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Show -N N E W S Spanish Fork $F City Council meets Big 5 ribbon cutting Covering what matters most A6 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2007 Heather Campbell and. Utah State Senator Mark Madsen, while the STAFF WRITER anti-voucher positions will With the conclusion be presented by Utah State '. of ' the primary elections, Representative Kay Mclff trie city council discussed . and Nebo School District '{he official results from board member Debbie the election, including the Swenson. Candidates who will move on Evans told the council, to the Nov. 6, 2007 general "We are trying to facilitate election. In regards to the 16 open discussion." He said he percent voter turnout, Mayor hoped the debate would anJoe Thomas said, "I think swer questions and provide that is just sad." information to citizens on the The mayor took the time voucher issue. The debate to personally encourage all will be held on Thursday, residents to get involved Oct. 4, 2007 at 7 p.m. in the with the upcoming general Spanish Fork Fairgrounds elections. High Chaparral room. The debate will also be broadcast Rick Evans attended city council meeting this past live by Spanish Fork Cable week and also encouraged Network. citizens to get involved. An application was made Evans invited the public to request a change to Title to attend a local debate on 15. The applicant requested school vouchers. Evans that the rear setback for says the debate is an, a home on a corner lot "equal opportunity debate," be 20 feet rather than the which means the debate current 25-foot regulation. will have speakers who are The Council approved the both for and against school change, allowing both the vouchers. The pro-voucher corner lot in question, as speakers will be Utah State well as all other residential Representative Aaron Tilton corner lots a setback of 20 feet. The council also discussed changing the setback requirements for all lots — not just corner lots — and intends on making those changes at a future meeting. The mayor wanted citizens to be aware of recent bear sightings near the reservoir. He encouraged anyone who sees a bear to immediately call the Spanish Fork Police who will in turn contact the Division of Wildlife Resources. "I don't want to see bears harmed," the Mayor said, "but I'd much rather see kids be safe." A presentation on water rights was given by Jodi Hoffman. Hoffman is the land use analyst for the Utah League of Cities and Towns. The mayor requested that Hoffman's presentation, which focused on various water rights issues, including the forfeiture of water rights, will be rebroadcast on SFCN, as he felt the presentation was something more people should see. Steve Hardman / Spanish Fork News NEW GAME IN TOWN: Big 5 Sporting Goods held its grand opening and ribbon cutting on Monday, Sept. 24. On hand to celebrate the event were: city councilman Seth Sorensen, chamber of commerce Executive Director Patti Witham, Big 5 manager Sterling Johnson, chamber board members Bill Summers, Kim Garver, Donnie Morris and Karen Payne, Big 5 employees Jessica Young, Jesse Braithwaite and Sydni Peterson and chamber board member Dr. Veloy Cook. Salem Council discusses water New developments: emergency, zone changes From BUSINESS • A l Mallory Byrnes STAFF WRITER Salem City's Council adidressed the Woodland Hills water emergency in addition to development issues at the council meeting on Wednesday. •; Maple Canyon Well, which provides water to Woodland Hills and Salem, broke about three hundred feet down Wednesday, causing low water pressure in Salem and the complete loss of water in Woodland Hills. "We don't know for sure, but the experts say the shaft is broken," said Salem City Engineer Bruce Ward, who organized trucks to carry water into Woodland Hills. "Our Water Department did a great job, but Woodland Hills is still without water," said Mayor J. Lane •Henderson about the situation's standing. In other business, John Miller of Situs Developjnent presented a General Plan amendment and Zone Change for the property at :980N. 460 W. from an A-1 to R-5, R-3, and C-l. The •property is located near the Waste Water Treatment Plant. : "It was as if they were looking at this property when they made that [R-5] zone," said Miller. The property development would include approximately 128 affordable living units which are projected to attract young families and senior citizens, adding extra tax revenue and economic development to Salem. In return for the development of open space, the beautification plans include a six foot concrete wall, an iron gate at the entrance of the Treatment Plant, and landscaping with trees every fifty feet. Situs Development is also offering a donation of $250,000 for the impact the development will have on Salem's infrastructure. The development of this land was disputed by members of the community who see the property as some of the last open space Salem has. "That's almost the only rural place left in the city... It's a place that people use for rural activities," said concerned resident Delys Snyder. "You can keep the integrity of the area and do something different with that." Snyder suggested keeping with the original plans for Salem with a dense center and more open edge by selling the land in one-acre plots. "My roots are in Salem and I understand [Snyder's] concerns, but she's got her five acres ... I really think that common sense will prevail and you'll understand that there are plenty of people who would like to have this in Salem," said Maureen Miller., According to John Miller, the smell from the sewage plant has only been noticed "about three times a