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Show Page 10 The Ogden Valley news Volume XXIV Issue XX November 15, 2017 Prevent Frozen Water Lines this Winter Water has a unique property in that it expands as it freezes. This expansion puts tremendous pressure on whatever is containing it, including metal or plastic pipes. No matter the strength of a container, expanding water can cause pipes to break. When frozen pipes burst, you’re left with a soggy mess and potential structural harm to your home. Evan a small crack in a pipe can cause more than 250 gallons of water a day to be lost. Pipes that Freeze Most Frequently • Pipes that are exposed to severe cold, like outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, and water sprinkler lines. • Water supply pipes in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets. • Pipes that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation. The good news is frozen pipes are one home disaster that can be prevented. Don’t get left in the cold with frozen or broken water pipes. Follow these easy steps and you’ll be well on your way to protecting the pipes in your home from freezing this winter. Outdoor Preparation • Winterize your sprinkler system by shutting off the main valve, blowing out the lines (however, do not blow air through the irrigation meter), or opening all valves to allow the system to fully drain. Don’t’ forget to switch your sprinkler controller to the “off” mode. • Remove, drain, and store hoses used outdoors. Close inside valves supplying outdoor hose bibs. Open the outside hose bibs to allow water to drain. Keep the outside valve opens so that any water remaining in the pipe can expand without causing the pipe to break. • Cover all outside house spigots, faucets, and hose bibs with insulated covers and tape to prevent freezing and breakage. • Drain water from swimming pool and water sprinkler supply lines following manufacturer’s or installer’s directions. Do not put antifreeze in these lines unless directed. Antifreeze is environmentally harmful, and is dangerous to humans, pets, wildlife, and landscaping. • Check around the home for other areas where water supply lines are located in unheated areas. Look in the garage, and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Both hot and cold water pipes in these areas should be insulated. • Consider installing specific products made to insulate water pipes like a “pipe sleeve” or installing UL-listed “heat tape,” “heat cable,” or similar materials on exposed water pipes. Newspaper can provide some degree of insulation and protection to exposed pipes— even ¼” of newspaper can provide significant protection in areas that usually do not have frequent or prolonged temperatures below freezing. • Consider relocating exposed pipes to provide increased protection from freezing. • Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage. Indoor Practices • Insulate the pipes located in your home’s outer walls, attic, crawl space, basement, and garage using insulated tape or molded pipe sleeves. • Open cupboard doors at night when temperatures drop below freezing. This will allow warm air to circulate around pipes and plumbing parts. • During extreme temperatures, or if you have pipes that have a history of freezing, allow a faucet to drip. The faucet farthest from the street should be the one left open and the stream should be no larger than the size of a spaghetti noodle. If it stops dripping, this means it has frozen. Leave the faucet open until thawed to relieve pressure on the lines. Put a bucket underneath and save water for another use. • Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst. • If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F. How to Thaw Frozen Pipes • Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, boiling water, or other open flame device. • Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. If you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you cannot thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber. • Locate the main water valve in your home so you can turn it off in case of a line break or Note: Information from the American Red Cross. RESOLUTION cont. from page 1 at the November 7 Weber County Commission meeting, the commissioners proposed a possible compromise approach: The County Commission could draft the Resolution and also recognize the first petition as it comes in with signatures as a mandate of the people to put the “whether to study” question on the ballot. This would also put the question on the ballot. The outcome of the commission meeting debate was to slow down, take a breath, and get some citizen input before deciding which option to pursue; thus, the Weber County Commission is now requesting citizen input on these options. Input needs to be submitted by December 19, at which point, they will make the choice among the three