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Show UTAH 307 PRESS N ASSN 200 5 SALT LACE 31 Dec 33 5005 CITY, UT S4101-121- 2 Jessica and Rachael Riches, daughter of Ginnie Riches, Fair-viewere finalists in Ephraims Light Parade this year. Other winners were: Ron Greene Chevrolet, Ben Franklin, Herman-soSnow College, the scout choir, the senior citizen float and Mark Ryan Computers. w, n, Volume 103 MT. PLEASANT, UTAH 84647 - December 6, 1995 Price $.50 Number Forty-nin- e City undecided on lowfincome housing issue by C. R. Truitt MT. PLEASANT Ordinance passed at an earlier still not in effect, was but meting still the hottest issue addressed at the Nov.. .2 8 City Council meeting. The ordinance, which would require all landlords or persons renting rooms to register with the city and pay a $25 inspection fee, will not become law until it is published, says Mayor Chesley Christensen, and this gives the council time to work the ordinance over. Christensen further explained that the ordinance will only cover persons wanting to rent two or more rooms and doesnt include motels, hotels or because these are already regulated. Council members Steve and David Blackham thought the ordinance needed more work and Blackham asked if it was possible to charge the $25 when a complaint was lodged against a landlord. He said he felt that landlords who are doing a good job providing decent rentals shouldnt be penalized for the actions of a few. He suggested that landowners be allowed to bring in an affida 4, Ros-enlu- nd vit from an independent inspector that their rentals are up to code when registering. Council members also expressed concern that a penalty clause wasnt included in the ordinance and were concerned with the citys liability. They wanted a legal opinion. Christensen said that he had written the ordinance but had the citys lawyer look it over. He also told them that all ordinances carry a misdemeanor but agreed to put in a specific penalty for Local businessman Scott Glauser commented that he didnt think the ordinance would solve the rental problems, and would simply result in rent increases. The ordinance will continue to be worked on and will not be in effect until a summary is published. Later that evening, during the Planning and Zoning recommendations, Blackham presented the recommended moratorium on all trailers coming into the city while the commission worked out vagueness in those ordinances. The recommendation included allowing Glauser to continue with his project in Aspen Village but six-mon- th SC commission Businessman could be left holding unwanted trailers required him to supply an overall " plan and document what is done with each trailer. Glauser didnt like the recommendation, and expressed his distress. He said he thought he had the full support of the council and had received permission for the project. He reported having come to the council asking about the feasibility before attempting the project and currently has one by C. R. Truitt MT. PLEASAN- T- Loitering and related issues were among several issues addressed at the Nov. 28 City Council meeting. A local Main Street businessman shared concerns and suggestions for the back parking lot where city youth have been loitering, and smoking skateboarding, swearing. The businessman said he doesnt mind the youth being mayors , . Parnell, Johnson and Soffe, the commission voted to recommend that the council vote a moratorium on issuing building permits for any new building requiring new city services. Two families will be granted building permits because they have already come to the council requesting the permits and will probably not be able to hook up to city services until next spring. In addition, the commission,' in their attempts to resolve zoning issues and update the master plan during the moratorium, will be preparing a detailed survey for resident input. Council and zoning officials say the anonymous survey will include a line for comment on each question and will be tallied. Officials say the survey will be used as part of input and a public meeting will also be held to gain additional input. Issues addressed will be how much residents want Spring City to grow, education on what impact fees are and whether people will want them among others. Other topics discussed in both meetings included a newsletter six-mon- th Glauser then expressed strong concerns that problems with the city were going to continue to The mayor and several council members stated that objections to the project are coming from people outside the area modeling, while people living in Aspen Village "dont seem to mind" Glauser s plans. As for working out ordinance vagueness, Christensen recom- mended calling a public hearing, but the council remained confused as to why until after ordinance revision. The council seemed in agreement with Councilman Rosenlund who said "A moratorium is wrong". Mt. Pleasant faces loitering vandalism concerns moratorium for six months by C. R. Truitt SPRING CIT- Y- The building moratorium was the main focus of two meetings held Nov. 30: a city council and a planning and zoning work meeting. Gary Parnell, chairman of the councils work meeting, explained that the city is operating under the mayors executive moratorium which forbids issuing building permits on buildings that require city services such as sewer, water and electricity. Parnell and other city officials say the moratorium doesnt affect other building permits, although some city officials and employees admit to being confused. Parnell also charged planning and zoning officials to discuss the issue and recommend whether or not the council should continue with the executive moratorium, moratori-- . declare a council-vote- d um or eliminate it altogether. CSuncil members say the moratorium was called because city services are nearing maximum and important issues need