Lake panel will cost

PROVO — Members of the Utah Lake Study Committee voted unanimously Friday to take another step toward forming a lake commission, but the question lingers: Who is willing to pay to have a say?

Mayors representing nine Utah County cities, as well as a county commissioner and representatives from other state governmental entities, agreed unanimously Friday to support an interlocal agreement. Each of the participants on the committee must now gain approval — and funding — from their municipality.

"I think the input of this commission will be very valuable to cities," said American Fork mayor Heber Thompson. "I look at this as a very good resource in keeping balance in all aspects of the lake and all of its environs."

Along with the interlocal agreement, committee members approved a possible cost-sharing formula for all of the participating cities. According to Clyde Naylor, Utah County engineer-surveyor, initial costs of the lake commission would be about $300,000 for the first year, which includes a proposed $83,000 salary for a Utah Lake Management Commission director.

Annual costs of the commission are yet to be determined.

According to the proposed cost formula, Utah County municipalities would be responsible for 50 percent of the costs in the first year. The committee plans to ask the Legislature for 35 percent of the cost, with the Central Utah Water Conservancy District responsible for the remaining 15 percent.

The interlocal agreement has an expiration date of about 50 years, unless a future lake commission decides to extend the agreement. Municipalities are not required to participate throughout the duration of the agreement, but they must give a year's notice before terminating their end of the agreement, Naylor said.

Costs per Utah County municipality were calculated according to percent of population, percent of miles of lake land and percent of land area associated with each municipality. For example, under the current cost-sharing formula, Provo would contribute $33,266.25 to the commission, with Vineyard contributing about $4,000.

If more cities participate, or if the commission is able to garner federal grants, the costs for each city could go down. If fewer cities decide to participate, costs for the remaining municipalities could go up. If cities do not pay their share, they cannot have voting representation on the commission.