The Toquerville City Council on Tuesday authorized city staff to finalize agreements that will extend city water service to four properties in the Anderson Junction area and placed a $20,000 cap on city contributions for the work.

City staff said the Washington County Water Conservancy District has agreed to supply materials for the mains and that a local resident/contractor (Gilbert) volunteered to perform construction work. In exchange, affected property owners would dedicate a portion of roadway to the city to provide a continuous public right-of-way for the new water main. The city would cover the cost of fire hydrants and meter laterals for properties without existing service. The district has already paid engineering expenses and guaranteed a materials price through the end of the year, staff said.

Council directed the mayor to work with staff and the district to finalize the construction services agreement, property dedications and a memorializing agreement with the district, and capped city expenditures related to the contracts at $20,000. Council also instructed staff to prepare the contracts and return them for execution. City attorneys said the contracts would include standard terms and could be structured to limit the city's exposure and define the material and labor responsibilities of each party.

Council members described the plan as a low-cost way to bring treated water to residents whose private wells have been unreliable; staff noted the arrangement would require the owners to pay impact fees and dedicate right-of-way as part of the agreements.