Glamping Coming To Garden City

Randall Knight, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

GARDEN CITY, Utah. February 4, 2015.  The Planning and Zoning public meeting began at 4:45 PM and had a few people in attendance.  The discussions focused on a Conditional Use Permit application to build a high quality RV Park and Campground, including “glamping” sites.  This would be located on the west side of 300 W. between the rodeo grounds and Bear Hollow and will be called Conestoga.  The application was made by Glampco, LLC (Mike Knapp).  Questions were asked in regard to emergency vehicle clearances and access, setbacks, and infrastructure requirements being met.  The board also stated fire hydrant locations need to be located on the Plot Plan.   

The P&Z meeting began at 5:12 PM and the board members present were: Lance Bourne, Dewayne Gifford, Susan House and Jim Stone.  Pat Argyle and Steve Arnold were absent.  Jim Hanzelka and Jim DeGoot were also present.

After accepting the minutes for last month’s meetings the board nominated Susan House as the Vice Chair.  The first topic discussed was the Preliminary Phases for The Lodge at Bear Lake, Water’s Edge.  The project will consist of several phases.  The City Engineer has a concern with water drainage on 150 S.  Norm Mecham thought this topic had been discussed and settled and restated there is not sufficient open space to handle the anticipated run off on his site the way the engineer is suggesting.  The board approved the preliminary plan as previously proposed and gave permission to begin Phase 1.

The next topic discussed was the Conditional Use Permit discussed during the Public Hearing.  Lance pointed out that because the Master Plan presented was the 3^rd version and was not provided two weeks before for review a decision could not be made.  He said a special meeting will be scheduled with the P&Z and Town Counsel to discuss the revised Master Plan in more detail.  Lance reviewed the bonding and infrastructure requirements and provided clarification on the need to phase the project so it can be spread out over a longer period of time if required Knapp said they have an over optimistic plan to be operational in July 2015.   The master plan shows 8 glamping sites, 13 Conestoga wagons, 4 wagon circles containing 8 wagon each, 32 RV sites, pizza pavilion, fire pit, bath house, Event barn, activity field, and parking spaces.  The board approved a permit for just the glamping portion of the project with stipulation it includes acceptable emergency vehicle access, water, sewer, electricity and acceptable fire hydrant access.

The next topics on the agenda were: an ordinance stating that homes can be built in a specific commercial zone, sign ordinance, commercial parking, and conditional use permits for kennels.  The board tabled all of these agenda items for further review.

During the miscellaneous discussion Mark Smoot, Epic, discussed a proposal to provide an egress lane from his property on 200 N. that adjoins Cherry Blossom so the traffic can drive straight through and large vehicles like garbage trucks do not have to back out.  The board also discussed what commercial zones indoor and outdoor kennels should be located in.

Meeting adjourned at 6:30 PM.   

Reapportionment Committee Struggles

Chris Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. February 4, 2015, the committee appointed to recommend reapportionment of the Rich County School District met again at the Rich County offices.  Nine of the 14 members attended.  In a meeting that lasted an hour and a half the committee struggled to make substantive progress.  Utah Code, section 20A-14-201(b), states the following:  (b) The county and municipal legislative bodies shall divide the school district so that the local school board districts are substantially equal in population and are as contiguous and compact as practicable.    The school board for a county this size is set by state statute at 5 members.  2010 Census data is available and must be the source of determining population. 

Some members of the committee are not currently satisfied with dividing the county school district into 5 distinct local districts of substantially equal population and have asked Commissioner Cox to find out if the state would approve a division of 4 distinct districts of equal population and then use the entire county as a 5^th district.  The 4 districts would each have approximately 565 members while the county-wide district would have population 2,264.  Such a division would not meet the “equal population” writing in the Utah Code and Commissioner Cox said that in his discussions about this proposal with the Lt. Governor’s office and the office of the Attorney General he has not been able to get an answer.  He said that those offices have not said yes and not said no.  Mr. Cox said that a division of this type does not exist in any school district in Utah.

