OCR Text |
Show If a I Ve r d a annexation a hot topic By PAUL CHALLIS News Editor BOUNTIFUL The debate O about annexation continues to loom for residents in the Val Verda area, as deciphering the facts from fiction in literature handed out from both sides vexes undecided homeowners. From charges of intimidation tactics tac-tics from proponents of annexation to unfair influence from local church officials by the opposition, to power ownership disputes and real estate prices, the brouhaha is heating up. A public hearing set for April 8 before the Bountiful City Council will address the petition for incorporation. On Wednesday, March 25, a joint letter from Bountiful City and Utah" Power & Light was sent to Val Verda residents hoping to clear up confusion on whether power is an issue when considering incorporation. incorpora-tion. "We understand that this has become an emotional issue for some proponents and opponents of annexation states the letter signed by Bountiful Mayor Bob Linnell and John G. Bryner, Utah Power & Light Metro Area manager. l"And we have become aware that there is some confusion and misunderstanding about what would happen with electrical service ser-vice if the area is annexed into Bountiful. "Current state law requires that if Bountiful were to take over electric elec-tric service to the annexed area, it must pay Utah Power the fair market value of facilities dedicated to provide services to the area. Recent Re-cent court rulings could increase the purchase price substantially over previous annexations. Utah Power has"-served the Val Verda area for many years, values its customers thqnv and would like to continue serving the area. Bountiful has historically purchased Utah Power's distribution facilities in areas previously annexed into the city," the letter states. The letter discusses four possible alternatives for elecuical services to Val Verda. First, an immediate buy-out of Utah Power distribution facilities by Bountiful and electric service provided by Bountiful City. Second, Se-cond, an agreement between the two entities to allow Utah Power to continue to provide electrical service ser-vice to the area for the foreseeable future. Third, an agreement between be-tween them to allow Utah Power to continue to serve the area for a specified period of time, after which Bountiful would purchase the facilities and begin to serve the area. Four, an agreement between them wherein Bountiful would purchase pur-chase "wholesale" power from UP&L to serve the area and purchase pur-chase the distribution system. "While Bountiful City currently has lower power rates than Utah Power, the rate are not sufficiently different to make electrical service the determining factor in annexation, annexa-tion, particularly in light of the fact that it is possible that Utah Power may continue to serve the area," the letter stated. "Rather, we believe that citizens in the Val Verda area should make a decision on annexation based on their evaluation of the value of all municipal services and citizenship in Bountiful versus the value and future of services and citizenship in an unincorporated area. Both Bountiful Boun-tiful and Utah Power are neutral on the issue of annexation and we neither encourage it nor discourage it but leave it up to the citizens to decide." In other recent developments, opponents of annexation have distributed a response to annexation to residents living west of Orchard Drive in the Orchard area near Nor- SEE ANNEX ON A-4 Annex CONTINUED FROM A-l th Salt Lake not involved in the current cur-rent petition drive. The opponents have also circulated a letter in response to Mayor Jake Simmons of North Salt Lake saying residents don't want to become part of North Salt Lake either. 'It makes more sense that if the west part of the unincorporated area df Orchard Drive is annexed it should be to North Salt Lake," Simmons said about the rumors of annexation to North Salt Lake. "I would like to make it clear that North Nor-th Salt Lake isn't seeking the annexation, an-nexation, it only would be a more natural course for the area. ' ' Simmons added that North Salt surrounds the other area on three sides as Bountiful does on three sides of the eastern part of the unincorporated unin-corporated Val Verda area. "We are not opposing the annexation annex-ation of the eastern part of the county, coun-ty, " he added. ,An attempt at annexation five years ago of both parts of the unincorporated unin-corporated area failed. This time afcund, only about 575 homes of the 1 ,100 are involved in the annexation annex-ation attempt According to proponent Gordon Hopkins, one of the main reasons for annexation besides services from Bountiful, is property value would increase. He said that realtors at Lane Realty and Coldwell Banker claim residents trying to sell property in the unincorporated areas could charge higher prices if the homes were annexed to Bountiful "We simply want to be part of Bountiful," proponent Heber Moulton said. "We enjoy using their facilities, such as parks, . swimming pools, and ice rinks. We do feel a little uneasy in using these facilities without residing in Bountiful." Boun-tiful." Those opposed to annexation continue to claim that utility costs would increase as Bountiful charges a six percent franchise tax on its electricity, natural gas and telephone lines. Property taxes are another factor to be considered. Davis County Assessor Willard Gardner said a $75,000 home in the Val Verda area would pay $794 in tax in the county, $830 tax in Bountiful Boun-tiful and $833 -in tax in North Salt Lake. Ellsworth Jensen, a major voice of opposition to the annexation, who lives at 3139 Crestview Circle, in the lower part of the unincorporated unincor-porated area, has been accused of not living in the area affected. "I have a lot at stake if the annexation an-nexation process continues west of Orchard Drive in the unincorporated unincor-porated area," Jensen said. "I simply see it as a matter of liberty," Vernal Thompson said. He has charged that there are "wild stories" going around the area that Davis County won't provide services ser-vices and the homes need to be incorporated in-corporated into Bountiful to survive. sur-vive. "We are satisfied with our service." Bountiful City Manager Tom Hardy claims that the annexation process has been evolving over the last 40 years. "Bountiful has grown from a small city of 7,000 to a large suburban area with over 37,000 people. In the last 15 years alone, six different annexations (1,000) homes has been requested, and an annexation petition involving over 500 homes will be considered at the April 8 public hearing." He added that Bountiful has been neutral on annexation of developed property, neither encouraging or discouraging such requests. "The City Council has felt that a majority of affected citizens, using the democratic petition -seeking process, should request annexation," annexa-tion," Hardy said. "When accepted, ac-cepted, the city receives property and franchise taxes on homes, and the increased population is counted toward sales tax distribution." Hardy calls it a trade-off when the revenues from annexed areas approximately cover the cost of providing municipal services including in-cluding police, fire, street maintenance, lighting, etc. "State law encourages urban development de-velopment within city boundaries. Studies conducted by Davis County have shown that the Val Verda area is not a viable community and could not survive on its own," Hardy said. "Davis County has not provided, pro-vided, nor does it plan to provide, recreational and park facilities, and does not intend to provide additional addi-tional street lighting, refuse collection collec-tion services or cemeteries." Davis County Commissioner Gayle A. Stevenson has gone on record and told unincorporated residents in Val Verda that the county doesn't plan to curtail any of its current services. "One of Bountiful's concerns is double taxation," Hardy said. "The Val Verda area receives county police services, but does not fully pay for the cost of services. Thus, they are 'subsidized' by taxpayers in other municipalities. He added that the some rationale applies to flood control, storm drainage, planning, dispatching and other services. "We believe, however, that we live in the state's premier city, providing pro-viding cost-effective services at reasonable rates. Considering the great number of people requesting annexation in the last 15 years, many agree with this assessment,"' Hardy said. Opponents say they do in fact pay for their services. "We have a special services area tax on our tax notices. That pays for services we receive from the county," said one annexation opponent, Edith Thompson. |