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Saturday, October 11, 2014

Rich Rebels JV & Seniors Drown Duchesne

Photo by Tammy Calder
 

It's Time To Work On Garden


Mayor Spuhler Responds To County Criticism


In October's  Rich County Commission meeting, commissioners expressed some dismay that Mayor Spuhler and Garden City were taking over the gun range and jetty issues.  All commissioners were vocal about their confusion about the subject and one commented that it was the county's responsibility to take charge of those issues.  Later it was learned that Mayor Spuhler had a signed MOU with the County Commissioners to follow through with those issues:  Mayor Spuhler responds to the article titled "Garden City Usurping County Land Rights On Gun Range".

 To The Editor:

I am a bit confused by your article here are the facts as Garden City has had a very good relationship with the county and I was completely surprised by your article:

1. We have a signed MOU, clearly outlining a joint venture between the county and the city to explore the Gun Range. This MOU was given to the State Parks several months ago.
 
 2. Garden City, went to the County, Laketown, and the Bear Lake Regional Commission for approval to proceed on the Jetty concept all three agreed with unanimous approvals. In those meetings a basic design and location were discussed.
 
 3. Emails with invitations to the meetings as well as emails to commissioner Cox dated 8.11.2014 with the Jetty design and cc to DNR. The commissioner accepted the meeting with Sen Hillyard but did not show up. I saw him later and he apologized due to a scheduling issue he as not able to make it. Those are the facts and anyone wanting to read the MOU on the Gun Range can do so as it is all public record. We value our relationship with the county and other cities.

John Spuhler
Garden City Mayor

Gun Range Public Hearing

Chris Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times 

On October 8, 2014 a public hearing was held by the Garden City Town Council.  One of the topics at the hearing, which was part of a regular council meeting, was a discussion of a potential gun range 600 yards south of the Sweetwater Trailer Park on land west of SR 30.  The land at the site belongs to the state.  The trailer park is not part of Garden City.  It is currently legal to discharge a firearm in the area proposed for a gun range.
About 35 people attended the hearing, the majority of whom expressed a favorable opinion about having a range at the location.  Exactly one person who lives in the trailer park attended.  The state parks personnel had recently done work on evaluating the land for potential ancient artifacts, breeding grounds for sage hens, and had conducted firearm sound testing in the area.   No artifacts are believed to be present.  The sound tests were compared with data from the gun range in Cache Valley (results were similar) and were available at the hearing.   The maximum decibel level detected at the edge of the trailer park when measuring sound from a variety of firearms discharged at a point in the proposed gun range produced results similar to the ambient sound in a large retail store (e.g. WalMart).  It was pointed out by an attendee that the sounds from different sources, though equal in decibel levels, have different effects on humans and animals.  For example, fireworks, guns, ATVs, and boats can all produce significant and nearly equal decibel sound but have different effects on those who hear them.
Management of the proposed range was briefly discussed but is still in the very preliminary stages.  There would likely be some fee associated with the gun range use; while hours of operation, and access issues have not been settled.  Questions of liability insurance were raised but the process is not far enough along for specific answers. 
Jeff Rasmussen, Utah State Parks representative from Salt Lake, was present and commented that there had been a number of issues, questions, and opinions raised by some of those who live in the trailer park and he had hoped for a greater attendance from that group.  Rick Bywater, the one trailer park resident who did attend, stated that “There are only about 5 or 6 people who oppose the range, the rest are in favor”.  Mayor Spuhler stated that he believed that if asked, 90% of the citizens of the county would favor the gun range.  However, neither Mr. Bywater nor the Mayor had any data to substantiate their remarks.  Commissioner Bill Cox noted the absence of trailer park property owners at the hearing and wondered if public hearings should be held in Salt Lake City.  Another resident said that perhaps St. George would then be appropriate for a hearing. 
All wishing to speak having done so, the public hearing was closed.

 

Rich County Sheriff's Report, September

 
Anita Weston, Reporter
Rich Civic Times 

RANDOLPH, Utah.  September, 2014.  There were 101 incidents during the month of September.  There were 13 citizen assists, 12 medical emergencies, 8 criminal histories, 7 civil processes, and 6 each of the following:  alarms, traffic accidents with damage, and VIN serial number inspections. 

Forty eight of the incidents occurred in Garden City, 28 in Randolph, 16 in Laketown, and 8 in Woodruff.  There was one incident outside the county. 

