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Show Council tables request Cable television rate increase postponed Community Televisions request for a rate increase was tabled until the next meeting by the Price city council during their regular meeting Wednesday evening. The cable television company, located in Price and a branch of Inc., requested a rate increase for the basic cable service to $14 per month and asked that the rate increase become effective in January. Councilman Chuck Davis expressed opposition to the rate increase at a previous meeting until a previous rate increase could be investigated. Davis had asked at the meeting that information about a January 1986 rate increase in the cost of the previous basic cable package be in- vestigated. I dont remember the council ever approving the last rate increase, Davis said. He added that a letter with the bill last January indicated the council had approved the last rate increase. Since the last increase had not yet been investigated, the request for another rate increase was tabled until that investigation is completed. If we give them a rate increase now and they werent authorized to increase rates the last time, were forgiving their past action, Davis said. The cable television company said the rate increase would be to defray the cost of adding service for customers of the basic cable package. In a letter to the mayor, the company said they were adding American Movie Classics, a program of prime time classic movies from the 1930s through the 1950s, and The Discovery Channel, education ming which program- explores industrial and natural changes in the world. The company also said that charges for additional outlets in subscribers homes is also being eliminated and that people could add as many cable outlets in their homes as they wanted at no additional charge. Paul Venturella, general technological, manager of Community Television of Utah, said in the letter the company would also be realigning channels. The new channel alignment does two things. First, it combines the strongest, most popular programming together on the lower channels (2 13), the letter stated. Second, those persons not interested in having a converter or wanting to use a remote conrol or VCR have more reason to to do so. The most popular programming will be within easy reach of twelve channel sets, the letter The company is also planning on adding Nickelodean, a popular network for young people, The Weather Channel, k providing weather information and a cable feaures, and satellite public affairs network. The company said the new around-the-cloc- channels will consolidating channels certain be added similar-intere- and by st eliminating duplicated programming. The city also has received easments from citizens to facilitate adding new street lights in the Castle Heights area of the city, city attorney Luke Pappas reported. The city has planned to add street lights in various areas of the city, expending about $20,000 per year on the project. Residents should have more (in the Castle Heights in about 30 days, Davis area) said. Davis is in charge of the citys electrical department. Two requests for conributions were turned down by the council. In a letter from Everette Dahl, mayor of Midvale, the city was asked to donate to a new Utah State Veterans Memorial Park, authorized this year by the state legislature. The local council turned thumbs down on the donation, stating that if they would ever (Continued on Page 5) light Wellington passes new pet ordinance The Wellington city council approved an animal control ordinance during its regular council meeting Wednesday night. The ordinance is aimed at excessive an number of animals on any one property. Weve been having problems with the family kennel-typ- e controlling homes. Some people in Wellington have up to five or six dogs on a small place and thats a health hazard, said city recorder Ken Powell. The ordinance limits the number of animals at each home to two dogs on small residential lots. This will not include those homes that currently house more than two pets. The law states that for those presently with more than two, when the animals expire or are removed from the residence, the homeowner will not be allowed to replace the pet if the total surpasses two. The council further discussed the need to install additional fire hydrants at designated spots throughout the city. We really need to do something about this problem, said councilwoman Eleanor Rasmusson. There is a real danger to the residents of Wellington. Sometimes there just isnt enough water to put out a fire. Thats the danger. What if we had a fire and there wasnt any hook-up- Rusmusson ? pointed out. The council decided that at least five new hydrants were needed and that the cost would be about $3,000 in total. Councilmah Arvil Wilson told the council that they should apply for a grant for funds for the installation of the hydrants and in doing so should apply for an additional few thousand. Why not ask for a few thousand extra. We need the asked mayor Gary money, Rich. The council decided to further study the issue and to investigate grant and loan possibilities. In other action, the council approved the allotment of funds for a law enforcement seminar for Wellington police chief T.L. Owings in Salt Lake City during December. The council voted to give city mantainance leadman Alan Wilder a raise of 50 cents, bringing his salary up to meet the rising cost of living. I just feel that he (Wilder) has saved us so much money and that hes worth the raise. Alan has been a real asset to the city and I dont think we can afford not to increase his pay, Rasmusson said. raise will bring The Wilders hourly pay to $8.01. 