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Show I 1 ,1S? L.UL ?- -' - c a ; ' '" - -s- ' uf i fl Redevelopment By MARK D. M1CKELSEN CLEARFIELD Gov. Scott Matheson had upheld a decision by state and county tax administrators favoring lo- wered tax assessments for Clearfields Freeport Center. A DISAPPOINTED the tax commission at the follow-up hearing last summer. AS A RESULT of what Mayor Townley called "the shoddy treatment we received at the appeal hearing, the city council voted to take the matter to the governors office. The mayor, who steps down in January as a result of a November election defeat, told council members, I hope this doesnt become buried in file 13." THE (CLEARFIELD) appraiser did a super job, he said, and has even agreed to back up his findings on the Freeport Center in court. There's no question," he that the figures concluded, that were put together by the State Tax Commission will stand. Stop, Go Ahead Mayor Donal Townley blasted the KAYSVILLE Kaysvilles Downtown Redevelopment Plan came under attack at a public hearing Dec. 10, at the Kaysville Elem. School. Opposition to the plan was in the form of a signed petition signed by landowners in the redevelopment area who want to see the plan placed before city voters. decision last week, saying the governor has invited a cover-u- p whitewash job that results in the residential and commercial taxpayers of Davis County having to pay more. The governors response came several weeks after Mayor Townley to the chief executives office, a series of complaints regarding lowered tax assessments at the Freeport Center. hand-carrie- d, JAMES BROUGH, a local businessman, presented the petition that carried signatures of more than 50 percent of the landowners in the redevelopment area. They asked that the redevelopment plan be placed on a ballot. The petition stalled further action on the plan temporarily until signatures can be checked out and verified and the percentage of the landowners who opposed the plan, tabulated. Agency ofTicals then recessed the hearing. It will continue Dec. 15 at the Kaysville Elem. School. IN HIS letter, Mayor Town-le- y said he pointed out that the independent appraisal obtained by Clearfield city in- dicated that the minimum appraised value of the (Freeport) Center was $100 million, not $26 million as claimed by the Freeport Center. Secondly, the mayor PROPONENTS OF the plan had hoped that the public hearing would clear up questions residents and businessmen might have before tthe adoption and implementation of the plan. Mr. Brough stated he was in agreement with the redevelopment agency on the problems encountered, but he was convinced there were different solutions. He said Redevelopment is a false stimulant the redevelopment is a new taxing unit which gets first priority over private industry in the area. He also protested the power of eminent domain and feared greater control in the hands of the redevelopment agency. I THINK we are giving up freedoms. All we are asking is that we back up and let people take another look at this. Lets give this full exposure and full opportunity to be heard, suggested Mr. Brough. Support came from many residents who want to see Kaysville's Main Street revitalized under a comprehensive plan rather than an occasional piecemeal elTort, business by business. ex- plained that at the same time the Freeport Center was telling the (Utah) Tax Commission that the value was less than $26 million, they applied for and obtained insurance for buildings alone, citing a replacement value of $84 million. THIRDLY, THE mayors letter indicated that the fact that the Freeport Center industrial property is substantially under assessed at $1,000 per acre was highlighted by both Clearfield City and the independent appraiser. The correct figure for ground is more than three times that figure. The governor, in his reply, made no mention of any of the mayor's complaints. IN ADDITION, the chief executive sent Clearfields letter to the state tax commission for review, the very same organization the city asked him to investigate in the first place. In his letter, Gov. Matheson told Mayor Townley that he sent the citys complaints onto Center issue was completed. I FIND it a very thorough and professional analysis of the governor said, adding that the information upholds the validity of the CIA NIELSEN, theater owner, stated the Kaysvilles Main Street is in the worst con- dition he has ever seen it and urged support of the program to get Kaysville's Main Street back on its feet. Local businessman. Robert Boyer, urged those present to support the redevelopment plan which is a result of long study by the redevelopment agency and city officials as an answer to problems within the downtown area. He said. Kaysville has a downtown business pattern that must be changed to attract new investors." ANOTHER PROPERTY owner expressed that this may be Kaysville's last chance to bring a coordinated comprehensive plan for Kaysvilles downtown area and urged, dont lose it, we may never get it back again. The redevelopment staff has spent months working on identifying the market, targeting the area, outlining and latering their proposals at meetings on businessmen and properly owners concerned; listening to suggestions and noting objections. THE FIRST concern of the redevelopment plan is the need for light industry to locate west of 5 to form a stable tax base for the community. Of equal concern are the two areas considered to be blight areas, the central business district and the unfinished shopping center on North Main St. According to Gene Jacobs, staff consultant, Kaysville has the potential for attractive neighborhood shopping centers that will provide the goods and services for Kaysville residents and redevelopment has the tools to make this possible. 