year" by the resident living closest to it. < "John has an outstanding idea, if only he had a place to put it," said Reed Corneby about the sewage plant's proximity. The Councilmembers opinions differed, and a decision was not approved. "There's a lot of questions to be answered," said Councilmember Hanks. "I was not comfortable tonight with moving forward with that," said Councilmember Jeff D. Higginson. "If we are going to have open spaces and undeveloped areas, we need to plan to keep it that way," said Councilmember Stanley W. Green. JNB Homes also proposed a General Plan amendment and Zone Change for the property at approximately 640 N. SR-198 from R-5 to C-l andA-1 to R-5. The amendment includes a shift back with a store enlargement, due to the way the sewer plan worked out, with an improvement to a planned three acre public park. "I was impressed with the landscaping and I was impressed with the quality of construction," said Mayor Henderson, who visited the site earlier that day to view the construction's progress. Preliminary Plat Approvals were passed for Cliff Hales * Meadows at Mt. Loafer Subdivision and Del and Carol Jorgensen's Whisper Ridge Subdivision. The Council approved Chief Brad James' request to purchase eight Tactical Rifles with equipment from a Provo company for a total of $8,500. "It is a budgeted item and we did plan for this," said Chief James. "We need to equip each of our police officers with the fire-power they need if they are in an armed combat." Spanish Fork's Police Department has had these rifles for several years, and they will be offering training to Salem's officers. the waters in the Spanish Fork market. In October 2005, he began construction of Trestlewood, the multi-office complex on 400 North. \ wanted to move my office — that was my principle motivator, but with the cost of the property, I realized that it needed to be income producing," Smiley said. "It gradually morphed into what it is today." And the building's architectural style has drawn notice. "One architect described it as an 'old railroad depot' and that captured the image of what I wanted better than anything," he said. In fact, that is where the name Trestlewood' comes from. According to Smiley, all of the exterior wood on the building comes from an old train trestle bridge. Development in town has not been easy, he admits. The economic landscape is changing, and national chains and box stores are finally looking at Spanish Fork in earnest. "Big retailers look for a magical number of rooftops," he said. "Spanish Fork is almost big enough now to warrant their attention. Looking at American Fork and what happened there can "The exposure offered by Main Street is excellent. The good news is that growth is coming." — John Smiley give us a very good idea of what will happen here." That future growth is good, according to Smiley. But he said there is a perception, among Spanish Fork property and business owners that the City will do anything Matt Barber: From BARBER • A l '• members of the community, • have expressed. their : disappointment, but •understanding of Barber's ; decision. ; "It is what's best for his ; family and I support him," ; Thomas said. With the withdrawal ;of Barber's name, the ; general election on Nov. 6, ; 2Q07 will only feature five . names. According to City Recorfler Kent Clark, the Barber came to make his seventh highest vote getter decision after a great deal in the primary election, Alex of contemplation, but is still Stone, cannot advance to saddened to leave the City the general election by state Council. law. However, he said "The primary election he looks forward to is an eliminating election," continuing the associations Clark said. "It narrows the and friendships that he has candidates to six — who made over the past four advance to the general years. election. After the results of "I remain honored the primary, only six were knowing that the citizens of eligible to advance. With this community have elected Barber withdrawing, only me to serve them," said five will proceed." Barber. to bring a new business to town, but will give little or no cooperation with ones already here. One of Smiley's concerns is the lack of city cooperation in helping property and business owners either revitalize existing downtown buildings or develop new projects. "The city as a governing body needs to step up," he. said. "They should do everything they can to keep Main Street alive. However, when someone tries to improve downtown, the city usually makes it so difficult that they give up." Despite the opposition and frustration, Smiley and his partners are succeeding in bringing new development to downtown, because they anticipate a need. "The traffic count on Main is so high," he said. "When we saw what happened in AF, we changed our focus from residential to commercial. And the exposure offered by Main Street is excellent. The good news is that growth is coming." Steve Hardman / Spanish Fork News SOLD: North Park isn't the only place under development in the Spanish Fork area. Woodland Hills: plans in the event of a future to fund alternative water water disruption. sources, he said. "We'll discuss and Meanwhile, Woodland Harding said. "From water evaluate several options," Hills will continue to rely on to personnel to equipment, said Harding. Some of the mutual aid of neighboring every community answered those include maintaining communities. the call"" an inventory of well parts, "We will do everything*we According to Harding, the drilling an independent well can based on the availability city is examining contingency and working with developers of resources," Harding said.F From WAf ER • A l |