Dry Wash project closer

by David Boyle
The expansion of Dry Wash Reservoir is coming closer to becoming a reality according to reports at the July 6 meeting of the Blanding City Council.
The project is expected to be awarded to Harward & Rees Construction of Loa, UT, as they were the low bidders on the project.
City officials report that the expansion is waiting on the final environmental impact review. The review completion date is projected to be July 25.
City officials hope that the project can get underway as soon as possible after that time.
Dry Wash Reservoir, located north of Blanding, was drained this year so work on the project could begin. It is estimated that the project will take 180 workdays to complete.
If the expansion isn’t done before an expected winter break, then another year will go need to pass without runoff collected in Dry Wash Reservoir.
Some council members expressed frustration with the impact of the environmental study on the timeliness of the expansion.
The city also received a report on the Fourth of July celebration in Blanding.
The council is grateful to Robert and Relva Bowring, for their leadership role in the celebration.
Bowring and the council report the success is due largely to delegation within the committee.
They report that the whole community contributing really made things run smoothly. The city hopes for volunteers to return, as well as more volunteers in the future.
The Blanding Wellness Center was popular during the July 4 weekend, and the report is that revenue is up.
The Wellness Center may offer weekly passes in the future, as many visiting during the week of the celebration wanted to visit multiple times while not having to buy a monthly pass. This proposal may also increase revenue at the center.