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Show it Wednesday, December Vol. 18, No. 49 a. i To subscribe call 50 cents a single copy 4, 1998 756-766- 9 Old museum building suddenly a hot city property By RUSS DALY City Editor Once unwanted, a Lehi landmark is now the center of discussion for a new tenant, provided the city actually holds the title deed. "Four or five years ago, nobody wanted Ithe former Hutchings Museum said building," Councilmeniber Reed Sunderland, who had asked for a discussion on the matter to be included on the recent city council agenda. "Now we've got multiple needs for that to house some of our very important departments." After the museum agreed to move to the renovated Memorial Building, the city offered the old building to Alpine School District. The appraised value of the 5,300 foot building was square $200,000; he added that the building is architecturally sound and has a new roof. The school district declined to take the city's offer to buy the building; since then, the city has utilized the building for both the Lehi Arts Council and BJY. inspectors for the Micron project. Sunderland said thai First Security Bank had announced their intention of raising the rent on the suite of offices where the Public Works department is now located, and said the old museum building is a candidate for those offices, as well. In addition of what department to place in the building, Sunderland said a current concern was that of ownership of the building. He asKed City Attorney Ken Rushton if the title to the building had been put up as collateral for the loan taken out from Bank of American Fork in connection with the Memorial Building building for use by the Public Department for $40,000. with an additional $10,000 required to install the computer system. "Tax money needs to be used for something more than adminissaid trative buildings." Councilmeniber Robert Fox, who felt that "it is tune to do something about a Recreation Center." Fox had asked Glen Smith, who was recently appointed as chairman of the Lehi Arts Council, to make a presentation to the council about what the arts organization would like to do with the former museum building. After Smith handed out copies of his committee's organizational chart and mission statement, he presented diagrams of what he felt could be housed in the existing building The plans included practice rooms, performance and renovation. address both what the cultural arts people need and "We've got to Works what the city needs," said Sunderland. "Whatever we do. we don't want to spend a lot of money with the building until the deed is cleared up." Discussion about the use of the building also included questions about the possible availability of the current post office building, as well as usage of the public schools for productions by the Arts Council. "Is it the best return for the taxpayers of the community to store sets?" asked Sunderland about the Arts Council's desire to be housed in the building. "We do need office space and we need it in a very short time." Sunderland reported that Ken Peck suggested his company could renovate the former museum exhibition areas, as well as office and storage space. "This looks great. It's something that has been needed for a long time," Councilmeniber Rod Olsen told Smith "Is this going to meet your needs'' It looks like a permanent solution." Olsen expressed his feelings that any money for an Arts Center should be concentrated on the major Arts and Recreation facility that has been discussed in previous meetings. "What we're saying is this is what we need now m the interim," said Fox. "One of the drawbacks if that the arts have had no place they can call home." Fox said that renovations of the building for use by the Arts Council, until such time as a major facility would be completed, would be minimal. "I beg to differ with you." said Councilmeniber Frances Coiner. know what the wiring "You don't is like, you don't know what the plumbing is like." She said it would have to be brought up to code for use as a public building, which she felt would take quite a bit of money. "The revenue stream has not caught up with the growth," said Sunderland. "It's nice to dream, but the reality is that we always have to check the checkbook." In closing arguments, Johnny Barnes, chairman of the city's Recreation Committee, alluded to plans by his organization to make a presentation about a center He said his presentation would also include some financing options, and urged the council to not make a firm decision until they had completed their research. "I think we can agree that we're all working together for the kids, for the community," he said. Cedar Fort okays water for new post office bldg. Thanksgiving Point plans ' holiday activities s With more than of a million lights, the largest Christmas light display in Utah in three-quarter- if now located in Lehi. By RUSS DALY City Editor Jy It looks like the Cedar