Moose Lake View

Photo by Amber Christenson Mckee

Thanks To The Sheriff

Carol Bills, owner of the Inn at Snow Meadows suggested that  it would be a great idea to congratulate our little county's police force.

"For years, school kids have parked their bikes/scooters out by the bus stops.  Last week a scooter and bike were stolen out from in front of our subdivision. The kids were devastated as well as the parents in realizing that theft does happen here in little ol Bear Lake," said Bills.

 

Sheriff Dale Stacey  and deputies were able to track down the perpetrator and recover the stolen articles.  There parents and kids who got their scooters and bikes back were very happy, since they are expensive to replace.

Garden City Council

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  May 8, 2014.  The ordinances on the agenda were placed on the agenda with the idea that these ordinances would be passed on to the City from the Planning Commission.  However, the Planning Commission decided that they needed more time to work on most of these ordinances. 

Ordinance #14-11 was passed to City Council by the Planning Commission.  It is an ordinance updating the recording of voting conducted by the Governing Body and was discussed in the public hearing prior to the Council Meeting.  It was accepted by the Council that when someone doesn’t vote, it is considered to be a no vote..

The Council tabled a discussion concerning the new zoning map for the City.  The Planning Commission is still working on this project.

A discussion of the certification of delinquency of assessment and charges for the Buttercup SID (Special Improvement District) was held.   The SID was created to finance the asphalting of the roads in that subdivision.  Those individuals who fail to make their payments have a lien placed on their property.    The Council made and accepted the motion to accept the certification of delinquency on this SID.

A review of the budget discussion was held.  The motion was made to open the budget to cover over expenditures for the budget year July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014.  Also, a tentative budget approval for the fiscal year July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015 was accepted by the Council.  These items were also discussed during the Public Hearing prior to the City Council Meeting.

Paramedics are required to be on site whenever an activity such as a rodeo is being held.  An ambulance is also required.  Since the City doesn’t have many EMTs, it was determined that those individuals holding the rodeo need to be contacted to find out what their plans are concerning this item.

It was noted that water usage and sewer disposal increases tremendously whenever short term rentals are rented out.  This has a great negative impact on the current water and sewer systems in the City.  It was suggested that some type of program or action be taken by the City to do something about these problems to try and mitigate these negative effects on these systems.

Bruce Warner would like to join with Laketown on attempting to bring natural gas into the area.  He has set up a meeting with Questar Gas.  He noted that there are approximately 2,500 businesses and homes in the area.  Only 800 are full time residents, and the rest are vacant during the winter months.  He doesn’t know how these facts will effect the decision about bringing gas into the area, but he wants to try to get this alternative heating source available to the two communities.  He wants to get a commitment for a period of time.  Perhaps a surcharge would be put in place and then extra payments for the next three years would work.

There is a change in water rates.  It starts in May and will be billed out at the beginning of June.  It will be interesting to see what feedback is given concerning this item.

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Warner would also like to see a change in the Council Meeting format.  He would like some time at the beginning of the meeting for people to have an opportunity to express their opinions.  Perhaps a two-minute rule could be put in place.  Also, he suggested that public hearings be held at 6 p.m. to allow business people and workers a time to get off work and come to the hearings.

Bess Huefner reported that Raspberry Days seems to be shaping up nicely.  The Gun range needs to get a decibel reading taken.  Once the noise rating is known, a meeting will be held with the Sweetwater Trailer Park residents to get their opinions about this project.  The next step would be to apply for the money because the plans have already been created.  The Eagle Project currently under way is about fifty percent complete.  A grate is going to be made to be placed in the window at the park bowery.

Mayor Sphuler wants to emphasis the slogan “Where Families Play” for Garden City.  We need to clean up the town, finish the kiosk, and put the advertising of the businesses at that location.  Hopefully, over time every business will have similar computers that advertise all businesses at every location.

Darrin Pugmire, city council, reported that 300 West will cost at least $255,000 to get it graveled.  Bids are out.  Slurry seal will be put down on some roads on May 14.

