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Thursday, August 16, 2012
Connecting Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs
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Thefts are on Eagle the rise in SS Mountain By Nancy Kramer Staff Writer
Copper wiring thefts have been plaguing Saratoga Springs for several years, but these thefts are on the rise. George Latham, Public Works director, explains how thieves break into junction boxes, cut the wiring, hook a truck to the wiring and drive off. This year the cost to the city has been between $30,000-$40,000. Places hit have been Pioneer Crossing, Pony Express, and most recently Commerce Drive behind Walmart. This can be dangerous and frustrating to the public, as it not only shuts down the streetlights, but also disrupts power to other important
public and private electrical uses. How do the thieves get away with this crime? You may be surprised that they not only perpetrate this criminal activity under the cover of darkness, but also during the daylight hours. During the daytime, the scoundrels act as though they are contracted employees working on streetlights. They are also stealing storm drain covers directly from the street and leaving hazardous situations for passing cars, bicyclists and pedestrians. The police need help in finding the individuals responsible for the thefts. Be alert, and whenever you see anyone working on or near any electrical box, storm drain cover, or anything that looks suspicious, if
they are not in a clearly marked city truck or wearing a uniform, it is your responsibility to contact the police department immediately. Remember that Saratoga Springs does not contract with anyone to work on public lighting, electrical needs, etc. If you don’t see a city truck or city workers, then the people in the trucks, those working with the wiring, or those removing storm drain covers are thieves and need to be reported. Please contact the police department immediately upon viewing anything that appears suspicious regarding these types of activities. Officers stress that it is far better to call and have it turn out to be innocent conduct than to just assume it is a legal activity.
EM considering changes to animal regulations City open to feedback on proposed changes By LeeAnn Bohman Managing Editor/Staff Writer At a recent City Council meeting, changes to the city’s current animal ordinance were proposed. The Planning Commission has been discussing changes for about a year, as there are no specifications in the code for chickens, goats or bees. The number of dogs and cats allowable per lot size were also proposed to change. At the next City Council meeting Sept. 6, the proposed ordinance will be voted upon. The text of this ordinance can be found on the city’s website, www.eaglemountaincity.org. Some of the amendments to the ordinance include allowing bees to be kept by licensed beekeepers, and specifies how many hives can be kept per lot size and where. On lots less than half-acre, two hives is the maximum allowable. On lots between half-acre and an acre, three to five
hives are allowable. Over an acre, five or more hives are acceptable. The same is done for chickens, allowing six chickens on lots less than a quarter-acre, 12 chickens on lots up to an acre, and six additional chickens allowable for each half-acre above that. The number of cats and dogs per residence is limited in the proposed changes. The ordinances states, “A
combination of dogs and cats (four months of age or older) may not exceed two on a multi-family lot, or four on any other sized lot.” As the council members will be voting upon this soon, they are seeking for feedback on the animal regulations. After reviewing the draft ordinance, residents are encouraged to send a comment via a link on the city’s website.
Toy Story
By Nancy Kramer Staff Writer
What’s a parent to do when there are so many hours in the day and the same old toys? No matter what you do, little Max or little Rachel are not having any of the same old stuff, and you are on a tight budget and can’t run to the store to buy anything new. There is a wonderful solution in Eagle Mountain…a Toy Library. Dixie Downing is the inspiration and force behind this imaginative facility where toys are free for the public to come in and borrow. Downing states, “The hardest part of this whole thing is just getting the word out. It is a toy library! People can come and borrow educational toys for free, and then return them in a week and get more.” Downing would love for the public to utilize the facility, but it’s hard to get the word out. She extends an invitation for parents to bring their children and check out whatever toys they think their kids would enjoy. The story of how the toy library came to be started back when Downing lived in Orem. She loved going to the PERC (Parent Education Resource Center) in the basement of the Orem Library. Their family was living on a frugal student income and didn’t have very much money for toys. PERC was the perfect option for them. They would borrow toys for a week, and when the kids got tired of them, they would return them a week later and get new ones. Not only were the toys something new to play with, but they were educational, as well. Downing notes, “I could spend time with my kids doing things that were new and fun and interesting for all of us. Playing dolls is only fun for so long.” Then they moved to Eagle Mountain. They kept going
back to PERC, but the commute was hard. Downing started wondering why Eagle Mountain didn’t have something similar; after all, the city has an average of four children per household. One day while in Orem, she asked Margy Chestnut what it would take to start something like PERC in another city. Chestnut looked at Downing and said, “Actually I have fifty boxes of surplus that we just don’t have room for. I’d be more than happy to donate it to you if you wanted to start one up.” Mayor Jackson helped find an empty classroom at Mountain Trails Elementary in City Center. City officials moved the boxes. Downing unloaded them with some help from friends, and now it’s up and running. The name had to be changed, so that one day the toy library can be a non-profit organization. The official name is CERC (Caregiver Education Resource Center.) Families can check out up to six items, which are due back the following week. They can call and renew their items for an additional week, but after that they need to return the toys so others can use them. Remember that not everything at CERC is for young children. There are a variety of DVDs, puzzles, movies, aids to teach geography, art, math, science, and so much more. All ages can benefit from visiting CERC. Summer hours are Wednesdays 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. Fall hours will be Tuesdays from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. and Thursdays from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m. Downing would love to have volunteers come in and help, thereby expanding the days and times. The location is Mountain Trails Elementary in City Center, room #144. To contact Dixie Downing, her phone number is 801-368-8867 and her email address is eaglemountaincerc@gmail.com.
