Garden City Fire Board

Chris Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

GARDEN CITY, Utah. February 21, 2013. The Garden City Fire Board held its regular monthly meeting at 6 p.m. on Feb 21.  Present were Terry Allen, Randall Knight, and by phone, Travis Hobbs.  Issues discussed included:

1)       The department is seeking to sell the current truck that pulls the 5,000 gallon water tender and to purchase a replacement.  The replacement would be a used model and would partially be funded by a grant to the department.  The board moved and voted in favor of this action, including a ceiling of $15,000 for the replacement truck.  The expected sale of the existing truck will produce approximately $5,000 and the grant is in the $6-7,000 range.

2)      The department will again engage with the Bear Lake Clinic Wellness Center to provide physical training and exercise equipment access for the firefighters and board members.  The annual cost for the entire department is $600 with an additional $100 for the board. 

3)      Chief Kurek reported that there were 20 persons undertaking firefighter I training in Garden City, with 10 coming from the city and 10 from the rest of the county.  Chairman Allen indicated that providing training for persons in other parts of the county was a good idea, both in increasing training and building relationships.

4)      Chief Kurek’s proposed contract has had a few minor changes and will be voted on in the March meeting.

5)      A new water pump will be acquired for one of the brush trucks and the existing pump will be utilized on an emergency basis, after refit of the pump.

6)      The department is working on a web site, with a tentative start date in 2-3 months.

Garden City Council

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

GARDEN CITY, Utah. February 21, 2013. A request to conduct a short term rental business in Garden City was submitted by Karlette Johnson.  However, there is a question as to her business license.  She claims that she has a business license in Millville.  However, she has already been cited for working in the area for 60 days without proving that she does have a current license.  The Council determined that this item will be tabled until her license has been verified. 

CANN Enterprises has requested a business license to run Lakeside Pizza & Pantry located at 70 West Logan Road.  The individual making the request is Natalie Doolin.  Approval was granted by the Council. 

Mark Hislop, the owner of Bear Lake Project Management, asked that two homes to put into his short term rental business.  The first home is located at 796 South Spruce Drive owned by Brian Huggard.  The second home is located at 941 North Newberg Place, Unit #4, owned by Donald Bizios.  There were some maintenance problems that need to be taken care of.  When these problems are repaired, Council gave permission to allow these homes to become short term rentals.  

Brian Hirschi appeared before the Council asking that he be allowed a beach vendor license at 150 South on the lakeshore.  He would like to rent water craft at that location.  There was a long discussion because of the density issues that happen when the lake is out and there is some beach in that area.  Mayor Spuhler requested that the various Council members think about this issue and get back to him in a few days giving their opinion.  He informed Mr. Hirschi that he would call him within the next ten days giving him the Council’s decision. 

A request was made to encumber parcels 41-21-40-157 and 41-21-40-158 so the property owners, Doug and Judy Webb, can build a new garage on the lot that currently has no buildings on it.  The Council made it very clear that the garage will have to be torn down if the lots were ever separated.  According to the City ordinance, there cannot be a garage on a lot by itself–a home must also exist on the same parcel of land. 

A request was also made by property owners Charles and Jessica Van Wagoner to encumber lots 41-17-03-007, 41-17-03-008, and 41-17-03-009.  Permission was given again with the stipulation that buildings on those areas must be association with the home and cannot be on separate parcels unless homes are on the same plot as the buildings that may be built on them. 

The swimming pool is beginning to be used by a larger group of people.  Council member Pat Argyle asked that permission be given to the life guards to conduct swimming lessons if they so desired.  She also mentioned that therapy sessions for handicapped, elderly, and perhaps obese individuals could be held. 

Mrs. Argyle also suggested that the new gun range be used as an activity during Heritage Days that is scheduled for September.  The Council approved of this idea.

 

Gun Range Proposed And Water Treatment Plant Plans

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

 

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  February 21, 2013. The gun range is probably the top current project.  Danny White, the City Administrator, is currently working on designing this project.  The County is involved and will build the roads into the range and keep them open as their contribution to the project.  The state owns the land where this range will be created.  They will either lease it to the City, or let the land be used for this activity.   

After checking with how several other gun ranges were run, it has been decided that there needs to be one person in charge of the range with volunteer help.  The range will be open to the public on specific days.  Other times will be used for special groups such as scouts, law enforcement officers, hunter safety classes, and so forth.  There may need to be an annual membership fee.  A gun club might need to be established to help with the range.  There are a lot of ideas and suggestions being tossed around to make sure the range will be taken care of and used as much as possible. 

