Short Term Rentals Along Lake Disturb Neighbors

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. September 6, 2017.  Richard Gallacher, long time beach front resident, told commissioners that short-term rentals were ruining his and his neighbors experience at the lake. He asked commissioners to reconsider the ordinance which allows short term rentals which were taking away the quiet enjoyment they have enjoyed.  He showed examples of parking violations and traffic and loud, late night noise.  Gallacher said his neighbors are upset about the short term rentals.

“Is Rich County going to become a recreation place for hotels only and not private property owners?” Gallacher asked.

Commissioner Cox asked who was managing the rental.  Gallacher said that Chuck Stocking, Bear Lake Rentals, was managing the property.  Cox said that they usually did a good job of policing their rentals.

Gallacher said that the county sheriff was called too for noise and parking, but was told that they are too busy to work on those problems.   He has dealt with this for two years.

“Consider that you have changed residential zoning to a hotel zone.  If we are going to have nightly rentals then they should be in a commercial area.   These “hotels” are popping up all along the beach and it ruins our quality of life for several months,” said Gallacher.

Gallacher said that St. George has zoned against short term rentals.  Cox said he has talked to the county commissioners in St. George and they are wrestling with short term rentals in residential areas too.  He said that the county is not ready to rescind short term rentals because it actually gives the county more control over the rentals.

Bear Lake Jewel From The Air

Photo by Matt Lumen

New Concessions & Bowery For Randolph

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. September 6, 2017.  Sim Bell, Randolph Town Board and Tyler Pugmire, Rich County Fair Board suggested to the Rich County Commission that the concession stands need updating and there is a need for a larger bowery.

Bell and Pugmire said that the City of Randolph and the Fair Board could work together on the bowery and concession stands.  Commissioner Bill Cox said that they should make a plan and put a dollar amount to it. 

Pugmire asked if the commission wanted an inside concession with bathrooms and tables.  He said the bowery in Laketown is 16’x 30’ and he would recommend a concession/bowery of 25’x 60’ with two ends having concessions and open in the middle with some storage. Cox said that there are enough bathrooms in the park but the concession stands need sinks and hot water.  Cox suggested to Bell and Pugmire that the concession stands be grouped together to save on plumbing.  

Bell asked if transient room tax could be used. He and Pugmire were told to get bids and then make a proposal for transient room tax.

County To Reimburse Pipeline Over $100,000

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. September 6, 2017.  Utah has central assessment of pipelines ,utilities and large commercial entities.  Usually those entities ask for permission to use county lands and they promise large tax returns for the county.  However, in practice, these entities often sue for a reduction in taxes later on.  In the past, The Utah Association of Counties defended the counties in these cases but now has stopped defending these decisions.

The Salt Lake Pipeline runs 8.8% of the line under Rich County, and the company has challenged the assessment for the last three years.  The case is set for trial, but the attorney representing four counties has suggested a settlement.  The agreement approved by the four counties, Rich, Davis, Morgan and Summit is  12½ % reduction, which for Rich County is $100,735, which must be refunded to the pipeline company.

“This happens with utilities all the time,”  said Commissioner Bill Cox .  They are appealing the tax for the years 2010 -2017.   The county gets about $100,000 per year in revenue from the pipeline.   

Rich County will join the other counties in doing the reductions and repayment; the negotiations on the payment are still ongoing.

Criminal Prosecution Deputy Agreement

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. September 6, 2017. In order to contract legal services with Cache County, Ben Willoughby, Rich County Attorney, asked county commissioners to approve and sign an interlocal agreement.

This is an arrangement to contract with the Cache County Attorney James Swink to use his office for criminal prosecution.  This allows Rich County to use lawyers most familiar with certain types of criminal prosecution without having to hire a team.    At some future time it may be reasonable to do a prosecution district but now the Cache County Council is more comfortable with a contract rather than a multi-county district. 

This will be a trial run and the contract will run until January 19, 2019. It will cost Rich County  $3,000 per month which includes mileage and at least four court appearances a month.  That funding will come out of the current attorney’s budget.  There is a sixty day out clause if it doesn’t work.  Commissioner Bill Cox said, “It gives us a great opportunity to have specialty prosecutors.  We work hand in hand with Cache County with so many other matters and it works well.  I’m very comfortable with this.”  

Eighteen Wheeler Philosophy

Problem solved!!....
Mel Hansen, Eighteen Wheeler Philosopher

We don't need a wall on the borders! All we have to do is move all Tyson Food Plants to the border and by $&@ nobody will get in!

I didn't even get the brakes set before someone was at my door asking to see my driver's license! He escorted me to drivers check in...where I had to show my license again!...plus fill out an inch worth of paperwork declaring that it was indeed my license! (I was sweating profusely because I was sure they were going to ask me for my birth certificate and immunization records!  These I didn't have to produce on the spot but had to sign another inch thick worth of paper saying I promised to have them faxed by the time I was ready to leave!)

