Garden City Public Works Report

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

GARDEN CITY, Utah. September 12, 2013. Riley Argyle, supervisor of the Public Works Department reported to the City Council his activities during the past month.  In preparing the master water plan, JUB Engineering collected data for the City in July and ran some flow tests and pulled data logs from the big meters for JUB at that time.  They requested some additional data which takes July 24 and up to the present time.  This should give them enough data to put together a plan by the end of October.   

The City has been mowing all of the reeds and vegetation along the beach contained within the City limits.  Also signs of “Walk Only” for beach access was installed on 150 South, 200 North, and 75 North.  There are more signs that need to be placed as soon as the locations are identified.  More “No Parking” signs have been ordered and the big rocks at 250 East have been moved and the gates were removed. 

The gun range will be a partnership with the state (their land) the county (building road in and parking area) and Garden City (obtain equipment, bathrooms, water, and run the facility).  This project is still in the conceptual phase.  Danny White (the City Administrator) has drawn up the master plan and is working with the Sweetwater HOA.  There are funds available for such a project from the DNR.  This proposed project may qualify for some of these funds.  It was noted that grant requests need to be written up to apply for these monies. 

A formal proposal for the gun range needs to be drawn up.  The partnerships need to be formalized and documentation of the deer and sage grouse usage study will need to be provided.  Also, additional adjacent landowner input needs to be obtained. 

The kiosk is still in the building phase.  Materials have been difficult to obtain and get to the site which has slowed down this project tremendously.  Hopefully, it will be completed in the near future.

The Bear Lake Water Company has an abandoned well.  The City decided to investigate to see if it would be possible to use that well to take care of some of the City’s water demands.  Glenn’s Electric came and used a camera to check out the well.  It was discovered that the well is 340 feet deep and needs to be cleaned.  The well appears to have good potential.  Bear Lake Water Company will turn the well over to the City for 15 shares of water currently owned by the City in Hodges Irrigation Company.  The City is currently working on getting a permit for renovating the well.  Also MOUs need to be written and signed to make sure everyone understands the arrangements that have been agreed upon. 

The cost of cleaning and testing the amount of water available by pumping will cost about $50,000.  The water shares used in the exchange have been valued at $3,000 each, costing $45,000.  Digging to get the needed pipes in place and power to the site are additional costs estimated at approximately $20,000.  This will also include source protection plan along with a well protection plan. 

The City continues to GPS as many of the meters and valves currently in the water system.  It is going well but will take additional time before this project is complete.

Heritage Park is being worked on.  The City is currently working on the last of the ditch work.  A ramp has been installed and the windmill aeration feature is finished..   The bypass ditch is mostly done but needs head gates and boxes.  The new ditch on 300 West has been started, but because of water, it had to be stopped.  A new pipe that will keep the overflow water from running onto the neighbors has been installed.  A test pit 20 feet deep was dug to see if water could be found.  Water was found, so Zan will move a water right over to the test pit.  Travis talked with the state and has been given a dock for the fish pond to accommodate the handicapped. 

The City’s light project is moving along well.  Fifteen of the 20 lights have been installed.  Four of the remaining lights have been requested leaving one left to put in place. 

The main water line into Lakota is being replaced so that the pipes won’t freeze in the winter.  The road there is only 15 feet wide which doesn’t allow much room to lay pipe and still have people drive along that area.  This project involves 11 meters.  It should be completed in the next week or two. 

The parking lot on 75 North is complete.  There needs to be more red paint on the corners to let people know to now park quite so close to the highway.  The trees are doing well.  Currently they are being watered two or three times a week.  Soon, the City will be able to cut back on that as the trees become acclimatized. Placement of a couple of dumpsters needs to be determined. 

There are two Idaho water users who are still on hold.  The meter project is complete for five of the users. 

There have been some problems at the water treatment plant.  The chlorine pump is leaking.  The sodium hypochlorite machine needs an acid wash every month.  The City has purchased the necessary tools and the workers are now taking care of this item.  It saves $1,000 a month.  The piping for the hypochlorite was plugged off and needed replacement.  It was determined that a different plumbing arrangement would actually cut down on the amount of particles that are currently filling up the hypochlorite pipes.  It has taken about a week to make all the needed changes and modifications.  Hopefully, these changes will allow for better use down the road.  Two trees at the water treatment plant need to be replaced.  The landscaping has been finished. 

Water’s Edge Subdivision went before Planning and Zoning last week.  The Committee denied the conceptual plan because there are several studies that need to be completed prior to approval being granted. 

Pickleville Commons has been red flagged.  There are some water issues that must be taken care of by the state before additional work can be done at that subdivision.  Because the City does not have a full-time engineer, the State has to take over that responsibility to check all water projects undertaken.  This is the case in this situation.  The State needs to make sure all water items are meeting state requirements.

Originally, the trailhead at Hodges Canyon was a partnership between the City and State.  The State was responsible to keep the bathroom clean, and the City was to maintain the parking lot.  The State has not been taking care of the bathrooms.  Contact has been made with the State and hopefully this matter will soon be resolved. 

Argyle has been invited to join a North Utah Water Alliance.  The individuals who belong to the organization all work with water treatment plants.  The members are kept aware of any law changes and form networking connections when problems or questions arise.  The Council encouraged him to join this organization. 

The City’s backhoe lease is up.  The cost this year will be a bit cheaper than last year.  We will still be getting the John Deere brand of backhoe. 

The trailer house on 75 North on the north side of the road in the middle of the block is a hazard.  It needs to be condemned.  George Peart, the Building Inspector, was asked to check into this matter and see about the trailer’s removal. 

There have been 26 building permits issued so far this year in Garden City.  Peart noted that Laketown currently has 6 building permits. 

Peart was informed that a garage on the Hillier property was built over the Labor Day Weekend.  No permit had been issued.  He was asked to check into this matter.  The Council also informed that all water issues on homes must have engineering approval.  Since the City does not have a full time engineer, this responsibility falls to the state.  Thus, the state must be informed and given an opportunity to inspect each project undertaken dealing with water.