletion of groundwater sources. The bill was initially backed by Sen. Jim Dyer, R-Littleton, but fell short of its goal to establish the conservation district because it did not have enough supporters.
It is now being sponsored by Rep. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch. It is unclear when the bill will be introduced to the House.
Contact Chris Michlewicz at
cmichlewicz@ccnewspapers.net.
A third draft of the Douglas-Arapahoe Water Conservation District bill was delivered Jan. 27 to District Manager Frank Jaeger, but he was still not satisfied with the language of the draft.
Jaeger wanted a provision to give water entities in the conservation district the ability to opt out of a project if it did not benefit customers of that entity.
The conservation district would have authority to increase water rates and use taxes to finance future projects.
Jim Nikkel, project manager for Parker water, said Douglas County Commissioner Steve Boand, who is part of a legislative delegation supporting the bill, agreed to include the provision.
He said a leader of the state House extended a deadline to present the bill because the draft did not include the clause.
"Friday was the cut-off date, but (the bill) was given special status," Nikkel said. "If it goes forward without the provision, we will remove our name from it."
Jaeger, who recently described the bill as "egregious," said he was concerned conservation district members would be responsible for debt that could accrue on a project, even if the member did not stand to gain from it. Parker water would sign the bill only if the opt out provision were included. Jaeger said he does not want to put Parker water customers at risk of being encumbered with debt.
The Parker water district is nearly $100 million in debt for the construction of Rueter-Hess Reservoir. Voters approved a bond issue in May 2004 that uses tap fees to pay off the debt. Jaeger said he was apprehensive about joining the conservation district because he did not want to put any additional burden on his customers. The water conservation district board would have power to tax Parker Water customers only if they voted to join.
"I would not willingly and knowingly leave the tax base unprotected," Jaeger said.
Although the bill does not specifically reference Rueter-Hess Reservoir, members of the Parker water district board agreed that many future projects in the conservation district would "revolve around" the 16,000-acre-foot body of water.
Senate Bill 232 was introduced to the state Legislature last year because of continuing growth in the southeast portions of Denver and a looming water crisis caused in part by the rapid depletion of groundwater sources. The bill was initially backed by Sen. Jim Dyer, R-Littleton, but fell short of its goal to establish the conservation district because it did not have enough supporters.
It is now being sponsored by Rep. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch. It is unclear when the bill will be introduced to the House.
Contact Chris Michlewicz at
cmichlewicz@ccnewspapers.net.
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