options. Opinion options are to be gathered by citizens and not elected officials. The current three-member commission form of Weber County government has been under scrutiny by citizens since the 1980’s, especially by the Weber County League of Women Voters. Legislative scholars feel it is undemocratic for one body to hold both the legislative and executive powers with no balance of powers. But closer to home, citizens in all parts of the county have felt unrepresented at one time or another. As recently as last year, a group of citizens once again requested that the three commissioners draft a resolution to allow citizens to vote on whether or not to approve a study of the viability of an alternate form of government for Weber County. The catastrophe that occurred with the adoption of the Ogden Valley Master Plan in late 2016 was fresh on their minds. As Kim Wheatley of the GEM Committee stated, “The county had just spent two years, a quarter of a million dollars for consultants, thousands of planning staff hours, and hundreds of Planning Commission hours with the highest rate of participation by citi- zens ever in updating the master plan. So how could it have been that Commissioner Matt Bell closed the public hearing, allowed Kerry Gibson to reverse foundational Principle 1 of “no new density” to allow more density, totally ignored the protest of Commissioner James Ebert that “this isn’t right,” and with zero public comment wipe out two years of work in five minutes?” Was this travesty allowed because of a fault or weakness in the form of current county government or was it, possibly, a poor choice of elected officials representing county residents? This is what a study of the various forms of government will, hopefully, reveal. For a variety of reasons, the citizen’s group did not take the matter any further, but it has now resurfaced and the “whether to study” question could well be on the ballot in 2018. It was on the ballot once before in 1998 and the voters said NO, but 48% said YES. If it passes in 2018, a “study committee” will be selected to study what form of county government is best for Weber County, including our current form. There are actually four different forms of government that the study committee can explore if citizens vote to approve such a study. Any change in government will have a big impact on how our county government functions, and especially its relationship to Ogden Valley. The question will be on the ballot either in June 2018 or in the general election next November. In the meantime, The Ogden Valley news will publish information on the petition process itself and on the various forms of government the study will consider. To provide input on this issue, there will be clip boards placed at various locations that Valley citizens frequent. Just put your name next to the option you prefer. Please note that only residents of Weber County may participate and sign. Members of the Weber Fire District perform training exercises around Pineview Reservoir. Match Donors are the backbone of philanthropy in Ogden Valley. You can become a Match Donor any time during the year. Your gift is an INVESTMENT. When we invest our time, talent and treasure, we all become philanthropists and enrich our community. In 2017, our Match Donors gave over $38,000. The Summer Scramble and Ball Drop was OVer the Top, generating an additional $12,480. CFOV challenged the community to raise an equal amount during the OVerDRIVE campaign. They raised over an AMAZING $164,000. This year over $242,000 was distributed among the participating nonprofits. Platinum match Donors ~ the highest peak of giving Brandi Lierd Douglas and Jan Cardon Williamsen Family Foundation Sue Johnson Stephen and Susan Denkers Foundation GolD match Donors Philip and Gail Coleman Janet Muir and David Suehsdorf Melissa and Jeffery Harrison David and Sharon Holmstrom Paul and Judy DeLong Morey and Jody Haymand Marion Horna and Martha Mayo Jenna and Jeff Holt Lars and Paula Fryland Marlin and Kathleen Jensen Peter and Melinda Roland GE Foundation John and Joann Loomis Dale and Liana Satterthwaite Brian and Nicole Nielsen Richard and Miranda Menzies Dennis and Dianne Shaw Travis and Chris Poulson Kim and Deborah Wheatley Jeralynn and David Winder Joe and Betsy Jennings Laurie Davis Junior and Blanche Rich Gregory and Ivy Stevens Alison and David Tomlinson Richard and Gladys Webb FrienDs oF the match Thomas and Eileen Burke Lon Castleton Allan and Elizabeth Wiscombe Patrice Callahan Eric and Teri Zenger Edward and Marguerite Power Lagayle and Robert Atwell Tim and Elissa Ludlum Derron and Stephanie Wilkins Ann and Joel Zieve Michael Gleeson the community Foundation of ogden Valley is seeking volunteers for the board of directors. What a great way to work for the benefit of ogden Valley. contact: marion horna 801-745-2337 or sharon holmstrom, 801-745-6638. |