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Show Page 2 The Ogden Valley News Volume XXIX Issue XI September 15, 2022 The Ogden Valley News Staff: Shanna Francis Tel: 801-745-2688 Fax: 801-745-2688 Cell: 801-791-4387 E-Mail: slfrancis@digis.net Jeannie Wendell Tel: 801-745-2879 Fax: 801-745-2879 E-Mail: crwendell@digis.net crwendell@msn.com Opinions expressed by advertisers, columnists or letters to the editor are not necessarily the opinions of the owners and staff of The Ogden Valley News. Guidelines for Letters to the Editor Letters should be 300 words or less. Letters must be signed and the address of the writer submitted. The Ogden Valley News reserves the right to edit or decline printing of any submissions. Announcements Sought As a community service, The Ogden Valley News will print local birth, wedding, obituary, anniversary and missionary farewell & homecoming and Eagle Scout announcements free of charge. We invite residents to send their announcements to: The Ogden Valley News PO BOX 522 EDEN UT 84310 If you would like your submitted items returned, please send a stamped, selfaddressed envelope. The Ogden Valley News, while respecting all property received, will take no responsibility for lost or misplaced items. Please remember to keep a copy for yourself. Invitation for Articles The staff of The Ogden Valley News welcomes the submission of articles by our readership. We invite you to submit local historical accounts or biographies, articles pertaining to contemporary issues, and/or other material that may be of interest to our readers. We also invite you to submit to the paper, or notify the staff of local events. Awards that have been earned by the reader, family members, neighbors or friends are also sought. While the staff of The Ogden Valley News invites the submittal of information and articles, we reserve the right to select which material will be considered for publication. All material, to be considered, must be submitted with the full name, address and telephone number of the person submitting the material. The OgdenValley News’liability on account of errors in, or omissions of, advertising shall in no event exceed the amount of charges for the advertising omitted or the space occupied by the error. The Ogden Valley News does not endorse, promote or encourage the purchase or sale of any product or service advertised in this newspaper. Advertisements are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. The Ogden Valley News hereby disclaims all liability for any damage suffered as the result of any advertisement in this newspaper. The Ogden Valley News is not responsible for any claims or representations made in advertisements in this newspaper. The Ogden Valley News has the sole authority to edit and locate any classified advertisement as deemed appropriate. It also reserves the right to refuse any advertising. Note: The contents of The Ogden Valley News are copyrighted. To protect this publication and its contributors from unlawful copying, written permission is required before any individual or company engages in the reproduction or distribution of its contents, by any means, without first obtaining written permission from the owners of this publication. The deadline for the OVN October 1 issue is September 15. Letters to the Editor Join Me in My Ride for Cancer! This month, Kathy will be riding 150 miles in the Great Cycle Challenge to fight kids’ cancer! This will be her third year participating in this worthy cause. It’s a worthy cause as, right now, more children in the USA lose their lives to cancer than any other disease. Kids should be living life, not fighting for it. Please support her challenge via her fundraising page at greatcyclechallenge.com/ Riders/KathyGrandin/m. Your donation will support Children’s Cancer Research Fund to develop treatments and find a cure for childhood cancer. Thank you! Bruce & Kathy Grandin, Eden Building Community Thru Arts & Music Mountain Arts and Music completed a wonderfully successful summer of Thursday evening Open Arts and Music in Huntsville Square. We had an average of 75 people in attendance each week, with kids doing art projects and people learning how to do watercolor painting. We had ten or more music acts on the open mic stage. The music was varied, included all levels of abilities, and everyone had a great time! We thank Jeff, Bonnie, and Dakota Hyde for allowing us to host the event in beautiful Huntsville Square. We also want to thank our art instructors Jennifer Sorensen and Lori Thomas; Kids’ Art instructor Jenny Harris and her assistant Lexi; our amazing emcee Marcia Knorr; and our sound guys Dave Deutch, King Thurber, and Ken Beck. We are also grateful for the WayPoint Academy students for helping to set up tables and chairs, and Hap Stevens for covering all other bases. What a great team, coming together to make a terrific community event