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Show Volume VIII Issue VIII THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 3 August 1, 2003 Letters to the Editor Incorporation a Positive Incorporation is a process with several steps which individually offer the community an opportunity to sign a petition or vote. Negative response along the way stops the process. It is an inspiring reaffirmation of the democratic freedoms we all hold dear. We are at the first major checkpoint, the petition requesting a formal Feasibility of Incorporation study. This requires signatures representing 10% of the land and 7% of the assessed value within the boundary. The next major step would be a petition to incorporate, which would require signatures representing 33% of the land and 33% of the assessed value. That would be followed by an election, where a majority would need to approve formation of a city. The final step would be an election to select the initial officers of the new city. In January a group of about 50 volunteers selected a steering committee to do the research and follow the process to get us where we are today. The steering committee joins nearly all the volunteers in eagerly seeking the answer to be provided by the Feasibility Study, “What will it cost to form a city?” None have committed themselves to incorporation at this point. Still, there are many who desire to “see the end from the beginning.” We have been put in a position of defending incorporation when we do not yet have facts to support such a position. This has required us to express reasons we believe (in the absence of financial facts) forming a city would be positive for Eden and Ogden Valley. Reasons to incorporate include: Planning – Relentless growth in Eden and the rest of the Valley is creating change. Pastures and hillsides are sprouting homes and businesses. Families are creating apartments in homes so their children and grandchildren can remain in the Valley. There are enough lots for sale in Eden to triple the population of the town. The Weber County Planning Commission Director expressed to us in 2002 his regret that staffing levels did not permit the County to do real planning, but required them to focus on responding to requests for subdivision approval and some work with ordinances. Having citizens of the city actively involved in planning is our best hope to have a town that preserves the country setting, clean air, recreational opportunities, peace and quiet, scenic vistas, open space, and animal habitat we all value. A good master plan could be one of our greatest gifts to our children and newcomers. Services – We are often asked “Where do you stand on 1 acre versus 3 acre zoning?” Our response is that zoning should lie in the hands of the citizens of the new town. Our opinion is just that, our opinion. It is worth noting though, that the Ogden Valley General Plan calls for residential growth in the current residential areas with the intent of preserving open space between the towns. A uniform 3-acre zoning law tends to spread out homes uniformly across the Valley. In addition, there are many for whom three acres is more property than they care to maintain. Are we to be a community of only the active and able bodied? We would be well served by zoning laws that accommodate the needs of all the people, and support preservation of open space, animal habitat, and scenic vistas. The time will come when growth requires a sewage system. Weber County has created a master plan for such a sewage system and is seeking funding. We believe such a system would be in the best long-term interest of the city. A more urgent need is for pressurized secondary water. A city could make it a priority if the leaders desired. Public Works and Property – Roads, parks, nature preserves, trails, etc. are some of the most important aspects of a city. The immediate priority of a new city would be maintenance of existing roads. Grants are available specifically to cities for many other aspects of public works and property. Civic groups could assist in pursuing these grants. Larger Voice – A city would have a more persuasive position and voice on matters of concern. Examples could include roads to and from the Valley, timing and location of new schools, and reduced costs for garbage collection (Huntsville found this to be important). Creating an Identity – Eden is developing as a “hub” of the Valley. Without active leadership and planning it is at risk of becoming “what the other towns in the Valley want it to be,” for example, the commercial center of the Valley. We want to continue to be able to say we are from a town that is beautiful and desirable. For all of these reasons, we are happy to serve the residents as part of the Steering Committee in this investigation of incorporation. If the work results in incorporation, we will be pleased to assist the new town leaders as they desire. Steve Clarke, Feasibility Steering Committee Chair Dick Manley, Feasibility Steering Committee Member Huntsville Residents Say Thank You We want to sincerely thank the Weber County Fire District Firemen and all the other very capable firefighters who came to the Huntsville area to fight the Evergreen fire that started on Monday, July 14. Without these dedicated and fearless