Chuck Stocking, city council, reported that the pool had a filter issue that has since been corrected.  Swimming lessons are being scheduled.  The library has old computers.  They don’t have many options because new computers were not approved in the past.  The rummage sale will be held in June and signs are already in place.  The Kiosk is moving forward.  Chuck told the group that Andy Stokes was going to put up all the signs at the Kiosk.  Chuck was informed that the roof of the convention center needs repair.

A week from Friday there will be a bike rally starting at Blue Water.  There will be a lot of traffic that weekend.

Business License Requests

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  May 8 2014.  Lutz Construction received a license from the County to establish an excavation landscape gravel and equipment business and no longer needs City permission.

Wiser Ways had a request to conduct a storage shed sales business.  The recreation rental portion of the business was not part of the original request.  Also, it was noted that the trailer on the property needs to be in a trailer court where electricity, sewer, and water are available.  Bruce Warner, City Council,  noted that Mr. Bennion had no application for a business license on file with the City.  Currently Mr. Wiser has no supplier.  The business license can be given only if a vendor comes through and will be for storage shed sales only.  There needs to be a permanent foundation for storage sheds only as well.

Bennion Motors was thanked for its willingness to help Wiser get a business started.  A deposit has been made toward getting a license.  Darrin Pugmire said he probably had the application and will complete the process in working with Mr. Bennion.

OCS Cleaning Company requested a license to conduct a cleaning service business at 200 Lychee Lane.  Laura Cluff will be in charge.  The business license was approved.

The Bear Lake Shake Shack requested a license to conduct a food service company at 2123 South Bear Lake Blvd.  Chrissy Catania is the manager.   The Council approved this application contingent their getting a sales tax number and the required health inspection.

Bruce Warner noted that the business license application needs to be clarified.  Warner noted that he couldn’t tell what should be approved.  He also feels that the transient business license drives business away.

Warner made some good suggestions to clarify Ordinance #8-100.  He felt that the number of licenses was high.  He noted that an individual who has more than one business shouldn’t have to buy licenses for each business.  The Council, however, on this suggestion noted that when additional items are added or other businesses are created, the description on the present licenses needs to be changed by that individual to cover everything currently being done by the business.  The owners are responsible to make changes known to the City. Sometimes it is actually easier to get a second license if the businesses are not similar in nature.  Also, any change in land use needs to go to the Planning Commission.

It was suggested that any new business licenses should go through the City Administrator and then passed onto Warner.  Conditional Use is handled by the Planning Commission.  If some business type is going to be added to a zone, it must be permitted which is a long process and must go to the Planning Commission.  A hearing needs to be held.  If the type of business is added to the zone, then all of those types of businesses can be allowed from then on in that particular zone.

The Concessionaire License was discussed by the Council.  It was decided that any time a Concessionaire License is issued, it needs to be renewed annually so that the City is aware how things are progressing.  It was suggested that  Lance Bourne come in and report on his past summer’s activities.

Mel and Ellen Maynes Properties, LLC, requested a short term rental license.  They still need to get a building inspection and a fire inspection.  It was approved contingent upon getting those two inspections.  Tony Crowson at 280 North Bear Lake Blvd. was also granted a short term rental license.  David and Mary Wagner were also granted a similar license.

Youth Recreational Program

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  May 8, 2014. Tia McKee and Kerri Pugmire asked that the youth recreational program be continued for this coming summer.  McKee will be in charge of the program with Pugmire helping her.  They would like to invite children from Montpelier to Randolph to participate.  They would like a $1500 budget for the summer.  This would allow them to pay the coaches $10 an hour.  Mayor Spuhler noted that he didn’t think coaches should be paid.  They should volunteer as most coaches do in other locations.

Individuals can register, pay, and get waivers online.  The Mayor will get that internet site ready for the summer activities.  McKee asked that the Mayor let her know as soon as the computer application is up and running.

