LOGAN – At their last regular meeting of the year on Dec. 3, Logan Public Works Director Paul Lindhardt gave the members of the Logan Municipal Council a brief overview of plans for a public meeting later this week to explain the city’s proposed First Dam Pipeline project.
That gathering set for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5 at the Logan City Hall.
Right off the top, Lindhardt clarified that the Dec. 5 meeting will not be a public hearing over which the council members will preside to solicit residents’ opinions. Instead, that meeting will be an opportunity for city residents to learn more about the proposed project and interact with city/contract engineers and planners.
Lindhardt went on to explain that the meeting will first feature a detailed presentation of the project’s scope in the Municipal Council Chambers of City Hall, followed by a question and answer session.
After that, attendees will be invited to view project displays in the nearby City Conference Room and ask additional questions of city/contract engineers.
As Lindhardt explained, the scope of the proposed project will include construction of a 10-million gallon water storage tank near First Dam and a large diameter transmission waterline to convey water from Logan Canyon to areas west of Main Street (Highway 89/91).
Additional distribution water mains will also be constructed to provide redundance to areas east of Main Street.
Significant improvements to the Canyon Road streetscape will include plans to install curbs and gutters, plus a sidewalk, park strip and bike path.
City officials say those primary improvements to 300 North and Canyon Road will stretch from 1500 East to 200 West.
Logan officials say that the project is needed to improve citywide water quality and delivery; to meet new state requirements for water system capacity; and to meet current and future drinking water and fire suppression needs.
The city’s proposed plans are opposed by the so-called Canyon Road Coalition, an ad hoc citizens group, whose members are expected to turn out in force for the public meeting on Dec. 5.
The city’s plan calls for the removal of century old ash trees along Canyon Road. The Canyon Road Coalition is determined to save those trees, protect the stability of the hillside above Canyon Road and preserve the community of the Island neighborhood.
The group has also collected nearly 3,500 names on a petition opposing the project. A spokesman for the group reminded the members of the council on Dec. 3 that the number of signatures on that petition exceeds the number of votes that any of them received in the last municipal election.
The city has been working with J-U-B Engineers for three years to plan and develop the project.
Lindhardt added that city officials are hoping that residents will submit their questions prior to the public meeting by going online to logantank@jub.com or by calling 435-258-7302.
In addition to attending the public meeting in person, residents can also watch remotely at http://bit.ly/FirstDamTankMeeting.
The Logan City Hall is located at 290 North, 100 West.