MOORPARK : City, Water Board Debate Moving Pipe

Moorpark officials are planning to attend a meeting of the Camrosa Water District board Thursday to decide who will pay the cost of relocating a pipe that has held up construction of the planned Tierra Rejada Road redesign.

For nearly three years, the city has been trying to expand and repave the road from two lanes to four between California 23 and Spring Road.

But the city and the water district have been at odds over who would pay the estimated $200,000 to move the pipe.

City officials want Camrosa to share the cost of moving the pipe, but Camrosa officials say the project would not benefit the district.

“They don’t want to pay to move the pipeline,” Mayor Paul Lawrason said. “We’re in a time right now when we can’t really just say, ‘Oh, well, we’ll do it and worry about getting our money later.’ Every dollar is precious.”

Camrosa General Manager Richard Hajas said the district is willing to make some contribution to the pipe relocation.

“We’re trying to make the whole thing as equitable as possible.”

The city sued the water district and four other utilities over the road reconstruction a year and a half ago, Moorpark Councilman Scott Montgomery said.

Since then, settlements or stipulations have been negotiated in all but the Camrosa suit.