In Garden City there were 8 citizen assists, 6 alarms, 5 medical emergencies, and 5 traffic accidents with damages.  There were 4 sovereign lands issues, and 4 VIN serial number inspections.  There were 2 agency assists, 2 civil processes, 2 lost property issues, and 2 suspicious persons/circumstances. There was 1 each of the following:  an attempt to locate, a citizen dispute, a criminal history issue, a controlled substance problem, a DUI alcohol/drugs problem, a lockout, a traffic hazard, and a trespass. 

Laketown had 4 medical emergencies, 3 citizen assists, 2 animal problems, and 2 civil processes.  There was one each of the following:  a lost property problem, a sovereign lands issue, a traffic hazard, a trespass incident, and a VIN serial number inspection.   

Randolph had 7 criminal histories issues, 3 medical emergencies, 3 thefts, and 2 civil processes.  There was one each of the following:  an agency assist, a citizen assist, a citizen dispute, a dead body, a fire, an injured person, a traffic accident with damage, a sex offense, a suspicious person/circumstance, a traffic hazard, the transportation of person/property, a vandalism issue, and a welfare check.  

Woodruff had an animal problem, an assault, an attempt to locate, a citizen assist, a civil process, a DUI alcohol/drugs issue, a trespass, and a VIN serial number inspection. 

The incident outside the County concerned a suspicious person/circumstance. 

There were 6 citations and 6 violations on the Traffic Citation Report.  All incidents occurred in Garden City. One of these violations was a snow/OHV improper registration and the other five were speeding tickets.  There were three warning and 3 violations in Garden City, and 2 warnings and 3 violations in Laketown reported on the Traffic Warning Report.  The 6 incidents on the Traffic Warning Report were as follows:  a valid launch permit was required, an AIS check station was bypassed, an OHV restrictions/private land issue was encountered, there was a speeding issue, and there were two violations with motor vehicles on the beach.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Letter To The Editor: Inn At Snow Meadows

Inn at Snow Meadows and Kerasma Restaurant are now closed.  Our family would like to thank everyone who came to our garage sales to help us out with our moving expenses.  We were glad that items that we really cared about went to people who we had a close relationship to.  At the close of it this last Sunday, we opened it up to anyone who needed anything that was left could have it for no cost.  It was a lot of fun.

We were a little overwhelmed at the close of the sale by how to get what was leftover to the pods stored at the churches for DI.  Then here comes Bobbie and Chris Coray, Bill and Barbara England, Claudia and Family, Cyndi and Darren Caldwell and numerous others to help with clearing it out.  It meant so much to us for the extra help.  We want to thank you all for donating your time on what should have been a relaxing Sunday evening.  It made it possible for us to leave on time as we had planned and we appreciate it. 
You know if there is anything to be done in this city these people are the ones to call on.  They know how to get a job done and do it well!  Again, it warmed our hearts and reminded us of why we settled in Bear Lake to begin with.
As we go on our new adventure, we will take what we have learned here and make something great happen once again!  We are looking forward to being with family and also seeing those of you who know the area well and will be coming to visit us.  
It is a new beginning and we are so excited to get started!  The timing is perfect.  Again, may we say thank you.  We'll always remember your hearts were in the right place at the right time for the right reasons!
Sincerely,
Carol, Greg, Brittany and Miss Lily

Burn Restrictions Off For Winter


Garden City Fire Chief Mike Wahlberg has received notice that the state-imposed fire restrictions have been lifted.  In those areas where burning is permitted the chief will issue a permit based on safety criteria.  Some areas still prohibit burning but the state has lifted its restrictions.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

