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Show AROUNDlDAVIS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1999 CLIPPER TODAY A3 ins sums I area citizens their views on key local or regional topics. Each week, Clipper asks at random to share This week's question: "In the wake of recent worldwide earthquakes, do you feel that local building codes are adequate to avoid such disasters Jeff Payne Karalynn Kirkham Layton Syracuse Jason Smith Debbie Bender Clinton Woods Cross Bountiful don't think so. From what I've seen, some of the houses up on the mountains think our building codes think we could be in trouare pretty adequate. I'm sure ble. Some of these buildings with all the growth going on, were built before the codes with all were established. The newer they stay codes. I'm not buildings might be ready, but the building sure about older buildings, think most, if not all, of the but the newer ones are prob- older buildings are not I don't think we're pre- pared here. Our standards like are not California and other parts of the country. think that we have the technology to prevent earthquake damage here in Utah, but we're just not prepared for it. up-to-da- te I Barry Hunt I are built right on cliffs. don't think people even think about the possibility of an earthquake hitting us here. I I I up-to-da- te I sure hope so. We have people who come and inspect buildings, so would assume they check for that sort of thing. I guess it's just one of the things that hope we never have to find out I I I ably fine. here?" Residents want sidewalks near school BY MELISSA K. CANNELL Clipper Today Correspondent Two hundred EST POINT residents a letter and submitted plus petition to the city council last week requesting it put sidewalks in vital areas near the new Lakeside Elementary School on 81K) N. 3tKK) W Resident Kim McVey spoke on behalf of the group and also presented the petition. Providing safety for children is top priority in this city she said. .Kids on bikes or on foot have almost been hit by cars (several times) near the eastern entrance (of the school). Its only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed. McVey said the group understood that the city has a limited budget and couldn't afford to fund the sidewalk itself; so. they encouraged city officials to look at special improvement districts as the way to fund the sidewalk. In addition, the group proposed six solutions which they believed could school alleviate some W problems until the sidewalk could be constructed. Fust, they suggested lowering the speed limit for 24 hours a day and seven days a week on 800 N. from 2b()0 W to 3000 W to 25 mph. They recommended restricting large construction vehicles working near the school from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. and asked for the creation of a bike lane from 2700 W to the school. Residents also wanted to see an added police presence enforcing the school zone, and encouraged the city not to fix any potholes on the road. McVey said they slowed people down when nothing else seemed too. Lastly; the group proposed a no bikes rule at school until the sidewalk was completed and wanted to look into busing more children school. McVey said parents are seeing too many buses that are only half filled and wanted to know if their children could ride the buses. McVey said parents were willing to keep then children home from school until buses or other arrangements for their children's safety were made. When McVey concluded her remarks. Mayor Jay Ritchie took immediate action. You're absolutely right that something must be done; he said. These issues need to be addressed. Lower speed limit and school zone signs, we definitely need to make a move on. That item ought to be a piece of cake. Ritchie added that restricting vehicles between Sam. and 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. will have to be discussed with the sewer district. He asked Council member Farrell Cook to look into the option. He said creating a bike lane was an excellent idea, but said it was an idea for discussion later on down the road. As for an increased police presence. Ritchie said.Tt needs to be done without a doubt. He said a call to DavisCountv Sheriff Bud Cox would be put in right away ; Ritchie told the parents that the city couldn't make a determination of bikes or no bikes at school. I lowever. he said if parents wanted to. then they could get with the school's safety committee to make that determination Lynn Trenbeath. assistant superintendent of the Davis County Schixil District, was invited by Ritchie to address the busing issue. She said the district only buses 17000 of its 59.000 students and has a limited budget for busing students who five 1 12 to two miles or more from school. There hazaidous busing requirements," Trenbeath said. We can make arrangements for (ty pically ) ineligible students if they meet the requirements.. .How ever, we can't make more stops in an ineligible area. There will be spots for some students, but not all. It ends up being like a lotare tery" With that. Mayor Ritchie wrapped up all comments, commended the residents for getting involved and told them then efforts were a gieat way to get started to providing for children's safety m the city Council seeks solutions for dusty road BY TOM BUSSELBERG Clipper Today News Editor - LRUIT HEIGHTS Maybe the dust problems on Fruit Heights Mountain Terrace Drive could be over, soon. The city council has discussed problems with the street, which have included tracking of dust and mud due to an unpaved portion of the road. During a Sept. 21 meeting, the council was informed by City Manager Richard Marchant that temporary barriers could be installed to hopefully keep vehicles off the unpaved portion. He said that the property owner who would be long-standi- impacted by such a temporary turnaround has heartily agreed to the use. There are No Trespassing signs (where the barriers would be placed) but people ignore them. There is a constant problem of people driving through" to access the nearby mountain areas, he said. Vehicles are driving onto private property owned by a Salt Lake City man but the complaints are coming from neighbors who don't like the dust or mud created by the traffic, Marchant said. If the guy (property owner) from Salt Lake won't control it, then he's violating the law. If its a problem with then we need to fix our it, Mayor Richard Harvey said. right-of-wa- County Housing Authority approves $8.1 million budget BY TOM BUSSELBERG Clipper Today News Editor FARMINGTON -- The Davis County Housing Authority has approved a budget of nearly $8.1 million for the agency, which provides a variety of services to assist moderate families. and