Proposed Annexation Draws Comment

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  January 14, 2016.  A proposed annexation of the contiguous area east of the highway along the lake from the marina area to Lakota and around Little Switzerland brought a small crowd of mostly second home owners.

Garden City Mayor John Spuhler outlined the benefits of annexation  to the residents of the area.  He cited the library, pool, city offices and conference facilities, enforcement officer, city beaches, fish pond, bike path, parking lots and free shuttle service that would be available. 

If annexed, the area could be part of the election of council people and mayor and have a voice in the governing of the area and would be part of the community.

Garden City taxes are approximately  59.50 per year on $100,000 home.  If one was paying for water year round it is $17.00 per month more for non Garden City residents or $204.00 per year, residents would see a decrease in actual costs until the home value exceeded $300,000.

The mayor explained that what is seen on tax notices is mostly the school district.   Garden City has one of the lowest tax rates in the state.

Swan Creek resident said that second home owners actually pay a lot more because they are paying it a whole year and as second home owners they pay a higher property tax.  They wanted to know why they had to pay water for 12 months when they were only in the area for three months.  Mayor Spuhler explained that the pipe had to be maintained even if they were not there and the pumps and well needed to be paid for too.  Another resident said that he had successfully fought off an annexation request before and could do it again.

Even though the area contains the State Park and Marina, they are not included in the voting valuation because they are not taxed.  Over 51% of the taxable property value must be voted in favor of the annexation if it is to pass.  Not 51% of property owners, but 51% of the total value of the entire area to be annexed.

Spuhler talked about Garden City’s future plans, planning that benefits the entire community.   The city would like to build a 40,000 sq. ft. rec center, so that kids and families can play during the dark, cold winters.  The city is working with SITLA on permanent easements for bike trails and hiking trails.  As the city grows there are even more opportunities and annexation builds a cohesive community.

One Day Ice Fishing, But The Lake Is Melting

Photos by Chris Coray

Photo by Jesse Calder

Garden City Council Meeting

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, January 14, 2016. Zan Murray, City Engineer, gave the new developers of Water’s Edge a list of concerns the city has including  UDOT approval.   Norm Mecham has turned over the project to Chris Shurrian who is focused on developing one building now (phase four of the project).  If there are mass changes to the project it may be necessary to go back to the P&Z.  If the use is changed or they add condos on a new second floor, it becomes a substantive change and needs to be approved.  Murray says  if building size changes, parking modifications or buildings are moved on the plat, those are substantive changes because it changes drainage systems.    The developers are thinking of condos above the commercial space which might change the zoning requirements and also might change parking requirements.  The city will need to approve the project pending approval of UDOT for the increased traffic and usage.

The Rec Center preliminary site plan was passed out to council members. The Center would fill the area north of the existing city offices with a 272’ x 450’ building.  There are three sections  planned, a racquet ball court, workout area, showers and bathrooms. The second phase will contain 1/8 mi jogging track , 2 full size basketball courts which could be converted to pickleball use too .  The third phase would include two multipurpose rooms for workout or parties, an indoor soccer field.  It is expected to cost about 6.5 million dollars and would need a bond to pay for it from property taxes.  Creating a wider Rec district which includes property on the Garden City Master plan could be considered.  The Gardencity.ut.us website has proposed plans for rec center.

Bob Peterson, City Ordinance Director, said that the city had received grants such as the $500 Rocky Mountain Power for volley ball court at the park.   The TRT grant is $15,000 for a flagpole which will probably cost about $20,000 and  $5,404 for signs on bike path. Peterson said that the City would like to have them up for Memorial Day. 

Darrin Pugmire and Pat Argyle were sworn in as new council members.

Business licenses:  Bear Lake Condo Rentals, owned by  Joey Stocking, Business Catalyst Group conducting a marketing management and website consulting business building websites and digital marketing programs.  A Step Up Cleaning Company in Garden City  owned by Heidi Muirbrook and Digital Analysis LLC.  Darrin Caldwell to conduct an online technical consulting business doing business as Iteliquant were all approved.