happen. Trish Painter, Mountain Arts & Music, Liberty Declaring Conflicts of Interest Is in the Best Interest of All I have to congratulate Mr. O’Brien on his great letter to the editor in the September 1 issue of The Ogden Valley News concerning Commissioner Froerer, and if he did or did not comply with Utah’s disclosure law over the Nordic Village zoning issue being discussed. It was well written enough that I still do not know if Mr O’Brien is in favor or opposes the proposal. That’s what I call being neutral. Full disclosure here, I’m running against Froerer in the upcoming November election. During two previous debates/meet-thecandidate nights prior to the primary election, the question came up if we supported a Weber County policy of conflict of interests. I answered that I did (and did not say I was surprised that this type of policy was not already in place) and—which I also think is as important—full disclosure on issues that involve campaign contributions/donations. Mr O’Brien highlighted that there has to be a distinction between one’s private dealings and one’s public service. I’ve believed this all my adult life. Not a criticism but a fact: you can’t blame Froerer for thinking the way he does being a Republican in Utah. Senator Hatch set this precedence back in 1980 when he had the legislature change the law just for him so he could file/run for both the senate and president. When you’re in power, and power is such there will be no repercussions to answer for, who’s going to stop you? When you get a degree in finance and economics, a MBA, own a business, and you’re a real estate broker, I don’t think many will accuse you of getting into charity work or running a nonprofit. As the scorpion told the frog after he stung him in the middle of the river, what did you expect, “It’s in my nature!” I would hope Froerer is familiar with the economic theory about property rights, in that the most important assessment in terms of their economic effects is on the wellbeing of the population at large. If the law requires recusal, so be it. Some laws just require that the policy maker (elected or appointed official) declare such connections and then are still allowed to participate in the discussion. I believe it relevant that Froerer’s primary contributions included none from anyone is the Valley (at least by addresses listed). In contrast, over $30K came from an ad company, an agri- culture committee, and a realtors’ association. Because of his previous listed professional experience, if he declared a conflict based on this experience—why he supported or opposed a proposed zoning discussion—I think this would be a real public service. When you fail to note these conflicts and bring them out into the open, once discovered, no matter now valid or personal the appearance might look, public perception is still damaging. By not being open and up front about current and past associations, as well as contributions, even if the information is publicly available, it may not be necessarily known by many of the voters. This then tarnishes the reputation of the majority of all public servants who are working for the public good, in the public interest, every day. For the best interest of all, hopefully upcoming meetings regarding Nordic Valley will be a little more open. Mr O’Brien should be thanked by many for bringing this situation to our attention. John Thompson, Ogden Ten Reasons NOT to Up-Zone Cobabe Ranch A semi-retired orthopaedic surgeon specializing in total hip and total knee replacements, I fell in love with Utah 53 years ago when I first visited Salt Lake City as a bedazzled 12-year-old when I stayed with a family during Christmas of 1969—Alta had a 125-inch base that December and there was 3 feet of snow in the Salt Lake valley. More recently, I fell in love with Ogden Valley, and my wife Barbara and I bought a house at Trappers Ridge approximately 16 years ago. Our home on the south end of Trapper’s has a tranquil and magnificent view of Ogden Valley, the Wasatch Range, and Pineview Reservoir and affords us the pastoral pleasure of waking up to the sounds of grazing cattle. Having attended the recent Ogden Valley Planning Commission meeting in person and having given careful thought to the discussion, I would like to make several general points, avoiding any technical or legal issues regarding the requested up-zoning of Cobabe Ranch: 1. I want to begin by thanking the Ogden Valley Planning Commissioners for their careful consideration of the issues around the rezoning of Cobabe Ranch and was grateful for a no vote last week. However, I was quite puzzled how, procedurally, one could hold a no vote and then subsequently vote to postpone (“table”) and re-evaluate. It would be my commonsense understanding that “No means No” and that the issue was definitively resolved. 