I was assigned a loading dock door...I was escorted back to my truck, backed the trailer into a building where I had to unhook trailer...pulled truck out...big door closed to hide and seal trailer inside of building... and assigned a spot to park until they came and told me I was loaded!

Now before I arrived there my bladder was three times it normal size due to the over consumption of GatorAid...and I was in great distress and discomfort!  Them scaring the $&@$ out of me didn't help matters either!

I asked if there was a drivers lounge with bathroom facilities I could use? He told me there was a drivers lounge but no bathroom facilities but I could use the employees bathroom. I said..."Let's hurry please before I embarrass myself!" He escorted me to the entrance....swiped his ID card to get us in...took me to two nice looking ladies behind bulletproof proof glass where guess what?  I had to pull out my license again!...they made a photocopy of it!  Sign and date my time in to use the bathroom! (Felt like just whizzing right there but I'm sure I'd been on the 10:00 news with footage of me with my pants  down while being arrested by Tyson Food Security!)

Just barely made it to the bathroom!!....but I was so nervous and scared that I was being videotaped that I stood there for quite awhile!

As I went to leave I had to again sign and date my time of departure from the bathroom! (I'm really biting my tongue by now from expressing my innermost thoughts!  They weren't pretty! Certainly not appropriate for this column) and I was escorted back to my truck!

They came and told me I was loaded and ready to roll.  The big door was opened, I backed in and hooked up, all under strict supervision! When I exited the building the man supervising me immediately closed the two doors and was about to seal them when I yelled out "Hold the Hell on a second! I'm responsible for this load and I need to make sure it's secured the way I want it! And to make sure it's even loaded!" He backed off...I looked inside...I was indeed loaded and my load locks the way I wanted them! Doors were closed and sealed!

I was again escorted to delivery and shipping where once again I had to produce my license...they too made a photocopy of it...I was handed my BOL and was escorted back to my truck where I was more than happy to....GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE!

If everyone was vetted to enter/vote in the USA the way I was to pick up a frozen load of....MEATBALLS!   Maybe there wouldn't be so many...Meatheads!

The only thing I exaggerated on was having to provide birth certificate and immunization records! If you don't believe me!....go pickup a load of anything from a Tyson Food plant!....but use the bathroom before you do!

Still Summer

Photo by Tierney Calder

School Messenger Calling System Reminder

 
In 2012, Rich School District purchased a school messaging system that interfaces with our Student Information System (Aspire). The system is called School Messenger and it allows the school to contact parents by phone, text message, or e-mail.

School Messenger allows us to contact you in case of school closure, delayed bus routes, changes in activity schedules, snow days, etc.  At 9:00 A.M. each day, the system will also automatically contact you if your student is absent from school.  This is a safety feature we feel will be of value to you and your student(s).  Any time you do not contact the office to excuse your student(s), they will be marked as unexcused and the School Messenger System will automatically contact you.  Once you have received this information, the onus is on you to call the school to ensure your student(s) is to be excused.

If you wish to receive a text message instead of a call, or both:  Simply text any of the following words to the number 68453: subscribe, option, yes.  You will know you were successful if you receive the following reply:  You are registered to receive approx. 3 msgs/mo. Text STOP to quit, HELP for help.

You will want to repeat this opt-in process for any wireless number that you wish to include.  If you are uncertain as to whether or not you have already opted in, simply repeat the opt-in process.  There is no harm in sending the opt-in message more than once.

In addition to performing the opt-in process, you will want to insure your wireless number(s) and all contact information is up to date in Aspire.

Please note, although the district does not charge for this service, it does not pay for text message charges that may be incurred by you for sending or receiving text messages.  Please check with your wireless provider for information regarding possible charges.

If you have any questions, please contact the district office or your school's office.

LoToJa Race Will Come Through Bear Lake Area

On September 9, please join us for the 35th edition of the LoToJa Classic. Enjoy an epic autumn day racing/riding over 200 miles from Logan, UT to Jackson Hole, WY!  http://lotoja.com

100 HUNTSMAN HOMETOWN HEROES

Accept the challenge to help defeat cancer! Join LoToJa's 100 Huntsman Hometown Heroes (HHH) fundraising team and get a guaranteed and comped 2017 LoToJa entry. To join this year's team, you can sign-up starting on Wednesday, March 1 at 10 a.m. MST! There are only 100 spots available and they will be given on a first-come first-served basis.


For more information visit the WAYS TO GIVE section under the EVENT INFO menu on this website or contact Jen Murano at Huntsman Cancer, 801.584.5815 or jmurano@huntsmanfoundation.org.