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The Crossroads Journal
Thursday, August 16, 2012
SS City Council Notes By Jennifer Klingonsmith Staff Writer August 7, 2012 The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. Those present included Bud Poduska, Jim Miller, Shellie Baertsch, Rebecca Call, Mayor Mia Love and city staff. Michael McOmber was absent. Public comment A commander for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) stated that he would like to start a VFW post in Saratoga Springs. He noted that the VFW routinely awarded scholarships to teens and performed community service. The VFW only requested that the city provide the group with a place to meet once a month. Policy items Consent calendar The consent calendar was unanimously approved. Bid award for Engineering of Marina Trail and Shoreline Armoring. City staff reported that the bid would be awarded to TYBN Engineering. He noted that TYBN was the lowest of five bidders for a price of $10,900. Council members questioned why TYBN’s bid was $7,000 less than three of the other bids. Staff explained that business was slow, and the firm was hungry for work. He also noted that the Division of Natural Resources was paying for the project. Construction would take approximately 45 days and begin in late October. Mayor Mia Love was concerned about any potential strings attached to the project, as it was being funded by the federal government.
The bid award was unanimously approved. Resolution R12-18 (8-7-12): A resolution amending the consolidated fee schedule for secondary water and garbage rates. Assistant City Manager Spencer Kyle reported that Allied Waste had increased the city’s costs for service, so that increase (two percent) was being passed onto residents. He noted that he was working on finding ways to motivate residents to produce less trash and recycle more. Ideas included free recycling and adjusting fees so that a second garbage can would cost more than the first. Kyle also reported that the City Council had directed city staff to increase secondary water rates by nine percent to build up reserves for secondary water emergencies and repairs. System expansion projects were also being paid for. The resolution was unanimously approved. Public hearing: Revisions to the Land Development Code (Sections 19.02, Definitions, 19.04, Establishment of Land Use Zones, 19.05.080, Beekeeping). City staff reported that much effort and research had gone into creating city code to allow responsible beekeeping in low-density housing areas. The code language was based on other cities’ restrictions, mainly Salt Lake City and Orem City. The proposed city code included provisions for two hives for any single, detached family home and up to five hives per acre of land. Hives would need to be in a fenced area and placed at least five feet away from property lines. BYU Professor Sandra Burnett, a
Harvest Hills resident and expert in beekeeping, stood to say that she favored the beekeeping code. Another resident also supported the beekeeping guidelines. She appreciated that the city supported provident living. Councilman Bud Poduska asked if city code defined what a nuisance was. Staff reassured that nuisance was defined in city code, as well as state code. Councilman Jim Miller asked if beekeeping was permitted on very small Planned Unit Development lots (PUDs). Some of these lots, Miller continued, were in the R3 zone, but because of a PUD overlay, had lot sizes as small as 4,000 square feet. He didn’t know if such small lots would be conducive to beekeeping. Staff replied that most PUDs had HOAs that did not permit beekeeping. Those CC&Rs would stay in force even if the city permitted beekeeping. Love asked what the point would be of limiting lot sizes when it came to allowing beekeeping. Staff replied that when homes were in close proximity, the chances of beehives becoming a nuisance to adjoining neighbors increased. Miller then asked about abandoned hives and if adjoining neighbors would have to limit pesticide use. Professor Burnett answered that if abandoned hives are found, state regulators most often close up the hive and burn it, as neglected hives often harbor disease and bacteria. She also said that neighbors would not have to limit pesticide use in their own yards, as normal use does not threaten the entire hive and most bees fly well beyond the immediate area. Councilwoman Shellie Baertsch
