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Show M BGPiO 2G8iQlSS 900QSS fliiGiialto tli ill. liioiois By LE ANN BLODGETT Although annexing the Val Verda area to Bountiful causes exploding emotions to some people, the matter was discussed thoroughly at Bountiful City Council with a room full of pro and con residents. MAYOR MORRIS Swapp said, "We would like to see you become a part of our city if it is your desire but won't do it unless petitions show enough interest to assure the possibility without a fight." Western Holding Company (the Mabey property) has petitioned for annexation I and Bountiful is legally entitled to annex ' property contiguous to it. Whether more .' comes or not is a matter under debate. DR. RAY BRISCOE, attending council, said he was prepared to devote time to the cause. After calculating the results of ten hours petition carrying time, he judged it would take 200 hours work hours to bring enough names on a petition to annex the area. Many of the residents attending council meeting spoke in favor of annexing for improved facilities. The county does not plan on improving facilities, according to the council and residents who had made a plea for improvements. "YOU WILL never accomplish annexation annexa-tion without some bitter feelings," said Dr. Brisco. Ralph Fraser, a resident within 300 feet of the Mabey property expressed concern about restrictions on farm animals. Large property owners have a distinct disadvantage, disad-vantage, paying more in taxes while small homes with large families would benefit more from the facilities for children, etc. CITY ATTORNEY Layne Forbes says that farm animals presently being maintained main-tained will come into the city without a change under "nonconforming use" section sec-tion of the ordinance. If the maintenance is abandoned it cannot be resumed later nor can it be expanded upon. Improved facilities such as police protection, pro-tection, fire protection, snow removal and garbage removal would become immediately available while Bountiful's power rates would become available only as facilities were purchased from Utah Power & Light. DR. BRISCOE estimated that the increased taxes would be offset by the power rates within $1 to $3 per month. : Wilford Barlow said he moved there 20 years ago to be in the country but doesn't feel he is in the country any more because of the growth. "We should look toward making a change as it will come sooner or later," he said. "The county just laughs at you. They say if you want anything you must annex." GARY MARSH says he feels children are more important than animals and laments that there are no facilities for Little League. "It is a disgrace. You can go any place else and find nice ballparks with safety featues and dugouts yet we play in a sand box," he said. A Val Verda resident complained that his peripheral vision had been taxed by the dark streets while Bountiful was well lit. Mayor Swapp explained that the street lighting program included $75,000 in capital improvements each year but could "not promise immediate light. WENDELL Farr said he was in favor of . annexation. He pointed out that he had been called on several times to patrol home construction sites to prevent vandalizing van-dalizing and stealing and had "saved the hill once by turning off a fire hydrant-services hydrant-services ordinarily coming under a municipality. Councilwoman Phyllis Southwick said that fire insurance rates would decrease with the improved fire protection offered by Bountiful. The city plans to build a substation on east 1800 South but would consider moving the location further south if annexation occurred. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 2 Ual Verda Residents I' Discuss Annexation With Btfl. Officials CONTINUED FROM FRONT THE AREA is presently served by the county service. Bountiful's station could not serve the area unless it is annexed. Dr Briscoe said that county sheriff response to police calls averaged 20 minutes while Bountiful averaged nine minutes. EACH TIME a Val Verda resident buys a loaf of bread in Bountiful the sales tax benefits Bountiful. The newly approved V4 percent increase will go to "the point of sale." The electrical bills are paid to the profit of a large corporation instead of a city that will in turn serve them. Councilman Sterling Beesley says the entire area would benefit because of increased ability to receive federal grants. Cities under 50,000 are not in a position to receive nearly as much in federal monies. The large federal grants in Utah go to Salt Lake, Ogden and Provo, he said. BY CONSOLIDATING, it would not increase the number of homes in the area but would increase population statistics making federal money more generous. Councilman Beesley explained the problem of arterial roads in the area. He has been working to att.: , Salt Lake. U"n M Mas, THE "AVENUES" peonl. Lake residents are not imereW"'1 Sal -that will serve anyone but themX " do not want more traffic to caoitom, pointed out. "Pitol hill, he "We will have to have the f.i.i. mustard seed," he was told bv Z ' Highway Director Quinn Adair "w! go over, around or throush the J Lr Salt Lake," st'cJ NEARLY everyone can see that In, state 15, Beck Street and ViZ' ft will be overcrowded in a few years "It will be a political decision Pa. Commissions can plan until the r ' come home, but the decision will k. ' tical. Politicians have been asked to m up their minds as soon as possible .R gineers and planning commission an J necessary feasibility studies and 1 ning. m THE VAL VERDA group talked of ganizing to further study the issue of j nexation. City Manager Grant peter2 asked that the decision be made by jto 18 so the additional expense could be a" culated in the budget. . ' |