As time continues to pass since the Utah records committee ordered the Washington County Water Conservancy District to release its draft payment plan, pressure continues to mount. Adding to that pressure, Independent candidate for Washington County Commissioner Josh Warburton held a press conference yesterday at the Red Hills Desert Garden to call for the release of the district’s payment plan.
Warburton read a short prepared statement and then took questions from the crowd. A recording of the press conference can be viewed here. Below is a transcription of Warburton’s statement.
“I have called this press conference today on behalf of the citizens of Washington County in the interest of more transparency on the proposed Lake Powell Pipeline project.
Today, along with the Utah rivers council and as was ordered by the Utah records committee last Thursday, I am calling for Washington County Water Conservancy District (WCWCD), which serves under the Washington County Commission, to release its draft payment plan.
As of yet, WCWCD has refused to release the model being used to estimate the costs of repayment for the proposed 140 mile long pipeline, from Lake Powell to Washington County.
Our taxpayers and all of the citizens of Washington County have the legal right, as ruled by the Utah Records Committee, to have this information as per the Government Records Access & Management Act, otherwise known as GRAMA. Documents indicate that WCWCD has access to this information, which was contracted for and provided by Applied Analysis of Las Vegas, but is simply refusing to release it, despite the order from the Utah Records Committee.
This project has been going on for over 10 years now and has already cost us taxpayers nearly $30 million! I ask you — as citizens, voters, and taxpayers in Washington County — to also call on WCWCD to release this information to the public so we can all see the math being used to convince us we need this political boondoggle, which by best estimates would cost us taxpayers $6–8 billion once financing is worked in.
We all deserve transparency and honesty in our local elected and appointed officials, and when elected I will work to ensure we have a water board that is held accountable.
RELATED ARTICLES
The Lake Powell Pipeline, Part I: boon or boondoggle
Why I am running for Washington County Commissioner
Cedar City council candidates debate issues at Southern Utah University campus
St. George City Council candidates to speak at Chamber luncheon