suggested language in the code needed to include the allowance of residents to keep additional types of bees beyond honeybees. She asked that mason bees and bumblebees also be included, and that Africanized bees be prohibited. Baertsch suggested that city code limit beekeeping to a lot size of 9,000 square feet or larger. She also wanted to require residents no longer beekeeping to remove hives within 30 days. Residents wishing to sell honey should be allowed to do so as long as they follow state law and have a business license. Councilwoman Rebecca Call agreed with limiting lot sizes, but suggested the allowable number of hives to be based upon two per quarter acre, allowing up to eight per acre. Mayor Love stated that she was eager to have a bee ordinance in place. She stated that the city code couldn’t save everyone from every possible scenario. She thought the best course of action was to approve the ordinance and to address problems as they come along. The City Council then recommended that the following additions be made to the city code: that two hives be allowed per quarter acre, that a waiver be possible for beekeepers wanting to locate their hives closer than five feet to their property line, and that beekeeping only be permitted on lots larger than 9,000 square feet. Professor Burnett then stood to make sure that her lot size was adequate to allow beekeeping (as she currently keeps bees). She was upset to learn that her lot size was below the 9,000 square foot minimum. Her comments sparked additional conversation about whether lot size should be limited. City staff suggested the revisions be tabled for now so that the recommended changes be added and the lot size restriction be further discussed.
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76 6-8 200 The revisions were unanimously tabled. Reports Call reported that she had found an existing intersection in Lehi where traffic lights were close together. Previously, UDOT had refused to install a traffic light at the busy 400 North/Redwood Road intersection, stating that it was too close to the Pioneer Crossing intersection. She stated that she would follow up on the issue. Call also showed fellow council members the newly designed “Welcome to . . .” and “Now Leaving . . .” city signs. She was also seeking permission from UDOT to install directional signs at Pioneer Crossing. Lastly, Call mentioned that commercial building permits had already exceeded the total number from 2011. Twelve permits had been issued so far in 2012, compared to only 11 in all of last year. Baertsch reported that a committee had completed a joint land use plan with Camp Williams. The meeting then entered into closed session.
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EM City Council Notes By Danielle Palmer Staff Writer August 7, 2012 Public Comments Nikki Whitman suggested changes be made to the watering ordinance, keeping watering strictly between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. as many people jog in the early morning and many people commute and the water on the pathways and road is a bother and a waste of this precious resource. It would set a better example to the residents if conservation of water was better shown on public city areas. The mayor assured that she agreed, however the Ranches HOA is in charge of the watering and they have spoken on the subject. Chris Trusty reported talking with them about how much time the sprinklers need in order to adequately water the land. The mayor alluded to new sprinklers being purchased to better serve the area, but it would cost money. Dayton Seegmiller approached the stand to discuss an area on Sandpiper Road along Pony Express where the walkway is unfinished and kids walk to school through the mud. He expressed interest in volunteering his troop to beautify the area and wanted to know more about the plans for the area. Jeremy Cook explained that negotiations pertaining to the area have failed in the past and they are in the process of taking the next step. They are working on it and agreed to provide a plan for the area to Miller. Dayna Koch came forward to address the issues on the animal ordinance. She provided documentation from veterinarians that confirmed small breed goats are considered pets among many people. She also had done research to gather more information supporting having her miniature goats on a quarter-acre lot. She reaffirmed her invitation to the council members to visit her home to see her goats. The mayor stated that the animal ordinance will be held on the first meeting in September. Bryon Buchmiller, Jared Johnson, and Mark Johnson also came forward to express support to Cox’s cause. As neighbors, they
