This is an old news article. The events in this article are from March 2023.
LOA (March 6, 2023) — The Wayne commission met in Loa for a regularly-scheduled meeting on March 6.
Updates on the Hanksville Diversion Project
Engineer Garrick Willden of Jones & DeMille presented to the commission a status update on the Hanksville diversion project, which aims to replace the diversion works for the irrigation company there. Previously the diversion had been washed out by significant floods leaving the town without irrigation. What engineers had hoped would be a simple project of replacing the diversion dam turned more complicated when field work showed the diversion site straddles a fault, and that much of the surrounding strata contains high amounts of gypsum.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has committed as much as $40 million for the project, which will require the diversion dam to be excavated 20 feet below the riverbed. Engineering work is currently being done, and Mr. Willden believes that after the approval process is complete, a contractor will be hired sometime in the spring of 2024 to complete the construction.
Pumping River Water into the Canal
In the meantime irrigation water has been supplied by two large pumps, which pump water from the Fremont River up into the canal system. Pumping commenced last year, and has run into significant trouble as pumping could only occur when the river was not flooding. Sometimes, both pumps would be out of commission.
Jackson Excavation set up the new pumping system last year, and the commission approved Jackson to continue the pumping work for this year, at a projected cost of nearly $520,000. Costs will be paid by NRCS, and will include a third standby pump.
The Utah legislature is expected to approve $40 million in one-time funding for Class B and Class C roads, including additional ongoing funding. Rural counties are expected to see a boost in their budgets to maintain these roads. In order for a county to be eligible for the funds, it will have to adopt a local gas tax, which will require a public hearing. The Wayne Commission expects that public meeting will happen sometime in March or April.
The Judge Position Has Been Filled
Wayne County has been seeking to fill the position of Judge for the Sixth District Court. A committee assembled to select candidates submitted three names to the commission, and Judge Mark McIff has been selected to fill the seat.
Judge McIff also serves as a district court judge for Sevier and Piute counties, as well as a number of municipalities in Sanpete County. He was first appointed to the bench in May, 2014. Prior to his appointment, he worked in a private practice in Richfield and worked as an attorney for Piute, Wayne, Sevier, Garfield and Wasatch counties.
– The Byway