people, several families would have lost their homes in this fire. Their rapid response prevented a devastating loss to the Evergreen, Sourdough, and Beaver Creek areas. These firefighters deserve our abiding respect for the very professional and considerate way in which they handle themselves. Thank You One and All! Many Thanks to the Firefighters and Red Rock Ranch and Outfitters As a year round resident of Evergreen, I would like to express my appreciation for all the folks who worked so hard battling the recent fire in our area. While we (okay, maybe just me) may have been (okay, definitely was) a bit cranky, we nonetheless appreciate the difficulty of your jobs and that you were there for us in our time of need. My sympathy and thoughts go out to all those who lost their homes and other property in the blaze. I hope that you have wonderful memories to sustain you through the tough times ahead, whether you have to rebuild or just wait for Mother Nature to make the area pretty and green again. As hard as our firefighters worked, the folks at the Red Rock Ranch and Outfitters worked just as hard doing everything they could to support our public servants, local residents, and other property owners. This is not surprising, because anytime there is an emergency or other need, these people never fail to give their all. Whether it be providing food, beverages, and ice cream to the overheated firefighters; acting as an information clearinghouse; participating in search and rescue; or just providing a place for residents to hang out until the danger has passed, you can count on the Red Rock crew. They are truly good neighbors and responsible members of the business community. Thank you Red Rock! On a lighter note, I just read Ms. Toliver’s letter regarding the Valley’s small town friendliness, particularly the lady directing traffic at the dam. I have noted, and several people have commented, what a joy it is to see her smiling face when we go by. Whoever she is, she has brightened the days of many a frustrated commuter. It seems the last few days have given me many reasons to remember why I love living in this community! Celeste C. Canning, Evergreen Arena Users Ask Eden Park Managers to Cooperate The Eden arena is in constant use, but local park managers have now forced us to park our horse trailers on the road with our horses hanging out on the road. This is very dangerous to the horses and riders. We use the arena for 4-H, Jr. Posse, Team Penning, Hipno-therapy, riding for those with disabilities, as well as for free riding. Park managers have taken away our safe parking— turning our parking into grass that we cannot walk our horses on or park on. If it were asphalt, we could park on it and have our children out of the road. Or if park managers would have left it alone, it also would have been fine. Now we have children saddling their horses on the road, which is dangerous because of cars and trucks driving by. Most of the time, drivers are unaware of the common courtesy of driving slowly. Let me go back in time just a little bit. About a year ago, park managers were going to tear the arena down if it were not being used. Now that it is being used—more than it has ever been used before—they take away our parking, they refuse to fix the arena sprinkler system to keep the dust down, and will not harrow the arena more than once every two or three weeks or more. Next year your youth in 4-H will be holding at least two horse shows. The capacity of our parking now holds only about seven trailers double-parked. It used to hold 20 trailers safely. We are expecting to have over 100 children compete at our horse shows. Next year our Jr. Posse will be having at least two Jackpots. We are expecting 50-75 kids to participate in this event. Now the sprinkler system is not that big of a deal, but we wish for park managers to take into consideration the riders with disabilities who can go into seizures if there is a lot of dust generated in the arena. We also have children in our posse who are constantly getting out of the arena, rushing to get their inhalers because the dust triggers their asthma. By fixing the sprinklers, we could dampen the arena to keep the dust down— again, for the safety of the children. Really, all we ask is to have our parking space back. Turn it all into asphalt up to, or just before the bowery; turn it all back into dirt; or let us park on the grass that was just planted. Stephenie Van Dyke Huntsville O. Kelly and Barbara M. Wheat, Huntsville The Weber County Fair will be at the Weber County Fairgrounds. August 6 - 9 For more information, call 399-8798, or visit www.goldenspikeeventcenter.com Robyn’s Floral & Gifts WEDDING FLOWERS Free Wedding Consultation For an appointment Call 791-4556 Beautifully done bouquets at prices that will surprise you. Cattle sorting at the Eden arena. Back to School Night for Teens Monday, August 18 from 3 - 7 p.m. Highlights, Cut & Blow Only - $40.00 (Boys) Cut & Tips Only - $22.00 Pedicures Only - $20.00 Book your wedding with me and receive a FREE Toss-away Bouquet. ($200 wedding order) You bring the music, we’ll bring the treats! Call nowfor appointment - space will fill up fast! For more information call 745-1979. 550 S. Hwy 39 Huntsville 791-4556 (Located in the Eats of Eden Plaza) |