Garden City Council Meeting

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  May 8, 2014. The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m.; and Riley Argyle, head of the Public Works Department, reported to the City Council that he had found an automatic gate that could be used at the City Park.  It automatically opens and closes on a timed system.  It will cost about $1500 plus the expense of installation.  It was suggested that game cameras also be purchased to monitor the park.

The City has found brighter solar powered decorative lights along the highway.  They will do a much better job than those originally used.  Thirteen more sets have been ordered to replace those that are currently being used.

Zan Murray, the City Engineer, reported that the proposed new parking lots are moving forward.  The new parking lots are located at 150 South, 350 South, and 75 North.  They will all be funded by the $500,000 that was obtained from the State.  The City Park enlarged parking area will be paid for from a transportation alternative budget.  All required surveys should be completed in May, and plans drawn and completed in June.

At 200 North going east, the parking will be asphalt.  West on that same street will require a shoulder and some clean up work.  300 West will be graveled along with mag water and perhaps some slurry.

It was asked if the transportation tax could also be used for parking.  No one knew for sure so that will be checked out.  There will need to be pull-out areas—bus stops—for those who will take advantage of City parking and the shuttle service to the lake.

The Tiger Grant has been submitted.  The City will need $400,000 for the required match.  The grant is for $2 million.  If this money is not awarded to Garden City, Utah will not be getting any federal grant funds this year.

The water master plan is nearly complete.  Riley has submitted some additional water data which will be added to the study.  Also the information from Shundahi will also be taken into account.  Some additional work needs to be done dealing with the Shundahi tank.  The line to the tank is too small and must be replaced.  The pumps are not adequate either, and three-phase power needs to be obtained.  Norm’s Eagle Feather subdivision will require a fairly large percent of the tank storage capacity.  The City will be using the excess storage of the tank.  The value of the tank and the pumps need to be determined along with the value of the transmission lines.  There are actually three tanks in the city plus the excess from the Shundahi tank.  The above information will be used to finish up the master water plan.  The results of the recalculation may change slightly the impact fee amount.  It may also require a change in the monthly water rates.

The change of use for two wells has been submitted to the State.  As a result of this change of use, the City will be using water from the Swan Creek Canal Company to fill the pond at Heritage Park during the summer months.

The plans for Heritage Park are complete.  The Council was asked to look these plans over and make any suggestions for changes or improvements that they could see.

Riley noted that the Hodges Canyon Road needs some repair.  Also, at the City Park the road will be widened so that cars can pass going in and out.  There are trees along the south side of the grass that will need to be moved at least 20 or so feet to the north.  Riley thought it would be better to move the trees than to start over with small new ones.

Riley also noted that the City has done work on the canal.  They put in an additional 20 hours that should reduce the amount of the City’s assessment by that amount.  The beaches gate is up on 150 South.  People can walk down and can go around either side of the gate.  Other Lake accesses are being opened up.  There is a bit of a conflict with signage, however.  The people who own property on the beach have signs saying “Thou shalt not enter”, whereas the City signs indicate that there is walking access in that area.  As long as the property owners’ signs are on their personal property, they need to be left there.  The City will need to clarify as much as possible the rights to get to the beach through those access points.

The boat ramp near the Mayor’s home is still there.  The gate is also still in place.  However, again there is no vehicle access at that point so the gate should remain with open areas on both sides of the gate to allow individuals to walk to the shore.  Hopefully the shuttle will help with this problem in giving people an easy place to get off and on the bus without having to try and park their cars near those access points.

Gary Cox, the City Administrator, was asked to work with JUB and UDOT on the plans for the Garden City Park expansion.  He was asked to get cost estimates by July 1.  Currently Danny White is drawing up the plans for the parking at 150 South and 350 South.

UDOT is looking at the turn lanes that will be needed from the Logan Road onto both North and South Paradise Parkway.  Also UDOT wants to check the turn lanes that are in front of the KOA that turn onto Paradise Parkway North.

The Kiosk will have everything ready to go by June 1.  There is a crack that needs to be tarred. Andy Stokes said he would be happy to put up all the business signs that have been printed, and the power company will have the power in place within the next few days.

The Planning Committee has been working on the City ordinances.  Mr. Wiser has been living in a trailer on the Bennion property.  He must be in a trailer court where there is access to water, sewer, and power. 

Riley was encouraged to get as much done on Heritage Park as soon as possible.  He was told to be sure and include the childrens’ play equipment.

