CNN to join residents in taking a close look at water-saving efforts in Ivins

Ivins Mayor Chris Hart speaks to residents at Ivins City Hall during one of three community meetings concerning a new general plan for the city in the wake of a survey of residents, Ivins, Utah, Jan. 12, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

IVINS — Efforts to save water in Ivins are going under a national microscope, and local residents will get their own look at a town hall Wednesday night. 

CNN reporter Bill Weir seen in an undated publicity photo | Photo courtesy CNN, St. George News

At last week’s Ivins City Council meeting, Ivins Mayor Chris Hart announced he did a walk through town on camera with CNN climate change reporter Bill Weir for a piece he is preparing about how Southern Utah is dealing with the drought. 

Hart said Weir had seen highlights of town halls conducted by Ivins in January, specifically when Hart spoke about the dwindling supply of water.

“I only hope and pray I represented the city and county appropriately,” Hart said. 

There is at least one sign that Weir, who was previously known as a host of ABC’s “Good Morning America” and “Nightline,” plans a positive portrayal of Southern Utah. In an Instagram post last week while in town, Weir called local efforts the “model of smart water management.” At the same time, he was less kind to the folks up north by comparing local efforts with those at the Great Salt Lake he called a “horrifying ticking bomb.” 

It’s unclear when CNN will run Weir’s piece that includes Ivins.

In the meantime, Ivins residents will get their own up close and personal talk with Hart as well as local water leaders and experts in the first of follow-up town halls that the city is calling “Talkabouts.”

With the Ivins City Council chambers being standing-room only for the January town halls, the Talkabouts will be held in the auditorium of Rocky Vista University, which has a larger capacity and several microphones between seats. 

File photo shows water marks and a separation between the darker and white-washed rocks on the shore, which show how the water level has gone down in Ivins Reservoir, Ivins, Utah, Dec. 15, 2021 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

Wednesday night’s Talkabout, scheduled to start at 7 p.m., will be the first of three planned at the same location. The March 22 town hall will focus on local housing needs, followed by an April 19 talk about the city’s finances. 

Ivins Council member Mike Scott noted that even though the Talkabouts will take place in a university auditorium, it’s not meant to be local leaders lecturing residents.

“This is not a lecture,” Scott said in an e-mail to St. George News. “It is meant to be very interactive with a lot of resident participation.

Wednesday’s water Talkabout will allow residents to pose questions and get answers from  Washington County Water Conservancy District General Manager Zach Renstrom. Also on the panel will be conservationist Ed Andrechak with Conserve Southwest Utah and water engineering expert Aaron Anderson with Bowen Collins.

Those not able to attend in person can watch it and participate via Zoom at this link.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

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