OCR Text |
Show Better Services With Annexation, Say Proponents (Editors Note: This is the second series on the pros and in a two-pacons of merging East Layton with Layton. Today, merger proponents explain why they think the two cities should be combined.) more out of economics than anything else, he said. The question is, What am I going to get for my tax dollars? Now East Layton only raises enough revenue to provide the bare services, and it contracts out for a lot of those, EAST LAYTON East Layton is not Memmott pointed out. Each person probably pays more in sales tax to big enough to support the quality and Layton than in property taxes to East quantity of services its residents require, according to those who favor Layton. East Layton citizens do not now merging the city with Layton. receive services in return for the sales I feel our city is just too small to taxes they pay in Layton, and thats one of the biggest things merger will change, he indicated. The only place East Layton can go is with Layton, since it encircles it (see map), he said. It appears the only reason theyre separated now is because of a squabble between families over water rights Residents of what is now East Layton, in need of a water system more than 40 years ago, asked to join Layton but were turned down. They built their own water system as a result, using volunteer labor, and in 1936 formed the city of East Layton. Through the years, resentment at the rebuff by Layton has lingered and still exists to this day. With the rapid growth of East Layton, however, a larger and larger percentage of the residents are newcomers who have no emotional stake in keeping East Layton a separate city. Henderson admitted that the battle between proponents and opponents of KIM HENDERSON the merger is to some degree the newcomers versus the oldtimers, but he Merger Proponent maintain what our people would like to said, I think theres some softening of have, merger drive leader Kim opinion (on the part of longtime Henderson said. Were frustrated residents) as well. because we only have residential taxes to draw on. It was believed that opposition by older residents might stymie efforts to Two reasons people give for not merging are to keep East Layton a obtain the needed number of signatures bedroom community and to retain a on a petition requesting annexation to voice in local government, Henderson Layton, since 51 percent of the citizens noted. But if we remain a small representing 30 percent of East bedroom community, the only thing we Laytons total land value must sign to can do is broaden the tax base. Who make the petition valid. needs commercialism in East Layton? However, indications are that proI think we have a better chance of merger forces will be able to meet the maintaining the residential area if we petition requirements, according to n become a part of Layton. We Henderson. it if were separate, because His group had gotten about 400 then well have to get big stores. signatures representing at least 30 " "What benefits do I have for staying percent of the total property value but Henderson asked. were told one signature per household in East Layton? We all shop Layton stores, we all is not enough, and are now going back to obtain the requested two signatures spend money in the new (Layton Hills) mall right and left . . . and at this point, from each household, he said. receive no. benefits. Based on the number of signatures John Memmott, another prominent already obtained, Henderson indicated he is confident the battle to obtain the supporter of merger with Layton, uses minimum amount of . required basically the same arguments. The decision (to support merging) is signatures will be won. rt ... Lakeside Re iew, October 23, 1930, Page Merger Public 1 Another question expected to be discussed tonight is the matter of creating special tax districts in East Layton to pay for major improvements to such facilities as roads. East Layton Councilman Myron R. Nalder, claiming Layton City Planner Scott Carters comments a few months ago that East Layton would have to become a special tax district to pay for road improvements didnt sit too well with the citizenry, asked the Layton council if it agreed with Carters assessment. I think thats more Scotts thinking, responded Layton Mayor Lewis G. Shields. Weve discussed that as one way. Were not going to be able to come up and redo all the roads, and were not going to take all of Laytons funds and Wood improve all the roads now, noted, but he said East Laytons roads would be brought into Laytons road plan if the cities merge, and that they would be treated like any other roads. We dont want any big brother-stepbroththing, he said. We want to be fair. Shields, quoting from a report prepared by the head of Laytons street department, said merger would give I dont think were fully ready to Layton an additional 17 percent of answer now," Councilman John A. roads to service and that the increase in Baker said. Weve batted it around a roads and sewer lines would have the little to see whats fair to Layton City. greatest impact on the area. East Layton Mayor Delyn Yeates Whats important is the amount of your defended the condition of his citys indebtedness. East Layton owes about three-quarte- roads, saying, I think our streets are of a million dollars in bond in good shape. East Layton obtained a commitment payments, East Layton Councilman from Layton to place two East Layton Neal Scheel said. Layton Councilman Lynn Wood councilman on Laytons council as noted, You seem to be solvent. If you voting members until the next Layton can pay them with your tax base, then election if such an action is legal. Im sure we can with our tax base. Layton City Attorney Bruce Barton By NANCY LYNN KRZTON er rs said, I dont see how y ou can get around the law that a third class city The adhas five council members. dition of two would create a seven-macouncil. Yeates said the suggestion to