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Saturday, August 9, 2014
Bear Lake Watch
Friday, August 8, 2014
No To Government Interference
To The Editor: My heart beats with a desire to control my own destiny. The
Constitution of the United States of America gives me the ability to work out my
own life's story because of its design to limit government and empower
individuals. I love the freedom to become whatever I choose and if I fail a
time or two then at least I had the opportunity to try.
America is the greatest nation on the earth. There is no doubt we
have problems but when any other nation is compared to America, there isn't even
a close second. As a people, we are innovative and industrious. We have
wonderful natural resources and infrastructure. We are kind and generous, but
perhaps our greatest assets are our history, limited government and faith in
God.
The founding fathers were men of faith in God. They believed in
and understood the potential in each individual and sought to preserve men's God
given natural rights. Today we are a faithful people, but too much of our faith
is focused on climate change, non discrimination, money, power, the human body,
government and the list goes on and on. Faith, according to Merriam-Webster is
a "strong belief or trust in someone or
something". We have faith in and worship at the alter of all
these gods when we measure mans worth according to these gods' dogma.
What does this have to do with individuals today? Across all types
of people, political parties, educated or not, and rich or poor; people are
loosing faith in the God of our founding fathers and hence are loosing faith in
ourselves and others. This is evident when we as a people ask the government to
do something for us that we can do ourselves or should do ourselves. If we accomplish difficult things we can regain hope and faith in
ourselves, others and God. It might be difficult, we may have to
wait or do without and we might fail a time or two but it strengthens us.
We must stop asking for free money. It is dangerous to our
freedom. It doesn't matter what the cause is, whether it be the children, the
poor, the aged, the fish, the fire department, the city, the environment, the
snail, none of these things are worth our individual freedom. When we get money
from someone there are always strings attached and often the strings are little
but we all know that when enough strings are bound together it becomes a rope
and will strangle us. We ask our government to strengthen and tighten the rope
every time we ask for money. Politicians buy our votes with money and like a
drug, it's never enough.
I am running for school board in Garden City. I want it to be
clear where I stand. I say no to government interference in our community no
matter how much money the combination gives us individually or as a district. I
want the state to get the federal government out of our schools. The state has
the power to say no but do we as a people have the will power to make it
happen?
We should be an example of how to get it done with out government
intrusion, money or corruption. We don't need to bow to an alter of money.
Please do not renew the NCLB waiver! Please get us ENTIRELY out of federal
programs and money so that we as a state, as schools, as parents can help our
children shape their own destiny.
My heart beats with the desire for freedom, let's get it done.
Bryce Huefner
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Garden City Planning And Zoning Report
Randall Knight and Anita Weston, Reporters
Rich Civic Times
GARDEN CITY, Utah.
August 6, 2014. A public hearing meeting was held as
scheduled at 4:45PM. The board members
present were: Lance Bourne, Dewayne Gifford, Susan House and Mike Schiess.
Those absent were Jim Stone, Pat Argyle.
Gary Cox, City Administrator, was also present. There were no public members present. The topic discussed was the Conditional Use
Permit Definition. Bess Huefner from the city council was present and made
recommended changes.
The regular P&Z meeting scheduled for 5:00 PM was
held as scheduled. The board members present were same as above. Mr. Jim Hanzelka supported the meeting via
telephone.
The minutes were reviewed and recommend changes were made
and accepted.
The first topic for discussion was Ordinance #14-03
regarding parking and occupancy requirements in #11C-303-E. Mike Schiess recommended leaving the ordinance
as is and assign somebody to establish an acceptable formula to determine the
number of parking spaces required for a business. The main concern was the number of parking
spaces being determined by the square footage of the building doesn’t make
sense for all businesses. This is
because the businesses that use a particular building can change over time in a
way that would affect the realistic number of parking spaces required. Susan House recommended the ordinance be
accepted but a definition for a gross leasable area be completed. This proposal
was accepted.