The sign at Subway needs to be brought into compliance along with the Pizza Place.  Signs cannot be extending over the highway.

Bruce Warner will be meeting with a couple to get needed documentation on access to Elk’s Ridge.  In the 2013 opinion, the City owns all the rights.  The City needs to get the conveyances done.  Bruce was asked to find out for sure what the City needs to do.  The couple involved have given up the rights for utilities.  The legal opinion was very clear.  The City does have the right to cross this land.  The City will honor the agreement with the owners. 

Dr. Webber agrees that the City does have right to travel over the road by his home for basic uses and to fix problems.  However, it is not a public road and will remain closed.

Elk’s Ridge will not be given any building permits.  They do not have a secondary access, no water has been turned over, no roads meet the standards, and no maintenance has been done on them.  The roads are a major problem.  Those individuals owning property there need to form a homeowner’s association and take care of the required improvements.

The City did pay $60,000 to get a portion of the water tank up on Elk’s ridge.  The City does own the land that the tank is on.  The City also has an easement across the land to get to the tank.  The City is willing to work with land owners, but they also need to be willing to work with the City.

Bruce was asked to work out as many of the difficulties and problems as possible when meeting with these individuals. 

A City transportation plan needs to be written.  A bus can be purchased from Logan City.  They will be selling two busses in June.  They always replace their busses at 100,000 miles.  Hopefully, the City will be able to get at least two in the next month or so.  If the vehicles carry 14 or less people, the drivers do not need to have a CDL license.  Nice vehicles with a trailer behind for beach paraphernalia will work well.  The City can paint or wrap them.

The State Economic Division will be here on the 20^th and 21st of this month.  They will be talking about the local economy.  Advertise this activity and invite as many people as you can to go to the meetings.  Mitch Poulsen and Melinda Hislop are in charge.

Bear Lake In Black & White

Photo by Tammy Calder

Garden City Fire District Meeting

Chris S. Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  May 15, 2014.  The governing board of the Garden City Fire District held its monthly meeting on May 15.  Present were Perry Wakefield, Randall Knight, Howard Pope, and Brian House.  Christina Gracey was absent.

The regular meeting in April was interrupted by the structure fire on the south Sweetwater Parkway.  That house was a complete loss.  Chief Wahlberg estimated that between 40,000 and 70,000 gallons of water was put on the fire but the building was essentially lost before any 911 call as the fire started somewhere in the house and by the time it was visible the house was not defensible.  There was plenty of water although the water pipes supplying the hydrants are not adequately sized, hence there was come cavitation in the pumps as they tried to deliver full flow capacity.  This had no effect in the ultimate outcome.

The policy and procedures manual is still under development and review.  At some point there will need to be a legal review and information about experienced attorneys is being sought.

At the present time there are 26 firefighters in service.  During the month there were 8 responses including the structure fire mentioned above and a CO issue in a different home.

Training continues on a regular basis and specialized training is scheduled for a small group near Washington, DC in September.

There was discussion about public/department events scheduled for the summer.  Specific data will be forthcoming.  Finally, the $500 dollar value block and tackle that was reported missing at the last meeting was located in the fire station.

Garden City Redevelopment Agency Hearing

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  May 8, 2014. The Town Council Public Hearing was held on May 8 at 4:30 p.m.  The agenda item concerning the new zoning map was postponed.  The Planning Commission asked for additional time prior to submitting this item to the City.

A discussion concerning proposed changes to ordinance #3-211-D noted that the ordinance will be changed to state that a silent vote will be recorded as a no vote.  A review and discussion regarding the current budget for fiscal year July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014 was held.  The purpose of the discussion was to open the budget to increase the total appropriations in the General Fund, the Enterprise Fund, the Beach Access Fund, and the SID Fund.

A Public Hearing for the Garden City Redevelopment Agency was held on May 8 immediately following the Town Council Public Hearing.  This hearing was held to allow the public to be aware regarding the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014.  This hearing was necessary to inform the public that the budget needed to be opened to increase the total appropriations in the Redevelopment Agency Fund.

The Garden City Redevelopment Agency held their quarterly meeting on May 8, 2014, immediately following the City Council Meeting.  The motion was made and approved to open the budget and make fund transfers needed to cover over expenditures for the budget year July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014.   

Tentative budget approval was also given for the fiscal year July 1, 2014 through

June 30, 2015.