The Unmuddled Mathematician


Some Changes are Hard to Bear

By Chris S. Coray, The Unmuddled Mathematician
Well, it may be that the end of the world is near.  All of my life, as change and technology and new things have swept one after another through our civilization there has been a cornerstone of stability.  Levis.  I was raised with Levis and still wear them.  Sure, as a youth I would turn up the cuffs at the bottom as a fashion statement but the Levis themselves were unchanged.  The fashion statement upturned cuffs were actually pretty dumb as they provided really nothing more than a place for dirt, grime, weeds, and critters to occupy.
But now Levis has announced a major change in the most fundamental of apparel.  They are enlarging the pockets in order to accommodate the IPhone 6+.   Is nothing sacred?  When I told my dear friend, The Muddled Male, about this impending change his response was a loud, “Yesssssssss!”.  He is always at the front of the ever advancing phone technology or he is a depressed wannabe until his wife allows him to move to the front of the technological frontier.  But some things should not be done.  Even in the era of slide rules (if you have any notion of what one is) we might in earlier days attach them to our Levis or belts but we did not modify the fundamental apparel.  Those days are apparently over.
I suppose one course of action would be to just turn away from new gadgets and abide in geezerhood for the remainder of my days.  But no, I have chosen the better path, that of adaptation, primarily so I can remain in contact with my granddaughters. 
So, in the spirit of keeping up I seek to fill a clear need brought about by the bigger 6+ and the larger Levis pockets.  It is apparently the case that the new phones are so thin that with their new size a problem has arisen with potential bending of the expensive device caused by sitting on it when encased in a pocket.  Horrors!  Humans apparently do not have flat fannies (tell that to an old geezer, and note that I did not write fat fannies) and human curvature can produce a sort of wrap around IPhone.  So today I begin to offer a brand new must have accessory for 6+ owners.  It does come with the warning “Some Assembly Required”.    Accompanying this article are two photos.  The first is of the necessary parts prior to assembly.   There are 4 clamps, 2 wood braces, and a 10lb weight.   That is photo 1.  In photo 2 the device is assembled, with a simulated IPhone 6+ safely secured inside the clamped wood braces. 
Photo 1

Photo 2
With your new gadget securely placed in this device there is no chance of bending, mutilating, or spindling.  There may be an issue with answering a phone call in adequate or reasonable time or getting through airport security but what the heck.  The phone will be straight and happy.  It is up to you how to get the assembled unit into your pocket but that is now Levis’ problem.  You may also be wondering about the 10b weight.  Well, science has prevailed.  In order to avoid permanent damage to lumbar vertebrae 5 by
 
carrying the protected phone on one side of your body the weight is provided to carry on the opposite side pocket to provide balance and preserve your spine.
Pre-orders are now being accepted.  More than 4 million such orders exist for the 6+.  I am not yet spending my certain-to-arrive new found wealth.
This is guaranteed not to interfere with ear trumpets.

School Board Redistricting Stalled


Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

Rich School Board elections are coming up in the November 4, 2014 election.  There are contested races in three districts.  However, the 2010 census requires a redistricting. Because of population changes in the district, some districts may change after the election. 

It is required that the County Commissioners select a committee to reapportion the districts.  The Commissioners were asked if they had moved forward with that.  Norm Weston thanked the reporters for reminding him and Cox said they would work on it.

The contested school board districts  are Randolph North with Ralph B. Johnson, incumbent, and Monty G. Weston.  Laketown School Board candidates are Dallas L. Clark and Eric Wamsley.  Garden City School Board candidates are Tammy E. Calder, incumbent, and Bryce Huefner.

Caramel Corn Pops In Bear Lake



Bill and Barbara England have opened a new caramel corn shop, The Caramel Corner, in the Bear Lake Pizza.  Thirty years ago they owned a caramel corn shop in Idaho Falls.  When they left to manage the Little America, they sold the shop and the equipment.   But the equipment sat unused until Barbara England, suggested that they call and see if they could buy back the special popcorn equipment and beautiful large copper pot to stir her special caramel into the hot buttery popcorn.  The pot shines and gleams and the hot caramel scents fill the room and Barbara England is stirring up popcorn balls and sacks of hot popcorn.

 

Rich Rebels vs Kanab

Photo by Tammy Calder

Garden City Planning and Zoning

Randall Knight, Reporter
Rich Civic Times 

The P&Z meeting began as scheduled at 5:00 PM on 1 Oct 2014. The board members present were: Lance Bourne, Mike Schiess, Dewayne Gifford, Pat Argyle, and Steve Arnold. Absent was Susan House and Jim Stone.  Gary Cox, Garden City Administrator, and Mr. Hanzelka were also present. The first role of business was to swear in Steve Arnold as a new board member to fill the Nate Gracey vacancy.  

The minutes for both the Public meeting and the Planning and Zoning Commission meetings for Sept 3 were accepted with minor changes.  

