Garden City Public Works

Anita Weston, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  November 9, 2017. George Peart, Garden City Building Inspector, reported that the number of building permits for this year has gone to 51.  Peart noted that he has been busy the last few weeks because of the amount of building that is currently taking place.  He asked if anyone knew whether there had been a change of lots in the Legacy PUD on the north end and on the east of the highway.  The Board requested that this matter be checked because currently no changes have been made on the Plat that has been presented to the P&Z or the City Council.

Zan Murray, City Engineer, noted that he has a list of small items that Mark Smoot needs to take care of on his commercial project.  Apparently, there has been some changes in ownership in the Legacy PUD from one lot to another.  Peart was also asked to check to see if some of the lots have been combined.

Accessory buildings must be over 200 square feet.  Anything smaller than that does not fit the City’s ordinances.  Other structures larger than the 200 square feet sizes are permitted.

Glen Gillies, Commercial Inspector, reported that Smoot is moving forward rapidly.  Bridgeland Park is getting started, they will probably build the restaurant first. 

Gilles said the large metal containers do not look nice and should be either forced to follow architecture standards or be condemned.  When something is condemned, they are given 60 days to remove the structure from their location; or the City will remove the item and charge the owner for any costs incurred.

Temporary structures must measure up to the architectural standards set by the city.    Layton City has recently created a new ordinance dealing with metal containers.  They require a sloping roof, wood siding, and a written manufacturer’s warranty which includes a time limit for this structure. 

Peart was asked to go over some of the City’s ordinances dealing with accessory buildings on lots without a residence, and other items dealing with these types of structures.

Gillles reported that he is also the code enforcement officer and has sent a certified letter to the individual who has built the barn next to canal a bit south of the Logan Road.  Also, he has been ticketing garbage cans the last little while because there have been so many left out on the sides of the road.

Murray noted that set backs on accessory buildings must be followed.  He noted that there was a building on the front yard that does not meet set back requirements.  He said a follow-up on this item should be pursued.

Riley Argyle, Public Works, reported that there will be some unexpected bills for the water treatment plant.  There have been some parts that have needed to be replaced as well as some new items that have had to be purchased.

Argyle also noted that upsizing pipes into homes has some real potential problems associated with it.  If the home is 3,500 to 3,600 square feet floor area or larger, the home must have sprinklers.  There must be an extra charge applied to homes or buildings with larger than the regular ¾ inch pipes.  However, determining how much more and how the City should handle upsizing needs to be decided.

 Argyle noted that the needed sand and salt for the winter weather has been delivered.  The trucks have been winterized and blades put on the front to push snow when needed.

GPS information the City has is older data.  This information needs to be updated which will cost about $500.  The City needs to set up a map showing this updated data that can be used for red lining non buildible sites.  Several copies should be made and given to those individuals who need this information.

Murray said that the new set of maps can be created at his office, and he would be happy to include the water system on that map.  The necessary changes needed to get Third West through to Buttercup has been taken care of.  There will be an estimate review and then the project can be bid on to be completed in January and February so that the Third West road can be started in the early spring.

Argyle reported that he has installed all of the water meters he had. Twenty more meters are needed to finish this project.  The City will need an additional 25 new meters for the new homes currently being built.

A concept layout for the waterline easements south to Cherimoya should be ready soon.  Then the City needs to get surveyors to get started on that.  It will cost about $10 an hour for a rough plat which will come to about $1,000 to $1,200.  The conceptual design will take about another 20 hours at a cost of about $2600.  There will be another 16 hours at $22 an hour for the final plat making the total project cost about $6,000 total.

Darrin Pugmire, City Council, is working on the Third West road going further south from Buttercup.  He would like to have any members on the Council walk with him over the property that has been suggested for this section.  Pugmire noted that he cannot get deeds for some of this property until everyone knows where the road will go.  Murray encouraged him to do that and suggested that he use some of the water grant money to pay for the plans for this section of third west.

Murray informed the Council that the City had asked for $4.8 – $4.9 million from the Federal Government for getting the water system updated.  There will need to be three-phase power to the pumps, and many other expensive items.  However, he noted, that if the City doesn’t use every bit of the grant, it reverts back to the Government.  So this doesn’t happen, Murray has cut the amount of money down to $4.5 million.  This should be enough money to make the project work. Then, if the City goes over this amount, the City will have to pick up the extra costs—but they will have used all of the grant money.  With bond payments, cash flow might be tight for a while, but it should work.  The upfront construction loan will be a 40-year loan at 2.75%.

The City will be needing to dig another well in the next five to six years.  The USDA will be willing to fund that project as well.  The City will have to go through the same procedures as they have for Third West in order to dig the new well.

Riley reported that he had gone to the County Commissioners’ meeting.  It is necessary to have a county wide ordinance to protect the areas around wells.  Source protection Zone 2 is required when a new municipal well is drilled. 

Archibald explained that Zone 2 is 250 days of travel for one drop of water.  There should not be septic tanks, commercial use of herbicides, pesticide storage, or fuel storage in that area.  There should be no big commercial usage in these zones.  Engineers can model topography of the soil to see how wide the zone should be.

Right now, if a new municipal well is planned, 100% of property owners in that zone must sign off on it, which is impossible as many people have moved without leaving contact information.

However, if the county declares a county wide zone then it protects it without having all the signatures, and it expedites the process.  Building inspectors know the rules for septic tanks in a Zone 2 when it is a county wide ordinance.  Hopefully, the County will get such an ordinance in place.