to be solved. At the Planning and Zoning meeting held with councilmen trailer in place. He has already received some deposits. that assurances Although Glauser had received the okay from the council were stated, the council continued discussing the ordinances vagueness, which the mayor had sent to the commission to iron out. plague the project and said he was "scared" to continue. He added that he may cut his losses at this point and pursue another investment. Glauser also said he had every intention of complying with existing laws, but having to put together documentation on every mobile home was an unwarranted burden. Christensen said he would work with the commission on anything they wanted concerning the project rather than requiring Glauser to do it. He reminded the council that, as zoning officer, he was empowered to interpret the ordinances and didnt need to send this case to them. explaining recent changes in the firearms ordinance, passage of the fire districts not the $80,000 needed to complete the historic fire building and the old school. Parnell and Soffe told zoning members that the lease agreement is in the final stages and the business plan is being worked on. The council didnt know just when that committee would be presenting details to them. money-$60,00- 0, there, except they arent obeying the law and they are driving off customers with their language. He said youth are brazenly smoking, and littering is also becoming a major problem in the parking lot. He pointed out that his customers are complaining. Council member Shauna Brotherson, said she heard youth swearing a half block away. The businessman told the council that he has turned in youth and talked to the police. He said he doesnt mind doing his part even though he has had his cars headlights broken and Vaseline put on his door handles for reporting the youth. Mayor Christensen reported that a light has been installed in the alleyway and the police department has been instructed to be in the area at least five times during their shift, but he also reminded everyone at the meeting that the police have several other "hot spots" to patrol. Watch sign changes FAIRVIEW Travelers on as Fairview known 31, Highway Canyon Road, need to watch The commission discussed the carefully, because the Utah Deannexation request, partment of Transportation has pending a recmake changed the flow of traffic at the realizing they must ommendation to the council mouth of the canyon. Vehicles traveling on Milbum Road (north before February, or the annexand south) are required to stop at ation will automatically pass. the intersection of Highway 31, will be A public hearing while vehicles traveling east and scheduled soon, they say. Council members also charge the west on the Canyon Road are no commission to decide whether the longer required to stop. The intersection next to Wacity will do any annexation and if lkers and Super Gs has been a be to have will a they do, policy three-wa- y stop for years. With made. Between the two meetings, an the changes, that intersection is y executive meeting was held with now a stop. Drivers need to be cautious as a on Gene chief Openshaw police some motorist may not be aware pending criminal matter. Newly of the change, according to a were elected council persons spokesman at Fairview City Hall. invited to attend two-wa- Councilman Blackham suggested businessmen video tape problems in the parking lot and turn them over to police. Library Librarian Bonnie Mellor Pleasant Mt. the that reported Librarys $36 card circulation fell off then increased over last year, 762 books were donated, the county use went from 30 to 150 people and since the fee was put into effect, book theft went with a loss of 200 books. She also reported that items loaned totaled 53,234; 58 programs were held with 1,532 people attending; and volunteer hours totaled 1,358. She said the library has a collection of 19,535 books and 51 magazinenews-pape- r subscriptions. Continued to page 6 Ephraim residents to receive project details by Bruce Jennings EPHRAI- M- Residents will be given an overview of their $2 million streets project at five area locations tonight, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. City council and street committee members will explain project details and answer questions. They may also ask for support for special improvement district sidewalk and curb and gutter projects. "The principal purpose of area meetings is communication," said councilman Barry Baker, streets committee chairman. The $2 million program includes some drainage work, extending the full width of streets to the curbs and them. Engineering is in the hands of Jones and DeMille. Bids will probably be called for in January or February and construction should begin in early spring, says hard-surfaci- Baker. Curb and gutter installation, where they do not currently exist, would have to be an undertaking of special improvement districts. The . streets improvement program was approved by Ephraim voters at a special bond election a year ago. Bonds are being purchased by the Community Impact Board at a low interest rate. Area meetings will be held in the elementary school, public library, city building. Senior Citizen Center and the Ephraim Co-o- p. The project will provide several benefits, Baker said, among them the solution to a serious drainage problem, a hard surface from curb to curb that will provide for better traffic movement, improved parking, more efficient maintenance and an enhanced environment. "We want to address residents concerns, answer questions and ask for their continued cooperation at the meetings," Baker said. First Baptist Church program MT. PLEASAN- T- The First Southern Baptist Church will present their annual Christmas program, Sunday, Dec. 17, at 11 a.m., followed by a potluck dinner and fellowship. The public is welcome. |