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Show THURSDAY. AUGUST 14. 1980, ' f VOLUME Towages NUMBER EIGHTY-TW- TWENTY-THRE- E Of Residents Angry Sunset Voice Concern ; Over High Utility Rate By MARK D. MICKELSEN A heated pubSUNSET lic debate over recent utility-increasein Sunset drew a small crowd of angry fixed-incom- e residents Thursday night, many demanding to know why the city council raised the fees some five lars over last year. dol- STARTED as a re quest from Mrs. lone Wiilette that her garbage tales be changed turned into an discussion on the pros and cons of utility fees and the worsening economy. Mrs. Wiilette complained to the council that people like herself, who only put out one or two garbage cans during the week, should not be charged the same as families leaving ten to 12 cans. Intermountain Refuse spokesman. Robert Strebel. agreed, but told the group that the city would have to do a lot of bookeeping to handle the project. WHAT lf HER COMPLAINT is Mr. Strebel said, adding that in metropolitan areas like San Francisco and Los Angeles, a minimum of four cans is accepted, extra can adding to the original charge. But he added in aeree-men- t with the council, that valid, Davis County Housing Authority hosted a contingent of state legislators, county commissioners and the Utah Housing Coalition on The a tour of the countys Housing Authority facilities and also were given a look at the housing shortage and needs for low income and , . elderly housing in Davis County. HOUSING SHORTAGE By battle to get property for the 48 units for the elderly. TOM BUSSELBERG If homes BOUNTIFUL needing minor repairs now arent fixed up they will become dilapidated and have to be torn down in ten years. THAT assessment by Davis County Housing Authority executive director, Rosemary Davis, was given to state legislators and members of the Utah Housing Coalition as they toured points along the THE TALLEST buildings in Davis County are the Courthouse and School District Administration Building, both in Farmington and only three stories high, she told the group. If it's zoning youve got a real problem. If multi-famil- Davis County last week. The group visited the Group a preliminary census report indicates Davis County population jumped nearly 45 percent in the last ten yers but noted. Building permits countywide (for units) have decreased from 32 percent in 1971 to four percent in multi-famil- y 1979. The price of county begin at $46,800. An average new home with 1,500 homes in our square feet will sell for $80,000. This puts the cost of a home out of the reach of most AWAITING list of 150 is on record for the 48 available units, she noted, indicating they are the first in south Davis County , with the situation only somewhat better in north Where do we put Davis. SUNSET More facts ab- out the city's building fee charge surfaced at Thursdays city council meeting following a barrage of angry complaints from local citizens. tives must be sought for e residents embracing efforts of state and other support; to provide more construction of affordable multifamily units to rent; more construction of small affordable homes; creative financing; creative zoning with heavier densities allowed; education of general public and officials of the needs and potential of serious problems in the future. Construction of amily units multifin Davis County is still difficult to easily obtain as evidenced by the six month WE TELL people we want a good community, and then we nail them every time they turn around, an frustrated Councilman Scott Mikesell said, in reference to the citys building ordinance which re- quires anyone making im- provements or repairs on their home to buy a building permit. Mr. Mikesell said he is concerned over the fact that the 94-14- the Davis County School District each year submits an educational plan for handicapped children to the State Department of Education. COPIES OF this plan, are planned adjoining the Rosewood Apartments in Layton, for example. LAND IS running out. mayor's response may not please the majority, adding, beyond what the construction costs. through the councilmen's windows, unless as Mr. Mikesell said, the group does something about the ordinance before Jan. 7. Whether factual nor not, Mr. Mikesell said the threat will be carried out to see whether or not the councilmen buy building permits to replace the windows. forced to pay extra fees HE POINTED out one case where a man's window was broken by someones careless firing. The resident had to get a building permit to replace the window. We want to make sure that what they do is right, Mayor Norm Sant said of the actual building process. It's a standard ordinance. BUT MR. Mikesell said the Seeking For Some Judge Applicants Due to the fact that Judge Thornley K. Swan is not seekit appears that a ing vacancy is about to occur in the office of district judge for the Second Judicial District, which includes Weber, Morgan and Davis counties. occur the judicial nominating commission shall select three qualified nominees to submit to the governor, who then has 30 days in which to appoint one of them to the judgeship. The purpose of this procedure is to select nominees who are best qualified by reason of IT IS provided by law that when a vacancy is about to age, education, experience and temperament to serve in the office of district judge. Public Notice As required by Public Law There will have to be changes in zoning. she said. it city wants to foster nice looking homes, but the