had not had any problems with her goats and even appreciated having them around for the family experience they provide. It was suggested that if appearance was the problem, attention could be focused on many other more pressing matters. Forrest MeGargel also wanted to address the issues with public watering in The Ranches. He was fed up with the sprinklers constantly watering the roads and proposed four ways it could be solved. First, invoke timers. Second, get the HOA to maintain them better so they won’t spray the road. His third option invoked laughter: to form an aggressive campaign for an automatic car wash to be placed there. His fourth option was to turn off the sprinklers and tear out the grass. The cost of watering is unneeded and it’s hypocritical to tell residents to conserve while watering small plots of grass. Mayor Jackson stated that she completely agreed with his sentiments. She added that she had this discussion with the HOA years ago, but they are still in charge. The city pays an agreed cost for an appropriate amount of watering. The HOA pays for any amount above this. She suggested if action is wanted, to become a part of the HOA board and help them make the needed changes. Council member comments Painter addressed the animal ordinance and sprinkler system comments, stating that it is very difficult for them to differentiate the role of government for these issues. It comes down to problems with having an HOA or with the absence of an HOA. Their role as a council in these issues takes lots of consideration and thought. Ochsenhirt appreciated Painter’s comment and added that people get caught up in how “somebody” has got to fix things, but also don’t raise taxes. It is a confusing role. He confessed he was a bit rough on the animal subject during the last meeting and apologized to Dana Cox if he offended her. He added that if the HOA says something isn’t going to happen, it won’t. Lastly, he offered to visit to see Cox’s goats. Consent agenda Ireland moved to approve and Ochsenhirt seconded the motion. Vote passed unanimously.
Scheduled items Additional capital projects for the FY 2012-2013 Budget. The amount of $92,840.24 was allocated for capital improvements that needed to be itemized in the fiscal year 2012-2013 budget. Specific projects were identified and selected on a list and funds were divided for use in these projects. Lengthy discussion was made on specific projects, including the basketball court plans for Porters Crossing Park. Discussion on full court or half court was made and it was decided that a full court would sink and they didn’t want to approve anything that would fail. A half-court would be sufficient, with a slope to drain into sod. Further discussion was made on a new ID card system, the community theatre, parking areas, and records management software. Steinkopf declared that Eagle Mountain is ready to explode and that now is the time to show people they are supporting the new businesses and updating things. He stated he knew they didn’t have much money, but that in the past he had regretted not taking advantage of the good prices when times are tough. Burnham also shared that she was in favor of the library improvements and was unsure about some other projects on the list. Ireland continued discussion, stating that the community theatre should be selffunded and that he would rather put that money toward the website. Vote was taken and the motion passed with all in favor except Ireland, who voted no. Resolution terminating the interlocal cooperation agreement establishing the Intermountain Municipal Gas Agency (IMGA) and distributing remaining funds. Painter moved to approve the resolution, Steinkopf seconded the motion and vote passed unanimously. Agreement with Widdison Well Turbines for repairs to the golf course well and installation of a new pump and motor. This agreement ratified the emergency repairs and work completed by Widdison Well Turbines. Ochsenhirt moved to approve the agreement, Steinkopf seconded the motion and it passed by unanimous vote. Bid award to Specialty Electrics, Inc.
for the purchase of control and relay panels for the south substation. Ochsenhirt moved to approve the bid and Burnham seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Bid award to Bennett Paving, Inc. for the 2012 Eagle Mountain road patch improvement project. The project includes streets in Mt. Airey, Pioneer Addition, Liberty Farms, SilverLake, and Eagle Point subdivisions. Steinkopf moved to approve and Ochsenhirt seconded, the motion passed by unanimous vote. Bid Award to Holbrook Asphalt Company for the 2012 Eagle Mountain Asphalt Surface Treatment project for HA5, which is an alternative to a slurry seal that is typical-
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ly applied to road surfaces as part of the routine roadway maintenance. This product prevents loose aggregate littering the roadway and has received public approval in other areas where it has been used. It is anticipated that it will be a good option for the city as it evaluates alternative treatments for city roadways. Painter moved to approve, Ochsenhirt seconded, and it was approved unanimously. Final comments Painter stated that he thought that the community theater is something that can make the community great. A website doesn’t provide this community greatness, but the people and experiences do that. Ochsenhirt motioned to adjourn the meeting, Burnham seconded. Meeting adjourned at 9:12 p.m.
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Thursday, August 16, 2012