 Riley Argyle, public works director, reported that there were some problems encountered with the snowplow during one of the storms.  Some bolts sheared off, and the blade gave them some problems.  Dee’s Service was able to repair some problems, and Steven Watterson, who plows the roads at Bridgerland, loaned the city his equipment thereby allowing the workers to keep the roads open.  Riley wanted the City to be aware that some bills will be coming in for repair.  He also wanted the City to know of the generosity of Watterson and to express his appreciation and thanks to him and his willingness to share.  It was greatly appreciated. 

Riley indicated that the GPS units will be arriving soon.  A couple of the workers in the Public Works Department will be brushing up on their GPS skills and will be starting to put more of the City’s water system on these units.   

Danny White is finishing up the plans for Heritage Park.  Everything will be ready to go in the spring.  There will need to be a purchase of more bentonite to help seal the pond bottom again this year. 

There are two water meters left to be installed on the Idaho side of the line.  This will be done as soon as weather permits. 

Landscaping will be completed at the treatment plant as soon as weather permits.  There is some problems with one of the meters at the plant.  It is the one that tests the clarity of the water to determine if the filters can be placed on a quarterly cleaning schedule instead of monthly.  If the plant filters can be cleaned quarterly, it will save the city a tremendous amount of money as well as time.  There is a lot of paperwork involved in getting this routine established but will be well worth the effort. 

Since Third West is at least two years down the road, the water line will not be completed along there this year.   

A pellet stove has been placed in the water treatment plant and is working well.  The propane heaters appear to be off.  Putting tools and supplies in the roof area of the plant is going to help tremendously and get some of the more expensive items out of the weather.

Master Water Plan For Garden City

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  February 21, 2013.   Jan Murray of JUB Engineering reported that he is currently working on the Garden City Master Plan.  He is also working on an overall water plan for the City.  He is doing some computer modeling to get the best fit for both of these items.  Money from a grant has been released and the new GPS units are being purchased.   Five commercial water meters are being purchased and will be put in place soon.  One will be at Harbor Village, one above Harbor Village, and three near the Paris Café location.  These meters should be installed prior to Memorial Day and should be put out for bid very soon. 

The Public Works Department requested that  Murray check the water treatment plant to see if it would be possible to store some replacement parts and tools above a couple of the rooms in the treatment plant.  Mr. Murray indicated that they have cut a hole through the ceilings of two rooms and storage will be possible there. 

Murray has been holding off on checking on the well until he finishes the master water plan.  At that time, a well location will be determined that will be placed at the best possible location for the City. 

Mayor John Spuhler noted that the Agra Con Project in the Paris area seems to moving forward quickly.  It is estimated that there will be possibly as many as 400 workers who will be traveling from the Logan area to work.  These individuals will be traveling through Garden City.  The Mayor feels this will have an impact on our community and asked that Murray look into this matter and perhaps talk with Agra Con to see what studies and information they may have concerning this type of impact.  Currently everything concerning the mine is underground.  However, Mayor Spuhler thought that future growth might cause that to change as well. 

 

 

Sign Ordinance Still Being Discussed

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

GARDEN CITY, Utah. February 21, 2013. Andy Stokes noted that there have not been many enforcement issues during the last month.  There have been a few animal complaints–particularly dogs running loose in the City.  He noted that he will probably look into the animal ordinance after the sign ordinance is completed and put in place. 

He then went through the entire sign ordinance noting all of the suggestions and changes that have been made to this ordinance.  The council and those in the audience were brought current with the suggested changes and how the ordinance will read when complete.   

One section dealing with temporary signs was not resolved.  It was suggested that this section of the ordinance be looked at by the various council members as well as any in the audience who would like to make suggestions and allow time for these ideas to be considered.  This ordinance will again be considered next month.

Seasonal Employee Housing Proposal

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  February 21, 2013. George Peart reported that there is not much building taking place in the City at the present time.  He reported there were no building permits issued during January.   He, however, has been helping with the sign ordinance.  

Peart reported that the camp ground to the north of the City is looking into putting park models into that camping area.  This would solve the problem of seasonal employee housing.  With small units available there, any workers who needed housing could probably rent those units for the time they were here in the City.

Garden City Banner

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

 

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  February 21, 2013.   Danny White, the City Administrator, reported that the Garden City Banner has been printed and will be hung on the solar lights as soon as they are in place.  He also had a design for a banner advertising Raspberry Days.  The Council liked the suggested banner. 

