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Show Page 20 The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume II, Issue I October 1999 WILL A CITY CREATE A GARDEN OF EDEN? By Patrick D. Osmond With the growth of Utah many changes are taking place. People pouring into the state and into this area have created a healthy economy and a large population. Many areas are now faced with the challenge of new growth and new issues. Our beautiful valley is one area in the state where growth is creating change. Many areas are dealing with change by moving to a local governing body to help resolve mounting public issues, and to deal with growth and change. This is done by incorporating a large body of real estate into a governmental unit and appointing a local governing body. This article examines the benefits of creating a city, and cites several reasons in support of the incorporation of this area. The first reason to incorporate is to improve local public services. Currently, Eden and, in fact, the entire upper valley is composed of many water districts and with few exceptions, no sewer systems. A centralized government can help to consolidate our utilities and create uniformity throughout the Eden area. Next, a city has the ability to capture revenues and grants to support local services from state or federal sources. The Marriott-Slaterville city (located west of Ogden) is one of Utah’s most recent areas of incorporation. As such, they now qualify for state revenues and grant money that unincorporated areas cannot acquire. Duncan Murray, the city’s attorney and administrator, said that the residents in the incorporated city limits may now benefit from the additional state funds. He further stated that, “living in an unincorporated area is not like being invited to a large luncheon.” All our neighboring cities are getting a piece of the pie and we are losing out on revenues that would improve our standard of living. Residents in the unincorporated areas simply cannot participate, and thus loose the benefit of funding in their immediate areas. Third, a city can empower a local community with control over land use planning. Currently, the Eden area is organized under the county. We have a planning committee that is given limited input on land use planning issues at the Weber County Planning Commission meetings. When a city is formed in the Eden area, the residents will have the option of electing a city counsel. The city counsel will be composed of residents within the city limits, and they will have much greater control over our local planning needs. This is an immediate and current need in Eden. With a city counsel, we can elect responsible officials that will help control growth to meet the local health, welfare and safety needs of this area. They will also have control to compel aesthetically pleasing construction of new commercial buildings. The fourth reason to incorporate is to create a politically accountable governing body (a city council and mayor) in a more limited geographical area. This is perhaps one of the major reasons to incorporate. Currently, all unincorporated areas of Weber County are under the rule of the County. The County has three commissioners that jointly function in a governing capacity that is loosely similar to a mayor of a city. It may not be unusual that any or all three of these elected individuals be from areas in the County other than the upper valley. As such, these individuals may not be familiar or care about the issues of this local area. More importantly, these individuals cannot be held to the same level of accountability as a local mayor and/or city council. Hence, the creation of a local governing body will generate elected officials that must cater to the needs of the local body politic. Finally, the incorporation of a city may be used by its residents to pursue other local policy goals such infrastructure development. The state of Utah has enacted laws contained in our State Building Code that are used to ensure homes are built safely. These laws have been well written and are currently used by Weber County. When someone obtains a building permit, the County steps in and inspects the project at several developmental stages to ensure the dwelling is safe. The State Code used by the County may not be liberalized by city governments that hire their own inspectors. However, a city may enact stricter ordinances when there is a need in a particular area. The power to create ordinances may also extend to other areas of local concern to provide for a safe community. In conclusion, residents of Eden may now wish to look at handling new issues such as growth and development through the incorporation of a city. To begin this process, the city limits must be defined and an application to the County must be submitted. When this is complete, the County will then perform a “feasibility study” on the area to estimate and determine if the necessary elements are in place for the city to function properly. Once completed, the prospective members inside the designated city limits may then cast their vote to decide the final fate of the city. Residents of Eden may want to, at least, move toward having a “feasibility study” done in this area. Then each of us, individually, may make an informed choice as to whether it is in our best interests to incorporate and become united as a city. THINK OF THE FUTURE The Og de n Valle y Land Trus t a non-p rofit organization For m ore inform ation Call (801) 745-2048 Eden Residents Newly Appointed to Weber County Township Planning Commission Liberty/Nordic Valley Township Planning Commission Update The two newest Valley residents sitting on the Weber County Township New Condominium Complex Planning Commission are Verl Creager Proposed In Nordic Valley and Sharon Holmstrom. Verl is a By Richard Schneider native of Morgan, The Liberty / Nordic Valley Utah, but Township Planning Commission met loves Ogden at Snowcrest Jr. High School on Valley as his Wednesday evening for their October home. He meeting. The public was invited and has lived in 44 were in attendance. Several issues the Valley were discussed, and action was taken for 33 years on some of them. with his Kevin Parson of Liberty proposed wife Gaye. to rezone .48 acres in Liberty from AVThey have 3 to CV-2 in order to establish a pottery Verl Creager n i n e studio for public instruction, private children, with four of them still living production and retail sales of pottery at home. Verl has worked for the Forest products. Also, an additional 1.71 Service for 37 years. Seven years ago, acres was requested to be re-zoned to Verl’s father-in-law Earl Christensen Conditional CV-2 for future passed away. Since that time, Verl has commercial development. The run the family farm. The family puts property is in the area designated for up about 5,000 bales of hay a year, and commercial growth and there was no raises beef cattle. public opposition from those attending. Because Eden is the only Kevin presented a detailed explanation unincorporated town in the Valley, Verl of his concept, and many spoke in favor chose to be on the planning of him as well as his plan. The rezone commission, as he felt Eden needed to was approved by the Liberty/Nordic be represented. He feels he can bring Valley Township Planning a balanced perspective when making Commission. decisions because he is both a caretaker The other main issue was regarding of the land, as well as a lover of the the Ogden Valley General Plan great outdoors. amendment for resort development and Sharon the recreation needs in the Liberty/ Holmstrom, Nordic Township. The commissioners also a heard from the National Forest Service, resident of Weber County Health Department, Eden, is a Nordic Mountain Water Co., Nordic graduate of Valley Ski Resort and the new owner Weber State of Nordic Valley Golf Course which College. changed hands last week. The new She has owner informed the committee that she t a u g h t has intentions of upgrading and Junior High developing the golf course with for twenty approximately 80 condominiums, and y e a r s . a closed sewage treatment system that Sharon Holmstrom Sharon and will re-use treated water to irrigate the her husband David are the parents of golf course landscaping. The units she three children. Their oldest daughter plans to construct would be valued Heather is a physician in Santa Monica, near, or at, the $300,000 mark. She California. The two youngest, twins also informed those in attendance that Becky and Josh, are both graduates of she intended to look into buying Nordic the University of Utah. Becky earned Valley Ski Resort, and to attempt her degree in English and Josh, a further upgrades and development of degree in Business. the resort if it were financially feasible. Mrs. Holmstrom has been a Junior In closing there was a motion to League volunteer for 15 years, served hold a public session on the resort on the Founding Board of the Ogden development issue on October 21 at Nature Center, and was the first woman Snowcrest at 6:30 p.m. This is a big to sit on Ogden City’s Planning issue, and those who wish to voice their Commission. She is also a member of opinion need to be at this meeting so Weber County Pathways–an the county and the township have some organization that is a proponent of trails idea of what the people who live here in Weber County. Sharon has also now will expect as the population of served on the National Board of their communities grow. Governors of the United States Pony Club, a youth organization which teaches equestrian skills to children all over the world, has Now accepting new clients been a member of 15 years experience Snowcrest Junior Valley References available. High School’s Ask about fall specials. Centennial Board for Construction, Residential, Commercial the past six years, and was selected as Utah Teacher of the Year for 1998. Valley Cleaning Service |
