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Show Tax Changes Hurt might be cheaper to sell that vacant land you were thinking of farming... It DAVIS NEWS JOURNAL 197 Nortti Main. Layton, Utah 84041 Phone 544-913- 3 NUMBER TWENTY-FIV- VOLUME E By TOM BUSSELBERG Journal News Editor LAYTON Laytons not only been without a library of its own for well over a year but it could soon be without its own cemetery, as well. ALTHOUGH SOME area residents probably havent heard of the small cemetery that borders Highway 232, or Hill Field Road and about 2650 North, 300 or so others are being asked to decide the future of Lake View Memorial Estates. , y The nearly old cemetery, operated for the last several Lake View Cemetyears by the ery Owners Assoc., has shrunk to only about 3 Vi acres, is adjoined on the south by a convenience store and on the west and north by a mobile home park. THERES NO where to grow and no money to continue operating whats left of the cemetery that once had nearly 3,000 plots and covered several times the current acreage, some board members interviewed by this reporter agree. In a letter that was to be mailed out within the last several days, plot owners were reminded that Association is battling many problems as a result of the bankruptcy of the previous owner. WE HAVE attempted to interest other cemetery associations, funeral homes and the City of Layton in the idea of taking over the operation, but have not received any favorable response, the letter, signed by Assoc. Pres. Alfred W. Barney continues. In light of these difficulties and the insolvency of the Association, we have examined all known alternatives and can find no feasible basis for successfully carrying out the objectives. In order to do this, we would require more funds than we are able to generate. THE LETTER refers to a $25,000 endowment care fund mandated by the state to obtain licensing required to sell lots, along with necessary additional equipment and personnel. "We are, therefore, considering discontinuing operations; reburials in local, licensed and endowed cemeteries; and the liquidations of the property. This will not require any payments from you, the letter, written by Connie Delight, association continues. second IF THIS (sale) were accomplished, each owner would receive his share of the net proceeds from the sale, it goes on, with recipients asked to reply by Nov. 1. The letter also refers to involvement of the Ogden Clinic entering the picture after they made a real estate loan to the a John Haycock who previous owner some association members say apparently quarter-of-a-centur- non-prof- it , t, SEVENTY-NIN- - 546-473- 5 Voice Of Davis County E (USPS WEDNESDAY, OCT. 5, 1983 24 TAGES 1492-6000- ) skipped town. The clinic was forced to foreclose when Mr. Haycock defaulted and has been using its own funds to pay James Nichol to maintain the grounds. THESE FACTS were verified by Mr. Barney, Mrs. Delight and Jacqueline Williams, association secretary, who with her husband, Lamar are plot owners. "We were all just owners, she said, purchasing their plots about 10 years ago, under the impression the whole area that now includes the mobile home park and store would remain as a cemetery an area that included several gardens or plat sections, now reduced to but one. Saying the further we go the more tangled up it gets, Mrs. Williamson recalls how she and her husband bought the plots, thinking the cemetery was associated with a national company such as are several Wasatch Front cemeteries. "Whoever they (owners) were sold it to private indi- viduals, then did a second time to a Mr. Haycock who took out bankruptcy. THERE TN ball sat with the Ogden Clinic, actually working as a retirement asso- ciation for an investment with several doctors there who must be looking at retirement in 10 years or less who arent going to want to make the cemetery business a long-ter- m affair, Mr. Barney, who has four relatives buried there, emphasized. In spite of that, Mrs. Williamson quickly noted theyve (clinic) been really good, fair people. I don't think theres been any want for gain on their part with actual business carried on now by the First Security Bank of Utah, clinic retirement fund trustee. MEETINGS WERE held about two years ago attracting hundreds of interested area residents, and at that time, Layton City officials were asked about possible interest in taking over the cemetery. Given a negative vote then, that same feeling persists now, at least through comments by Mayors Administrator Randall Heaps, who cited the biggest problem as not the location wed want. While adding he didnt know where thatd be he reflected sentiment expressed two years ago by city interests that it should be privately operated. I THINK we ought to have one, but I dont think the city should operate it that costs more, he said, reflecting both his personal opinion and what he felt the councils reaction was two years ago. Were all for a cemetery, but we want it to be pri- vate. Many Layton residents buy plots in the Kaysville City Cemetery, although some e Cemetrefer to it as the to admit is ery, a title that Mr. Heaps quick Layton-Kaysvill- isnt appropriate and that Kaysville City Its Administrator John Thacker quickly puts to rest. LIKE IT says on the (cemetery) wall its the Kaysville City Cemetery. We don't want to have to fill it with the residents of other cities. In addition to related fees, general part of Kaysvilles fund goes to support the facility. Thats why we have an in city and fee, he added, indicating further, Id be in favor of a Layton cemetery, of private or public operation. MR. HEAPS admitted Kaysville has never asked for financial or