April Sheriff's Report

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. April 2014.  There were 79 incidents in April.  There were 28 in Garden City, 23 in Randolph, 18 in Laketown, 7 in Woodruff, 1 area not defined, 1 in the north part of the County, and 1 out of the County.  There were 12 citizens’ assists, 10 animal problems, 5 medical emergencies, and 4 VIN serial number inspections.

In Garden City there were 4 citizen assists, and 2 each of the following: alarms, medical emergencies, traffic accidents with injuries, traffic hazards, trespassing, and VIN serial number inspections.  There was 1 each of the following:  an abandoned vehicle, an alcohol offense, a citizen dispute, a civil process, a dead body, a DUI alcohol or drugs, a fire, a traffic accident with damage, property damage—not vandalism, a theft, a traffic violation, and a welfare check.

Laketown had 4 animal problems, and 2 each of the following:  citizen assists, civil processes, fires, and medical emergencies.   There was 1 each of the following:  an alarm, a dead body, a controlled substance problem, a fraud, a theft, and a trespass.  

Randolph incurred 6 citizen assists, 4 animal problems, 3 criminal histories, and 3 suspicious persons/circumstances.  There were 2 juvenile problems, and 1 attempt to locate, 1 traffic hazard, 1 transportation of person/property, 1 wanted person, and 1 welfare check.

Woodruff had 2 VIN serial number inspections, 1 animal problem, 1 DUI alcohol or drugs, 1 medical emergency, 1 traffic accident with damage, and 1 welfare check.

The undefined area had an animal problem; there was a theft in the northern part of the County, and an agency assist out of the County.

There were 22 traffic citations given during April.  There were 13 speeding tickets, 2 driving under the influence, and 2 intoxication citations.  There was a no proof of insurance, an evading police, an open container/drinking alcohol, an improper usage of lanes, and a failure to stop.

Thirteen of the traffic violations with 10 traffic citations given were in Garden City.  There was 1 citation and 1 violation in Laketown.  There were 5 citations and 5 violations in Randolph; and 1 citation and 3 violations in Woodruff.  That gives a total of 17 traffic citations and 22 traffic violations.  One warning for speeding was also given in Garden City.

Dorothy Stringham 90th Birthday Reception May 24

Dorothy Stringham 90^th birthday announcement.

Dorothy Watterson Stringham was born May 26, 1924, in Benson Utah.  She graduated from North Cache High School in the class of 1941.  She attended USAC for two years.  Dorothy married Briant Earl Stringham on March 2, 1945 in the Logan LDS Temple.  She has lived in Garden City, Utah for the past 47 years.

Her children, Paul and Barbara Stringham, serving a LDS mission in Nauvoo, Illinois, David and Julie Stringham, Garden City, Utah, Dan and Deb Stringham, Laketown, Utah, Mark and Kathy Stringham, Garden City, Utah, Julie and Ken Stucki, Pocatello, Idaho, her 22 grandchildren and their spouses, and her 63 great grandchildren are hosting a celebration to honor her 90th birthday!  It will be held on Saturday, May 24, 2014, in the Town of Garden City Building, Lakeview room, 69N. 3rdW., Garden City, Utah.  A dinner will be held for family at 1:00pm. 

An open house for her many friends and neighbors will be held following the family dinner from 3:00 to 5:00pm.  Please stop by and visit our sweet Mother, but no gifts please.  Your presence means more than presents to her.

Spring Rainbow At Bear Lake

Photo by Amber McKee

Needles & Leaves

Three Things To Do NOW for Better Plants This Year Treat Iron Problems
By Jennifer Huefner, Bear Lake Landscape, Garden City

Have you wondered why you have to use so much chelated iron to keep your trees green? The soil we have in most parts of our valley is alkali. Because the pH is so out of balance, many plants struggle to metabolize the existing iron in the soil. That's why even if you treat a yellowing tree with chelated iron, you will find yourself needing to do it over and over again with mixed results. Although adding chelated iron IS good for your plants, remedying the cause of your problem will help your plants much more in the long run.

Here are a few things you can do to mitigate our pH-caused iron problem. Adding acid to the soil around your affected plants in the form of Iron Plus Acidifier, Soil Acidifier, and Copperas will help to correct the pH of the soil, thus allowing the plant to more easily metabolize the iron already in the soil. A foliar application of Ferriplus or chelated iron will help to green up the leaves quickly.

My most important recommendation to help remedy the soil around your plant is to top dress the soil with Live Earth Humate. Although it is best to add Live Earth Humate with any trees or shrubs when you plant, adding to the top and watering in will help your plant too. Live Earth Humate balances the pH in the soil. The best course of action for an already planted tree is to use a combination of the above. If you're considering planting a tree or shrub, DON"T FORGET to add Live Earth Humate to the soil you backfill with.

