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Show Klim Volume 78, Number 2 Brigham City, Utah 84302, Sunday Morning, January 12, 1975 12 PAGES Pwir systom ramiks top powofly m f irm mS(ig A need to update the Brigham City electrical distribution system ranked as this years top priority in an annual message delivered Thursday by Mayor Harold B. Felt. Touching on progress of the past year and looking ahead to challenges of the future, the chief executive said a study of the electrical system shows that it "is in serious trouble if improvements are not made immediately. e The message recommended second-prioritstatus to the establishment has been made possible by the following actions of the mayor and city council. - Reduction of employment where possible without seriously impending services. - Reduction of subsidies, grant and expenditures which are not vital to city requirements. - Strict purchasing procedures and budget controls. - Elimination of unnecessary overtime in all departments. guidelines and specific actions necessary to immediately establish an councilmen six-pag- y of effective community progress and urban development program. ' Following is the full text of the mayors message, delivered during a weekly meeting of the city council: As we enter a new year of city activity, it is appropriate for the mayor to evaluate the accomplishments of the past year, and to fix priorities for what should be accomplished for the ensuing year of 1975. The year of 1974 has been a challenging year for this administration. It has been a year in which growth, inflation, local and , national economic changes have presented the mayor and council with numerous new, exciting and challenging problems in which many hours of deliberation and decision-makin- g were required in solving ", the many important and vital issues concerning our city government, and the welfare of our Brigham City citizens. THIS IS NOT THE weather for picnicking, as evidenced by this picture taken at Box Elder campground near Mantua. Tables are piled high with snow and access is limited. However, the area does provide some inviting scenes for the photographer. definitely Funds sought for signs City gains federal funds City invites bids to upgrade traffic signs Brigham City is inviting bids for :ity hall. Action authorizing the bids came at rhursdays city council meeting. It did lot, however, commit the city fathers to iccept any of them. We want to get data back so well know vhat the costs are for consideration when Councilman Doug ve open the budget, (Vight explained. The city plans a hearing on opening the :urrent budget Feb. 6. Much of the work downstairs in the uture police headquarters has already leen done but appropriated funds have issentially been expended (See editorial :omment on Page 2.) Other Action , In additional business: The council voted to have the city of Fourth mgineer study the intersection if a to determine West iouth and Eighth out. og there can be straightened Police Chief Steve Studdert said he not in good faith recommend enewal of a beer license for the El Burrito :afe. Issuance of a license had been :onditional upon his approval. The chief aid he would submit his reasons In vriting. The police chief reported that 17 olice officers are enrolled in a Spanish course. n A committee composed of Dale Baron, A1 Cazier and Doug Vight was named to meet with city fire lepartment leaders to review general and conditions in the ould Coun-lllma- equirements lepartment. Approval was given for the employment of Phil Locascio at the city golf course. Acting on a recommendation of City Keith Hansen, the council voted to file on a flow of ground water that has developed due to drainage measures for the new American Greetings corporation building here. Councilman Wight was named budget officer to act for Mayor Felt when the latter goes on vacation in the near future. Engineer Approval was given for the Newcomers club to use the community center on March 19 if the calendar is clear on that date. CouducH The Utah State Road commission Friday approved requests of Brigham City and Riverton city for federal-ai- d safety funds to to the new their traffic national standards bring safety signs up set forth in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Meeting in Salt Lake City, the commission approved the programming of $18,000 to Brigham City and $5,000 to Riverton city from the Safer Roads Demonstration Program funds, which the State Highway department administers. The purpose of the program is to provide proper safety signing for non federal-ai- d city street systems. To be eligible for the funds, cities and counties must make an inventory and cost estimate of their safety. It represented quick action since the Brigham City council only Thursday formally approved making application for the funds. Councilman A1 Cazier said Uncle Sam will foot 90 percent of the bill with Brigham Citys share coming in the form of labor. He said signs will be made at the state prison and include 338 stop, 42 yield, 67 school, and 36 speed signs. Surveillance by the mayor made possible city hall a major part presence in business day of the week. 8- Strict supervision of assigned of all department operations. 