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Show February 15 03.qxd 12/7/2021 3:36 PM Page 10 THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 10 Volume VII Issue IX February 15, 2003 Should Eden Incorporate? - Questions and Answers What does incorporation mean, and why does Eden want to incorporate? Incorporation means that residents of Eden take control and create their own form of government—it’s called self-determination. Eden can become an incorporated city, such as Hunstville—where decisions about what’s best for the community and its future are made locally. Who initiated this public process? A small group of citizens asked the Eden Planning Committee to conduct a public meeting to discuss whether Eden should continue to be governed as it is now; or to ask for a change, either in the way the County governs us (7 member council vs. 3 member commission), to become a township, or to incorporate. Attendees at the initial meeting held January 16 voted unanimously to see if incorporation would be a feasible option. What will it cost me, personally, if we incorporate? No one yet knows the answer to this key question. That is why a feasibility study is completed. The results will generate the most accurate answer available. Similar small communities that have incorporated have not had to impose additional taxes, some have. Who is driving this process? Currently there are about 50 residents who have volunteered to work within one or two of six sub-committees. These committee members are collecting data, which will be useful in the decision making process. There are no qualifications to be a volunteer, except interest and a The 20/20 Eden Committee. From left to right: Lisa Arbogast, Dreinie and Johan Hattingh and Rick Stearman. services, and the ability of the proposed city to generate revenue to cover these expenses. What happens to private water companies and the Park District? Private companies remain private companies. The Park District could continue uninterrupted. Where will the boundaries of the new city be? One of the volunteer committees is working on drafting a proposal. They are currently looking for feedback from the community on this important decision. The decision is also based upon economic considerations, such as potential revenue sources, and costs associated with providing services. Roads are very expensive to maintain. How could Eden afford to do so? The Feasibility Study looks at this question in detail. It is important to note, though, that some of the most critical roads are owned by the State, such as Highway 158 from the Dam to Powder Mountain. The State will continue to take responsibility for these roads. The State also provides some monies each year to municipalities for maintenance of county roads within their boundaries. Proposed new boundaries for the incorporation of Eden. willingness to work. Many occupations are represented. More volunteers are still needed. Contact Steve Clarke at 745-1349 if you would like to help. Is this effort an extreme GROWTH or NO-GROWTH lobby? No. Although those who are working in this effort may hold widely divergent views, everyone is working toward the same goal—to make Eden the best place possible to live and raise a family. Volunteers are striving to make this a community process, soliciting input from everyone. I’ve heard that realtors are pushing to incorporate. Is this true? No. Though there are realtors who are serving as volunteers, they are acting with the highest motives—as concerned citizens. We must remember that realtors are often the first to see changes in the community, and to sense the momentum of change. If Eden incorporates, it will be the voting residents—not the realtors—of Eden who determine the vision for the community, and who will administer this mandate generated by the community. The Outreach Eden Committee. From left to right: Jim Ormsbee, Jim Halay, Gary Bingham, and Gerry Imai. Front row: Koral Bingham. Why should we change? Some people feel we should change because they are unhappy with the decisions of existing county decision makers. Many others feel we should change because Eden is growing, and we are ready to take responsibility for the way this growth takes place. Duncan Murray, a lawyer who has been involved in the incorporation process, aiding many communities, stated, “ . . . [Incorporation] is like growing up and getting married. You go through some tough times at first, but being able to make your own decisions makes it all worthwhile.” Can I decide I don’t want my property to be part of the proposed new city? If your property is included within the boundaries, it will automatically become part of the new city. Small, unincorporated pockets of land can not be created as “islands” within the boundaries of a newly created city. How would incorporation help me? Because city council members and leaders live and work within the community, they will be much more accessible. In addition, the energy focused on solving problems in Eden would be much greater than it is now. Zoning decisions would be made by local residents. The city would also have the opportunity to create an identity, and to manage growth in a way consistent with that identity. What are the next few steps in the process? Once boundaries are established, petitions will be circulated, requesting the county perform an Incorporation Feasibility Study. The study will take about four months to complete. The company hired to perform the study will then conduct public hearings to make sure residents understand the findings. The county pays for the study. With this information, residents will then have the opportunity to vote for or against incorporation. How would key services be provided? A committee is looking into this and will give us their ideas in a few weeks. Many other small communities continue utilizing the county’s services, such as fire protection, public safety, snow plowing, etc. The feasibility study examines the predicted costs to cover these What would the name of the new city be? The name of “Eden” seems to be a popular choice! DINING ROOM AVAILABLE FOR BIRTHDAY PARTIES! ENJOY OUR NEW GAMES ARCADE We Deliver $2.00 OFF 12” takeout pizza $3.00 OFF 16” takeout pizza Please present this coupon ~ Expires 2/28/03 Hours: Open Monday - Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Sunday 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. 4920 E. 2550 N. Eden Located near the Valley Junction Inn What would we use for a city hall? Once we understand what space is required, options will be explored. Ideas are welcome. EDEN cont. from page 1 Note: The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS would like to host an open forum, entertaining questions and comments regarding the effort to organize a Feasibility of Incorporation study. Comments can be sent to the paper via email, fax, or post office at the addresses given on page 2 of this paper. Questions and comments may be sent anonymously. Questions and comments can also be found on the web site at http:groups.yahoo.com/group/edenoutreach |