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Veil of seo% cy lifted on proposed ditch water sale <br />http://www.chieftain.com/print.php3?story=I <br />purposes, had been dissolved by the board's vote. And he reiterated that no binding decisions had been <br />made behind closed doors under the agreement. <br />Also at Thursday's meeting, Arveschoug announced that Bob Hamilton had been hired as water resources <br />manager for the conservancy district, and would begin work Sept. 4. A professional engineer from <br />California who originally is from the Arkansas Valley, Hamilton will be paid approximately $62,000 a <br />year. <br />The bulk of the meeting was taken up by two presentations about the conditions under which Aurora <br />might participate in the district's preferred storage options plan for reservoir enlargement and <br />continuation of the "if and when" contracts that enable Aurora to store water in Fry -Ark Project facilities. <br />"The (district) board earlier this year took the position that the Bureau of Reclamation doesn't have <br />authority to make contracts with Aurora (involving project space)," Arveschoug said. "There's been no <br />decision about that so far. <br />"We have for months talked with Aurora about what a possible remedy might look like. The district <br />board has decided nothing on this." <br />Under Aurora's draft proposal, the authorizing federal legislation would be amended to allow the Bureau <br />of Reclamation to contract with Aurora on a multi -year basis for use of Fry -Ark facilities, and "if and <br />when" storage contracts would be permitted until Aurora develops enlargement space. <br />Aurora would make a buy -in payment of $1.5 million to the conservancy district - $1 million up front <br />and 10 annual payments of $50,000. <br />Aurora would pay an additional $10 per acre -foot charge on the contracted storage space. <br />Aurora would be able to participate up to a maximum of 8,000 acre -feet of enlarged space. <br />Under this proposal, Aurora's water would be the first to spill. <br />Arveschoug said the district thinks there must be greater compensation by Aurora. <br />A special board meeting tentatively was set for Aug. 30, and Arveschoug said he and Kemper would try <br />to arrange a meeting between Aurora representatives and the district board soon. <br />It is hoped an agreement can be reached at the September board meeting. <br />©1996 -2000 The pueblo Chieftain Online <br />2 of 2 8/21/01 1:31 PM <br />