2. When I bought my house in Trappers Ridge 16 years ago, I accepted the potential development below my house based on the existing zoning regulations and I am still absolutely accepting of them as they were codified in 2016. I see no reason to change the existing zoning regulations, as they were constructed then under the aegis of the Ogden Valley Planning Commission/Ogden Valley Master Plan which has NOT changed; therefore, there should be no corresponding need to change the zoning of Cobabe Ranch. Had there been a need for allowing more units/density on this property, this would have already been zoned for that in 2016, or earlier. 3. When Mr. Lewis bought his property (Cobabe Ranch), he was well aware of the existing landowner/developer (who was well aware zoning laws, and it is not my issue nor that of the zoning laws at the time of purchase of my neighbors whether his proposed of the property) to the detriment of hundreds development plan is or is not economically of other landowners, who all bought their viable for him based upon the current zoning. property under the current set of zoning rules. When he discussed the issue of viability, he was not This does not seem fair or just and clearly does referring to the viability of Wolf Creek or Trappers not prioritize or balance the property rights of Ridge, but rather to the economic viability of his the vast majority, a concept so important and project. The “viability” of our existing community essential to Utahns, and to all Americans. is unrelated to his plans for Cobabe Ranch. It is my hope and belief that the function of 4. Mr. Lewis complained how he lived through the Planning Commission is to do the greatest the construction of Trappers Ridge, as his good for the greatest number, which should home is nearby. However, there was no clearly facilitate a no-vote for Mr. Lewis’ rezoning of Trappers Ridge, and he would request to up-zone/rezone Cobabe Ranch. have been well aware that the Trapper’s 6. While the Ogden Valley plan allows for development was going to proceed at the 15,000 roofs with approximately 5,000 stated density when he bought his home. This existing roofs already in place, growth at all is unlike our situation, as when all houses costs has a price. While the marketing slogan were purchased and built in Trappers Ridge, has been “More Park, Less City,” a complete the existing zoning laws did not allow for the buildout ironically would lead to More City, ominous changes requested by Mr. Lewis. Less Park. We will be the next Park City and 5. During the meeting, one of the commissioners Ogden Valley will be irreparably damaged— appropriately noted that property owners Eden will sadly become Eden City! While I should have the right to do what they want am not against growth, it must be responsible with their property. In principle, I absolutely and maintain the essentials of what makes agree. However, one must abide by the Ogden Valley so special and not detract from current laws/zoning regulations, and most current property owners. importantly, one must balance the property I publicly ask the commissioners and planners rights of all property owners. To be clear, any to consider whether they want their legacy to construction, even that allowed under current be that they preserved what makes this valley zoning laws, has some negative impact on all so unique, or that they were responsible for the property owners of Trappers Ridge and/or its overdevelopment? Do you want to be the Wolf Creek. However, this requested up-zone hero or the villain? I just hiked the Wheeler by Mr. Lewis will be remarkably detrimental Canyon trail and paid my respects at the to the hundreds of property owners who plaque dedicated to Mr. Art Nord who was already live in Wolf Creek and/or Trappers honored for his efforts in preserving this Ridge (i.e. his plan reduces our availability/ magnificent canyon. The marvelous legacy he quality of life/enjoyment), including left will be enjoyed by all, in perpetuity. decreased property values, increased taxes, the negative aspects of living through years 7. While the current water plan, apparently of nearby construction (increased noise, dirt, suggests adequate water but inadequate air pollution, construction traffic/vehicles), infrastructure in Ogden Valley, this as well as issues of increased light pollution, controversial conclusion defies common logic additional short-term rentals (and all its and just doesn’t pass the eye test. The West is negative impacts), traffic, and potential longin a well-documented megadrought—think the Great Salt Lake, Lake Mead, Colorado River term water issues, just to name a few. basin, and all of our local reservoirs, which I am extremely puzzled how one could permit this up-zone, which benefits only one LETTER cont. on page 7 Evening Star Lighting Professional LED and seasonal light installation. 20 years of experience. Cheapest price guaranteed. Conrad Wait 385-389-7915 conradwait1035@gmail.com |