At the advice of legal council, Willard City has accepted a stipulation agreement that allowed power giant Rocky Mountain Power to resume construction on Monday.

“But that doesn’t mean we are pleased with the location of the line,” said Mayor Ryan TIngey.

After accepting the agreement the mayor told RMP he would take this issue to the legislator.

“Small communities should not have to bear the burden of the state,” he said.

Fiscal responsibility to the citizens of Willard was the deciding factor for the council. RMP was suing Willard for the cost of the entire project, 850 million dollars, and the council could not let the community endure that responsibility.

Modifications to the stipulation agreement state that all access roads and structure pads will be restored and re-vegetated in the same manner. This has always been part of the conditional use permit, but is reiterated in the stipulation agreement, said Scott Archibald of Sunrise Engineering.

“This was always part of the agreement, but RMP wanted only to leave the roads and not re-vegetate them,” he said. “This agreement makes sure re-vegetation will happen.”

The agreement also dismissed complaints and released Willard from all claims.

“The community needs to understand the council did everything to stop these lines,” Tingey said.

And, he said, the stipulation agreement will protect the health and safety of Willard residents.

The agreement also protects water sources, and holds RMP accountable for slope analysis as required. It also states that temporary erosion controls shall be installed immediately after the initial disturbances, and properly maintained on a daily basis.