Fort Post Office won't go down the drain after all. After holding a special session to work out a water issue, the Town Council voted, by a margin of four to one, to approve a lease agreement with the US Postal Service to provide water to a new building. In return, said Cedar Fort Mayor Howard Anderson in a telephone interview, the Postal Service will be providing a service to the community that residents have been fighting to keep for the last two years. "We want the post office here in Cedar Fort," said Anderson. "We're willing to concede a small amount of water usage, and that small amount of usage is more than compensating for having the post office here. , The lights were turned on Friday, Nov. 29 at Thanksgiving botanical garPoint, the den project developed by Alan and Karen Ashton on the former Fox dairy farm, located at 2095 N.West Frontage Rd., Lehi, near exit 287 of Interstate 15. Admission and parking are free, and the public is invited to visit the grounds Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., with the lights going on each evening at 5:30 p.m. The celebration continues through Jan. 2, 1997 and is closed Sundays, Christmas Day and New Year's 500-acr- e Day. "We would like Christmas at Thanksgiving Point to be a great family tradition for many years to come," said Karen Ashton. "We want everyone to have fun and enjoy the lights." The lights have been strung around the 12 acre Idea Gardens and the five acre Animal Park, the latter of which includes a nativity set, complete with live animals and traditional narration. Celebration" at "Christmas includes Point Thanksgiving horse-drawcarriage rides and wagon rides, caroling, concessions and nightly entertainment. The rides are priced at $1 per person or $5 per family; concessions include hot chocolate, cider, wassail, donuts and chestnuts. Local choirs and other singing choirs, string groups, hand-bel- l quartets and others will be featured from 7 to 9 p.m. nightly. In addition to the displays and entertainment. Thanksgiving Point also offers several retail n shops. That's a mutually arrangement." non-issu- Mike Kirby, land specialist for the Postal Service, attended a meeting of the council on Nov. 19, seeking approval of a request for water in connection with plans to move the post office from its current location at 92 W. 200 South in Cedar Fort, to a leased site at 100 S. Highway 73. Kirby told the councilmenibers that although the site is ideal, the Postal Service "may have to relocate to one of the other areas in Cedar Valley if they cannot obtain water from the town." In the Tuesday discussion, questioned the availabil Photo by Russ Daly Better watch out Santa Claus greets a young boy at the Lehi Christmas Parade last Friday, which opened the Christmas season. Holiday activities in Lehi continue this week with the a Tickets are available at selected Lehi merchants for the 14 School. at Dec. Lehi will on held be High Saturday, Shoppcys can drawing, which receive one ticket per person per visit to local businesses, banks and Lehi City offices; with the exception of the $300 shopping spree grand prize, winners need not be present to win. Gift-O-Ram- Gift-O-Ilam- a. beneficial ity of water and the legality of approving such a connection. Anderson, who put together a preliminary water lease agreement for further discussion at a special session on Saturday, Nov. 23, said that the agreement should not be compared to a permanent residential connection. "It's not a connection like everybody else is asking for," explained Anderson. "If the jxist office pulls away, there is no water right. Everytlung else is terminated." Councilinembers Bart Berry, Glen Cook and Robert Messersmith, as well as Mayor Anderson, voted to approve the water agreement; Councilmeniber Jeanine Cook voted against the proposal. Anderson also said that the usage by the facility will only be a fraction of what a typical residential connection would be. "The water is a it's being billed as an issue," said Anderson. "I mean, how many times can you flush the toilet in one day?" With the approval, the Postal Service has started the process to erect the building on the site. Cedar Valley Postmaster Dan Whyte estimated that the building would be available for use sometime around Feb. 1. "Everyone we've talked to said they're glad the post office is here," said Anderson after Saturday's vote. "It's been our intent and purpose for the last two years to convince the to keep it here." postal sen-ice Mountain: Utah County's newest city lies between Lehi and Cedar Fort EagleMountain tract and Utah and site has Commission but the Utah Utah's is Eagle or will be once newest town Debbie Hooge, appointed mayor, can be sworn in and can present the municipal articles of incorporation to Lt. Gov. Olene Walker. mile The town, a municipality located near Fairfield, was approved last week by the County mayor can't be sworn in until she actually moves to Eagle Mountain. She currently