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Show Volume XV Issue IV The Ogden Valley news Page 17 February 1, 2008 POWDER MTN. cont. from page 1 by the incorporation. No resort owners were in attendance. A brief description of the proposed mountain development was presented by project director Brooke Hontz, followed by a presentation explaining incorporation plans. The meeting was held on top of Powder Mountain in the main lodge’s cafeteria. Presenters faced an energized, and sometimes heated, crowd of about 75 residents. There were also several employees of the resort who found opportunities to lend supporting comments to incorporation plans. Plans call for a mayoral-city council form of government. The council would be composed of six members from the town, which would be initially appointed by Weber County from a list of candidates submitted by the petitioners. Snow removal, law enforcement, and street maintenance would most likely be contracted out with the town providing water and municipal services. Representatives stated that the developers have volunteered to pay for city services for the first two or three years to get the city up and running, and on its feet. They claimed that, by their calculations, the city would be financially sound, and may even be able to offer tax rebates to residents. They also committed to a 1% self imposed transaction fee on every real estate transaction within the resort that would be used to buy conservation easements and development rights down on the Valley floor to help mitigate the impact of their development on the communities of Eden, Liberty, and Huntsville. An entity such as The Ogden Valley Land Trust could maintain the easements in perpetuity. Collected monies might also be used to secure and maintain parks and other community recreation centers. But attendees at the meeting still seemed skeptical, and maintained concerns about safety issues on Powder Mountain Road, forest fires, and the economic viability of the newly formed town. Amanda Scheuermann stated, “How can a large property owner include in their town, residents who live 4000 vertical feet below and 40 miles away from Powder Mountain? Our community is Eden. We’re closer to Huntsville than Powder Mountain. I find this act absolutely offensive.” Darla VanZeban added, “We’ve had no say in this process; we are completely disengage.” Randy Bushell added, “You say that incorporation will help you achieve your vision . . . I don’t want to be part of something that is back door, shady, and artificial. What’s our vision—property rights! You are disfranchising a lot of people . . . it is a morality issue—my right is taken away to disenfranchise from something I don’t want to be a part of!” Jim Halay asked, “What has been your hurry? Why are you rushing through with this? Stop and show me that this new town is financially feasible. If it fails, you pull us [the residents] down with it. Why drag us into this foolhardy effort? Why didn’t you hold this meeting before you filed the incorporation petition?” Presenters responded, “We were told by the developer to ‘pull the trigger.’” Because of the effort of the legislature to revise the incorporation bill already on the floor for debate, the “hurry” is being viewed as a maneuver to ensure that plans by developers are not nixed by either the When heavy winter snow storms hit, county through planning restrictions or by there’s nothing like a snow thrower, or the state’s revision of a faulty law. blower, to save time and effort clearing Three sponsors are required to file a petiyour driveway and sidewalk. Snow blowers can clear most surfaces very quickly while reducing ice build-up on the pavement. With the winter season upon us, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) reminds everyone to make safety the top priority in order to prevent accidents. “This winter season, outdoor power equipment will again be put to the test in making our winter environment safer and less challenging,” said Kris Kiser, OPEI’s Vice President of Public Affairs. “Help prevent winter accidents with proper snow blower use and follow these important safety tips.” Snow Blowers to the Rescue— Prevent winter accidents with proper use • Never put hands inside the discharge chute for any reason. If the snow blower becomes clogged with snow, turn off the engine, wait for all moving parts to come to a complete stop and then clear the chute with a broomstick handle or a stick. • Never disable the important safety features. Manufacturers have built in important safety features to protect the user. In particular, the Operator Presence Control (OPC) causes the snow blower to stop within five seconds after an operator lets go of the controls. It is critical, no matter how many times your snow blower clogs, to never disable this tion for incorporation. They are formally listfeature. ed as owners/investors Mark E. Arnold, Lee A. Daniels, and Edward F. Bates. Petitioners, and their residential addresses, who signed in VALLEY MARKET cont. from page 1 favor of incorporation are: the Maverik station and walking over to the store to avoid the frenzy. One local Steve H. Nielsen II, Lehi, Utah customer commented, “I feel like we’ve Ricky T. and Theresa A. Stearman, Eden been invaded!” LaVar R. Lowther, Eden Eric Smith, Kailua, Hawaii While the New Year’s Eve day rush Claire and Shawna Van Meeteren, Eden was atypical, there certainly are a lot Robert MacCulloch, San Diego, California more unfamiliar faces and longer lines to Doug and Jamie Lythgoe, Eden be found now days down on the corner at Alvin F. and June Cobabe, Eden the local grocer’s; good