OCR Text |
Show Volume XXV Issue XIX The Ogden Valley news Page 3 November 15, 2019 Editor’s View The Valley’s Tourism Draw, Higher Home Values, & Aging Population Should Contribute to the County Coffers—Not Demand a Subsidy: Where’s all the money going? Between the Valley’s tourism draw for the rest of the county, higher home values, and an aging population that statistically diminishes county service demands, why are Valley residents being told that the rest of the county has to subsidize our neck of the woods—a pretense for a county effort to raise Valley residents’ service fund tax levy. i am concerned with Weber County’s effort to raise the services fund tax levy for the Valley (while lowering it for the rest of the county) in order to “eliminate the financial subsidy currently being provided to the unincorporated residents from the county’s general fund,” as noted by our Weber County Commissioners. Could part of the problem be, since this issue has never been raised in my memory, it’s, in part, due to all of the extra services being extended to the development and associated costly snow removal, maintenance services, etc. happening on top of Powder Mountain— the county’s ill-gotten, subsidized boondoggle? And could this “problem” be addressed, in some measure, by ensuring that all second homes (including the many illegal Airbnbs in the Valley) are being correctly assessed as second homes? Other questions I would like answered, “Has Weber County adopted an effective system to identify the appropriate tax rate and accompanying revenue from second-home owners in Ogden Valley? is the county actually collecting unsubsidized tax revenue from the approximately 51% of Valley property owners whose homes are not owner-occupied, as county records indicate? if so, shouldn’t this be a windfall for the county—especially since records also show that these homes are usually valued at a much higher rate than most of the homes in the rest of the county. Wouldn’t this revenue help prevent the county from having to “financially subsidize” unincorporated residents, along with all the tourism and venue dollars generated by the “jewel of Weber County”—Ogden Valley—and the draw for a myriad of international (think Olympics & other competitive events), national, state, and regional special events the county reaps the benefit from, and, finally, the lower demands from retirees with no school-age children? While subdivisions and homes keep being built in the Valley, the number and size of our schools has remained flat for decades. What percent of your property taxes go to the school district? From the county’s planning department’s Rural Residential Development & Housing plan currently being developed, beginning with Line 27, “during this period (2017), the number of households with children under 18 declined, while the number of households with those over 57 increased. These trends suggest that Ogden Valley is developing as a lifestyle community with an aging population, and that young families are not moving to the Valley, but are moving out of the Valley, or both (less pressure on schools & taxes supporting education system. Also, usually less police presence needed). as of 2017, Ogden Valley residences have an approximate vacancy rate of 51 percent; up five percent from 2014. Compared with the rest of Weber County, at 8.6%, and all of Utah, at 10.4%. The difference is attributable to the growth in the number of resort and recreational residences, which are occupied only periodically. “In addition to the number of new units, the characteristics of the occupants of new Valley residences are an important consideration for future planning in the Valley, because part-time residents may have different desires for residential design and neighborhoods and shopping and recreational amenities than yearround residents. Part-time residents are also less likely to make daily commuting trips to Ogden and other destinations (less wear-andtear on roads). Recreational properties also impact the Valley during different times of the year, such as popular vacation times, holidays, and special events, when the Valley population swells temporarily…. Please note, too, that tourists and visitors usually spend more money in the short period they visit than fulltime residents—also producing extra revenue to the county.” Housing - Line 65 states, “While OV remains an attractive bedroom community for many working families, the decreasing household size & aging population suggest that a greater proportion of the Valley’s population will be retired or part-time residents in the future. “The median value of all housing types in Ogden Valley in 2014 was $312,300. This is NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING OF THE HUNTSVILLE TOWN PLANNING COMMISSION, NOVEMBER 14, 2019 Public notice is hereby given that the Huntsville Town Planning Commission, Weber County, Utah, will hold a Public Hearing Thursday, November 14th, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. at the Huntsville Town Hall located at 7309 E. 200 S. Huntsville, Utah. A Public Hearing will be held on the following item: • Proposed amendments to Title 15.6.4 – Frontage Requirements with regards to corner lots. The ordinance will be available for viewing on http://huntsvilletown.com under Government/ Planning Commission Minutes and Agendas tab. All interested parties are invited to attend. Dated this 24th of October, 2019. _______________________________ Beckki Endicott, Recorder Posted: Town Hall Post Office huntsvilletown.com pmn.utah.gov In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing assistance with attendance to these meetings should call Beckki Endicott @ 745-3420, giving at least a 48 hour advance notice. Christmas Tree Cutting on UintaCache National Forest Cutting a Christmas tree St., Kamas, Utah | Mon. – Fri., 8:00 