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Show INSIDE Overcoming obstacles DATC student expanding talents, skills.2 LIFESTYLE Add years to life There are many ways to make your life healthier.4 VOL 17, NO. 6850 CENTS Whats Layton an seeks rules on when to name something after donors By AMY PRAY Davis Bureau Standard-Examin- - LAYTON The citys not for sale, despite the growing number of local philanthropists popping up who want the next park bench, water fountain or picnic area named alter them. Layton City Manager Alex Jensen said the city welcomes money to build or enhance its landmarks and park features. But because requests are becoming more frequent, Jensen said the city needs to set some rules. City staff members are drafting a policy to set parameters on donations including what types, amounts and what may be dedicated in exchange for money. Jensen said so far donations have been - a name? Lots of money made by fine, upstanding members of the community. He wants to ensure that future money comes from a reputable, legitimate source. Just because you give us money doesnt mean you automatically get to name something after yourself, Jensen said. We dont want the John Gotti bowery here, he said, making reference to a reputed mob figure. One of Jensens upstanding citizens, Val A. Green, and his wife, Edith, donated what the city characterized as a very generous amount of money two years ago to help build a bowery in the new west Lay-to- n sports park. Recently, the Greens approached the city again with an even larger amount of money to continue building boweries and dedicating them to his parents. Parley and Laura Allen Green, and to other relatives. They declined to give specific dollar amounts, but city officials revealed that it was multiple thousands of dollars. Green, a retired advertising and sales promotions regional manager with Coca-Col- a Co., said one reason he wanted to donate was for a tax break. A bigger, more personal reason centered around the town he was bom in 71 years ago. His parents spent their lives in Layton and now his children, Val John Green and Holly Green Hamblin, and their families live here. Laytons been so good to me over the years. My wife and I wanted to give something back to the community, said Green, who is particularly fond of the parks. We like to walk through the park and see people enjoying themselves. Thats why the boweries are important. Green expects to continue making similar donations each year. He also hopes his actions will encourage others with finan cial means to do the same. The philanthropic push picked up speed several years ago while organizers were raising money for the citys amphitheater. Jewel Lee Kenley donated $50,000 in memory of her late husband, auto dealership owner Ed Kenley, and the outdoor theater in Layton Commons Park now bears his name. Numerous other citizens chipped in to help raise about $170,000, and the first tiers are named after donors. The Greens tier is dubbed on the Green, said Lyndia Graham, a former councilwoman who was active in making the amphitheater a reality. City officials plan to dedicate the new west Layton park this summer as the E.P. and Elizabeth Ellison Park after one of See NAME3 quietly boosts taxes say franchise tax hike will net the city an extra $78,000 a year By JaNAE FRANCIS Standard-Examin- - I ; R COPY requests Tuesday. John and Kathy Walker requested rezoning a small parcel of property from agriculture to residential at approximately 2154 N. Main. City Planning Commission Chairman Paul Allred said the property is a small parcel not large enough to build a home on, but by changing the zone it can become part of the Park Hills subdivision and be used, j j I ( ' i t ; Public Works Director Randy Randal said he has received several complaints from residents about damaged garbage cans and hydraulic fluid leaks on the city streets. BFI representatives said they believe the spots on the streets are old, but they are anxious to resolve any legitimate complaints and will respond immediately to clean up leaks as they are reported. BFI officials also said the city purchased poor quality containers. Randall said he will inspect BFIs equipment within the next few days. Bored this John Dubach (above), 10, helps Shanna Payne, 1 0, hang up their homemade candles during a mountain man rendezvous at Farmington Elementary. At left are some of the candles the students made. During the two-da- y rendezvous, students had fun with candle dipping, face painting, ice summer? cream-makin- page 4. summer fun calendar NICHOLSON bfcmdartFLumner B1XAN West Point raises taxes on cable By BRYON SAXTON Standard Lxarrsner Oavts Bureau WEST POINT -- Those who skipped the citys Tuesday public hearing at West Point Elementary to stay home to watch cable TV, it may have cost you. The West Point City Council, swayed by 125 concerned (and some downright angry) midents, backed off the idea of putting a utility tax on gas, clectncity and phone bills for the coming fiscal year. The council, by a 2 vote, did increase the cable TV tax, however, from 3 to 6 percent beginning in October. That tax has been in place since 1985. 