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Show The Ogden Valley News January 15, 2023 Your Community Newspaper USPS MARKETING MAIL POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 11 EDEN UT POSTAL PATRON EDEN-LIBERTY-84310 HUNTSVILLE-84317 OGDEN CANYON- 84401 HCR 843AO Frost on Pineview by Bryce Larkin of Eden. UDOT Seeks Public Input on Future of I-84/U.S. 89 Interchange in Weber County The Utah Department The Jones family built this huge snowman and snow dog at their home in Eden December 11 during that recent, large snowfall. Pictured left to right are Kylan Jones, London Jones, and Dylan Jones. Photo credit: Janice Jones Weber County Commissioners Approve Long-Overdue STR Ordinance By Shanna Francis On December 20, 2022, Weber County Commissioners held a public hearing to discuss potential changes to Weber County’s planning code addressing short-term rentals (STRs). In that meeting, the item was tabled and deferred to the commissioners’ January 10, 2023 meeting, in order to consider the matter further. On January 10, the three-member county commission, including newly elected Commissioner Sharon Bolos, considered the request for approval of an ordinance approving short-term rental code text amendments. At this regularly scheduled 10:00 a.m. monthly meeting, the commissioners unanimously approved the updated STR ordinance. The heart of the revised ordinance—it does not expand STRS beyond the current areas in the valley where they’re already permitted. For almost three years, many valley residents have been concerned that STR allowances would be expanded throughout the county. In a memorandum to the commissioners dated January 10, 2023, Weber County planner Bill Cobabe outlined a summary of several text amendments proposed for inclusion in the new STR ordinance being considered. A few are highlighted below: • Elimination of a fractional ownership provision • Addition of an STR business license to operate an STR • Modi昀椀cation and sti昀昀ening of violation penalties • License renewal guidelines • Modi昀椀cation of parking and noise regulations • Prohibition of external sleeping accommodations accompanying legal STRs, i.e., no additional RV sleeping quarters on the STR property. • Addition of 昀椀re safety regulations Recently, the commissioners also approved the contract of a third-party consultant firm, Granicus, to help with enforcement of county STR regulations and to scrape web sites like AirBnb and BRBO that advertise STRs to facilitate the identification and reporting of illegal STRs within the unincorporated areas of Weber County. The effort to strengthen the county’s STR ordinance kicked off in August of 2020 when a public notice was drafted by the county advertising a joint work session to be held August 4 between the Ogden Valley and Western Weber County Planning Commissions to discuss shortterm rentals in Weber County. After additional work sessions August 25 and September 1, 2020, where suggestions for changes to the STR ordinance were hashed out, on October 27, 2020, a public hearing was held regarding proposed changes to the county’s STR ordinance. Several meetings between planning staff and the Ogden Valley Planning Commission were held, eventually leading to recommen- STR ORDINANCE cont. on page 11 R. Kent Wangsgard Honored On January 9, 2023, a special meeting of the Huntsville Irrigation Company was held in the Wangsgard Room of the Ogden Valley Library to posthumously honor the contributions of R. Kent Wangsgard for over four decades of invaluable volunteer service to that organization. The Company has named the distribution and R. Kent Wangsgard delivery system in his honor. Kent’s innovative ideas and sharp business decisions saved the water company and its share- holders literally millions of gallons of formerly wasted water during his long-term commitment to helping the water system of East Huntsville operate more efficiently and smoothly and making it one of the most well-run systems of its kind in the whole state. Rex Mumford, president of the Water Board, conducted the meeting welcoming friends, family, and board members, to talk about Kent and present a plaque to his children Karlyn Wangsgard Mosier and Benjamin Wangsgard, which will be placed at a memorial sight near the headworks on the South Fork River, along with two blazing red autumn maples that have been planted there in his memory. The words on the plaque read as follows: “Kent helped bridge the gap between the pioneer ditch style irrigation delivery system to the modern-day pressurized irrigation system. His tireless efforts on behalf of the shareholders and the water rights of the company are and will be forever appreciated.” Huntsville Irrigation Company Board of Directors, September 2022 of Transportation (UDOT) has initiated an environmental assessment (EA) to identify potential improvements to the I-84/US 89 interchange in Weber County. The study will ultimately identify a design that addresses congestion, improves safety, and provides reliable access for residents and businesses. The scoping period of the study will establish