Marina Update

Bear Lake State Park Marina construction update - Pardon our dust! A few photos of the progress of the dock construction/replacement project at the marina.

The construction project is replacing the long-term rental docks on the north side of the marina and the overnight/transient docks on the south side of the marina is moving along. There will be a new gangway going directly to the overnight/transient docks and to Bear Lake Fun's Marina Rentals location.

Landmark Companies from Cache Valley is the general contractor. MariCorp is building the new docks.

The north dike of the marina is closed during construction. A few lanes of the launch ramp will also be closed to accommodated the building of the new docks.

Cisco Sonar

Land Trusts

By Bryce Neilson

1871 View of the lake

My world has always been to get the most of present, but always keep looking toward the future.  I usually don’t dwell on the past because it is done, good or bad, and we can’t change it.  When I came to Bear Lake to live over 40 years ago I moved into Pickleville, which was just south of Garden City.  There were a few small cabins on the Lake but also lots of barns and animals.  Sweetwater Hill had not been subdivided and was a fabulous hunting area (actually it still is, if it were legal). Suffice to say, that things have change since that time.  Sometimes I wish my grandsons could see what it used to be like.  I have always wanted to be able to preserve some things we have today for future generations, so I got involved in a land trust.

The Bear River Land Conservancy (BRLC) was created about five years ago in Cache Valley. A couple of guys got together because they wanted to preserve land from development in perpetuity.  This included Cache, Rich, and Box Elder Counties.  Others, including myself, were asked to be on the Board of Directors and the organization received 501(K) non-profit status.  The Board was made up of farmers, real estate people, scientists, a lawyer, planners and environmentalists.  The BRLC’s mission is to:

“…conserve and enhance private lands for wildlife habitat, working farms and ranches, land and trails of recreational or historical significance, watersheds, critical vistas, using conservation easements and sound management, to benefit the people of northern Utah, today and perpetuity.”

I want to make it clear we are not Ecofreaks or preservationists trying to stop growth.  We do not go looking for ground but rely on people contacting us.  Conservation easement generally allow the land to remain as it is and continue to be used as in was in the past.  The easement just prohibits future development.  At present we have been able to preserve 300+ acres along the Bear River, farm ground in Wellsville that has a threatened lily, Ute’s Ladies Tresses, and over a thousand feet of untouched natural shoreline near Lakota.

There is a lot more to do, but as with most non-profits, money is a limiting factor.  We have one-part time staff member but the rest of us are volunteers.  We operate on donations from people who have our same vision.  We also have been able to receive some grants and some outright land donations.  To see and better understand the BRLC go to our website www.bearriverlandconservancy.org and check it out.

Retirement for me, just means more work (my own fault).  My involvement in the BRLC is one of the most gratifying things I have done.  If you or anyone else would like to know more what BRLC is all about, please contact me a cisco@cut.net or 435.994.1649.  I really don’t know how successful this whole venture will be but at least we will be remembered for trying.

    

Garden City P&Z Planning Meeting

Randall Knight, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  April 6, 2016. The Planning and Zoning public hearing meeting began at 4:30 PM and had approximately 12 residents in attendance.    The board members present were: Jim DeGroot, Susan House, Lance Bourne, Joey Stocking, Dewayne Gifford and Tom Stevens.

When the board asked for public comments several people stood and voiced their concerns with regard to safety, parking, ingress/egress, emergency vehicle access, people crossing Hwy 30 from the condos, wet lands, building heights, etc with the proposed development at approx. 620 S. Bear Lake Blvd, Legacy Beach, Bear Lake Resort, LLC.  

Michael Beck stated he wants to make sure the Federal, state and city regulations are being met.  He was particularly concerned about the 5 acre requirement being met, Hwy 30 splitting the two properties, wet lands and density. The board stated their lawyer said the two properties could be considered contiguous to meet the acreage requirements of at least 5 acres.  Nate Perry stated he has requested a wet land study to be done by a third party and the wet lands would be part of the 5 acres.  Perry stated UDOT did a traffic analysis in August and counted an average of 2900 cars/hr traveled Hwy 30 past the proposed development.  Beck also stated he feels the density of 21 homes is excessive.  It was pointed out that Azure Cove has 24 homes in their development.  Nate also stated the current plan will not provide public access through the development to the lake.  The plan is to complete the West side development in 3 years.   

The regularly scheduled meeting started at 5:25PM.   Mike Knapp requested approval for an application for a Conditional Use Permit to put an off-premise permanent sign at 327 N. Paradise Parkway for Conestoga Ranch.  The board denied the request because the sign exceeds the square foot requirement of 32 sq ft, but approved the request if the size was reduced to meet the requirement.