50-ce- Photo by River Water Improvement District trustees heard about two construction projects presently going on in the district during their regular meeting Tuesday. The waste water treatment expansion project, which was scheduled for completion in October, is behind schedule and wont actually be treating effluent for at least another month. Russ Vernon, project enginer reported to the board that the contractor, Nordic Con- structors, was now operating on a $600 per day penalty clause in the contract. Sewage will be introduced into the plant probably the end Vernon said. The contractor told the board they anticipated being able to bring sewage into the plant in of January, mid-Decemb-er. Vernon said the project is mostly completed except for paving and landscaping, which would now have to wait until spring. He said that probably testing the equipment would take place in December. More than $6.5 million dollars has been expended on the project which has been under construction for almost a year-and-a-ha- lf. With extensions, the project was to be completed on Oct. 24. Vernon estimated the project is 10 weeks behind schedule. Total cost of the project, when finally completed, will probably be within the budgeted $7.2 million, district manager Phil Palmer said. Project funds available total almost $7.7 million. Ground was broken Wednesday on another project in the district. In the planning stages for about two years now, construction began on a new diversion structure at the PRWID diversion site near the Castle Gate on the Price River. The original structure was damaged by flood waters in 1983 and the project has been under consideration since that time. Palmer received a said the district $51,000 grant for McKeever Motorcyclist injured Emily Willson cradles the head of an in- jured motorcyclist after a accident Thursday morning. According to police reports, Willson, 20, Price, was westbound on 300 North and allegedly stop sign before colliding 1985 a with Kawaski, driven by Bill J. two-vehicl- e Sisneros, 20, Price, who was southbound on East. Sisneros was transported by ambulance to Castleview Hospital for treatment. Willson was cited for suspisicion of failing to yield with cident. 400 Foundation reports Price property taxes are up Overall property tax rates increased by 0.59 percent in Price during 1986. This was reported by Utah Foundation, a tax private research organization, in their latest survey of tax rates charged in the 17 largest cities of Utah. According to the foundation, the total Price tax rate in 1986 was 1.6602 percent. Under the new truth in taxation law that went into effect this year, tax rates are expressed as a percentage of reasonable fair cash value rather than in terms of mill levies. Currently, only centrally (state) assessed property (utilities, railroads, etc.) and personal (motor property vehicles, machinery, equipment, etc.) is being assessed at 100 percent of full value. Residential property is taxed at only 60 percent of full market d value, while other property is taxed at 80 percent of full value. Because of these differences, adjustments must be made to determine the true level of taxation. Following are the average effective tax rates during 1985 and 1986 in Price for the major property classes : locally-assesse- In most communities disaster relief and an additional loan from $210,000 the state water resources board for the project. There will not have to be an increase in any rates to take care of the cost of the project, no-inter- Palmer said. The new water diversion could be in operation by Jan. 1, he added. He said the structure was badly needed and would be a boon to the economic operation of the entire water system, district wide. It is desgned so that there will be very little sediment ever reaching the treatment facility just a few hundred yards downstream, he said. There should no longer be a problem of debris getting into the structure since water will be taken not from the surface as it is now but from about two feet below the surface. Winter ice has often blocked the present structure, requiring workers to walk out onto the ice and break it up with picks and hammers, which is very dangerous, Palmer said. By taking the water from below the ice, that problem will in the future, he be added. Palmer said the diversion dam will be about three feet higher and gates below the surface will allow water inside at a 90 degree angle to the flow non-existe- nt the largest share of the property tax goes for the support of local schools. According to the foundation the analysis, property taxes charged in Price this year will be distributed as follows: Purpose Percent 16.3 City (Continued on PRWD board hears about two construction projects Price Ed Page 5) which will cut down on sediments. The inside of the structure is also designed to settle out particulates and to float off floating debris which may somehow get into the system. Responding to a Division of Wildlife Resources request, the district will also install a fish ladder in front of the dam to allow fish heading upstream to spawn access to the river above the dam, Palmer said. John J. Nielsons term as a trustee of PRWID is up and so far only one person, Larry Jensen, has filed for the board slot. Closing date for filing is Monday, Palmer said. |