Commission approves 37.7% county cost share for 30‑inch sewer upsizing at BZI industrial park

The Iron County Commission approved a cost‑share agreement to reimburse part of an upsized 30‑inch sewer line installed at the BZI industrial park.

Engineering staff said the upsizing was done during developer construction and that the total upsizing cost is about $1,200,000; the proposed split assigns 37.7% of that upsizing cost to the county and 63.3% to Cedar City. "So we are looking at how to best engineer, design, and build a system," the county engineer said in presenting the memorandum of understanding and the split. The MOU includes a multi‑year reimbursement schedule to repay the developer for work already completed.

Commissioners pressed for safeguards to ensure local taxpayers are not left bearing infrastructure costs that developers or future PID (public infrastructure district) levies should cover. One commissioner raised concerns that PID levies and inland‑port tax increment mechanics could result in county funds becoming a de facto giveaway to developers unless MOUs and the forthcoming capital‑facilities plan make repayment paths explicit. The engineer said the county will develop a capital facilities plan to identify where impact fees and developer contributions should apply and to require dry sewer installation in phases so future lot/builders bear appropriate costs.

The motion to approve the cost‑share percentage for the 30‑inch sewer upsizing was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

What’s next: staff will deliver the MOU and related documents to commissioners for review of the lift‑station upsizing split (a separate item), and will continue work on the capital facilities plan to track impact‑fee receipts and expected reimbursements.