OCR Text |
Show City Council Discusses Cable Television, Public Safety Building, Other Business The regular city council meeting began one hour earlier than usual to provide time to hold a public hearing to discuss the request of a company to provide cable television to city residents. There were only four citizens present to give their opinions on this matter. It was noted that the company com-pany is negotiating with Orem for a franchise to serve the community and would like to include the cities in the north end of the county also. A proposed ordinance to allow the company to do business in Pleasant Grove was reviewed. The ordinance provides that the service be optional for local citizens and that joint use of telephone poles and underground cable lines be required to prevent installation of additional poles. This request will be further investigated by the city council. Crossing Guard Mayor Cornell Haynie read a letter from the principal of the Grovecrest School requesting that the city again station a crossing guard on 100 East Street near the elementary School. This matter mat-ter was referred to Councilman Coun-cilman Frank Mills and the public safety committee for a decision. The extent of the responsibility of the school district in this matter was also discussed. Councilman Mills reported on the cleanup at the rodeo grounds which is underway in preparation for its use this summer and the repairs that are being made to the facilities. He reported the bleachers are being painted and the buildings have been repaired. Special Improvements Dan Harrison and a Mr. Wells who reside on 500 South, east of Loader Avenue, met with the council to request that their street be considered for a special improvement im-provement district so that the street improvements can be placed in their street. The council noted that several areas are being considered for special improvement districts and that this street is included in-cluded in the list. The need to have a large project in order to create a marketable bond and to reduce administrative costs was, noted. The council agreed to hold a public meeting on Tuesday, May 3 Continued on page 7' Pleasant Grove City Council Has Many Problems at Tuesday Evening Meeting (Continued from page 1) at 6 p.m.to explain to interested in-terested citizens the workings of special improvement districts and estimated costs of the street improvements. A list of areas which are being considered for street improvements are listed in a notice of public hearing found elsewhere in this edition of the paper. Citizens residing on these streets and others desiring the street improvements im-provements are invited to attend at-tend this meeting. Public Safety Bid Opening Mayor Haynie reviewed the proceedings of the bid opening on the public safety building and courtroom facility which was held Monday Mon-day evening. He noted the bid for the construction of the building was greater than that which had been anticipated. an-ticipated. The government had awarded awar-ded the city a grant of $432,000 for the construction and equipment of the facility. When the grant was awarded it was felt this was ample money for the construction of the building. Now, because of areas of increased costs and requirements placed on the city by the state fire mar-shall, mar-shall, the bid had exceeded the original cost estimates. It is apparent that the total cost of the building including the needed equipment will exceed the grant monies by now if the city is to go ahead with the project. He stated that there appears to be only two options open to the city, 1 not to construct the building and return the grant of $432,500 or 2 go ahead with the project and hope to cut down the work to be done on the building to come up with the amount short or find other sources of revenue or long term borrowing to raise the needed funds. Councilman Mills noted that the requirement of the grant to have on site labor started by April 27, must be met. He also noted the grant is for a public safety building and courtroom facility only, and cannot be changed. Councilman E. Mark Bez-zant Bez-zant expressed concern about the lack of funds immediately available for the project and the impact the commitment of the additional funds on this project will have on the upcoming budgets and mill levy. He questioned if it would not be best to turn down the grant and live with the present facilities. Councilman Mills reported on the present facilities and stated that at the present rate of growth that it would only be a few years before a new police station would be a real necessity and then at that time the city would have to finance 100 of the costs. (Ed. Note: unless of course we based on the strong opposition op-position of the neighboring residents. The citizens presented a number of petitions signed by 290 residents which expressed ex-pressed opposition to the proposal. Mr. Joe Oliver and Dee Thatcher, developers of Autumn Hills Subdivision located at about 1100 North 1020 East, were present to discuss the problem of water distribution to this proposed subdivision. They noted that adequate water can be provided 6 of the lots in the 15 lot subdivision but because of the elevation of the other lots water could not adequately be provided for the remaining lots. The city engineer had suggested as a temporary solution to the problem until the new water line is run higher up along the foothills the installation of a pump. These gentlemen asked if the council would approve the pump and therefore allow construction on all fifteen lots. The council voted to authorize the three councilmen serving on the water