resides in Highland and is in the midst of constructing a home in the new area. If necessary, she will rent space from a neighbor until her home is finished in order to satisfy the state statute The town currently a population of 161, although it is expected to have 20,000 within two decades. Approximately half of Eagle Mountain's boundary is owned by the federal and state governments. Those lands will remain undeveloped but the remaining land will of homes become the some light industrial projects. The town already haS a fire engine, bought for $12,500 at auction in Salt Lake County recently when it was declared surplus by the Murray City Fire Department and auctioned off. The new municipality plans to con with County Lehi firefighters to use the equipment. Work on infrastructure including water, sewer, gas and electricity, is expected to begin as soon as the articles of incorporation are filed. An underground aquifer will fill a million-gallotank to provide water for the community. n Broadbent tree to appear at festival By RUSS DALY City Editor Cliristmas is a time of giving, and anyone who has attended the Festival of Trees has felt the spirit of giving to a good cause. For at least two Lehi families, that spirit of giving led them to participate in the festival by creating trees that will be sold for the benefit fundraiser. of the members Several Broadbent family used their vacation to gather items that they could use on the tree that they had wanted to do since the festival last year. With a trip planned to the Baja area of Mexico. Bonny Anderson, granddaughter of John and Alice Broadbent, suggested they use sand dollars as the basis for their tree. The family had previously gathered the beach items in previous trips and looked forward to combing the beaches for new sand dollars for the project. "We found beautiful sand dollars," reported Betty Anderson. "I told everybody 'Tins is for all the kids who can't come to the beach.' I tliink it's because we had that in mind." Members of the family, as well as employees at Broadbent and Sons department store, put in many hours preparing the tree for its final assembly at the Salt Palace. In addition to the approximately 50 sand dollars, the tree also had starfish, auger shells and conch shells. The sand dollars were lightly dusted with glitter and the augers were spray painted gold. All of the shells had to be drilled so they could be wired onto the tree. Workers placed 840 clear lights on the various sections of the tree while it was still at the store. The decorations were wired onto the tree on-sit- The tree was titled "Treasures of Good Tide," with reference to both Cliristmastide and the tidal theme of the decorations. The display also included a framed copy of the Legend of the Sand Dollar, with a broken sand dollar to show the treasures found inside the item. Five workers went to the Salt Palace Monday to complete the tree, wluch took about seven hours, not counting the hours spent at the store. "It's been hard, it's been like building a float in two days," said Betty. "It has turned out nice. We're hopeful that it will benefit whoever is in need." Members of the Edna Gammon family also created a tree in honor of the mother, who passed away in July of tlus year. The delicate tree featured white organdy that cascaded tlirough the branches, with wlute roses made put of organdy ribbon. Tiny dried rose buds and baby's breath, as well as butterflies and small, clear glass ornaments accentuated the larger decorations. "We felt like these delicate things reflected our mother and her softness and caring and love," said Edna's daughter, Etana Larsen. "She was such a refined lady." Having previously created seven trees for the festival, Etana and her sisters are veteran tree makers, but she said this particular tree got them all together in a common purpose. All eight of Edna's daughters, as well as four of the some of the grandchildren and some greatgrandchildren, about 20 people in all, participated in this year's project. The family had also created a tree in 1994 in honor of their father, LeRoy, which had a Scouting theme, complete with replicas of merit badges and an Eagle on the top. "Mother and Dad used to like to go up when we did the trees," said Etana. "It was kind of a tradition for t sons-in-la- ' !L - , - Iff I ! . us." The Festival of Trees is open to die public today through Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. at the Salt Palace Exhibition Center in Salt Lake City. Tickets are $3 for adults and $1.75 for children 11 and under; family tickets are available for $10 for today's show only. Discount tickets are available at Zion's Bank. Photo courtesy Broadbents Betty Anderson, left, and her daughter, Bonny, place ornaments on their Festival of Trees entry entitled "Treasures of Good Tide," which featured sand dollars, auger shells, conch shells and starfish. The Festival of Trees display is open to the public through Saturday. |