add two councilmen had originally been made by 2nd District Court Judge Duffy Palmer, who is expected to supervise the dissolution of East Layton if votrers the city. decide to disincorporate Yeates said Palmer had asked him to have Barton call Palmer on that question, requesting the city attorney to contact Palmer. Laytons council also agreed to add two East Layton representatives to its Planning Commission if the two cities merge, saying they would welcome representation from East Layton. Asked if Layton would accept all of East Layton Citys employees at their present salaries and official times of servive, the Layton council said it needed to study the question further and would respond at tonights public hearing. Shields said Layton would definitely need some of those personnel, however. Layton indicated it will allow all of East Laytons home occupation businesses to continue operating if the two cities merge, another concern of the East Layton council. No new home beauty shops would be allowed, Shields said, but he told the East Layton representatives quite a number of other home occupation businesses are allowed under Layton zoning regulations. The Layton council was asked if it would speed the annexation process if East Layton is dissolved. When will annexation take place? Yeates queried. We dont want to be n held in limbo. If the voters want it, well move out and expedite it just as soon as possible, Shields replied. Would you accept part of East Layton if certain large landowners wont go in? Nalder asked. I think we want the entire community, Shields said. We dont want pockets." Kim Henderson, leader of the drive to merge Layton and East Layton, said he feels he already has sufficient signatures on an annexation petition to make the petition valid. Kim and his cohorts say they have it, Nalder objected,, But that doesnt mean they do. He pressed the Layton council for a definite answer on partial annexation, saying it is possible the annexation petition might fail. Layton Councilman Kent Randall said he thought partial annexation would be possible but very difficult., I think wed better be pretty firm. If they vote for dissolution, theyd better be prepared for annexation, too, Wood stated. Yeates said, The only reason for disincorporation is to merge. Thats my attitude. We want as much information to the citizens as possible, and they (should) know how many signatures (are on the annexation petition) before they go to the polls. For an annexation petition to be valid under state law, it must be signed by 51 percent of the property owners representing 30 percent of the citys total assessed value. Henderson indicated he has met both criteria, saying his group is now going back toi households already visited to get two signatures from each home instead of just one after being advised to get the two signatures to be safe. "wont-maintai- Department Heads' Reports Indicate Annexation Impact Layton City departments have filed reports with Mayor Lewis Shields indicating that annexation of East Layton could pose thorny problems for the city, particularly in the areas of water, sewer, and street management. Every department representative says additional personnel and funds will be required to handle the additional workload created by the expansion of the city. Below are some of the points made by the departments in their reports to Shields: Impact on Water, Sewer The major impact to Layton City of the would probably be the take-ove- r East Layton Culinary Water System, stated, engineering consultant Byron McGregor. Evidently, the present East Layton culinary water supply is not adequate for the existing area. . . . ' East Laytons water supply comes from mountain springs and streams. This creates problems A large part of because of the difficulty involved in getting approval from the Health Department. Layton City would probably want to discontinue use of the spring water, which would make it necessary to replace the spring water with Weber Basin Water. At the present time. East Laytons contract for Weber Basin Water is only 119 acre feet compared to their estimated yearly need of at least 800 acre feet. Additional water supply will have to be acquired, not only to properly serve the present conditions, but to allow for future growth. . The interconnection of the East Layton water system and the Layton City system may not be possible without some extensive remodeling of the East Layton system, McGregor said. The compatiability of the two systems would have to be determined with regard to the location of the East and their elevations, he said. "A majority of the water mains in East Layton were installed with polastic pipe or asbestos cement pipe. Both types of pipe could require more maintenance than Layton City presently experience with their Layton reservoirs system. Until funds are available to install the necessary facilities for in- terconnection to Layton City, it may be necessary to operate the Blast Layton , t t culinary water system as an dependent system. McGregor said the combining of the cities sanitary sewer systems should not present any major engineering problem. A physical inventory of East Laytons sewer system will probably be necessary to determine the condition of the system, the city engineer said. Effect on Roads In my opinion, the annexation of same time when consideration must be East Layton City into Layton City to the need for expansion of the given would have its biggest impact on the Police Department brought on by the Water and Street Department, increase in population and the rapid department head Terry Coburn said. tremendous increase in the number of Lack of a consistent overlay new businesses in the community, program and a chip and seal program Chard warned. much will in East Layton necessitate He noted East Layton had earmarked repair work, he indicated. I feel in $41,170 for police services in its budget East Layton there has not been a last