The committee spent time working on a 5 equal district population model but reached no conclusions or recommendations.  The next meeting of the committee was set for March 25.  The need for reapportionment was formally presented to the county commission on March 6, 2014, so this task, required by law, will go more than a year uncompleted.   Mr. Cox said that he hoped it would be done by July 1.

Following the meeting described above this reporter sent an email to the Lt. Governor's office asking about the notion of a county wide at-large district as desired by some of the ad hoc committee.  A representative of the Lt. Governor's office replied Feb. 6, and wrote, "Commissioner Cox has asked that question and we have sent him a letter indicating that we are not aware of anything in the code that provides for at-large local school board districts.  If the county wanted to follow that sort of scheme the county would need to find the justification for that and be prepared to defend it".

Artist Looks At Bear Lake Sailing

Sailing at the Lake, a painting underway by local artist Lauriann Wakefield.
 

Rich County Commission Trail Discussions

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah.  February 4, 2015.  Mitch Poulsen, Director of the Bear Lake Regional Commission, reported to the Rich County Commission that for area economic development trails are important.  Unfortunately the Legacy Pathway proposed to go around Bear Lake is not making much progress because of the need to get easements from private property owners.  The State of Utah is creating a database of trails to create a cell phone app.  They want to identify  OHV trails, bicycle and mountain bike trails, horseback and walking trails. 

Commissioner Tom Weston said that more and more people are mountain biking up Temple Canyon from Meadowville. “There  is  a nice fishing pond up there,” said Weston.

Poulsen is making a local train inventory because the state doesn’t have much information on Rich County.  Since some of the trails used by locals go through private lands, accesses would have to be acquired.  Commissioner Norm Weston suggested that some land owners might have to be paid a lease fee.  Commissioner Bill Cox said that there are trail dollars available.

Mitch said the county has had agreement with several owners, Richardson Canyon for example.  However there have been some problems with private land damage.  Norm Weston said the road up the canyon needs to be improved since it is such a popular trail.  The county owns the land from Garden City parking up Hodges or Richardsons to get to Forest Service lands.  The trail is public but it goes through private lands, so as long as people stay on the road it can be used.

Private landowners are concerned about vandalism, and there are some major springs in the area.  Poulsen said that if a trail is improved there is less vandalism.  Cox said the sheriff is doing OHV monitoring during the summer months, but it is so busy he cannot monitor it enough.

Poulsen asked about a separated trail with signage about yielding.  Cox said, “you would have a hard time separating roads.  Who yields to whom?” 

The forest service would welcome more trails as long as they were not OHV trails.  Poulsen and Joe Stocking, Bear Lake Chamber will talk to scout troops for cleaning and creating trails for their service projects.

Poulsen wants to start a trail committee to create more trails and encourage landowners to donate the trail and then having scouts maintain them.  Poulsen will put a committee together.  

Justin Dolling and Pam Kramer, Utah Division of Wildlife Management, reported on the DWM Management plan for Swan Creek.  DWM needs a management plan every 5 to 10 years which is approved by local and state governments. Swan Creek Wildlife area adjoins the Forest Service land and land has been acquired to protect habitat and reduce big game animal depredation.  They want to approve wildlife habitat and range lands.  Due to the presence of Bonneville Cutthroat  they must improve the trap diversion and consider installing a fish screen to some of the existing canals and streams.  DWM will maintain current catch and release policies.

There are 670 acres in the management area.  Tom Weston said that it might be a good trail area.  Hiking trails would be allowed in the area, said Kramer.  Cox said that trails should be considered in the management plan.  There are roads which are open to vehicle access in the area and, with some parking, these could be good walking trails.