committee to meet with the city engineer and to determine if the city would accept the installation of the pump to serve the necessary lots. The council reviewed the proposal by the council of governments study group for problems which have arisen since the Lindon Landfill has been closed and the establishment of the regulations recently issued, and sent to local citizens. The council agreed to hold a public hearing on April 26th at 7:00 p.m. to discuss with local citizens the problems with solid waste disposal and their recommendations to r olve these problems. Councilman Coun-cilman Atwood was asked to invite the owner of Lindon Disposal Company who contracts con-tracts the city residential pickup to attend this meting so he might explain the problems he has and answer any questions from the public on the pickup of the solid waste. The plan for the signal light and related street improvements im-provements on main street and the state road was reviewed by the council. It was reported that the project is ready for bid as soon as the city gives its approval of the plans. It was noted that the owner of the Purple Turtle drive-in was oppossed to the plan because of the effect it has upon parking on the west of his building. The council voted to accept the design of the signal light and related work and to work with the owner of the Purple Turtle to minimize any adverse effect that the plan would have on this business. approximately $200,.000. It was reported that $80,000 of bonds had been authorized by the citizens of the city last summer for use in construction construc-tion of a public safety facility, but even with this money the city is short $120,000 in order to complete the construction. The possibility of not having the work done in the basement of the building which was called for in the bid, was discussed as a means of covering this $120,000. Another possib ility was to negotiate a mortgage mor-tgage on the building and a long term loan be arranged. City attorney John Backlund was present to discuss the city's ability to borrow and indicated that the city has the same capacity to borrow as any other corporation. cor-poration. He did indicate that there was a question on the amount of borrowings as it relates to yearly revenues. The city auditors will be contacted con-tacted about this matter to determine if a solution to this problem can be reached. Mayor Haynie noted that a decision has to be reached could get another grant, and government grants appear to be a way of life for us now). After considerable discussion the council voted to go ahead with the construction con-struction of the building and to work to find a solution to the financing problem. Councilman Coun-cilman Bezzant voted against pursuing the project. Condominium Request A large number of citizens filled the council room at the time a request for condominiums con-dominiums in the northeast side of town was to be discussed by the council. Councilman Bezzant read the proceedings of the Planning Commission meeting where this matter had been discussed at a public hearing. He reported that the Planning Plan-ning Commission had voted to recommend to the city council that the request for condominiums in this area be denied. When asked if there was anyone in the room who had come to the meeting to support sup-port the request for condominiums con-dominiums in the area, no one responded. The council then voted to deny the request the amount of rebar required in footings and foundations. This recommendation, if accepted ac-cepted by the cities in the county, would standarized the steel requirement in the county and reduce much confusion con-fusion for the builders that work in the different cities. The council voted to accept the recommendation and to have it incorporated in the city standard specifications. The council agreed to contract con-tract with the State Department Depar-tment of Highway for painting pain-ting of six miles of city streets. The mayor was authorized to sign this agreement. Relative to garbage pickup, councilman Bezzant reported that he has received more complaints on this issue than any other issue that has arisen during the three years he has been in office. He suggested that a public hearing be held to discuss the need for the recent changes and to determine what the citizens are desirous of doing to solve this problem and to what financial extent they are willing to go. The council discussed many of the Councilman Bezzant reviewed the proceedings of the last planning commission meeting. Mrs. Florer was present to request that she be allowed to have an apartment in her home located on lOOONorth and 375 East. It was reported that, at the public hearing, a large number num-ber of the residents in the area had protested the use of the home as a multiple dewelling. The planning commission had voted to deny the request for an apartment apar-tment in the house. The council voted to accept this recommendation but indicated in-dicated to Mrs. Florer that if she could get her neighbors to not protest the apartment they would be receptive to reviewing this matter again. The final subdivision plats of Autumn Hills and Grovecreek Acres were reviewed and approved subject sub-ject to the conditions of the planning commission and providing adequate water to the lots. The resolution to authorize sale of the special improvement im-provement district bonds was reviewed and approved. This 5SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS resolution provides that the bonds be sold for the 500 North Street improvement and the 1300 East Street improvement im-provement at a interest rate of 6. |