people making the improvements are families." SHE SAID housing alterna- them? she asked. Its very discouraging. A development for senior citizens is planned by the Episcopal Management Corp. in Kaysville, and four large family low income units Among those joining the Davis County segment of the tour, that included stops in Ogden, Brigham City and Logan, were the three county commissioners, state Sen. Jack M. Bangerter from Bountiful and Wayne L. Sandberg of Holladay. Again At Building Fee it MRS. DAVIS told the group lake, thats okay. There has to be public awareness (of such needs), she said. Sunset Council Looks Wasatch Front including Turn home serving mentally retarded on East Center in Bountiful, saw property to be senior used for a new citizens housing project, also in that city, toured the Rosewood Apartments project in Layton and viewed homes that had been renovated through Housing Authority funds. y you want it on the (Great Salt) together with the district's application for federal funding, are available for inspection by the public at the Special Education Department's offices, 45 East State St., Farmington. Utah 84025. THE COMMISSION will consider applications from those who feel that they are qualified and desire that posi- tion, and also nominations by any interested parties. They should be filed with the Supreme Court not later than Oct. 1, 1980. APPLICATIONS of nominations should be addressed to J. Allan Crockett, chief justice, who acts as chairman of the commission or to Geoffrey J. Butler, clerk, who acts as its secretary. A citizens group has threatened to throw rocks THE FEE, according to Councilman Bruce Watkins, is charged only for the time it takes to inspect the area, not for gaining additional revenue for the city. But the costs are so high." Mr. Mikesell said about the inspections, that the fee does not always justify the time put in on the house examination. THE MAYOR told the men that if the fee falls within the formula of the state building code, which Sunset city fo- llows, then thats the answer, he said. But if we cant justify the Mr. Watkins said, inspector, we cant justify the fee." The councilman also said he did not think the ordinance has to be enforced that closely. AN ANGRY confrontation between Councilman Clayton Petersen and Mr. Mikesell began when Mikesell criticized Petersens agreement with the building ordinance. Mr. Mikesell told him that it is partially his fault that all the public complaints have been coming in. Mr. Mikesell blaming the councilman for speaking out for the ordinance at all the recent meetings. MR. MIKESELL told him that every call he gets from an irate citizen, he's going to have them call Mr. Petersen as well. Mr. Mikesell's biggest complaint about the ordinance was summed up in a roofing cost comparison. He told the council that if a roofing repair costs $2400 for one man, and $1300 for another, the two men should not be charged differently just because of the size of the roofs. One is getting it cheaper than the other," he argued. BUT THERES a reason for it. Mayor Sant told him, not giving the specifics for his claim. The mayor and council plan to investigate the formalities of the ordinance further and come to some decision, mdm smaller cities like Sunset "don't have the bookkeeping to take care of it." Mr. Strebel suggested that the council work with Mrs. Wiilette if her case is the exception rather than the rule." He also said that he would be happy to give those on a fixed income a break in the regular collection fee if the council approves it. HE EMPHASIZED that the mayor and council would have to agree that the individuals meet the water and sewer criteria as well, thus giving a decrease in all three areas. Some residents. Mr. Strebel said, would not even be charged, providing their case proves extreme. COUNCILMAN Bruce Watkins suggested analyzing the size of the families, setting separate rates on garbage collection for one, two and families. But it's the bookkeeping." Mayor Norm Sant told him, and we have to decide if that's an equitable way" to handle the situation. MR. STREBEL told the council he has pictures of one family whose garbage filled one entire truck. He said the family paid a higher fee as a result. The garbage collection fee is currently $5 per month, "a large increase over last year's $3.15 charge, according to one irate citizen. I THINK we've got to weigh this thing." Mayor Sant working, and not u tiled he never complained about the rates. FMr ord said he would have to "move out ot the e it " because he can not keen up with the high is he niuvoi told him he had bettei cheek other cities out bel'ote he makes that uccimoi' Mayor Sant said he and the council were aware of seveial people on fixed incomes and sect; security w hen thev raised the utilities, but either out of pnde or deduation the six or sev en people never complained or attended any of the public hearings on the issue. told the Thursday gathering, suggesting that the decision be rather made on a county-wide- , than individual basis. Though the city can decide not to do anything about the problem, the mayor opted to talk it ov er w ith the council. don't think the council has any quick solutions yet." the mayor said. The whole issue of reduced rates drew criticism from audience n embers, some of which told the touni.il that if favorites are played, everyone in the city will want some kind of reduction. v et-- 1 I ONE COUNCILMAN. Clayton Petersen, agreed "I WANTED to take a look at the people having problems." Mayor Sant told Mr. Ford and Mis. Wilktte. but he emphasized that il onlv a few are involved in the ate change he did not know d the cost of going through with it would be feasible. "We have to be cuie-fu- l in that respect." he said. My intent and motives were sincere." the mayor told them, "to help needv individuals." want to treat everysaying one the same." and according to him this means keeping the rates the same for everyone. Complaints about garbage fees were not the only ones aired in the meeting, though. 