January Sheriff's Report

RICH COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT

January, 2015

Reported by Anita Weston

TOTAL INCIDENT REPORT
Nature of Incident	Total Incidents
Abandoned Vehicle	1
Alarm	2
Alcohol Offense	1
Animal Problem	5
Booking Prisoner	2
Citizen Assist	7
Civil Process	3
Criminal History	10
Dead Body	1
Controlled Substance Problem	1
Fire	1
Juvenile Problem	1
Lost Property	2
Medical Emergency	5
Traffic Accident with Damage	6
Suspicious Person, Circumstance	6
Theft	3
Traffic Hazard	1
Trespassing	2
VIN Serial Number Inspection	3
Welfare Check	3
TOTAL INCIDENTS	66

TOTAL INCIDENTS BY LOCATION
Location	Total Incidents
Garden City	25
Laketown	5
Randolph	28
Woodruff	8
Total Incidents	66

TOTAL INCIDENTS BY LOCATION—GARDEN CITY
Nature of Incident	Total Incidents
Abandoned Vehicle	1
Alarm	2
Animal Problem	1
Citizen Assist	1
Civil Process	1
Controlled Substance Problem	1
Juvenile Problem	1
Lost Property	1
Medical Emergency	3
Traffic Accident with Damage	2
Suspicious Person, Circumstance	3
Theft	3
Traffic Hazard	1
Trespassing	1
VIIN Serial Number Inspection	1
Welfare Check	2
Total	25

TOTAL INCIDENTS BY LOCATION—LAKETOWN
Nature of Incident	Total Incidents
Alcohol Offense	1
Animal Problem	1
Civil Process	1
Trespassing	1
VIN Serial Number Inspections	1
Total	5

TOTAL INCIDENTS BY LOCATION--WOODRUFF
Nature of Incident	Total Incidents
Animal Problem	1
Citizen Assist	1
Traffic Accident with Damage	3
Suspicious Person, Circumstance	2
VIN Serial Number Inspection	1
Total Incidents	6

TRAFFIC CITATION REPORT BY AREA
Area	Citations	Violations
Garden City	4	4
Laketown	1	1
Randolph	2	2
Woodruff	2	2
Total	9	9

TRAFFIC CITATION REPORT BY VIOLATION
Description	Number
Minor Possession of Alcohol	1
Speeding	8
Total	9

TRAFFIC WARNING REPORT
Area	Warnings	Violations
Woodruff	1	1
Total	1	1

TOTAL WARNING REPORT BY VIOLATION
Description	Total
Speeding	1
Total	1

TOTAL INCIDENTS BY LOCATION--RANDOLPH
Nature of Incident	Total Incidents
Animal Problem	2
Booking Prisoner	2
Citizen Assist	5
Civil Process	1
Criminal History	10
Dead Body	1
Fire	1
Lost Property	1
Medical Emergency	2
Traffic Accident with Damage	1
Suspicious Person, Circumstance	1
Welfare Check	1
Total Incidents	28

The Unmuddled Mathematician

Some Things You Don’t Forget

By Chris Coray, The Unmuddled Mathematician  

Get Ready!

It’s been 50 years since those words were yelled at me and 63 other guys in the belly of a C-130 flying at full power with the airplane side doors open.  I’m not sure that’s exactly what the jumpmaster yelled because of the engine roar but the 9 jump commands had been pounded into me so hard for two weeks that I knew what they were without thinking (which was the Army’s idea).

Outboard Personnel Stand Up!

Command number 2.  Those on the outside of the plane lurched to their feet and that is not easy to do with all the parachute gear.  For two weeks the instructors had been hounding us, training us, and nearly trying to kill us with physical effort but we were in really good shape.  In fact, we had one of our guys in the class who was a marathon runner and we challenged the instructors to pick their best guy and have a race to exhaustion.  Our guy ran circles around their guy until he knew he was doomed and made a graceful exit.

Inboard Personnel Stand Up!

