Tooele council cuts water-rights depletion rate for new homes to 60%, approves plant contingency and fleet purchases
October 7, 2026, 7:00 p.m. · City Hall Council Chambers, 90 North Main Street
At its Oct. 7 business meeting the Tooele City Council voted 5-0 on all items. It lowered the interior water depletion requirement for new development from 100% to 60%, over a resident's request to wait for an ongoing water study, approved first-quarter budget amendments, a $500,000 contingency on the water reclamation plant upgrade, a $78,242 paving change order, personnel policy changes and about $930,000 in building, equipment and vehicle purchases. These are draft minutes from the Nov. 4 packet.
From the draft minutes. Updated November 3, 2026.
In brief
6 items came up for a decision or discussion: 6 approved.
The agenda records 7 dollar amounts, the largest $500,000.
This write-up links 1 source document.
6 members were present.
Residents raised water supply and growth and data centers.
The previous City Council meeting was on September 16, 2026: Tooele council denies Sensitive Area Overlay removal, approves East Valley water study
The next one was on October 7, 2026: Tooele council leans toward a flat $12.68 sewer fee for about 160 septic properties near sewer lines
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 6 · Budget
FY 2026-27 budget amendments (Resolution 2026-74), public hearing
Approved · 5-0
Finance Director Shannon Wimmer said most first-quarter amendments carry over projects not finished in fiscal 2026. Added wastewater plant needs of $190,000 for three pumps and a surface aerator, a screw press rebuild and extra sludge hauling, plus a $300,000 dump truck, come from the plant's fund balance. No one spoke at the hearing. Approved 5-0.
- Budget$190,000
- Purchase$300,000
Item 7 · City code
Water rights depletion for interior use in new development (Ordinance 2026-26), public hearing
Approved · 5-0
The council cut the required depletion rate for interior water use in new development from 100% to 60% while keeping the 0.25 acre-foot per dwelling unit depletion requirement, which lowers the water rights developers must convey from about 0.45 to 0.27 acre-foot per home. City Engineer Paul Hansen said the city has since acquired water rights covering evaporation from its 17 reclamation ponds; Public Works Director Nathan Farrer said recent studies show enough water rights for current needs through 2040. Resident Karen Poch urged waiting for the ongoing East Valley water source and water rights study. Approved 5-0.
Item 8 · Other
Policies and procedures manual amendments (Ordinance 2026-28)
Approved · 5-0
Human Resources Director Kami Perkins said the update raises the tenure service bonus from $500 to $1,000 retroactive to July 1, 2026, raises annual education reimbursement from $1,000 to $2,000, starts automatic 2% enrollment in the 457 retirement plan with 1% annual increases unless employees opt out, and changes short-term military leave to 11 days per calendar year. Approved 5-0.
Item 9 · Contract
Water Reclamation Facility upgrades: $500,000 contingency, COP Construction (Resolution 2026-75)
Approved · 5-0
Public Works Director Nathan Farrer asked for a $500,000 contingency on the COP Construction contract so unexpected costs would not require returning to the council. Approved 5-0.
- Change order$500,000 to COP Construction, LLC
Item 10 · Contract
Roadway maintenance change order No. 2, Black Forest Paving (Resolution 2026-76)
Approved · 5-0
The $78,242 change order adds waterline-patch repairs from two recent breaks and a section of American Way to the 2026 roadway maintenance contract so they are done before paving season ends. Approved 5-0.
- Change order$78,242 to Black Forest Paving, LLC
Item 11 · Contract
Invoices and purchase orders
Approved · 5-0
The council approved $30,000 for a cemetery maintenance pole building, $91,378 for an articulating lift (with an $18,000 deposit), $50,551.15 for aquatics center overhead lights, three Toyota Camrys for police investigations at $89,859, a $66,609 Ford F-150, a $218,745 Mack dump truck for the water department, two GMC Sierra 3500 dump trucks at $155,000 for streets and three police Ford Explorers at $225,796.86. Approved 5-0.
- Purchase$91,378 to UP Equip USA
- Purchase$218,745 to Mountain West Truck Center
- Purchase$225,796.86 to Utilitac
What residents said
Water supply and growthData centers
Karen Poch asked the council to wait for the East Valley water source and water rights study before cutting the depletion requirement. Roger Cederholm raised data center concerns; the chair said the council was not considering a data center and a separate county planning commission meeting was addressing the topic. A county resident's emailed letter asked for current independent groundwater data before decisions on large new water demand.