Aurora OKs Otero Water Agreement: Pueblo Chieftain

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Otero County, Aurora reach deal http://www.chieftain.com/print/tuesday/news/articles/Ri3.htrn The Pueblo Chieftain Online Select file then print to print this article. P lish Date Tuesday October 30, 2001 roposed water sale Ote County, Aurora reach deal By MARY JEAN PORTER The Pueblo Chieftain The Otero County Commissioners on Monday signed an agreement with the City of Aurora on issues related to past and proposed sales of Rocky Ford Ditch water. The agreement was on the Aurora City Council's meeting agenda Monday night, and the city utilities department had requested the council take action on it, said Doug Kemper, acting director of utilities for Aurora. Under the agreement, Aurora will make payments in lieu of taxes for 90 years on land that would be dried up in the proposed sale of 288 shares of the Rocky Ford Ditch. Aurora also will pay the first $125,000 of Otero County's participation in the feasibility and study portion of the Preferred Storage Options Plan to enlarge Pueblo Reservoir. The Aurora City Council also was requested to act Monday on an intergovernmental agreement with the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District regarding Aurora's use of excess storage space in the Fryingpan - Arkansas Project. The Aurora - conservancy district IGA was accepted by the Southeastern district board of directors at its Oct. 18 meeting and board president Ralph Adkins was authorized to sign it on the condition the Aurora City Council approved both agreements at its Oct. 29 meeting. Barry Shioshita, Otero County administrator, said Aurora came away from the Oct. 18 meeting with a new sense of urgency, and the agreement was basically finished a week later. The Otero commissioners considered it over the weekend and signed it Monday. "The board (of commissioners) wanted to note that Steve Arveschoug (Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District manager) was extremely helpful," Shioshita said. "After one not too particularly fruitful phone conversation last week, he was on the phone 20 minutes later with Doug Kemper trying to work things out. And I know the commissioners are grateful to the district board for putting the stipulation on signing the IGA that an agreement be reached with Otero County." Shioshita said some parts of the agreement "could be better," but it is good in light of the fact Aurora originally maintained it didn't have to provide any mitigation at all to Otero County under the law. Kemper said he thinks the agreement will serve Otero County. "I think it's reflective of the reality we're dealing with today," he said. "In order to accomplish water transfers, you need to consider the impacts of the transfers, and I think this does that." 1 of 2 10/31/013:16 PM