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Show September 11, 2013 MQ.0JME.S .... , 7 ami! . zz How Pleasant Grove City Government Works by Mary Burgin There are many theories as to how city government works. In public meetings, some residents express their concern that the mayor alone perhaps makes the major de-cisions that affect the city. Others express the belief that the mayor and council can just make laws and pass tax increases on without public involvement. Both state and local laws, in actuality, deter-mine these issues. According to Pleasant Grove City Attorney Tina Petersen, the city operates as what is called the Traditional MayorCouncil form of government. She said that the city has used this form, set up by state statute, for many years. The state breaks municipalities into classes, determined by popula-tion. This gives the municipality options to choose which form they can use within their class. Pleasant Grove is a class three community. She then explained that under this form of govern ment, the mayor is the CEO of the city. The mayor is a member of the governing body, but only votes when there is a tie or when it af-fects the addition or dimin-ishing of the mayoral duties. If the mayor is unavailable to attend a meeting, the Mayor Pro Tern (determined yearly by the council) conducts the meeting. Petersen said the mayor has no authority to veto an act of the council. All em-ployees ultimately report to the mayor as all executive duties are vested in him. She then added that the city council is the legislative power of the city. She said they make laws (or ordinances) and resolutions for the city. Pe-tersen noted that currently, city council members act as infor-mational liaisons between the city departments and the coun-cil as a whole. If you are interested in at-tending a city council meeting, a calendar of meetings is listed on the city website at pgcity.org. t " f ". PG City Calendar Saturday. Sept. 1 4 Pleasarrt Grove Running Series - Boots and Bonnets Jubiiee Celebration - Downtown Park Tuesday, Sept. 1 7 City Council 6 p.m. 86 East 1 00 South Wednesday. Sept. 1 8 Curbside Recycling Pick Up, North Route Tuesday. Sept. 24 City Council Work Session, 6 p.m. 86 East 100 South Wednesday. Sept. 25 Curbside Recycling Pick Up, South Route Tuesday. Oct. 2 City Council Work Session, 6 p.m. 86 East 100 South "April" continuedfrom Page 1 have access otherwise," she said. City Director Deon Giles has worked with Har-rison for many years and said he has been constantly amazed by the diversity of services that the library pro-vides. He said that Harrison has kept up with the technol-ogy needed to provide these services. He said there isn't only books involved, but many other forms of media. "She and her staff have brought a program to the li-brary whereby patrons can use their PG library card at other Northern Utah Coun-ty libraries to check out books," he said. "This has expanded the ability of resi-dents to be able to utilize the facilities not only in PG, but also in other libraries," he said. He said that he has really appreciated Harrison and her ability to stay up with and many times ahead of the cur-rent trends in what a library can provide for a community-Harri-son said one of her favorite programs is the lit-eracy program. She said that '. ' the kids that participate in the program are brought up to and many times beyond their grade level in their reading ability. She said that in the last year, "it has been an eye-open- er as to what it takes to make a community." She said each volunteer brings another perspective. "These people are dedicated and talented. They are invaluable," she said. Harrison is also excited in watching the younger gen-eration step up. "I value these new generations and their fresh perspective," she said. "I value what every-one does. Everyone around the table is important!" she said. She said she doesn't know for sure what the future holds, but she feels it will be exciting. She added that there is a need for "a building that is more adequate to serve our community.". She said this has been a long-standi- con-cern and she hopes a resolu-tion will come soon. So what will Harrison do when she retires on Satur-day, September 14, 2013 after heading up the city's Jubilee celebration? "I want to do what Marjorie Peay Hinckley said she would do once she turned 80. I want to eat when I want, sleep when I want and do whatever I want when I want to!" Enjoy, April. ...you've earned it! "Taxes" continuedfrom Page 1 for the fire trucks and equip-ment. The police facility, which is also on 100 East, was built in 1977. This facility, he said, needs more holding cells, of-fice facilities, evidence stor-age, a better location of the dispatch center and other var-ied needs. Darrington noted that it was suggested that a Munici-pal Building Authority Bond could be secured by a vote of the council. He said that with interest rates low at this time, as well as other reasons, it was de-termined this might be the best way to go to fund the proposed facilities. He also said that the city could, with the support of the electorate, secure General Ob-ligation Bonds for the projects. He said these would have to be approved through a vote of the citizens of Pleasant Grove. He also said these would have a lower rate of interest. The proposed facilities would be two separate build-ings, with a connecting base-ment. The proposed site would be property just kitty-corn- er across 100 East from the fire station. The determined amount needed would be 19 million dollars. In subsequent meetings, that amount went down. For the next several hours, citizens did, in fact, express their support as well as their concerns with building the fa-cilities at this time, as it would serve to raise their taxes. Many said that they felt the timing could be difficult for many resi-dents that were just getting on their feet. After several residents did express their opinions and concerns, the council said they wanted to reconsider perhaps some other solutions. Many said that they felt that the issue could be put to a vote and the citizens could make an educat-ed determination. ' After these meetings, City Finance Director Dean Lun-de- ll said that the rate of interest would, in fact, be lower with the Municipal Building Authority Bonds, with the per household tax rate on a $217,000 going down to approximately $8.04 per month. Lundell also noted that a definite location for the facilities has not yet been determined. He explained that it would save the city money to use property that it already owns. He added that it is really too early for them to know for sure what pieces the city might have to purchase. He said he would highly suggest that residents go to the city website at pgcity.org and become more familiar with the most current information con-cerning the issues involved. Old Fashioned Food Made to order A Pleasant Grove Tradition Closed Sundays Call-in- s Welcome OF UTAh-hOUNT- Y 801-785-07- 88 32 South Main Street Pleasant Grove, UT 84062 FIGURE CORRECTION BY UTILIZING ONE SESSION HIGH-FREQUEN- ULTRASONIC WAVES AND2 INCHES! SEXYLIPO IS PAIN FREE 1 NON-SURGIC- t - , - NON-INVASIV- E r- - V no scaring ! SEPTEMBER SPECIAL! ; ( NOBRU.S.NG j a, j; , AND NO DOWN TIME!!! SdVe$198 V HOW AWESOME IS THAT? - 1 Offer Expires 103113 r . t ffl"P www.utahcoun1ychiropractic.cor Tin September 20th visit us at WHAT WOMEN WANT EXPO - Be 11 ?TCy Get your athlete '7 Viz. off the bench! : t. vi j I'JIiU nail? Injuries heal faster with w Vv V- V... 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