Duchesne council approves Roy Park playground, water controls and two raw water sales

The Duchesne City Council voted unanimously on Sept. 22 to buy new playground equipment for Roy Park, upgrade its water and sewer controls and sell raw water to two companies, according to adopted minutes. Council Member Bryce Hamilton was absent, and each recorded vote had four members in favor. ^[1]

The city budgeted about $300,000 for new park equipment, originally to cover improvements at two parks. The minutes say the Roy Park design came out of several meetings, including a public hearing where residents asked for a larger, more interactive playground that keeps swings. The equipment is available through a state contract from Big T Recreation. Council Member Jason Baker moved to accept the proposal and Council Member Cody Ivie seconded. ^[1]

Council members asked whether a smaller structure could free money for a second park. They were told that lowering the structure's height would save only about $20,000 and that removing the shade feature would save about $15,000. Professional installation was estimated at about $65,000, with completion expected in late February or early March 2027. The council kept wood chips as the surfacing, because rubberized surfacing would cost substantially more up front and about $10,000 a year to maintain. ^[1]

The city was not awarded a grant for the project and plans to apply again when the application period opens in January, possibly for the Main Street park. The minutes say the existing Roy Park equipment is roughly 23 to 25 years old, and the city was advised not to resell or reuse it. ^[1]

On the water and sewer controls, Cole Harris, speaking for the Public Works Department, said the city's current technology is outdated and spread among different systems. The Dorsett Controls proposal came to about $73,000, against an expected $40,000 to $50,000, and Mayor Deborah Herron said money could be moved within the Public Works budget. Harris estimated about 18 weeks, mostly waiting on equipment, with installation possible in winter. Baker moved to accept the contract and authorize the mayor to sign, and Council Member Mark Nielsen seconded. ^[1]

The council also renewed an existing raw water sales contract with Integrated Water Management LLC for 20,000 barrels, with no change in amount. It approved a new raw water contract with a company the minutes call WEM, expanded in the minutes as Wind Energy Management. The WEM contract allows sales of up to 17,000 barrels per day through Oct. 15 and up to 77,000 barrels per day after that date. ^[1]

Herron said water flows through the Starvation system at about 10 cubic feet per second and that not all of it is used at the city's treatment plant. Council members discussed protecting the city's existing water rights and the state reporting required for the sales. ^[1]

The council passed Resolution 2026-09 creating a Duchesne City Airport Committee, after cutting its membership from seven to five to avoid tie votes and a shortage of volunteers. It accepted a financial policy of about 51 pages, prepared with help from Nate Zilles of the Uintah Basin Association of Governments. It also approved a J-U-B Engineers task order for the environmental review of airport hangar development, covered by an existing budget item of about $10,000 a year. ^[1]

Herron said she would get updated quotes for LiDAR scanning of the city's cemeteries, after the council noted unaccounted-for space at Strawberry Cemetery. An earlier estimate was about $2,200 an acre. No action was taken. Harris also reported that the new water main near 650 North was being pressurized and tested, with about three tie-ins left. ^[1]