During the Price River Water Resources Meeting that was hosted on Tuesday, the committee discussed the best way to handle the process for finding a consultant for an Environmental Impact Study (EIS).
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) awarded $600,000 last year and requested that a committee be formed, thus the Price River Water Resources Committee was born.
The NRCS then took the money back to begin the process of finding the consultant for the aforementioned EIS. Price City Engineer Russell Seeley stated that the committee has the statement of work that the NRCS sent to consultants. The NRCS chose a company, which remained undisclosed, and were about to make a decision. They then chose the give the money back to Price City, a decision that was made on Dec. 4.
Seeley stated that the committee must come up with a request for proposal and send it out. The money and official agreement with the NRCS has not been obtained yet, but they are in the process. Seeley stated they could try to pre-qualify firms and select from those, or put out the request and look at all firms that submit a proposal.
It was decided that the committee would function under the Price City purchasing policy, which allows either action. The committee debated attempting to find the company name chosen by the NRCS, to send out an RFP or to chose from the pre-qualified list and keep it private.
A preliminary study was conducted at Garley Wash; however, none have been conducted in other areas yet. Seeley stated that he is comfortable with the notion of bringing in a reputable business to comb over the selected areas once more and report the findings.
It was decided, motioned for and approved by the committee to move forward, with remarks from Price City Mayor Mike Kourianos on the decision being the best for the community.