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Show Volume XXIX Issue VIII The Ogden Valley News Page 3 August 1, 2022 Editor’s View It’s Time to Reallocate Resources for a Win-Win Outcome in Ogden Valley As Utah continues to have the disruptive claim as the fastest growing state in the union, her communities are forced to shoulder the associated costs, being driven, in large measure, by state and county leaders who have been successfully marketing the state for years. These costs—shouldered by local taxpayers and community members—are not only economic (higher taxes, fees, and water rates; drawn out travel times, etc.), but also manifest socially in diminished quality of life (excessive noise, traffic congestion, graffiti, STRs, higher crime rates, litter, constant nuisances and delays from road and infrastructure expansion & repair, etc.), physically (greater air pollution with higher particulate matter, mud rain, and toxins; noise pollution, which contributes to higher anxiety rates & higher blood pressure and heart rates; light pollution; and diminished water quality and availability, etc.), and socially with a continued degradation and infringement upon one’s sense of community and neighborhood cohesiveness. Growth is extremely expensive. While developers and local leaders cry out in support of “property rights” from one side of their mouth, from the other they continue to spend, spend, spend, continually taking away greater portions of our property rights as we continue to be required to pay for added growth out of our individually earned assets. For instance, in the fall of 2020, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), with assistance from Weber Basin Water Conservancy District—the project sponsor—began public outreach efforts as part of a plan to undergo a federal Environmental Assessment so they could move forward with plans to pipe the Ogden Valley Canal, which runs through Huntsville and into and through Eden in an effort to capture more water—water that normally leaks, seeps, and evaporates from the canal, a healthy phenomenon that provides water to wildlife and wildlife habitat, dilutes groundwater pollutants, recharges seeps and springs and wetland areas, and increases humidity in the atmosphere (lowering fire dangers). Why the new interest in capturing this water? To better service new Ogden Valley growth and development. The projected price tag in 2020 to pipe the canal—before recent inflationary surges? $25,000,000, which doesn’t include agency man hours and other costs associated with completing the multi-month study required by the NEPA public process. If the canal is piped, a major portion of these costs will be passed on to the water users, which will push agricultural users out of the agricultural business in Ogden Valley. The rest of it will be paid for by our tax dollars. The result? Even more subdivisions. What other costs are associated with projected growth? The county is now seriously talking about central sewer and water systems throughout the Valley. Conservatively, price tags would most likely be around $63 million for one and $150 million for the other—all to support higher density in Ogden Valley. Throw in the tax dollars spent to pay for the recently hired consultants—Sunrise Engineering for the sewer study and Bowen Collins and Associates for the water study. How much will the final price tag be for these studies to address growth… costs to accommodate growth… to accommodate a few land speculators and developers. The costs continue to pile up. Additional costs, associated with accompanying infrastructure support, include higher taxes to pay for upgraded roadways, old bridges, stop lights, round-abouts, the millions it will cost to eventually widen Ogden Canyon, and upgrade the North Ogden Divide; to pay for additional law enforcement personnel to keep up with increased traffic and crime rates; more planning staff, fire district manpower and equipment, and road maintenance crews, Weber County Fair Looking for Volunteers to Set up Eden, Liberty & Huntsville “Community Booths” Weber County Fairground Advisory Board member Susan Clontz is trying to find individuals, families, nonprofit organizations, or business teams that are willing to put together a community booth representing the Ogden Valley communities of Eden, Liberty, or Huntsville. Community booth displays are a great way to share your community with the rest of the county, demonstrating what’s unique about it, its heritage, and why it’s a great place to live and visit. These booths are considered un-manned booths, meaning no one is required to be stationed at the booth during the fair—August 10 – August 13. They are for display only. Booths will be judged, with winning booths receiving award ribbons. Each community booth representative will receive a stipend of $75 to help defray costs. If you can help, please contact Susan Clontz ASAP by calling or texting her at 801-710-0257. etc. Residential growth is expensive. How much higher can your taxes go before you no longer can comfortably live in Ogden Valley? Residential development is always a negative economic drain on municipal and county coffers. So, what other options are there? Weber County “leaders” can opt to undergo a major paradigm shift. Why not think outside the box? Why not think creatively? Why not take all the money being spent to accommodate massive growth in Ogden Valley—which studies indicate there really isn’t enough water in our aquifers to support without drawing down our ancient glacial reserves—and use it, instead, to purchase a portion of willing landowners’ development rights? This would be a win-win scenario for all. Landowners retain title to their property with all the accompanying rights (to sell or pass on to their posterity), minus the ability to build subdivisions on the property. They may choose to retain the development rights on a portion so their heirs can build homes, but the remaining acreage would then remain as open space for agricultural, recreational, or any other desired personal use. Ogden Valley retains the com- plexion of a rural community (what everyone loves about Ogden Valley) per the overwhelming desires expressed in the general plan. The taxes on the properties where development rights have been removed also go down, a lasting benefit gleaned by a landowner who voluntarily sells off these development rights. Money can be spent by the county to support growth that strains and burdens community resources or to support the vision as defined in the general plan, which also supports the general overall health and well-being of Ogden Valley and her residents. Would you rather spend your tax dollars to benefit a few at the expense and detriment of the entire Ogden Valley community? Or, to benefit the entire community… period? Enough is enough. Valley voters overwhelmingly demonstrated in the recent Primary election (by about 73%) that they are dissatisfied with the direction our current county commissions are taking our Valley. It’s time to insist that they come up with a better plan—a plan to reallocate resources for a win-win outcome that benefits all instead of continuing on the current trajectory that only benefits a few winners while taking the rest of us down. Applicants Needed for Weber County Board of Adjustment The Weber County Commissioners are taking applications for positions on the Weber County Board of Adjustment. The Board meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month as needed. The meetings begin at 4:30 p.m. Special meetings may be scheduled throughout the year. Please drop off or email your completed application to the Planning Division Office. Applications will be accepted until August 9, 2022, or until the position is filled. Call June at 801-399-8374 for additional information. Applications are available at co.weber.ut.us/mediawiki/images/7/75/Weber_County_Board_ Application.pdf You may email applications and questions to jnelson@webercountyutah.gov. The 2021 Consumer Confidence Report of Nordic Mountain Water, Inc. is available for review in the office located at 4794 E 2600 N, in Eden. For an emailed copy, please send request to nmwi@digis.net. For more information please call 801-745-2605. |