OCR Text |
Show Salt Lake City, UT 84124 AN ED IT IO N O F P R I D E & STD US POSTAGE PAID SPANISH FORK, UTAH PERMIT NO. 2 P R O G R E S S Spanish Fork News J L L VOL. 3 / NOJ O C A L L Y O W N E D A N D OWEDNESDAY, P E R JUNE A T 1 1E, 2008 D 50* SPANISH FORK, UTAH # 69 Million City Council Meeting * Jen Allen STAFF WRITER \ Kirsten Reimschiissel / Spanish Fork News OPEN HOUSE: Utah County Sheriff, James 0. Tracy presents Associate Director Don Nay with an award at the Utah County jail open house in Spanish Fork. County Jail holds open house in SF Kirsten Reimschiissel STAFF WRITER The open house for the new addition to Utah County's jail in Spanish Fork was held Monday, June 2, 2008. The public was invited to take a guided tour and see where some of their tax dollars were going. A presentation with speakers, such as Associate Director, Don Nay; Chairman Gary Anderson; and Utah County Sheriff, James O. Tracy was given outside the jail with awards and a ribbon cutting afterwards. Following the ribbon cutting the public was invited in for guided tours. During the presentation the public was reminded that these were their tax dollars at work and necessarily spent. One main reason mentioned is to "protect the public from those who are a threat to the community." Tracy listed two purposes for the need of this addition: To separate harm from the public and to find and limit recidivism. With the new addition — meaning more prisoners — Tracy had good news. First he asked, "What kind of county are we?" and answered that we still carry less inmates than average. "Just because we open it, doesn't mean we need to fill it tomorrow," he said. Nay reflected the sheriff's positive outlook and said that the jail will bring a good return and excellent value to the county. Despite how far the jail has come, it took longer than expected to get there and more money than planned. Planning for the expansion began in See OPEN HOUSE • A6 This week Spanish Fork City Council meeting was centered on the upcoming budget. First however, the councilmen addressed the community through their personal comments. Many condolences and well wishes were issued by several council members as well as the mayor to the Leifson family for their loss. Council member Steve Leifson was absent this week in part due to his loss. Assistant City Manager Seth Perrins was excited to announce that 335 people had already signed up for the recycling program the city is putting together. In all, 2,000 participants are required for the curbside recycling program to go live. Citizens can go online to Spanishfork.org/recycle or just visit the city website and click on the recycling hot link to sign up. The council also expressed appreciation for city staff and citizens who helped in the Memorial Day festivities. Each member of the council had wonderful things to say about the memorial that was held that day as well as commendations to Salem approves yearly budget Mai lory Byrnes STAFF WRITER Courtesy photo CITIZENS OF THE YEAR: Above are former Benjamin Mothers and Citizens of the Year issuing an invitation for everyone to attend Benjamin Days being held on Thursday afternoon and evening, June 12. Pictured front row are Katheryn Hickman, Irene Fitzgerald, Lucille Argyle, Bernice Woffinden, Lottie Anderson, Ruth Stewart, Carol Hansen and Clara Lee Clark. Second row are Blair Olsen, Rex Hickman, Tom Richardson, Bernell Anderson, Clair Anderson, Walt Stewart, Ned Hansen, Cathy Caras and Kathleen Olsen. Benjamin Days honors past Citizens of the Year for annual celebration Kathleen Olsen STAFF WRITER Benjamin's annual celebration, Benjamin Days, is scheduled for Thursday, June 12, to which present and former residents and friends of Benjamin are cordially invited. This will mark the 122nd anniversary of the establishment of the first LDS ward in the community on June 12, 1886. For years prior to that date, Benjamin had been a branch attached to Nebo Stake in Payson. In 1862, Benjamin Franklin Stewart and his brother, Andrew Jackson Stewart, and supplemented by potluck dishes, will other early settlers surveyed and laid be served at the Picnic in the Park. out the foundation for the community A program will follow during which which has grown significantly since time the 2008 Benjamin Citizen of the that time. The town was named Ben- Year will be announced. A ball game jamin after Mr. Stewart and fulfilled a and other activities will conclude the prophecy given to him in 1847, indi- evening. A bake and craft sale, under cating he would help to found a town the direction of Janet Erickson, will be and it would be named after him. This ongoing through the night and Benyear's celebration, with the theme of jamin residents are invited to donate 'Benjamin Roundup,' under the direc- items for this. The naming of the new tion of Allan and Pat Swenson, will Citizen of the Year is always a point begin at 5:30 p.m. with a flag raising of anticipation. Many years ago, the ceremony, followed by a children's parade. Hamburgers and hot dogs. See CITIZEN • A8 give for how beautiful the cemetery looked. Kent Clark made an informative presentation highlighting the changes, both up and down, in the different areas of the proposed budget. Overall on utility charges there will be a two percent increase. With a $69,802,455 price tag, citizens still have an opportunity to talk to council members about the proposal. It is expected that the budget will be passed by the council as it is on June 17. Some of the big items that will be coming in the next fiscal year include a new water storage tank up Spanish Fork canyon, an automatic meter reading tower, land purchases for an East Bench and Leland substation, improvements on the reservoir's pavilion, and the North Park develpment. Other improvements planned into the budget include reworking Sterling Drive and Canyon Drive as well as expanding the river trail system. Though these plans are expansive, Clark said it best when he told the council, "This budget is a fluid document..." Changes can still be made by the council members, but also changes may arise in the upcoming fiscal year. Salem's 2007-2008 budget was approved in the Salem City Council meeting on Wednesday, June 4,2008. "This council has to determine what is the greatest need with the money we have," said Mayor Lane Henderson. Henderson also announced this year's budget will be $8,990,209, an increase of only $82,635 from last year which is small compared to the growth the city has experienced. Jeff Nielson explained the highlights of the budget, which included the $82,635 increase to the general fund; late fees down from 20 percent to 10 percent due to citizen request; building permits down 40 percent; the data fund, "a fund that wasn't really used", was dissolved and all issues it dealt with have been absorbed into the general fund; the payment of bonds by the city has lead to a decrease in property tax; city donations will include the boys and girls state program at $150 each, $1,500 to Junior Miss Scholarship Pageant, and a miscellaneous fund of $500; money to pay for the new fire truck has been moved from enterprise to general fund; solid waste rates are up on demand of Allied Waste due to gas prices which will increase the cost of cans by one dollar; culinary water rates will go up (to be decided by August) by an estimate of $20 to encourage connection to the new pressurized irrigation system; the electric rate at an average residence will go up by approximately 10 percent. Rates still to be determined and discussed next council meeting on June 18, 2008 at 7 p.m. include the electric rate and culinary water for situations like car wash businesses in the city. "We're not looking to make money, we're looking to break even," said council member Stanley Green about the culinary water rates. "By increasing this, we're helping the citizens to get connected, which will save water." The LaFontaine land at 8660 South Woodland Hills Drive was annexed on the conditions of SDSC buy-out estimated at five or six hundred. The land is zoned as R-2 and should have been included in the Gleed Annexation from last year. The council authorized 32.74 acres of property at 1350 South Loafer Canyon Road belonging to Helen Selman to proceed after agreements were reached with Sabins, who own land adjacent to the property. Electricity lines See SALEM • A8 |