1 MR. JACOBS answered questions of attendance concerning tax the use of eminent domain in redevelopment, but prime concern of those in opposition appeared to be the size of the boundaries of the redevelopment district which they considered too large. those in Mr. Jacobs explained that this was in order to make the plan more flexible, also to pinpoint the area of concern, and that these boundaries could be altered, but not increased. Redevelopment officials and staff will look at these boundaries based on opinions expressed at the Dec. np 15 meeting, Council Orders assessment that presently is on record with Davis County." Mayor Townley told city council members Tuesday night that "when the governor elected to send our report to wUVlWllU JL AvaaUiU VvlvJ the tax commission he invited a cover-u- p whitewash job. I BELIEVE it to be natural for the tax commission to try and justify their earlier decision (for a lower tax assessment at the Freeport Center)," the mayor said. Who will But, he added. stick up for the Davis County sition and to question why and urge them to tell the council what they want for Kaysville. DOUG RUSSELL stated "Kaysville is going to dry up commercially unless the tax base can be increased. If our town is to survive commercially we must move ahead on this (redevelopment) program and do it in such a way that Kaysville is no longer a loser, but a winner. Dont let a few land barons line their pockets at the expense of the rest of us. Lyle Barnes asked the audience to look behind what is being said by those in oppo the State Tax Commission where a review of the Freeport the issue, In Kaysville: V Reinstatement Of Tavern Permit taxpayers?" THE FREEPORT Center controversy erupted earlier this year when officials at the industrial complex were able to convice the State Tax Commission to lower the appraised value or buildings and grounds from 27 to $25.3 million. The city appealed the decision, but was turned away by THE KAYSVItlE WEEKLY REFLEX 3 North Main St, Layton, Utah 84041 197 Phona puMtahad Waakty by 451-295- 1 CWffl PUBLISHING CO. J0W STAKE, JR. PtAUStCR Sacond data Poataoa Paid at Layton, Utah SUBSCRIPTION $4.80 par year Out Of Stata $5.50 par year Overseas Subscription In Advanca $15.00 Pay By MARK D. MICKF.LSEN CLEARFIELD - Clear-fiel- d officials signed a resolution last Tuesday night supporting establishment of a county wide program for solid waste management. "interTHE local agreement guarantees Gearfield a seat on the county's solid waste management board and voting power to decide whether or not Davis cities should help fund a $40 million resource recovery for construction near Hill AFB. After all of the cities have signed the agreement, discussions will begin on a tentative location site for the plant, which will be capable of converting garbage into useable steam heat energy. plant-targete- d CLEARFIELD attorney Alf VanWagenen said he reviewed the interlocal agreement carefully and told council members that some policies and procedures governing resource recovery will have to be worked out by the solid w aste management board. The contract allows Clearfield to participate in the "planning stages" of the School Architects Named FARMINGTON Enrollment in Davi County schools just keeps growing, and with that comes a need for additional space. TO THAT end, the district has named five architectural firms to prepare drawings for various additions to elementary and secondary schools. Projects approved by the board of education include: TEN classrooms and a media center for Sunset Junior High School to be designed by Richardson Associates of Salt Lake City. Nine classrooms will be added along with a media center at Syracuse Elementary School by Scott, Louie and Brow ning of Salt Lake. A SIX classroom addition at Centerville Elementary School will be designed by Robert T. Dewey ofBcuntifjl. center and some resource rooms will be added to E.M. Whitesides Elementary School in Layton with design work to be completed by Thomas, Peterson & Hammond of Salt Lake. A media THE NEW Oak Forest Elementary School in Kaysvd le will see architectural work by Carpenter and Stnngham, also of Salt Lake, t'o "YOU CAN withdraw from the (overall) program." Any. Van Wagencn told city officials, prior to the time when bonds are issued for construction of the plant. Councilman Neldon Hamblin said any "legal problems" in the contract w ill have to be corrected prior to the issuance of any bonds. THERE W AS some concern by council members over possible location sites for the plant, one of which is rear Gcarficld. Mayor Donal Townley said the resource recovery plants he has seen are not poor appearing buildings." IT'S JL'ST an industrial building," he assured council members. It has a better appearance than some of the buildings in this town." Councilman Hamblin noted that if the city has some representation on the county board, they will have some sayso as to where the facility wiil be dice and money changing hands" between customers By MARK D. MICKFLSEN - The CLEARFIELD Clearfield City Council has and bar personnel. The individuals admitted a local tavern reopened and the owners beer license reinstated just weeks after a bar tender and several customers were caught gambling on the premises. ordered they had been gambling, the attorney said, and that is the basis why the (beer) license was revoked." HE SAID it is illegal for any licensee to operate or store any gambling devices on the premises. In the Sportsmans Cafe, he said, "the dice were there and were being used.' POLICE CHIEF Daren Green told city council members Tuesday that a beer license held by the Sportsmans Cafe, 23 South State, was revoked shortly after Thanksgiving when police ON THE night of the incident, Chief Green said several attempts w ere made to contact the ow nets of the bar about the violation. When efforts proved futile. Chief Green said the facility was shut down. Kay Miles, one of several ow ners of the bar. told the city officers found gambling dice and money being passed between an employee of the bar and several customers. City ordinance prohibits any ty pe of gambling inside the city limits. council that as soon as he and the others found out what was going on the bar tender was fired. ATTORNEY Alf VanWagenen said the incident occurred Dec. 5 at 11:30 p.m. Police officers received a tip on an ordinance violation and, CITY upon entering the tavern, found evidence of gambling "WE'AE TRIED to cooperate," Mr. Miles said. We're - basically doing w hat the police officers have recommended." He said most "establishments" have a cup of dice and "some peas on hand that are used to determine who in the bar has to pay for the music. WE CERTAINLY dont want to establish a gambling operation over there," he said, adding, "We need to get back into business as quickly as we can." Councilman H. Kay Chandler asked the police chief how serious the problem at the bar is. "Do we need to reinstate them?" he asked. The councilman said he doesn't see any reason why the city should have to cut any local businesses out. WHILE THE city council went along with a motion to reinstate the Sportsman's beer license. Chief Green pointed out that officers on the scene acted properly in revoking the license. According to city ordinance. the chief saiJ, there's no alternative " |