The next topic discussed was #14-13 in regard to updating
the Conditional Use Permit definition. A motion was made to table this.
Rezoning discussions followed in regard to an area south
of Ideal Beach. The recommendation was
to change the zoning from Residential Estates to Commercial 2. The
recommendation was to change the zoning for sections 008 and 011 (approximately
50 acres) to C2 commercial. The motion
was approved.
Rezoning discussions in regard to the C2 area west of 300
W from Logan Canyon road to 450 S took place.
Recommendations were made to change the zoning to C3. A motion was made and accepted.
The commission discussed the Zoning Map that shows the
recent rezone changes. The commission would like to have an overlay made to the
zoning map to show the proposed Hotel/Motel areas. These topics were tabled for further
discussion.
During the miscellaneous discussion it was pointed out
that Spinnaker Point requested a change to the subdivision plat. The commission said it has been finalized and
will not be reviewed.
Meeting adjourned at 6:30 PM.
Opposing Short Term Rentals On Sweetwater Hillside.
Notice to Sweetwater Hillside Homeowners
At the next Sweetwater Park Homeowners Association Meeting
(August 16th, 10:00 a.m.) there will be a motion presented by several
homeowners to allow short-term rentals in the Sweetwater Park Hillside.
Recently, an anonymous flyer was distributed to homeowners
on the hillside asking for support of the motion. This flyer, if you will, is a
rebuttal. However, rather than sending it anonymously, we want to identify
ourselves as noted below. As owners of cabins on Panorama Drive, we have been
living near a homeowner who has rented out his cabin since approximately 2008
disregarding CC&R’s and By-Laws that prohibit a commercial enterprise. (Legal action is being taken against this renter by the HOA ed)
Rentals:
Understandably, there are times when homeowners are going to be away
from their homes for significant periods of time. For instance, we have
neighbors on the Hillside who have volunteered for missions and have had to
leave their homes and cabins for one, two and three years. It has always
appeared reasonable that persons who wish to put their house up for long term
rental, i.e. 6 months or greater, should be able to do so.
However, we have a much different viewpoint regarding
short-term rentals and homeowners who have purchased their homes exclusively to
rent out. We have this difference of
opinion because of the continued problems we experience living near a home that
is rented daily/weekly, on a year-round basis, and because of the bullets noted
below, the enjoyment and safety of our homes has been adversely impacted.
Although, it would not be difficult to catalogue all the
rental issues we have faced over the last 6 years, we wish to mention only
those experienced from this one particular cabin, in just the past month. We
use this cabin to illustrate what has been happening, and although we are aware
there are other cabins being rented on the Hillside, we can only comment on our
own personal experiences.
Very loud and disruptive late night partying outdoors and in
the hot tub, which is often vulgar and inappropriate while others try to
sleep. The last occurrence on August 2nd
continued until dawn!
Boats, vehicles, motorcycles (both on, and off road,) parked
along Panorama Drive making passing difficult and potentially dangerous if
medical or fire crews need to access the area.
Riding and revving of recreational vehicles at high speeds
in the early morning hours, i.e., midnight to 2 a.m. The vehicles are at the
rented home for the use of the renters, and are extremely loud, so the noise
pollution, which is bad enough during the day, makes sleeping impossible in the
wee hours.
The speed limit of 15 mph is completely ignored. We have had
wheelies performed in our own driveways, been run off the road, and watched as
trash is tossed from the vehicles.
One homeowner reported to the Sheriff's Department live
ammunition fire on two occasions on consecutive days from the renter's cabin,
and although the actual firearms were not seen, and therefore this cannot be
proved, after speaking with numerous neighbors, no fewer than four other
homeowners on Panorama Drive heard the same shots and determined it was not
fireworks, but live ammunition.
When Roman Candle Fireworks were set off from this renter's
cabin, two members of the Hillside Board, including the President, went to the
home to discuss the fireworks. What occurred was an obscenity-filled, physical
confrontation that necessitated a visit by a Sheriff's Deputy.