Soccer will be at the City Park on Wednesdays from 4 – 6.  Softball will be on the field in Laketown beginning June on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 – 6.  McKee and Pugmire would also like to offer swimming lessons.  They will need to have two certified life guards whenever the pool is open.  However, Garden City is currently giving lessons at the pool.  They encouraged them to check into this program and work with it if possible.  Cheerleading and tumbling will also be held in Laketown.

The Council asked that McKee keep track of her budget and submit it to the Council at the end of the summer letting them see how the money was spent.  They reported that each child is charged $10 and those from kindergarten through 5^th grade are encouraged to participate.

New Home Decor Boutique to Open Monday

The new "Inspiration Home Decor and Accessories Boutique and Design Center" is opening in Garden City.  Lori Haddock from Montpelier wants a gallery that supports local artists by displaying and selling their work in the store for a small commission.

They are planning to open on Memorial Day.  If you are an area artist or photographer and want to contact Lori e-mail her at  inspirationhomedecor@gmail.com

The Unmuddled Mathematician

Bim

By Chris S. Coray, The Unmuddled Mathematician

When I was 16 years old my dad bought a membership in the Chesapeake Duck Club near Corinne, Utah.  The club rules allowed the sons of members to hunt with their dads.  The hunting was great but what I remember now aren’t the ducks and geese but the old guys whom I got to meet, hunt with, and observe as they socialized, hunted, and told lies to each other.  They were all characters. 

The following story is true, witnessed by me, and it is about C.H. Myers, called Bim by all who knew him.  He was 75, weighed about 130 lbs, and was almost always as excited as a 5 year old on Christmas morning.  When he got all his cold weather gear on he sort of just disappeared in it.  It was hard to find him in his down cocoon. 

One afternoon in the tired old club house Bim was using the bathroom.  Unfortunately for him as he flushed the toilet he had a violent sneeze.  Out came his false teeth, both tops and bottom, and down the toilet they went.  I told you he was excitable and this set him off at the top end of the scale.  He ran, in the style of a 75 year old guy, around the club house and made unintelligible sounds that all sounded like “Mmmmmm!, Nnnnnnn, Mmmmmm” to me.  Remember, he now had no teeth so his gums did a poor job of helping with diction.  Reasonable grown men eventually intervened and were able to settle him down a little.  After about 10 minutes and with the aid of pencil and paper we learned the story.  By now Bim had begun to regularly smack his gums which made a sound like that of pulling a vacuum sealed rubber cup off of a smooth floor.

All was not lost, however.  This was 1959.  It turns out that the sewage did not go into a septic tank or a sewer.  It just ran through a pipe and ended up in part of the slough that made up the Chesapeake.  Bim’s hunting partner thought all might be rescued.  He put on a pair of chest waders and got a fairly fine meshed net.  Then he waded out into the marsh and put the net over the outlet pipe leading from the bathroom to the swamp.  We began to flush the toilet over and over again and wouldn’t you know it after a while the net contained both the top and bottom set of teeth.  When the hunting partner brought them inside the club house Bim could scarcely contain himself.  He immediately grabbed the teeth and started to reinsert them in his mouth.  Cooler and quicker heads prevailed however, and we stopped his arms in midair and in time.  It was explained (with some difficulty) to Bim that it might be a good idea to wash the teeth off and disinfect them before reinsertion.

A glass full of bourbon whiskey was obtained.  The false teeth were thoroughly washed and then placed in the alcohol.  Bim paced around the table looking at his teeth like my wife eyeing a Snickers bar.  Eventually, he was given the OK and Bim grabbed the teeth, inserted them in his mouth, and immediately drank all the alcohol in the glass.

Sometimes I was sent out with Bim to hunt, to be the muscle and provide safety.  I told you he was excitable.  On one particular goose hunt I stood 2 feet away from him in our blind as he raised his gun to shoot some of the numerous birds that were flying that day.  On three consecutive flocks of geese I watched this 75 year old man raise his pump shotgun, aim it, and then eject 3 brand new shells without ever pulling the trigger.  Too much excitement.