9- Sets second ninth grade hearing School board selects new president veteran of Kenneth Porritt, a two-yeservice on the Box Elder Board of Education, Wednesday was elected board president. He succeeds Donna Gordon in the post and steps up after serving as vice president for the past year. Named as the new vice president was Wallace Christensen who also has been a member of the board for two years. The reorganiztion is undertaken annually and was accompanied Wednesday of a new member, by the swearing-i- n Winston Benson, who was elected to the post in November. Benson who took the oath of office from Board Clerk David Morrell, replaces Mrs. Gordon on the body. His is a four-yefive-ma- her husband. Employed were David Suisse, chemistry teacher at BRHS; Donna Dickey, Title I aide at Lincoln school; Susan Williams, library aide at Lincoln; LaPreal Hill, Title I aide at McKinley school; Cathy Lou Rickert, special education teacher, Box Elder Junior High school; Karen Fullmer, learning disabilities teacher at Central; Joy Ball, receptionist in the district central office, and Gloria Nelson, secretary-bookkeepat Bear River High. to travel with ar n term. Sets Hearing Also at the session the board scheduled Wednesday, Jan. 29, for a hearing on disposition of the ninth grade at Box Elder High school and the merits of establishing a middle school locally. The hearing will be similar to one held Dec. 18 and will be conducted at the high school beginning at 7 p.m. other the business, board was presented an annual district progress report, discussing it with members of the administrative staff. It included 74 items and detailed achievements in negotiations, con- struction, new policies, equipment, educational programs, district goals, bus safety and driver training, continuing education, school lunch, testing, and other areas. Approve Personnel Changes The board okayed several personel changes, releasing some and hiring others. Released at their own requests were Colleen Oviatt, secretary at Lincoln school; Donald Fisher, chemistry teacher, Bear River High Donna Mix, secretary at Bear River High. Leaves of absence were okayed for teacher at Harriet Wilkins, half-daCorinne, one year due to pregnancy, and Mrs. June Peterson, learning disabilities leave teacher at Central school, a two-ye- . . . Kenneth Porritt school board president 1 ; y moves on survey, zoning Brigham City officials Thursday authorized a community survey, approved a zoning change to accomodate construction of a new hospital and voted to adopt a cable television enabling ordinance. The action came during a weekly meeting of the city council. Councilmen authorized the survey after hearing a presentation by Dr. Jean White, associate professor of political science at Weber State college. Dr. White said the estimated cost will ran between $410 and $575 and will reflect actual expenses only computer and data processing, a secretary, mileage and printing. Students from WSC under Dr. White's direction will conduct the survey, aimed at testing the public pulse on conditions and needs of the community. No Charge for Time There will be no charge for their time, she explained. Questions in the survey will come from the council which sought the survey as a preliminary requirement to apply for funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Council Peter Knudson said it will be valuable to the Community Progress effort as well. At any rate, a note of urgency was sounded. The city is fighting a y time element in its plans to get federal funds. Dr. White and students performed a similar survey for Farmington city this past spring. Rezonlng Question question, councilmen acted after the planning commission recommended for the second time that more than 20 acres be changed from R18 On the rezoning of all by his of each 7- Increase of utility revenues by adjustments in electrical rates, and a strict policy of collection of delinquent and past due public utility and special improvement accounts. - Sales tax revenues have been larger than was anticipated. City court revenues have been more (Continued on Page Two) 4- - - departments, 3- In for police project naterials to complete construction of jolice headquarters in the basement of the Evaluate Priorities It is entirely proper that a report of this nature not only bring our citizens on what has been accomplished but, also, to evaluate those priorities which have not been successfully completed in the past year, and which should be moved to a position of high priority in this coming year, You will recall that one of the first official acts of this administration was to negotiate a tax anticipation loan of $100,000 to meet the current financial needs of the city. After a year of many adjustments of our ongoing financial needs and reduction of low priority expenditures, we are pleased to report that we are now able to set aside $25,000 as a credit against past deficits, while at the same time updating and improving our city government, and on our debt keeping currently service obligations. This improvement in our fiscal position 6- 2- 5- myir (single residential) to RM7 (multiple residential). The property is located in the area of Fifth West and Ninth South, Hospital Corporation of America has announced plans to build a hospital on 12 acres with possible future expansion on an additional eight-acrparcel. At a hearing on the matter the previous week, citizens in the area raised several questions and objected to immediate rezoning of the entire property. One man suggested that only 12 acres be affected now to guard against development of (Continued on Page Three) e Winston Benson takes board post . . |