year. Considered on the basis of a consistency of these two programs work week, the $41,170 would related to their roads. Annexation for 44.25 hours of patrol per week, pay would mean a great deal of expense in which left 128 hours per week not this area to Layton City to rectify the covered except by overtime not paid problems. for. In East Layton there is apFire Protection proximately 15 miles of improved road. In view of the fact that East Layton If we were to annex East Layton, that would give us an additional 17 percent City has always been served by the more roads to maintain on top of what Layton City Fire Department, I would we already have. The roads of which I not expect any great problems in to serve that area as part of speak of in East Layton I would classify continuing Fire Chief John Adams roadis City, Layton A as poor. majority of these would need immediate attention in the maintained. My greatest apprehension is in the form of chuckhole repair, sunken trench repair, and other related road area of the existing water supplies for fire fighting purposes. There are some problems. Coburn said annexation of East areas known to me to be lacking in an fire flow due to small water Layton would place an extra burden on adequate snow removal services. Inclusion of the mains and dead end mains. I am aware of this as I was neighboring city would almost double the area being maintained on the east requested by East Layton City to make side of town, necessitating an increase some fire flow tests which resulted in in equipment, materials and personnel the restriction of building in the area in question. There are some fire hydrants to handle the increase in work load. needing attention, and there are some Police Protection areas with no water supplies for fire The Layton Police Department will fighting. I should point out that this have to hire three additional officers to condition also exists in Layton City. I would hope that the obligation to maintain near the same level of services if East Layton is annexed, ac- provide fire protection to the area cording to Police Chief LaMar T. (East Layton City) on the same priority Chard. as is now given to Layton City citizens That estimate is based on the current would accelerate the time when we n in the east part figure of .87 officers per thousand establish a around-the-cloc- k e people in Layton. The cost after the of the city with would be first year of annexation manpower to provide adequate approximately $36,000 less because the fire protection to the large land area, commercial accelerated equipment would be purchased in the the sub-statio- full-tim- first year. This proposal for annexing Blast Layton into Layton City comes at the I developments population said. and the expanded of Layton City, Adams Planning, Building, Zoning report prepared by Building and d Zoning Department head Ladd and City Planner Scott Carter indicated that annexation of East A Scof-fiel- Layton would increase the building departments work load by about 70 percent. The added workload would require the hiring of an additional building or intern planinspector, a part-tim- e ner, and a secretary-clertypist, according to the report. Scoffield and Carter estimated the total building department revenue per year from East Layton at $32,000, noting the estimate is conservative. They said the building, business and development-relate- d fees would very nearly pay for both the needed building inspector and secretary. The intern: planner has already been budgeted for in East Laytons they said. Parks and Recreation The addition of the eight-acr- e park that East Layton is in the process of building will have the most impact on k our department, Parks and Recreation Department Director Richard L. Hunt said. He indicated that Layton may have to complete the park next year if East Layton is annexed. He anticipated additional expenses for more manpower, equipment, e utilities and fertilizer use. A few recreation employees will need to be added in the summer, he said. snowbasin HURRY Legal Department attorney and secretary must be hired if a part-tim- e part-tim- e Blast Layton is annexed, according to City Attorney Bruce Barton. In ad- ditional office equipment will be needed, he said, estimating the total cost of the personnel and equipment at $11,800. These requirements are based on the present legal services East Layton is receiving and the legal problems which will be encountered with the annexation. i THIS IS THE FINAL SALE WEEK! seaon pa sale October 1 thru November 1 only Available at MILLER SKI AND CYCLE HAUS OR ALPINE SPORTS SHOP part-tim- An additional II Toni E-He- aring Staff Writer The first of two EAST LAYTON public hearings designed to raise and answer questions about the proposed annexation of East Layton to Layton will be held tonight at 7 p.m. at East Layton Elementary School on East Cherry Lane. The mayors and city councils of both East Layton and Layton will be on hand to respond to questions and comments from citizens. Tonights meeting and another public hearing at the same time and place Tuesday have been arranged to help voters make informed decisions Nov. 4 on whether to dissolve East Layton City. Officials from both cities say they want citizens to hasve as much information as possible before voting on the controversial issue. The East Layton City Council last week presented Laytons City Council with ten merger-relate- d questions, some of which are expected to be answered tonight. Asked Thursday if Layton would unconditionally accept all East Layton debts, the Layton City Council indicated it would attempt to answer the question at the first public hearing. 1 SEASON PASSES OCT. 1 THRU NOV. 1 Full $24000 Season Pass $200 2nd Family Member 3rd Family Member 4th Family Member & 12 years and Younger AFTER NOV. 18000 . . $16500 165 WEEKDAY ONLY SEASON PASS Good weekdays, not honored Sat., Sun., & Holidays 1 $260 $220 $200 M8500 $135 165 |