for the owner’s Aleta Cobabe, Eden bottom line, not so good for Valley resiWayne and Gayla Folkman, Littleton, dents stopping by for a gallon of milk on Colorado their way home from work! David Barlow, Alpine, Utah Short term, while local customers may Colby Sanders, Layton, Utah be inconvenienced once in a while, long Rulon and Kathy Jones, Liberty “We’re excited about the opportunities term, the stepped up traffic is feeding the becoming a town will bring to our commu- drive for a bigger store that will be able nity,” said resident Terri Stearman. “We will to accommodate the increased traffic and have a stronger voice on local issues, and we’ll provide a broader selection of goods for also have the tools to do good things beyond local residents. our own neighborhood. Our new town will Building owner Roger Terry currently have a positive impact in the Ogden Valley has plans in the works to construct a new and beyond. store across the street on the southeast “We have thoroughly researched incorpo- corner of the increasingly busy Eden ration and are well aware of the responsibilities intersection. and obligations a town government owes its Valley Market business owners Tom residents,” said petition sponsor Mark Arnold. Ferguson and Terry Hancock state that “We are confident that incorporating the area while they’re shooting for a new building will bring tremendous benefits to local property owners and residents, as well as others in by May of 2009, the date is still a movOgden Valley, Weber County, and beyond. We ing target. Ferguson explained, “There look forward to working with our neighbors to is still a lot to do before construction on create a healthy and vibrant community.” Utah law allows individuals to seek incorporation of their area, but only after a number of conditions have been met. These include the inclusion of at least 100 residents, and the support of landowners who possess over 50% of the market value of the property and over 50% of the landmass within the proposed incorporation area. The Town of Powder Mountain incorporation petition satisfied these legal requirements. Weber County Commission members state that it is basically a foregone conclusion that incorporation will be sanctioned. The County Clerk’s office will review the petition for errors and inaccuracies. If it can certify that all legal requirements have been met, Powder Mountain Town will come into existence. “The Town of Powder Mountain is the next step in a logical evolution of the vision residents have for this community,” said Scott Doughman, a Powder Mountain Resort owner. “Utah law promotes municipal government to protect property values, and promote sound planning, long-term economic development, and high-quality services for residents. We appreciate the ability the law offers us to ensure our personal and property rights are fairly represented in our local government.” For the Benefit of Ogden Valley Military Veterans and Non-Military Wednesday Taco Night 5-9 p.m. Quesadilla $5.00 Tacos $5.00 Taco Combo $6.00 Taco Salad $5.50 Friday Dinner Night Serving from 5 p.m. till 9 p.m. Sat. & Sun. & Mon. Night Football Hamburgers & Hot Dogs $5.00 Chili or Soup $4.00 Serving from Opening till Closing Sunday Breakfast Homestyle $4.00 to 10.00 Serving from 8:30 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. Take Out available for members and non-members. Post 129 Huntsville American Legion Call 745-3802 • Keep the area of operation clear of all people—particularly children and pets. Do not throw snow toward people, pets, or cars, and do not allow anyone in front of your snow blower. In addition to snow, your snow blower may throw small stones or ice pellets that may cause injury or other damage. • Be sure the area is clear of doormats, sleds, newspapers, debris, or any other items that may have been covered by snow. The snow can sometimes hide objects that might clog the chute or cause other damage. If you come across something while using the snow blower, stop the snow blower and move the object before continuing. Remember to: • Read the owner's manual. • Do not allow children to operate equipment. • Do not clear snow across the face of slopes. • For repairs, turn off machine and wait until all parts stop moving. Disconnect the spark plug wire or the electric cord. • Wear weather-appropriate clothing and footwear. • Be sure of footing and keep a firm hold on the handles. • And always keep hands and feet away from moving parts. For more tips, visit <www.opei.org> the new store can proceed. The size and design of the new building has still not been determined. A market analysis still has to be completed. “While holidays are usually busy for us, the New Year’s rush took us by surprise. I think the snow levels we received before the holiday really increased ski traffic.” Ferguson added, “While summer is usually our busiest season, during this year’s ski season, we’ve had a difficult time keeping our shelves full, even though we’ve been placing larger orders for stock. We’ve been pleased with the growth in business.” Ferguson also stated that while about 30% of their business comes from seasonal visitors to the Valley, “It’s the local customers who carry us throughout the entire year. It’s the strong support from Valley residents that allows us to keep our prices competitive all year around, even in a community that caters to resort traffic.” When asked about the demographics of outside customers, he remarked that they come from all over the world— France, Sweden, Japan, England; all over Europe. “We also see visitors from all across the nation; from back east and from the mid-west.” |