1 r Leonard Ford charged the council w ith taking money out of his retirement wages to help pay for recent city employee raises. He based his accusation on the fact that the utility increase is supplementing city wages. COUNCILMAN BUT MAYOR Sant disagreed. telling Mr. Ford that he would rather discuss the item at a later time and that the issue before the council concerned lowering the rates for needy individuals, not in discussing where the funds are allocated. Councilman Scott Mikesell agieed "I can t stand to see people go without " he said. One unidentified iesident told the council to 'keep then compassion with the voirne as a ;o; well." he said, add.iif. of the younger married people make less than some ol the retired folks. Watkins AND THEY have the eight cans of garbage." Mayor Sant said, stressing his point about the sensitivity of the issue. The mayor and council have agreed to talk the rate problem over with the citv attorney before making any decision. assured Mr. Ford that the whole reason behind the increase in utility rates is the higher cost of living. WHILE MAYOR Sant told Mr. Ford that while Ford was Council Questions Subsidizing Of East Layton cilman Lynn Wood told the council in its regular session last week. With the citys LAYTON subsidy for athletics including baseball, basketball and football climbing, the Layton City Council is questioning it can afford to let East Lay ton youngsters participate at no extra charge. whether SOME 53 East Layton and unincorporated county youngsters participated in this year's baseball and girls' soft-baprogam and about 20 percent signed up for football are from East Layton, said City ll Recreation Director Sam Dato. The city has been charging $6.50 a boy for baseball but it costs that plus $16.79 per participant in the program. Coun LAYTON subsidizes ev cry boy and there are several out of East Layton." he said, noting it costs the city Oh. 50 for basketball. $12 4' for lootball and $9.45 to subsidize girls' softball. In calculating the baseball participants Mr. Datoexplained. "We have a problem with boys who live with their grandparents or the parents are separated (saying they live in Lay tom.' 'i RECALLING what On Page 2) Hearing Set For Clinton Youth By GARY R. BLODGETT A FARMINGTON Clinton youth cused of killing a ac- neighbor girl was sentenced Wednesday morning to the Utah State Mental Hospital for 30 days for psychiatric examinations. FIRST DISTRICT Juvenile Court Judge L. Kent Bachman also set Sept. 24 at 10a.m. fora hearing to determine if the youth should be tried for the crime as a juvenile or be referred to Second District Court to stand trial as an adult. The youth is charged with e murder, kidnapping and a new charge of sexual abuse in the death of Anne Elizabeth (little Anne) Hoskis-son- , daughter of Bruce E. and Alison Hoskisson, 1 182 N. 600 first-degre- W., Clinton. JUDGE BACHMAN ordered the boy and his pa rents to be at the Utah State Mental Hospital in Provo at 10 a.m. Aug. 19 at which time he will be admitted for 30 days to fense attorney Tom Jones, of Ogden, to have the news media barred from the room. psychiatric JUDGE BACHMAN said he was denying the motion to have the press excluded because it was the right of the and the public to press know what goes on in hearings of this kind but he emphasized that he will evaluate the presence of the press in each subsequent hearing and determine at that time if they (press) will be allowed to remain in the meeting or excluded. However, the judge did impose a ban on the press from talking to the defendant, parents or the defense attorney during the youth's preceed-ings- . He also cautioned the press to be fair and use extremely good judgement in what is printed and televised about the case. examinations. Meanwhile, court personnel will attempt to receive all other background about the boy that may pertain to this case, the judge said. The judge also allowed palm prints to be taken from the youth to determine if they match prints reportedly taken from the scene of the crime. THERE WAS no reaction from the defendant or his parents when the new charge of sexual abuse was admitted in court. The defendant was wearing a green and white pullover shirt and levies and was flanked on the front row in front of the judge by his attorney and mother. Newspaper and television reporters were allowed into the hearing after Judge Bachman denied motions by the de exceptions," the judge said. "1 am asking for continued cooperation by having the press follow professional I HAVE been pleased with the coverage thus far. w ith few ethics with best interest of the juvenile involved." The judge explained that there has not yet been an arraignment or plea offering on (Continued On Page 2) DAVIS NEWS JOURNAL 197 "B" North Main St., Layton PHONE Published WeeKly by OmPOBUSHRECO. John Stable, Jr., Publisher Second Class Postage Paid At Layton, Utah SUBSCRIPTION S4.50 per year M Sa tomi $tacntto 15 SutKrtpnai SIS 00 (Payabtt m Advance) |