ROCK SPRINGS – The city of Rock Springs will start discussing a non-exclusive franchise with Questar Gas at the Tuesday night council meeting starting at 7 p.m.

If approved, the City would grant to Questar Gas a non-exclusive franchise to construct, maintain, and operate in the present and future roads, streets, alleys, highways, and other public rights-of-way within city limits. This includes any property annexed or otherwise acquired by the city after the effective date of the franchise.

This would give Questar Gas the right to erect, construct, equip, and maintain along, over, and under the Streets a system of mains, pipes, laterals and related equipment as are reasonably necessary for supplying natural gas service in accordance with this franchise.

The proposal will have to go through three readings before the council will take action. Tuesday night will be the first reading.

In approved, Questar will pay the city $50 and shall provide gas services by the terms of the franchise. Questar will also pay an occupational tax as a Class F public utility gas company in accordance with Rock Springs Municipal Code

Terms

If approved, the franchise will be for an initial term of 15 years. At the expiration of the initial term, the franchise shall continue in effect upon the same terms and conditions for up to two additional 15-year terms. The City may terminate the franchise at the end of the initial term, or at the end of any renewal period.

All facilities shall be constructed and installed so as to interfere as little as possible with traffic over and public use of the streets and to cause minimum interference with the rights and reasonable convenience of property owners who adjoin any of the streets and Questar Gas shall use reasonable efforts to avoid conflicts with existing utilities.

All Facilities shall be constructed per established gas distribution construction practices and in a manner which protects the facilities from all traffic loads. Without unreasonable additional cost to Questar Gas, all facilities that are installed during the term of the Franchise shall be sited to be visually unobtrusive and to preserve the natural beauty and neighborhood aesthetics within the city limits.

Questar Gas shall repair or replace, at its own expense, any and all rights of way, pavements, sidewalks, street improvements, excavations, other facilities, landscaping, or other improvements, public or private, that it damages in the franchise operations.

Questar Gas shall comply with all city ordinances, regulations, and requirements and shall pay all applicable excavation fees and charges that are or may be prescribed by the city with respect to the construction, maintenance and operation of all facilities.

The City shall have the right to inspect the construction and maintenance of the facilities to ensure the proper compliance with applicable city ordinances, regulations, and requirements.

Upon request by either the City or Questar Gas, as reasonably necessary, Questar Gas and the city shall meet for the purpose of exchanging information and documents regarding construction and other similar work within the city limits, with a view towards coordinating their respective activities in those areas where such coordination may prove mutually beneficial.

Any information received by the City from Questar Gas that contains or relates to Questar Gas’s confidential or proprietary information, including but not limited to information regarding future capital improvements that may involve land acquisition shall be treated with confidentiality upon request to the extent that the city may lawfully do so.