the purpose and need, which will act as a statement of the goals and objectives that the study seeks to address through the development of potential transportation concepts, called alternatives. The official comment period for this phase of the study will run through Thursday, February 2, 2023. Official public comments on transportation challenges and potential improvements can be submitted through the following channels: Email: 84-89interchange@utah.gov Website: udotinput.utah.gov/84-89interchange Mail I-84/US-89 INTERCHANGE STUDY 6575 SOUTH REDWOOD ROAD TAYLORSVILLE UT 84123 This study is scheduled for completion in late 2023. Environmental studies are process driven, meaning the schedule is approximate and subject to change. Sign up for updates at udotinput.utah.gov/84-89interchange to receive the latest information as the study progresses. U.S. Postal Service Announces New Prices for 2023 In October 2022, the United States Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) of price changes to take effect Jan. 22, 2023. The new rates include a three-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 60 cents to 63 cents. If favorably received by the Commission, the proposed increases will raise First-Class Mail prices approximately 4.2 percent to offset the rise in inflation. The price changes have been approved by the Governors of the U.S. Postal Service. The price for 1-ounce metered mail will increase to 60 cents, and the price to send a domestic postcard will increase to 48 cents. A 1-ounce letter mailed to another country would increase to $1.45. There will be no change to the single-piece letter and flat additional-ounce price, which remains at 24 cents. The Postal Service is also seeking price adjustments for Special Services products, including certified mail, post office box rental fees, money order fees, and the cost to purchase insurance when mailing an item. The proposed Mailing Services price POSTAL INCREASE cont. on page 11 News from Huntsville Town: Town Hall and Community Center Fund Raising Kickoff Some time ago, the town was able to secure a CDBG grant for about $425,000 for a new community center. It was a multi-year grant that required 50% of the funds to be spent by the end of 2022, while the balance was to be spent by the end of 2023. We had some delays in the design process and risked forfeiting the funding. Fortunately, we recently received a one-year extension that will allow us to perfect the design and move forward with construction. We also have funds from the sale of our town hall, and we are seeking funding from additional grant sources. During the process, construction costs have skyrocketed, so we are having to be cautious with our design and creative with our funding. Funds will come from many sources, one of which is from resident and community donations. More details are forthcoming; however, as you plan your charitable donations for 2023, please keep our project in mind. We welcome gifts from $1 to $1,000,000. Fundraising plans are in their infancy, but we will likely have a wall of honor for donors, similar to the one in the entrance to the library, and possibly some brick donations, outdoor benches, and more. Checks may be written to Huntsville Town with “Community Center Donation” on the memo line. HUNTSVILLE TOWN PO BOX 267 HUNTSVILLE UT 84317 Thank you for considering a donation. Nordic Valley Resort Parking a Nightmare for Local Residents By Shanna Francis Nordic Valley Ski Resort is a Valley icon for several generations of Valley residents—many of whom learned to ski at the communityfriendly, accessible ski hill that has, arguably, one of the best slopes to learn to ski on. However, the once family-friendly resort has recently turned into an uncontrollable monster as populations have exploded in and around Ogden Valley and the low-budget resort has failed to keep up with supporting infrastructure. More recently, the primary problem—inadequate parking. The parking issue—surely a headache for resort visitors—is nothing short of a nightmare Shown above are R. Kent Wangsgard family members. From left to right: Ben, Laura, Alyssa, and Samantha Wangsgard (son, daughter-in-law, and grandkids); Ruth and Art Nielsen (sister and brother-in-law); Becky Narrow traffic leading to Nordic Valley ski area Dec. 23, 2022. Wood (sister-in-law); and Karlyn Wangsgard and Steve Mosier (daughter and son-in-law). for residents who have to constantly battle the street traffic leading into and out of the Nordic Valley neighborhood. Not only an ongoing major irritation, it’s also a safety issue, as street parking often limits ingress and egress, especially on busy weekends and holidays. Heavy snows have also left vehicles, unprepared for the slick, snowy roads, stuck in the middle and edges of the road—Nordic Valley Way— blocking would be through traffic. On January 11, a Nordic Valley neighbor wrote, “This morning at 10:00, the snowplows had not gotten to the Nordic Valley area. Skiers, including two vans and a number in NORDIC VALLEY cont. on page 11 Stuck vehicles block Nordic Valley Way Jan. 11, 2023. |