Now the inboard 32 jumpers struggled to their feet and faced the rear of the plane.  Everybody was now on his feet at this stage, loaded with 2 parachutes, rifle, equipment bag, straps and gear fastened as tightly as we could get it.

Hook Up!

Each of us connected the nylon line (static line) running from our main parachute to a long cable in the aircraft.  When we exited the plane the line would automatically pull the ripcord on the chute.  No freefall here, we were carrying way too much gear.

Check Static Line!

There was always a chance that the nylon connecting cord would be tangled around a body part or airplane piece which could result in a disaster so we made a loop with our thumb and first finger around the cord and moved our loop over the whole length of the static line from chute to cable making sure it was clear.

Check Equipment!

Now was the time to check your rifle, making sure it was strapped in its case to your leg, your equipment bag hung below your emergency spare parachute, your helmet, all the quick release handles on the chute strap, and to realize it’s all about to  happen.

Sound Off for Equipment Check!

Starting at the front of the plane and working backwards towards the open doors, each jumper whacked the fanny of the guy in front of him (we are all facing the rear of the plane), yelled his number and a loud OK!  The last guy, when he received his whack, pointed his finger at the jumpmaster.  You can scarcely believe how loud it was in that plane.  Four turbo prop engines are a different object when at high power they are only 25 feet away with no door.

Stand in the Door!

The first man in the string turned to his left (or right) moved his feet to a small spot that actually sticks out of the fuselage, and faced outward.  He also watched a light above the door, currently glowing red.  Then came the last command, immediately following the change of the light from red to green:

Go!

In as fast a shuffle as can be maintained the entire outside string runs out of the airplane into space, followed by the inside string.  It is a strange sensation.  Howling wind (about 150 miles per hour, screaming engines, nothing below you but space, and you are a falling object.  Then, in an amazingly gentle way something lifts you by your harness gently up into the sky.  You don’t actually go up, it just feels like it.  Then it gets quiet as the plane disappears in the distance and you are surrounded by your fellow jumpers gently falling to the earth.  It doesn’t look like the earth from that height, though, it looks like a painting.  For a minute or so it’s actually quite wonderful.  The last quarter inch can be a little jarring but it’s much easier than the training.

I expect no one who has done this will ever forget those 9 commands, even though when it mattered the engine noise likely actually made them impossible to hear.  But we all knew what they were, having practiced hundreds and hundreds of times in simulators.  For me, although many details have faded from my memory, my DNA still contains the strange procedures for exiting a military aircraft (I’ve never figured out why anyone would want to leave a perfectly functioning aircraft).  However, everybody should try it (after they have walked on the Bear Lake ice).  President George H.W. Bush did this at age 90, albeit in a tandem jump with one of the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team as his partner.  I hope he makes at age 100.

Snowshoes At The Top Of The Mountain

There was enough snow at the summit overlooking Bear Lake that John and Melissa Spuhler went snowshoeing.
Photo by Jackie Bourne

Maureen's Makings

By Maureen Gale

 

LEFTOVER TURKEY (or chicken) PILLOWs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Takes about 15 minutes to make and 20 to bake.

 

Stir together:

 

About 2 cups cut up cooked turkey or chicken (or more if you want)

About 1 1/2 cups prepared stuffing mix (more or less for taste)

1/3 cup crispy French's onions (the kind used in green bean casserole)

8 oz. softened low-fat cream cheese

1/2 can cream of chicken soup

 

Take one at a time from 8-piece can of Jumbo Buttermilk Biscuits, Flatten out biscuit dough to saucer plate size and spoon two heaping Tbsp. of mixture into the middle.  Fold up edges over the mound, stretching and molding toward the middle until edges seal over each other, and place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake until golden brown and heated through (about 20-25 minutes).

 

Stir in enough milk with remaining half can of chicken soup to make a gravy texture (about 1/3 cup) and heat in microwave until hot but not boiling.  Pour over hot pillows and serve.  Yummeee!