3-- quilting, tales, music, colored salt games, friendship pins and bracelets, weaving and chalk murals. Read more on tall Take a cue from the mountain man rendezvous and include these activities on your Residents convince council to back off on other increases , ! WAXING NOSTALGIC: ing. SooUNSET3 The city council held a public hearing for six rezoning some complaints about service. and supplies, cost the city We wanted to have it done before May 30 so it can go into effect July 1, said Gail Hill, city administrator. The city didnt have the item on its regular agenda a week earlier because, said Hill, at that time, We werent aware we had to change the ordinance. We thought we just had to send a letter to the tax commission." Sunset resident Carolyn Jacobsen said she was concerned that city officials did not make an effort to let residents know ahead of time that they were raising franchise taxes. We kind of feci like we arent informed enough about some of these issues until after the fact, Jacobsen said. Just like how we were told, Its too late, theres nothing we can do about it she said, regarding the now, citys decision to let Jensen go. Jacobsen and others attended the city council meeting Tuesday rezone requests The city has agreed to a renewal of a contract with Browning-Ferri- s Industries for trash collection despite meetings. Last week, officials met in an advertised special meeting to amend an ordinance and thereby raise taxes on lights, gas and telephones from 4 to 6 percent. Mayor Janice Galbraith said the tax increase was necessary because theres no money for the budget. Officials have said they are losing almost $100,000 in tax revenue with the loss of Wincgars Supermarket and other changes in the city. Last month, the city an- nounccd it would begin address ing the budget shortfall by cut- ting the job of animal control and ordinance officer Deborah Jensen. The move was a controversial one. Last November, Jensen won a sexual harassment trial in federal court showing that Sunset City officials allowed former Sunset Police Chief Bruce Gunderson to sexually harass her. According to city figures Jensen's position, including salary $33,197. A contract with Davis County Animal Control is $9,500. The tax increase, officials believe, will net the city about $78,000 in additional revenues per year. We had to write the amendment now or we couldnt collect until October, Galbraith said. But she couldnt explain why the city couldnt have changed the ordinance in a regular meeting a week prior to the special meet- City approves five-ye- ar separate from usual council ) Centerville BFI contract renewed Dams Bureau SUNSET After years of a steady rate on franchise taxes, officials here have quietly increased the taxes in a special meeting t UMTS Robert and Carlene Sharp also requested rezoning for a small parcel of property from residential to agricultural located at 2142 N. Main. This request reversed a previous rezoning action that put the property into the Park Hills subdivision. The rezoning will straighten the border of the subdivision and allow better use of the land. Three other requests were previously heard by the city council, but because of errors in the legal descriptions, they had to be brought back to the council for approval. Sunset Officials BW The change will increase monthly billings for basic cable for residents from $25.95 to $26.73 and generate $5,100 more a year in total revenue for the city. A final hearing on the citys proposed $1.4 million budget including capital improvements will be June 16 at 6 p.m. Dan Sutton, Insight Communication manager, which provides cable service to West Point, said he isnt sure the city can add tax to the cable bill based on a 30-efranchise agreement approved with cities in ar 1985. But West Point officials say they can add utility tax to cable service based on research by their legal staff Most residents who attended Tuesdays three-hou- r hearing were pleased at the outcome, considering only 600 of the 1,500 FARMINGTON Officials OK development Final approval was given to the Fairways of Oakridge ; South, a development of 6.7 acres at 1 350 N. 1 075 West, Contingent on adjusting redevelopment project boundaries and being in compliance with ordinance requirements. The vote for approval was four to one, with David Dixon giving a negative vote because of his concern about proposed hammerhead'' streets and the safety of garbage trucks and fire department trucks backing i out of the street have addressed the hammerhead with Robinson, your city garbage earner, and ho said there should not be a problem turning around, but the trucks are equipped with video cameras so they could back up two or three homes if needed," said John Ungard, developer. ; City officials also had some concerns about drainage, and Ungard said they are working out a drainage agreement with the country club. 1 TV households in the city subscribe to cable. I'or some the service is still not available. They didnt get any of my money, one man was overheard saying in the parking lot. Another just smiled. Mayor Jay Ritchie said the council initially considered adopting between a 4 and 6 percent tax on uUlitics similar to what every other Davis city has done to compensate for the citys lack of commercial development You and I arc the mam source of taxable revenue for the city, Ritchie told the crowd. lie said reality was starting to catch up with them as they look for sources of revenue. But the group wanted no part of being as- See CABLE73 Coming Tuesday Your vote counts Beginning in Tuesday's Lakeside Review, read about the candidates seeking office the June 23 primary. in |