We have all these products in our Garden Center! Come on in. We'll be glad to help you with all your yard problems! (Sorry, we're not qualified for any of your other problems! :) ).

Gardening Step #1: When is the last freeze in our area? When can I start sowing seed in my garden? The old farmers' rule of thumb for our high mountain valley is sow seed on or around May 15. In the Bear Lake Valley, we are in official frost danger until June 15. (Those of us who have lived here a long time know we are really NEVER out of frost danger. Another old-fashioned saying around here is, "Plant early and plant often!" So if you sow garden seed before May 15, chances are very good you'll have to plant again because a frost has killed your seedlings. (You can plant peas, sweet peas, and a few other cold-hardy seeds before May 15.) The May 15 date is almost here!

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW is till soil pep or compost into your Iron-deficient Silver Maple

The Muddled Male

An Announcement

By Bob Stevens, The Muddled Male

         Ann, the muddled male’s wife, and Bob, the muddled male, are pleased to announce that they have decided to stay married.  Her parents, Vic and Zylpha, and his parents, G. Glen and Rhea, are breathing a sigh of relief even though they are deceased.  Now before you get all excited and assume something that isn’t true, we have not resolved our differences.  It is just that we have come to the conclusion that if we were to split and then change our minds later we wouldn’t be able to afford the cost of the reception you would expect us to throw following our remarriage.  So we have decided that from a purely financial point of view it would just be cheaper to stay married and tough through our differences rather than to split and then later remarry once old age had blurred our memory of what it was that caused us to split in the first place.

            It is a story I read the other day written by Chandra Johnson of the Deseret News that has caused me to fret about the potential cost of a split then a remarriage.  The article stated that, according to TheKnot.com, a modern couple getting married today can expect to spend an average of $28,427 for the wedding and reception, and that doesn’t include the cost of a honeymoon or the cost of a social media concierge at the venue.  Concierge, in case you were wondering, is pronounced kind of like “con-see-airs” but with a French accent.  It is a person that will make certain that the appropriate information about your nuptials appears on Pinterest and Instagram, and that there is a special hashtag available to use as an identifier for all the tweets that will fly around the world concerning your special day.  I recognize that some of you may not be up to speed regarding the impact of social media and the importance of tweeting.  Suffice it to say that the concierge will cost you an additional $3,000 over and above the cost of the marriage and reception.  The $28,427 cost is a little easier to understand when you remember that it includes such things as $5,431 for the engagement ring, $3, 084 for a band to play at your reception, $2,379 for the photographer, $1,997 for the wedding planner, $1,619 for the videographer, $1,211 for the wedding gown, $560 for the wedding cake, $344 for the invitations, $63/guest for catering, and on and on.

            If I seem a little jaded it is because Ann and I were married long, long ago in a prehistoric time when you had your reception in a local LDS cultural hall and didn’t even worry about hanging filmy decorations on wires strung across and above the basketball floor in an attempt to hide the basketball hoops and backboards to make the room appear as though you were looking into heaven instead of being in the same big room where little children run through and yell so that they can hear their echo.  The only decorations we had, as I recall, were the greeting line, a couple of candelabras for a backdrop, and a flower or two.  The reception was held on a July night so hot that the candles in the candelabra softened and drooped.  There was no caterer, as I remember, but each guest did receive a cookie and a little scroll on which was written, “Thanks for coming and thanks for your gift.”  A ribbon was tied around each scroll to give it a more official look.  Bob looked like a nerd, but Ann was gorgeous in her wedding gown…except that she had worked so hard to have a golden tan to set off her white gown that her tan had pealed in large splotches just before the wedding causing her to look a little like a leopard with pink spots.  Luckily our wedding pictures were shot in glorious black and white by Harold Richins who charged us $20.  They were black and white because color hadn’t been invented yet.  Because of the heat, JCPenny was having a really big sale on wool blankets and we received twelve for wedding gifts.

            You might laugh, but they have lasted us through fifty-nine years of marriage, three children, seventeen grandchildren, and a thorough shaking each wash day to remove dust.  The twelfth blanket still sits brand new in Ann’s hope-chest waiting quietly until it is needed.  Come to think of it, that twelfth blanket is another reason why we should stay married.  What good is a blanket split into two, small, Solomon-like pieces with neither piece large enough to keep even one person warm?