a.m. – in a national forest is a family tradition for many residents of Utah. Weather conditions in the mountains are unpredictable, so always be prepared for winter weather. Stay on designated roads and trails. Be prepared for slick, snow-packed roads, and have chains, a 4-wheel-drive vehicle, or a snow machine available. Let someone know where you are planning to go and the approximate time you will return. Carry a cell phone; bring additional warm clothing, and gloves, boots, and a container of hot liquid, water, and a lunch or snack. Carry a flashlight, chains, shovel, first-aid kit, matches, a hatchet, ax or handsaw, and rope to secure your tree. Trees must always be cut close to the ground, leaving the stump no higher than 6 inches. A shovel will come in handy to dig through the snow to reach the base of the tree. Make sure your permit is attached to the tree before leaving the cutting area. TREE TOPPing iS nOT aLLOWEd. In addition, no cutting is allowed within 200 feet of riparian areas (lakes, streams, or bogs), roads, campgrounds, picnic areas, administrative sites, summer home areas, or within designated closed areas shown on available tree cutting maps. Cutting on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest (More info at http://fs.usda. gov/uwcnf or 801-999-2103) Heber-kamas Ranger District (435-6540470 or 435-783-4338) Permits for the HeberKamas area are now available, and are $15, one permit per person, one tree only. Permits will be available at the following locations: • Heber Ranger district office, 2460 S. Highway 40, Heber, Utah | Mon. – Fri., 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. EDITOR’S VIEW cont. on page 12 • Kamas Ranger district office, 50 E. Center 4:30 p.m. • Silver Eagle (Heber) – 1590 S. Highway 40 | Call 435-654-4642 for more info. • Mirror Lake Service Chevron (Kamas) – 2 n. Main Street | Call 435-783-4375 for more info. Species of trees that can be cut include subalpine fire, white fire and lodgepole pine. Trees 20 feet tall or shorter, may be cut and removed and may be cut until December 25. All trees must be tagged prior to transporting them. This year, Every Kid Outdoors is offering free holiday trees to all 4th-grade students with a voucher or pass. Vouchers can be printed by visiting www.everykidoutdoors.gov and going to the “get your pass” section and completing the exercise located there. Bring your pass or voucher to one of our offices to receive your permit. Vendors will not issue permits for this program; you must visit either Heber or Kamas Forest Service offices to receive a permit. Onehundred permits will be issued. Evanston/Mt. View Ranger Districts (307-789-3194 or 307-782-6555) Permits for the Evanston area will be available starting Monday, Nov. 18, 2019. Forest Service offices are closed Monday, november 11 for Veterans Day holiday. Permits are $15, one permit per household. Permits can be purchased at the Evanston Ranger District office, 1565 Highway 150, Suite A, Evanston, Wyoming, Monday – Friday, 800 a.m. to 430 p.m. Permits may also be purchased at the Bear River Lodge, located 30 miles south of Evanston on the Mirror Lake Highway (435-642-6289) or at the Last Chance Sinclair fuel station located at 49 Aspen grove drive E., in Evanston (307-789-6872). Please call the vendor for their operating hours. Permits allow up to a 20-foot tree; any species CHRISTMAS TREE cont. on page 13 Thinking of Christmas Gifts? Why not a subscription to The Ogden Valley news. Subscriptions are only $18 annually. Send payment with mailing address to: The Ogden Valley news PO BOX 130, EDEN UT 84310 -NOTICE OF 2020 TENTATIVE BUDGETPUBLIC HEARING NOTICE Powder Mountain Water and Sewer Improvement District Transcript 84310 NOTICE OF 2020 TENTATIVE BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE THurSDAy, DeCember 12, 2019 6:00 p.m. Eden Park Community Center 2100 N. 5600 E., Eden, UT 84310 WOLF CREEk WATER AND SEWER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD TO DISCUSS: THE 2020 OPERATING BUDGET The draft 2020 budget will be available for inspection at the District office, 3632 N. Wolf Creek Dr., Eden, Utah after November 25, 2019. All district residents are invited to attend. For more information call Annette Ames at 801-745-3435. Proposed Tentative 2020 Budget Proposed increased rate structure Proposed O&M rates increase Notice of review Water and Sewer Impact Analysis Plan Notice of review Water and Sewer Impact Fees Facility Plans NOTICE is hereby given that Powder Mountain Water and Sewer Improvement District will hold a Public Hearing on November 19, 2019, in the Weber County Commission Breakout Room #105, located at 2380 Washington Blvd. Utah, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The purpose of the Public Hearing is to receive input on, and to consider approval and adoption of (1) 2020 Tentative Budget, (2) Proposed increase rate structure, (3) Proposed increase in O & M Rates. The District would like to notify the public of an upcoming, (4) Review of Water and Sewer Impact Analysis Plan, and (5) Review of Water and Sewer Impact Fee Facilities Plan. All interested persons will be given reasonable opportunity to be heard. Written comments are welcome. Copies of the referred-to documents are available for public review, beginning November 5, 2020, in the District Offices located at the following locations: 298 24th St. Ste. 150, Ogden, Utah 84401; the office of the Ogden Valley Library located at 131 S. 7400 E., Huntsville, Utah 84317; and on the Powder Mountain Water and Sewer Improvement District website <www.pmwsid.org> In accordance with the American Disabilities Act, Powder Mountain Water and Sewer Improvement District will make reasonable accommodations to participants in the hearing. Requests for assistance can me made by calling 801-983-2727 at least 48 hours before the hearing. |