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Show Wed/Thurs/Fri, April 19-21, 2017 The Park Record COUNTY SEAT A-3 The Good Guys know that we are offering... COUNTY EDITOR: ANGELIQUE McNAUGHTON 649-9014 EXT. 112 | Countynews@parkrecord.com Oakley City accepts nature preserve along Weber River Project protects a 23-acre swath of land ANGELIQUE MCNAUGHTON A 30% DISCOUNT ON ALL OUR DINNER ENTREES DURING THE OFF SEASON! The Park Record Oakley City on Wednesday agreed to accept the Stevens Nature Preserve, a 23-acre swath of land along the Weber River, to preserve riverfront access and prevent future development from occurring. Oakley City Council members voted 3-1 to accept the nature preserve, with Tiny Woolstenhulme dissenting. Councilors Joe Frazier, Steve Wilmoth and Tom Smart supported the project. Councilor Lorrie Hoggan was not present. Nearly 30 people attended the meeting. In February, the Summit Land Conservancy closed on the purchase as part of the Weber River Watershed Initiative and Oakley River Corridor Project. The Summit County Council has offered a $500,000 grant for the project. City Council member Tom Smart said “this is something the city would never be able to afford without the county and the conservancy.” “I think they (Summit Land Conservancy) have acted in good faith in order to sell this and I believe we need to give them some reassurance that if they will go ahead and put the trails in and make these conservation things for Oakley, we will indeed accept this land. “I feel it is a partnership that works toward the benefit of Oakley as a whole and, I think, we need to act in good faith,” Smart said. The property includes an existing house, which the organization plans to resell, with the remaining property becoming a publicly-owned 20-acre natural park. It will include public trails, maintained by the South Summit Trails Foundation. “Our vision is something that would not be a whole lot (Not valid with any other promotions.) Serving lunch Mon–Fri 11:30am-2:00pm Dinner daily from 5: 00pm on (435)649-8060 COURTESY OF SUMMIT LAND CONSERVANCY Monday, Oakley City leaders agreed to accept a 23-acre swath of land along the Weber River to preserve riverfront access and prevent future development. Stevens Nature Preserve will include a publicallyowned park and trails. South Summit Trails Foundation has agreed to maintain the trails. different than the way it works right now,” said Cheryl Fox, executive director of the Summit Land Conservancy. “We are partners in the ongoing stewardship of that property forever and we are really here to alleviate any undue burden on the city.” After three years, the Summit Land Conservancy will deed the land to the city. However, the conservancy, with the help of the South Summit Trails Foundation, will be responsible for maintenance of the property. “I think we understand the town doesn’t want to be left holding the bucket,” Fox said. Woolstenhulme expressed that concern before he cast his vote. “What kind of guarantees are there that this won’t create a burden for the city in 10 years when everyone isn’t so excited about it?” Woolstenhulme said. Oakley resident Elsbeth Gugi said she didn’t understand Woolstenhulme’s vote. She added, “I can’t believe that there was actually a ‘No’ vote.” “I’m European and it is a very different idea about land ownership than it is here. Here it is about my land and don’t put a foot on it,” Gugi said. “But the land is for everyone and that’s what this does.” Howard Sorensen, a mem- ber of the South Summit Trails Foundation board, with the help of former Oakley Mayor Doug Evans and Smart, have advocated for a trail system in the Kamas Valley and the preservation of open space. “I’m just a grassroots person who has supported this since the beginning,” Sorensen said. “We are seeing a lot of growth and we expect a lot of growth will happen so we want to preserve open space for our children and future children to come.” Sorensen’s wife, Lisa, echoed his statements. She added, “It is important to preserve the land around us because everything is moving in our direction and if we don’t do it now it would be too late.” The project is the seventh of the Conservancy’s Weber River Watershed Initiative in seven years and will help “preserve land along the Weber River and its tributaries, which provide 21 percent of state’s population with irrigation and drinking water,” according to a news release. It is the first time the conservancy purchased the fee title to a property, in addition to the development rights. “We feel really gratified and honored to be part of this pre- Prospector Square • 2093 Sidewinder Drive www.grubsteakrestaurant.com grubsteak@xmission.com Reservations gladly accepted Z D D EXCLUSIVELY AT PARK CITY BLIND & DESIGN Visit our showroom or schedule a FREE in-home consultation today! Please see Oakley, A-4 Crash kills man on S.R. 65 Troopers were searching for him before the wreck The Park Record The Summit County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a Jeremy Ranch man who was killed Sunday after his car struck a tree at a high rate of speed in the East Canyon area of Morgan County. At 11:22 a.m., Utah Highway Patrol troopers were reportedly looking for David Cook, 52, of Summit County, following an “unknown incident” in Jeremy Ranch, according to the Utah Highway Patrol. Troopers were looking for Cook in the East Canyon area when they were dispatched to an accident on State Road 65 near mile marker 14, a report states. Troopers discovered Cook’s car had crashed into a Cottonwood tree at a high rate Direct Importer of the World’s Finest Rugs A t t h e H i s t o r i c Vi l l a T h e a t r e of speed. He died on impact. The report states no one witnessed the accident, but several campers heard the impact. Lt. Andrew Wright said the Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the fatality, but would not release any details about the events leading up to it. “Out of respect for a grieving family, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office will not release any details or make a statement regarding this incident,” a release from the Sheriff’s Office stated. Submit event recaps, photos and news about local clubs/groups/nonprofits to arts@parkrecord.com BERRETT MoRTgagE FULL SERVICE MoRTagE BRoKER SINCE 1986 A branch office of Welcomes Potter Clark to our teAm! 3092 So. Highland Dr., Salt Lake City (801)484-6364 888.445.RUGS (7847) Mon.-Sat. 10 am to 6 pm 435-649-3497 XcelFinancialUtah.com 1670 Bonanza Drive #205 |