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Show 116 ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF WATER DEVELOPMENT two years, two for four years and two for six years, and all other appointments were for six- year terms. The six- year term was decided upon in order that the Directors of the District should serve beyond the terms of the members of the appointing power and thus that there be as little as possible relationship between the personality of the District Board and the Board of Commissioners and as little as possible relationship between their tenure of office and the vicissitudes of politics. In order also that there be realized in the District Board that continuity of service and experience, that independence and that freedom from political motive essential to long- range planning and policies which the public and the public press demanded and were promised, and which, so far, they have had. Recently, however, the Board of Commissioners of Salt Lake City, for reasons sufficient to it, reduced the term of office to four years. This was the first step in the wrong direction. If the term was to he changed, it ought to have been lengthened. District's Board of Directors Serve Without Pay The members of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Water District serve without compensation. District Controller Reports to Mayor The law requires the Controller of the District to prepare and transmit to the Mayor of the City each year a statement of the District's revenues and expenditures and a statement of the amount of water stored or made available to use. City Has Preferential Right to Water Supply Under the law the City has a preferential right to purchase from the District such part of its water supply as may be required for beneficial use within its limits, and to protect that preferential right the District may not dispose of any part of its supply for use outside of its boundaries except upon such terms as will permit the outside use to be terminated upon one year's notice. City May Avoid District Tax The District is required to afford the Board of Commissioners an opportunity to pay to it each year such amount as it would otherwise be compelled to raise by taxation. District and City Boards Work Together The Board of Directors of the District have invited the members of the Board of Commissioners to attend their meetings whenever they desire, and they furnish them copies of their minutes. From time to time they conduct them over the Project workings. In all matters of general policy they are consulted. Possibility of District Expansion One other problem of general consequence seems worthy of mention and invites public attention. The Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake City includes the same area as that of the municipal corporation of Salt Lake City and, as it now exists, its primary obligation is to serve the interest of that area. It may exercise most of its broad powers wherever |