White reported that he will check into the Obama health care requirements and see what the City needs to do to be in compliance.  Several of the regulations take effect this year.  The City needs to follow these requirements. 

 White indicated that he had been in attendance at all the meetings held concerning the new sign ordinance.  He suggested that Andy Stokes report to the council all of the suggestions and/or changes that have been made to this ordinance.

Chad Floyd

Just a notice, that Chad Floyd passed away at 10:30 Sunday night February 17, 2013.  He was a brave and inspiring person and will missed by the entire community. We have no information yet on funeral arrangements, but thought that friends and family would like to be informed.

The Muddled Male




Just a Romantic

 Bob Stevens, the Muddled Male

 

 Ann, my wife, claims that I approach romance like an engineer.  I, on the other hand, assume that every date needs a map so that the couple won't get lost, a flow chart of events to make certain that the evening goes smoothly by being well planned, a checklist to make certain that important things aren't forgotten, a pocket protector to hold a variety of pens and pencils with which to take notes, and a calculator to determine the appropriate amount to tip in case the couple ends the evening by going out to dinner. 

      In spite of that I'm really not as bad as Ann claims.  After all I regularly take her to Sam's Club and treat her to the free samples they give out in the afternoon and early evening.  It's just that she is carrying a grudge over the Valentine Day present I gave her early in our marriage.  How was I to know that a pair of work gloves, fifty feet of. garden hose, a spray nozzle, and a pair of trimmers didn't fit her definition of a romantic gift.  I have since claimed that even if we were living in an apartment and couldn't use them right away, we could have kept them as part of our 72-hour kit. 

      Well for this year's Valentine Day I out did myself in the romance department.  Do you remember the feral kitten that Ann rescued from the cold under our deck and named Tuffy?  And then she realized that we were gone too often to properly care for him and pleaded with our friend Mel to allow the kitten to take up residence in Mel's barn?  Well, the kitten is now a cat and has reached courting age, an age at which we promised Mel that we would arrange to have the cat "adjusted" in a way that would eliminate any propensity to father feline posterity.  Where I ran into trouble was that engineers love to work on processes that reduce the cost of doing things by increasing efficiency, and it dawned on me that I could combine Tuffy's treatment with my Valentine Day gift to Ann.  So I told her that I was going to take her for pizza, her favorite food, and then to Arctic Circle for a small banana-strawberry shake with two spoons, my favorite food.  Now how much more romantic can a husband be?  But then I told her that on the way we could drop Tuffy off at the Animal Hospital and on the way back we could pick him up for the ride home, thus accomplishing two tasks in a single trip. 

      She didn't say anything, but I think I know what she was thinking.  And by the way, Tuffy isn't speaking to me either.

Bob Stevens

Wolves

Wolves by  computer artist Savannah Lamping of Garden City

 

. 

What Should Be Done In An Active Gunman Situation?

Concert and Lecture Series at The Logan Tabernacle

AN EVENING WITH LOGAN CITY FIRST RESPONDERS

The Logan City Police Department, in the wake of numerous active gunman scenarios has developed a brief educational program they would like to present to business or management employees or church congregations. The program is put together in such a way as to direct the most appropriate action/reaction to the active gunman scenario and to educate liste...ners as to what they can expect from their local law enforcement responders. The program will take about an hour to hour and a half based on a question and answer period.

Cache Community Connections members felt this would be an important informational lecture and wanted to sponsor it as part of their Concert and Lecture Series. Therefore a presentation is planned for March 8th, Friday, at 7pm in the Logan Tabernacle.

Garden City Indoor Pool

The Garden City Pool  is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.  It only costs $3 a person to swim or you can buy a pass which makes it even cheaper at the Garden City Offices during the regular work week.  You do not have to be a Garden City resident.  There are two life guards.  Swimming lessons are available on Saturday.  Contact Jessica Ward for more information.

Event Calendar

February 2013

16th: Annual Hospital Auxiliary Snowball Dance "Spring Time in The Rockies", Bear Lake Middle School in Montpelier Idaho from 7:30 pm to midnight, door prizes. More info at Bear Lake Memorial Hospital (208) 847-1630.

March 2013

• 15th: Idaho State University Jazz Ensemble at The Oregon/California Trail Center in Montpelier. 866-847-3800
• Thursday Nights: Montpelier Women's Volleyball League sponsored by Montpelier Parks & Recreation.
• TBA: Bear Lake Middle School Youth Baseball & Softball League registration meeting at 7:00 PM. For boys & girls ages 5 & up.