Trash was then strewn up and down Panorama Drive upon the
departure of this group of families. While another homeowner picked up the
trash, this is unfortunately a frequent occurrence along Panorama Drive. They
are not homeowners, but renters, and treat the area with total disregard for
the actual homeowners.
Ability to manage and control rentals of cabins:
Currently, we have a volunteer board. As homeowners who are repeatedly being
bothered by rule-breakers, we question if the Board would be able to control
and handle the duties, responsibilities and engage the additional resources
that would be required if the Sweetwater Hillside were to become a commercial
entity. The trash, the loud vehicles,
the ignoring of common social courtesies, the danger to our homes because of
weapons, fireworks and potential fires on the hillside all in the name of
operating a short term rental commercial entity are not in the best interest of
the majority of property owners. The renting homeowner appears in our opinion
to be the only benefactor.
As we move forward, we are all aware Sweetwater Hillside is
facing difficult problems solving some long-term issues, such as our water
system, and the snow plowing of roads with infrastructures that cannot support
it. With minimal funds to fix and update these problems now, we ask, how could
we possibly support the needs of the Hillside Association which allows
short-term rentals without a huge expenditure of funds we simply don't have? We
believe based on a reading of the motion in the flyer sent to us, homeowners
who wish to rent, completely minimized the potential problems associated with
short term rentals.
If you, as a Hillside homeowner, are in agreement with our
views, it is imperative that you attend the Sweetwater Park Homeowners
Association Annual Meeting to vote. We believe the homeowners at the meeting
who will present the motion to rent, will do their best to force a vote, and an
absentee ballot would only be valid if the motion is passed as stated exactly
in the flyer.
If “any” changes are made to the
motion to amend the current amendment, (which prohibits rentals) “all” absentee
ballots are null and void.
In closing, it is our belief this motion to allow short-term
rentals would signify the death knell of the Hillside as a peaceful community
that is respectful of the rights and properties of all homeowners.
The meeting is scheduled for August 16, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.
at the Garden City Offices. Thank you for allowing us to express our opinions,
and to hopefully solicit support from other like-minded homeowners to defeat
this motion.
Sincerely,
Karen Smith
Eric and Kathie Roman
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Letters To The Editor
To The Editor: You asked for the state public notice site. Here it is: http://www.utah.gov/pmn/index.html
I always just go to google and type in Utah State Public notice website. It takes me to this site.
I received a call from Rich County Clerk Becky Argyle late this afternoon. She called to
remind me that County Commissioners' meeting was changed and would be held
tomorrow. She said she knew I was there last month and heard the change, but
wanted to make sure I had remembered. They have done that several times. The
School Board has also been really good to tell me of meeting time changes.
Anita Weston
Herald Journal Article About Bear Lake
Posted: Monday, August 4, 2014 5:32 pm . Reprinted with permision of Kevin Opsahl.
Cycling enthusiasts will have the chance to race 100 miles from Pineview through the Monte Cristo Summit and up to Garden City with an inaugural bike ride scheduled for later in the month.
The Interlaken 100 is set for Aug. 23 and is likely to attract at least 1,000 riders to race for a good cause — all proceeds will go to the Humane Society of Utah.
Jon Bingham, the Interlaken 100 director, who has previous experience organizing marathon events in Utah, said he looks forward to the Bear Lake ride. It starts at Liberty Park in Eden.
“We created something that was easy to obtain but something more challenging than a typical century ride,” Bingham said.
Interlaken is a town in west-central Switzerland southeast of Bern. It is a popular resort in the Bernese Alps and the inspiration for the Bear Lake event.
Bingham explained that the Humane Society was chosen because it was different than “more typical” M.S. or cancer charities that are the benefactor of most marathon events.
“It’s difficult to narrow down a particular charity, but we wanted to go with one that would fill a good cause and resonate with individuals that are active — many of whom have pets,” Bingham said. “And we also wanted one that was not as prominent.”