other support by Layton City, adding that as far as he knew about the only Layton City support mightve come when it supplied flags for placement by the Veterans of Foreign Wars in the past. Layton, the second largest city in Davis County, stands practically alone in its neardistinction of having no cemetery. Even small West Point and not much larger Clinton and Syracuse have cemeteries, for instance. WE ALL feel good about the proposal, Mrs. Williamson says, admitting it was hard to swallow at first suggestion. But as the letter and comments reaffirm, the decision hasnt come easily or quickly. Ve want the feelings of the other owners and then well probably not do anything until at least the first of the year, she went out-of-ci- ty WOT FORGOTTEN Cemetery (personally). Weve long since realized weve lost everything but the ground, he adds, speaking of $ ,500 that went for an already-in-plac- e double headstone vault, and related items, with a somewhat similar dilemma facing many others. 1 e WITHOUT staff, other than e Mr. Nichols efforts, its been difficult to carry on, with board members having to stake out plots when needed and arrange with a local contractor to dig the graves. For now, everythings in limbo, Mr. Barney reiterates, including interments. full-tim- part-tim- IN FACT, the association isnt allowed to sell any lots or actually run an cemetery unless it were through a branch organization and after forking out the $25,000 to be placed in an endowment fund money association members don't have and cant blame others for not providing. g Indicating hed already received a few calls one that they dont like the idea proposed, he said again, the plots ought to be in a licensed, endowed cemetery, something Lake Views sign plainly cates isnt the case there. indi- pay everyone. All contacted said they believe the propthan erty could generate a good price other as a cemetery. Clearfield reMR. BARNEY, aa sident now living in Roy, said only about 80 are interred there, adding that initially, it was somewhat distatesful when we talked about moving the bodies. But now, after evident long hours of reflection, he adds, as soon go to the Clearfield Id MRS. DELIGHT also reiterated the sion didnt come lightly. We tried to save it but it was way too small for Layton. It would've been nice had much of the original property not slipped" into other hands, she added. latives) are. ar interr-menAlthough down to 3 12 acres and virtually closed to future and facing an uncertain future, Laytons only cemetery is not it association maintains the grounds on a forgotten, as basis. regular ts just Motivations Topic For Kiwanian Meet The Kiwanis Club of Layton meeting at the Valley View Golf Course Club House for their regular Saturday breakfast meeting hear Gary Cutler, Layton optometrist, speak regarding motivation in work and business. HIS MAIN Thesis was that performance in any human endeavor improves when performance is measured. Furthermore, when performance is measured, and reported the deci- rate of improvement in- creases. Dr. Cutler gave examples from his own business experience to illustrate his point. Dr. Cutler proposed that the Kiwanis Club apply these motivation principles in its activities. He presented forms for charts and graphs to measure performance of club members in various areas. Some areas covered by this set of graphs and charts are meeting attendance, recruitment of new members, etc. Layton Fire Dept. Sets Open House LAYTON HE FIGURES about $650 might be needed to arrange each grave transfer, that sum initially paid by the clinic and later reimbursed through the property sale. Emphasizing the board doesnt want lawsuits, he said at least a majority of plot owners will hopefully give approval. I think if we get a majority in favor, we'll probably run it before a judge so he can (legally) clear it. Some (graves) are of children and spouses of military, long since moved, and we dont know where they (re- IF WE CAN get all the folks to go along, we could pay the memorial fees and have interements at the site of their choosing. Mr. Williamson says, adding, once it (the cemetery) is cleared, we could sell it and ( not often you hear of a cemetery folding up and moving, but 300 plot owners at Lake View Memorial Estates, where interred bodies would be moved to loved ones desired cemeteries elsewhere at, its hoped, no cost to thats among the options being queried to TO CLOSE GATES? on. non-prof- 546-473- 5 Published weekly by CLIPPER PUBLISHING CO. John Stahie. Jr.Publisher Entered and Second Class Postage Paid at Layton Utah Subscripton - 5450 pe' year The Layton City Fire Department will be commemorating Fire Prevention Week with a series of open houses and demonstrations. EVERY EVENING Oct. the fire station will be open between the hours of 6 and 9 10-1- p.m. On Monday evening there will be demonstrations on home exit fire drills. COOKING FIRES will be the topic of the Tuesday evening open house. The Magic of Fire, a fascinating presentation on how flammable liquids burn and what makes wood burn will be the featured topic for Wednes day evening. PEOPLE visiting the fire station on Thursday evening can see Layton's firemen demonstrating fire fighting skills. On Friday evening the firemen will discuss using fire extinguishers with live fires. SATURDAY, Oct. 15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. there will be an open house at the fire station. All of the above items will be on display. Laytons fire fighting equipment will be open for public inspection. Scout groups, school classes and any organization is invited to call the fire department any time and arrange for special tours or demonstrations. dmg |