Jacob Wakefield requested approval for parking and to enclose the current porch located behind Café Sabor.  The building would provide storage and employee housing in the basement.  After verifying the parking stall and setback requirements were being met the board approved the request.

Marty Phillips requested approval to add 12’ x 6’ addition along with additional parking to Bear’s Den.  The addition contain a cooler and additional access to the building.  The board approved the request.

The board discussed the rezone request for Bear Lake Resort’s proposal discussed above and received more clarification from  Perry in regard to water shed, parking, building height, emergency vehicle access and open space.  The board approved the rezoning request.

The board approved the PUD Development Plan and Preliminary Plat for 21 homes on the 3.9 acres on the beach front and 12 units on the 4.1 acres on the mountain side of Hwy 30.   

The meeting was adjourned at 6:45PM.

Bear Lake Banquet & Banter

Got questions, concerns or ideas for the use and conservation of Bear Lake? We all do. As we collectively consider the course for the next century, we need to hear yours.

So join us at this event designed to give you an opportunity to discuss with legislators some of the most basic issues regarding the direction we are heading when it comes to the conservation and use of our beautiful Bear Lake.

Don't worry, it will be fun too, with each course of the Banquet, a new topic will be presented for you to Banter about at your table with fellow Bearlakers and legislators. The success of this event depends on you!

Thursday May, 5th

The Bear Lake Banquet and Banter

5:30 pm at Ogden's Union Station

$45.00 per person.

We think you will find this evening of "Banquet & Banter" will be well worth your time and treasure. Please click here to register now!

David and Claudia Cottle

4544 HWY 89
Fish Haven, Idaho
David -208-530-0058
Claudia -801-243-8980
www.bearlakewatch.com

Waiting For Summer

Photo by Donna Hansen

Kindergarten Registration

If your child turns five on or before September 1, 2016,

and your child will be attending North Rich ElementaryKindergarten next year,

Registration will be held April 27, 2016.

Vision and hearing screenings will be conducted that day.

A birth certificate is required to register.

Current immunizations and a physical are required by the end of this school year.

Please call 435-946-3359 X200 for an appointment.

Prior to registration, we are sponsoring a Kindergarten Day on April 20 at 10:00.

Students will ride on a bus, have story time, meet their teacher and have lunch.

Adults $3.50—Students $2.00

Parents will meet with Mr. Motta.

Registration packets will be handed out.

Registration appointments can also be scheduled that day.

Short Term Rentals In County

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH Utah.  April 6, 2016. “Short term rentals will be a headache,” said County Treasurer, Kim Wilson, “don’t allow them in the county and let the cities have them.” County commissioners asked about whether or not the county should allow them in the county.  It was pointed out that both Bridgerland and Sweetwater Hillside do not allow short term rentals, yet there are some who are not following their CC&R regulations and renting in defiance of their rules.   Commissioners asked if the county was missing out on tourist tax and other taxes that could be levied on these businesses.  Commissioners reasoned that there would have to be regulations and rules written if they were going to allow them to rent and that meant that there would also be problems with enforcement which might mean more personnel.   Commissioners asked for more information and further discussion.

Ambulance Bill Disputed

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah.  April 6, 2016. Even if after you have been transported to the hospital, it is determined you were ok, you still have to pay for the ambulance bill.    Dale Stacy, president of EMT, Kim Wilson, EMT and Gary Hubert, Rich County Attorney, talked to county commissioners about a three year old ambulance bill that had been disputed because the parents of the young man transported to the emergency room said that he didn’t need the ambulance and they wanted to have the bill reduced or done away with.

The run was in 2013  for a young man at Camp Hunt. The call came in as an allergic reaction, which can often be life threatening.   The parents said he just needed an inhaler.  They, as parents, were not contacted although there were attempts to contact them. The young man was having trouble breathing.    The service was rendered but the parents have not responded to the bill in three years. 

The Scouts Trapper trails have an incident report which they will require a subpoena for, and the county attorney will subpoena it.   The cost for the run was $1300 dollars.

Wilson said. “They didn’t talk to the county about  the bill.  If they hadn’t been served it we wouldn’t have heard from them.  The parents think that since the Scouts called the ambulance they should pay for it.    Even if there was no treatment at ER the young man was still transported to the hospital.  If the parents had come to ask for a payment plan the county would have worked it out, but they ignored it for three years.  So now it is in small claims court.” 

The county commissioners felt that the bill needed to be paid.