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Show . 1 i publication of ATevvlaliWs Ik. I V Vol.20, No. 13 Wednesday, Aprill, cents a single copy 50 1998 To Eagle Mtn. asks to be annexed to sewer district 756-766- 9 Lehi okay: By Amie Rose nnexafion Utah County is considering a petition from Eagle Mountain to be annexed into the Timpanogos Special Service District for waste water service. "If Eagle Mountain is annexed by the county, we will service their waste water," said Garland District Mayne, Manager for the Timpanogos Special Service District. For Eagle Mountain, the annexation will enable the waste water in the town to flow according to the geography of the area. "It will mean that the northeast part of Eagle Mountain would mostly drain into that sewer system," said Debbie of Eagle Mayor Hooge, Mountain. The alternative for Eagle But many area residents say they would rather be in American Fork ' v Mountain, if they are not annexed into the district, will be to build three expensive lift stations to pull the waste water over the hump, Hooge said. However, the three lift stations are an unlikely plan because the chances for annexation look promising. "The annexation for Eagle Mountain should go relatively smoothly," Mayne said. The engineering to lay the sewer pipes should be very simple, Hooge said. Also, the current expansion plans for the plant will be enough to handle the increase. "There doesn't seem to be any opposition," Hooge said. And, Hooge said, the state likes to see all towns in sewer districts because they don't want to have to monitor every small sewer system. Eagle Mountain started out by showing the district their plans. The board of the Timpanogos Special Service District was positive from the beginning, Hooge said. Also, the addition of Eagle Mountain will help the district in terms of volume, she said. "It will be better for the entire community," Hooge said. A hearing is scheduled for April, after which a decision will be made, Mayne said. subscribe call h UK & tin fM Ifi1 Mi if Ji Photo by Russ Daly Lightning strikes twice and Velda Evans were sitting their living room watching television when they heard a cannon. When they went outside, they found that the tree In front of their home had been struck by lightning, the second time In 10 years. In the earlier Incident, Velda watched lightning hit the tree, starting at the top and coursing down toward the ground, spreading bark all over the front lawn. In addition to hitting near to the former strike, the latest incident also wreaked havoc with the Evans' garage door opener. After the storm, the year old tree remained steadfast despite Its scars. Dick In a loud boom, which Dick described like 100-pl- Crime Council seeks volunteers, group to organize on April 2 Now is the time for everyone to come to the aid of their community, especially those who want to take matter into their own hands. Following Governor Michael Leavitt's call for each city to develop their own Community Crime Councils, a meeting has been scheduled to implement such a group throughout Lehi. Everyone interested in helping each other combat crime is invited to attend and to become involved in this new group. The organizing meeting will be held Thursday, April 2 at 7 p.m. in the American Legion Veteran's By Russ Daly City Editor They are not technically residents of American Fork, but they definitely know they don't want to be part of Lehi. But the latest volley in the Millpond Annexation request puts them in Lehi boundaries, despite their arguments that they have attended church and their children have attended school in American Fork. "All we have ever asked is to be left alone," said Neal Allred in a prepared statement to the Lehi City Council, where he said he represented several property owners in a disputed area east of Spring Creek, which officials had, at least at one time, considered the boundary between American Fork and Lehi. "Why should we be asked to move, even though it is not a physical move, when it is one owner who wants annexation?" Despite the protestations of those residents at a recent city council meeting, the council voted, by a margin of four to one, to approve the annexation request according to a motion by Councilmember Rod Olsen seconded and by Frances Councilmember Comer; Councilmember Carl Mellor was the single dissent- ing vote. "What bothers me is that this is supposed to be a Democracy," said Cassie Allred. "One developer bought up farmland cheap. He's dragging all of us into Lehi with him." Mr. Allred's statement indicated that the property owners the annexation protested because the residents had Hall in the basement of the Memorial Building, 55 N. Center. Representatives from the Lehi Police Department and the Utah County Sheriff's Office, Juvenile Court and the Lehi Youth Court, Lehi Chamber of Commerce, Lehi Literacy Program, as well as local school officials, will be part schooled their children in American Fork and attended church in American Fork. Hearing that nine families, representing a total of 230 acres of the annexation area, were protesting the annexation, Councilmember Mellor asked Allred why the other property owners had not signed the letter given to the council. In response, several people did say that they were in attendance at the meeting. "If the majority of the land mass and the value wants to n annex to Lehi, it is their right," said Mayor Ken Greenwood to those who had come to protest the request. "With that in mind, I really don't know what we can do." Responding to a question by Mrs. Allred, however, Greenwood said that the council could, in fact, deny the request, although he also said that the request was made by the developer, not by the city. "It is my understanding that you need to consider the benefit and good of the people," said Mindy Sager. "You have the power in you tonight to deny this. We do not want to be annexed to Lehi." As another option, Mrs. Allred asked members of the council if they could talk to the developer to convince him to drop them from the annexation proposal. Comer replied that it was "not the council's prerogative" God-give- because the developer had approached the council. "We did not ask for it," Greenwood said. "I do not feel the protection to our livestock and our lifestyle," said Mindy Sager in a telephone interview after the meeting. "Lehi allows more homes per acre than American Fork. It seems like American Fork is a little more cautious. We never got to vote for any of these people who are making these decisions for us." of the council. Other volunteers will round out the council that will be formed. "We want to try to put all of these efforts under one umbrel- la," said Richard Smith, who offered to organize the council. For more information, call Smith, 768-876- 0. Deputy City Recorder's work seems to be never done By Russ Daly City Editor An assistant's work .is either never done or it seems like a recur- ring dream. In her position as Deputy City Recorder and Administrative Assistant to the mayor, city council and administrator of Lehi City, J ' Connie Ashton keeps x ' ,. going and going and going. With three city council meetings every month, each of which lasts about three hours, and each of which is preceded by two days of preparation and fol- lowed by two days of and transcribing preparing the written record of the meetings, the work can seem almost overwhelming. : C0NN1B Photo by Russ Daly Connie Ashton, Deputy Recorder for Lehi City, catalogues Information from city council records to make researching the history of previous council action easier. Completing one city council meeting involves more than just attending the meeting. Work must be done before, during and after to fulfill all of the necessary requirements. Here is what it takes for the recorder to cover just one meeting: Prepare agenda 1 hour Must schedule each item, placing each item in the most icient order. eff- 2 days Prepare council packets Assembles a binder for each council member, with sections for each agenda item listing the background of the requests, action and recommendations taken by other committees. 2 hours each day Generates purchase orders Processes each purchase order and generates payments. Council meeting 3 hours The city council holds three such meetings each month. Does not include special or executive sessions. Prepare minutes 2 days Must transcribe tape recording, proofread minutes, then prepare written transcript for approval at next council meeting. Ashton neither lets the formidable task slow her down, nor does she let it prevent her from serving in other ways, such as on employee committees. She is both member and secretary of the Employee Committee,, which meets once a month. She also represents the administration department for the Safety Committee to make sure the city complies with OSHA and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Ashton started with Lehi City in June 1993 as deputy to former City Recorder Gary Lewis. When the Gibbs administration took office in January 1994, the title of administrative assistant was added. By June 1996, the city had hired Ed Collins to serve as city administrator, and Ashton served as his assistant as well. "When came in, I first the job was the same each day," she said of her early work. "When the new administration came in, everything changed. While change is sometimes difficult, she sees some of the changes as very positive ones for the community. Her workload, though, has increased significantly. In addition to her regular duties, for example, she is now compiling an index of all See ASHTON on Page 3 |