The Short term Rental Application of 920 Newber Pl. #3 Darren and Marlene Brewster Owners, Bear Lake Project Management was approved with the condition that they provide better floor plans in their application.

The Unmuddled Mathematician

The Big House, The Little House, No House

By Chris Coray, The Unmuddled Mathematician

In the very old movies when a gangster talked about going to prison it was often called “The Big House”.  Events of the past couple of months have got me confused.  For example, consider the group from Nevada and Arizona who have decided to “occupy” the buildings on a national wildlife refuge in Oregon.  For national, read federal.  The leader, one Ammon Bundy, is the son of the guy in Nevada or Arizona who owes a million dollars in grazing fees but conducts demonstrations, mostly while wearing a gun.  But this bunch in Oregon does not meet the full deck of cards test.  First, I don’t know why they are doing this.  They do not explain their cause well but do have nice hats.  And there is nobody living near the refuge.  The local population consists of a) the natural birds, b) the dozen or so occupiers, and c) far more press in total than the protesters and maybe even the birds.  

Now add the fact that it is darn cold up there, a circumstance for which the protesters seem not to be ready.  Further, they have asked others to send them things for support, chief among the requests being “snacks”.  You can’t make this up.  Do they want candy bars, Cheetos, jerky sticks, donuts, or something else?  They have broken the law but seem to have sentenced themselves to a no house-big house of their own choosing.   If you are confined to a totally isolated place, very cold, no normal comforts, no snacks, etc., isn’t that like putting yourself in an outside slammer?   My vote is that they invite all like-minded souls to join them so that such populations are reduced elsewhere.   They could put up a sign.  Read from the inside the sign could read, “Protectors of ranching rights, somewhere”, where the other side of the sign, seen from the outside, could read, “Malheur Federal Correctional Facility”.  And none of this would cost taxpayers unless the feds buy some snacks for them.

Next comes the elected county commissioner from southern Utah who deliberately and with a lot of publicity violated federal law by driving his ATV around the protected Recapture Canyon.  He knew it was illegal, loudly proclaimed his rights exceeded those of all the people and the federal government in particular, and pretty much boasted that the feds could take a hike straight to hell.  His words and those of his compadres were spread all over the media with great joy.  That is, until the wheels of justice slowly turned on a steady course and a substantial fine for restitution was ordered by the federal judge and all that remained was the question of jail time.  As sentencing drew near the bellicosity and bravado of the offender disappeared as fast as the rabbit down the hole in Alice in Wonderland.  Such a model  (and transformation ) to remorse, repentance, and humility has seldom been seen.  

Finally, we come to “El Chapo”, henceforth referred to by the proper English translation to “Shorty”.  Shorty, not to be confused with my beloved friend “The Muddled Male” (who is also vertically challenged), has been recaptured some 6 months after his latest escape.  Shorty is a horrible drug dealer in Mexico who has managed to escape the toughest prisons in that country.  So it is of great surprise to me that there is talk of extraditing him to the U.S. so he can be put in a supermax prison here.  

My question is, “Why would we want him here”?   The Donald has stated that our borders are porous and that many of those who come here from Mexico are rapists, murderers, and worse.  So I expect to hear immediately from the Donald that bringing Shorty here is clearly wrong and with his wall proposal  will as promised solve all the problems (with Mexico carrying the price).  I will continue to buy green bananas until I hear a direct statement of opposition to a Shorty extradition from the Donald himself.  On the plus side if Shorty does end up here we could build a mini-scale prison (perhaps ½ size) for him as he does not need much of a ceiling.  Sort of a souped up hamster cage would suffice.  It could even have a wheel for exercise, a little pool/tub/drinking attachment, and fresh newspaper on the floor every morning.

Snowshoes, Garden City Ladies, & Our Mountains

Photo by Tammy Calder