The Commission continued to kick the “Gross Leasable Area” topic down the road.  Steve Arnold asked if the definition was taken from other towns.  Mr. Bourne said “yes” it was and the Commission uses other cities ordinances as a baseline in several cases to save time and to use accepted wording as much as possible.  The number of parking stalls for each business is a major part of this ordinance and the point of contention because several businesses have more customers than private parking stalls.  It was pointed out that UDOT may stop allowing people to park along Hwy 89 and that would be a big impact to parking.  Gary Cox reported that within the next year the city plans on making 270 parking stalls available to the public.  George Peart, Building Inspector, stated that Ideal Beach is required to have one parking stall for 5 guests.  This is different than the 3.5 passengers used in the parking formula.  This reporter was surprised nobody on the commission asked why the difference. It was stated several times the plan is to make the town a pedestrian type of town so parking will continue to be a major issue.  Pat Argyle stated several business people have told her they are not interested in developing in Garden City because it is too costly and difficult to meet the requirements. Hanzelka reported Senator Hillyard said it will be difficult for the city to obtain future grants if they don’t come up with some better business plans. 

During the discussion a recommendation was made to let the businesses define their parking needs instead of the city telling them what is required.  One idea was to have them help pay the cost of the shuttle since the plan is to have the town become a walking district and all businesses benefit from the service.  The commission discussed the possible need to charge for parking in the prime areas in an attempt to encourage people to use the public parking areas and the shuttle.  Darin Pugmire was asked for his opinion and he stated he submitted a proposal 6 months ago and it obviously wasn’t accepted so he has no comment other than the current ordinance isn’t right.  Cox was asked to email the current parking plan to the members for review.  A proposal was made to table the discussion because there were so many different ideas.  

The next topic kicked down the road was in regard to Hotel/Motel zones.  The Commission is considering the following three locations now, down from the four previously reported: South of Hwy 89 at 700 west and south of the old raspberry patch; an area just below Shundahai and finally an area south of Bear Hollow and west of 300 West.  A recommendation was made to use Google Earth as a way to look at the locations, topography and size of the areas.  The plan is to locate areas where building higher than 35 feet can be built without obstructing the view of those behind the higher structures.  This topic was also tabled for another month.

The next topic discussed was the re-zoning of Ideal Beach, and the area west of 300 W to 450 S.  The rezoning would be changed from Residential Estates to Commercial 2 and from Commercial 2 to Commercial 3.  Discussions focused on where adult and industrial businesses should be located.  It was stated there isn’t a place that will meet everybody’s desires but a zone has to be made to prevent them from being located within the middle of town.  Public comments were voiced against changing the zone from Residential Estates to Commercial 2 zone.   Mr. Schiess pointed out the current plan requires industrial businesses to be enclosed so piles of logs or stacks of wood would not be visible from the higher elevations.  Motion was made to table the discussion.    

It was pointed out that nightly rentals were 75% of the issues for the ordinance officer during the summer.  A recommendation was made to have a zone defined for nightly rentals.  Pugmire said there are discussions going on by the town council to allow only three areas to have nightly rentals after a new ordinance is passed; Snow Meadows, Harbor Village and Ideal Beach.  Peart pointed out there isn’t a difference in the business fees for a small rental versus a large one even though the impact to the infrastructure and to the neighbors are very different.  A recommendation was made to have the city consider having different rates for business licenses based on the occupancy.  

During the miscellaneous discussion, Peart said the request for building permits has slowed down a lot this year.  Argyle said the impact fee is higher along with water connection fee being  about $4500 depending on the zone.  It was pointed out the high connection fee is due to the cost to maintain the oversized water treatment plant.  

Cox reported the shuttle service went very well for the first year with several bus schedules full of passengers.  One of the main reasons why the service was considered to be successful was because of the usage even though there was no advertising about the service.   

Argyle said some people have asked her opinion about starting a “Glamping” business west of the rodeo grounds and above the canal.  It would comprise of portable tents and covered wagons with beds, fire pits and toilet facilities.  This would only be for summer time use and the tents and wagons would be removed during the winter.   Parking would be below the canal so bridges would be required to allow the guests to cross the canal.  She also stated other people had asked about dog kennels.   Pugmire said the city council is moving public hearing meetings to a later time during the regular meeting to allow more time for the citizens to get off work so they could attend both meetings.  He also stated the council allows a two-three minute period for the public to comment about the agenda topics.  The commission thought this was a good idea and would consider making the change. 

Meeting adjourned at 7:50 PM.