Executive Director Jane Wilson noted that the budget reflects only a slight increase, fairly close to last low-inco- yean" the agency, which receives a large portion of its funding from federal agencies such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is seeing all programs continue into next year, she said. We will have some changes within the programs, something weve wanted for a long time, Wilson said. The change refers to combining related housing rental assistance programs where financial assistance is provided However, to eligible participants. At the same tune, waiting lists for those wishing to be included in programs, which range from living in Housing Authority owned housing to rental assistance, stand at about 1,000 families a fairly constant figure in the county, she said. In the meantime, papers are being readied to implement an American Express grant program. It would provide a $10,000 revolving loan fund, COPY with a portion of that amount loaned at a very reasonable interest rate, if any7 Wilson said, to cover security deposits and other costs associated with moving to a new apartment It can be a real problem, especially for a family w ho obvihave doesnt the ously money or they wouldn't be accessing our program, she emphasized. It helps establish them into an apartment. It can get fairly expensive with move-i- n fees, utility and security low-inco- deposits, she added. Chevron Bank has also indicated interest in continuing to support the Housing Authority by financing some of their needs, Wilson said. The agency is currently preparing an application of such needs. The bank recently provided funding allowing for purchase of new carpeting and furnishing at the Meadows senior citizen complex in Bountiful. In other business, the board of directors approved awarding performance-based increases. salary However, they vary among the 19 employees based on their job performance, Wilson said. However, in a procedural change, those increases will no longer be awarded to coincide with different employment anniversary dates, requiring adjustments for some employees, she added. Marchant responded that the city's roadway is legal but the dust is technically illegal. With that. Council member Dan Phelps moved that work should proceed to at least temporarily solve the problem with barriers, an expense the city would bear in return for being allowed to place them on private property. d The and barriers should have to only form a temporary solution because the city intends to complete the road within the next year. In fact. City Engineer Kent Jones has drawn up plans estimated at $144,000 to fix the problem. As part of the extended road, improvements would include curb. turn-aroun- gutter, sidewalk, pavement and erosion control measures, including a retaining wall, and extension of sewer and water lines and storm drainage system, would be implemented along the frontage of Gary Cutler's proper-tv- . Marchant said the city will front hile litigation continues w ith Cutler to obtain a share of the total cost Plans also call for shifting the east end of the street 15 feet south and to have the sidewalk placed on the south side of the street. Efforts would be ui place to minimize the cut in front ol the Cutler property, and reduce the height of the retaining wall Cutler's engineer wi(l be involved in project planning, the council was informed the cost w Fruit Heights seeks bids to rebuild narrow bridge FRUIT HEIGHTS relatively - Faced with a state designation of structurally unsafe for the Bair Canyon Bridge, city officials are preparing to seek bids on a retrofit of the histone structure. City Engineer Kent Jones told the city council recently that the badge had received the designation from the Utah Department of Transportation because it is so narrow. The badge has between 18 and 20 feet of roadway space and 2 12 feet for walkway Effons to widen or change the bndge may bang public sentiment to the contrary, as happened in 1986, when Jones proposed rebuilding the bndge. At that time, residents said they wanted it left alone for aesthetic and historical reasons. In this the city engineer is proposing the current structure be removed, to be replaced by a 36 foot wide road section. He gave the city council an estimate of $64,000 to reconstruct the wider roadway and a box culvert for water flow. In recent discussion by the council. Council member J. Dale Green, a native of Truit heights. recalled that in the 1940s a boulder took out" the bndge. I le expressed concern a boulder would likely plug a box culvert and cause flooding. But Jones said there shouldn't be problems as long as the basin is kept Homecoming game against Skyline. There will also be an assembly friday morning Pnor to the game, there will be a 1 lomecommg parade with floats and bands and dignitaries. Be tore the game, the I:calibur singing group will sing the National Anthem while the ROTC presents the colors. road-relate- lYoifdeserveal oual treatment Homecoming fun continues at NHS On Friday, Northridge High's Homecoming will continue with a banner contest for any groups and clubs. Posters will be hung on the fence for the dear He added that, in his there is sufficient flat area opinion, east of the bndge to prevent large rocks from gaming enough velocity to reach the bndge. Mayor Richard Harvey said he believes a public meeting on the issue should be held to obtain residents input Speaking of the bndges aesthetics. Council member Tina Le Pendu said if the project is designed to retain the current appearance except for widening. she doesn't understand why there would be public opposition. As of presstime, bid documents were still being prepared. The bndge project is one of three d top pnonties approved by the council for this fiscal year. The others are the Mountain Terrace Dnve extension (see story elsewhere in this week's paper) and a pavement overlay on Green Road. Jones has told the council that the overlay will be needed following the planned waterline replacement from Mountain Road to U.S. Highway 89. He has estimated the cost at $26.(XX). Public Works Director Jack Palmer said he prefers installation of curb and gutter along the road in conjunction with that project and is contacting residents to determine if they will participate in those costs along frontage of then properties. Much of the north side of that portion of Green Road is open fields, meaning sidewalks could be confined to the south side. BY TOM BUSSELBERG Clipper Today New s Editor at 180 West Gordon in La$ton, Utah Located 2 blocks East of Layton Red Lobster Come see our wonderful spaa Come feel our ambience Come enjoy an experience beyond expectation! 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