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Show Garbage Plant: There Are Still a Some Questions s -:he B By GARY R. BLODGETT News Editor CLEARFIELD Some city officials here have joined the ranks of those in Davis County who question tentative plans for a proposed $54 million garbage-burning plant in their city. OFFICIALS are questioning the preliminary prelimin-ary plans to date as well as the time schedule being sought by the developer to have construction con-struction started by May 1 so that a completion comple-tion date of late 1984 can be met. To meet this time table, however, representatives repre-sentatives of Katy-Segher, the Belgium-based Belgium-based development firm, said bonds would have to be sold in April and construction started in early May. THEY EXPLAINED that it would be important, im-portant, it not imparative, that the plant be operational by the last day of 1984 so that the firm could take advantage of the "yearlong" "year-long" tax break that would be gained by being operational just one day of the year. "If we can't meet that deadline, we would lose several thousand dollars in tax benefits," be-nefits," representatives told the Davis County Waste Management Board. "BUT WHAT about interest benefits that might be lost by selling (bonds) now rather than waiting until interest rates become lower - if, in fact, they do continue to decline? de-cline? Industrial revenue bonds have been approved by Davis County for construction of the plant; but the plant would be built, financed and operated by the private firm i (Katy-Segher), it was explained. DAVIS COUNTY officials emphasized that neither the county nor the cities within the city are building or operating the proposed prop-osed facility -- nor is the county being held liable, they said. Obligations to each city remain with an agreement, if approved, to provide its garbage gar-bage to the plant for processing and disposal at a reasonable fee, referred to as a tipping fee. AT THIS TIME, there is no set fee for garbage disposal. Nor is there a determined cost for hauling garbage to the proposed site on Utah Highway 193 near Hill Air Force Base. Officials of south Davis County communities com-munities want a subsidized - or equal fee --for --for hauling costs. "Our costs could go sky high compared to the cost of neighboring cities near the plant," they said. CLEARFIELD CITY Manager Gayle Starks said last week that there is still some question as to the exact site of the proposed plant -- whether it will be in Layton or in a nearby unincorporated area. Clearfield officials earlier said they would consider approval of the latter site if the ' c proposed area would be incorporated into the city -- providing a hefty tax base. m : lie In MEANWHILE, A group of Layton resi- ; dents have opposed the proposed site in Layton, saying they will file an injunction if -? gold it appears that site is the one finally :iier, approved. The plant must be located adjacent to Hill :le'r 1 Air Force Base becuase of an agreement '. between the federal installation and the de- suc velopers to have the base purchase steam 0ttn and electricity which would be generated by the plant during regular operation. -JUfo "WITHOUT THE sale of steam and elec- tricity, the plant could not be economically . job operated," developers contend. "And Hill .at , AFB is the only likely facility in the county ; that could use the steam." msis Mr. Stark said developers have not yet J requested any type of building permit, not ( even a conditional use permit. MEANWHILE, he said, a seven-member ' ". committee to study the issue, as it pertains jjybec to Clearfield, will be organized. stife: "We know there will be problems and id there are some residents in the city who oppose the proposed site (just west of Clear-field Clear-field City's water tanks)," he said. "I don't think our council is ready to act too quickly on this matter." WILL JEFFERIES, executive director of Wasatch Front Regional Council, said Katy-Segher is completing construction plans on a speculative basis and will be lqM ready to "break ground" by May 1. Members of Bay Area Refuse Disposal j2l (BARD) board of directors, which is com- ' prised of mayors from Farmington south to include North Salt Lake, agreed the com- IDfl munities of south Davis County should be compensated for additional cost of trans- :jfn9 portation. :Shef '"coloi "I CAN SEE where you people (BARD members) favor subsidy for transportation, but I wonder what city officials of north Davis County cities will think," said Mr. Jefferies. "But I agree something should be done and we'll make this proposal." Referring to the tight time schedule, most community leaders expressed concern that there are still a lot of unanswered questions A that must be known before bonds can be sold and a plant built. WHEN KATY-SEGHERS bid for the plant they were about $6 million below the second lowest bidder, Brown and Farris, I with a low offer of $32,990,000. But this bid was based on 1983 prices, developers noted , and if construction is not started this year the costs could be substan- V tially higher. JUST HOW MUCH higher, no one jjw knows. . J h... |