Bingham explained with a point-to-point course, he wanted something with scenery, and people are easily attracted to the Bear Lake area.
“You want something that’s a draw, and people already have (homes) up there. People like to come to Garden City for fishing, burgers or shakes,” he said.
Participants have the chance to win an Interlaken 100 Carbon Road Bike.
kopsahl@hjnews.com
Monday, August 4, 2014
The Muddled Male
You Say What???
By Bob Stevens, The Muddled Male
My mother used to worry a lot about my
friends during my teenage years. Not
because she was uppity, mind you, but because she was convinced that we become
like those with whom we associate, and she didn’t want me to take on the
characteristics of someone she felt might be marching to the beat of a wayward
drummer, so to speak. She was
particularly concerned about one friend I had who was older than me and smoked,
cussed, and had little if any ambition.
I tried to convince her that I wasn’t interested in any of those things
about which she worried. I just liked
being around him because he was fun. I’m
afraid that failed to reassure her. Well
if she were here now I am certain that she would be pleased to find out that I
have been hanging out with my friend the professor. Mother always wanted me to have an advanced
degree, and now I am getting one through the process of osmoses by association. At least I thought I was before UDOT began to
chip and seal parts of highway 89.
I don’t know about you, but I have
become convinced that adding a chip and seal surface to our roads is a process
designed by the windshield replacement industry specifically to make certain
that I will personally have to replace my windshield often enough to single handedly
keep the industry in business. Now
through my osmoses relationship with my friend the professor I understand that
there is such a thing as randomness in life.
But my experience with chip and seal goes way beyond randomness. In the last three or four years I have had
four windshields damaged in a way that they had to be replaced rather than
fixed. A simple chip in a windshield is
usually fixable. You pull into one of those
spots where a pretty girl sits under a shade awning waiting for some poor soul
to come by with a chip in his or her windshield where a rock has hit. She applies a little clear resin with a
device that forces the resin into the chip, and like magic the chip disappears
and the resin holds everything together so that the windshield won’t crack from
the chip. But when a small rock hits
close to the edge of a windshield it instantly causes a crack that works its
way across, or up and down the windshield (or both) so that it can’t be
repaired, it must be replaced. Chip and
seal has caused me to need four cracked windshields replaced on my car(s) in
the last four years because, in my case, the small pebble always hits close to
the edge of the glass and initiates a crack. That, in case you wondered, is not randomness,
it is demonic. The last two times
occurred within two weeks of having the windshield replaced from the previous
crack and now my insurance company refers to me by my first name in cold icy
tones whenever I call to report another crack.
The part where I had hoped to get help
from my friend the professor has to do with his ability to explain things in
clear, concise, and understandable terms.
When he explains something I am always amazed at the articulate manner
in which the explanation is given. It is
almost like a mathematical equation in which the answer is obvious and easy to
understand. But in the case of the sign
that the chip and seal contractor carefully places at each end of the project
in a way that makes certain that it will be seen by oncoming traffic, the professor
has been silent. Can anybody tell me
what the #@%<*>~$! is meant by a sign that says, Loose Gravel …. Avoid Windshield Damage? I have tried
avoiding the area until the seal is sprayed, the gravel is laid, loose gravel
is swept up, and a second layer of seal is sprayed to hold down any remaining
loose rocks, but there is always a stray rock left to hit my windshield. I have tried to drive slowly through the area
only to be hit by a rock thrown by an oncoming truck or some dingbat who is in
a hurry and goes around me at high speed to make certain he gets to his
destination 20-seconds sooner.
I say, “Citizens Unite.” If you see
a seal truck coming, throw yourself prostrate on the road in front of the truck
in an attempt to stop it. If they just keep
coming and run over you while they spray you with black tar don’t worry. They will be by in a few minutes to encase
you in gravel so that you will be a visible monument to our willingness to
resist. And by the way, if you see my
car coming as you lay there, please try to brush any loose rocks out of the way
so that they won’t hit my windshield.
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