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Saturday, November 18, 2017

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.



Friday, November 17, 2017

Turkey Trot


Merle Thomas Spence 1930 - 2017

Merle Thomas Spence

Merle Thomas Spence, 87, our most beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away, Thursday, November 16, 2017, with family by her side.

She was born March 24, 1930, in Round Valley, Rich County, Utah, the daughter of Orson James Thomas and Lucy Earley.  She was raised and educated in the beautiful Bear Lake Valley.  Her father passed away when she was seven years old.  She married her high school sweetheart, Robert Douglas Spence, December 24, 1948, and together they raised six daughters.

Merle was a real estate agent in Garden City and St. George, worked at the Sweetwater Golf Course, and was an accomplished cook at various restaurants in the Bear Lake area.  She was a Justice of the Peace in Rich County for 12 years, and also served on the State Bail Scheduling Committee as a State Treasurer for the Justice of the Peace Association.

She enjoyed the outdoors and loved to hunt and play golf.  She also enjoyed baking, playing the piano, singing and spending time with family and friends. She will be greatly missed and will be forever in our hearts.

Merle is survived and forever loved by her husband, Doug; as well as her six daughters:  JoAnn (Vernon) Andersen, Mickie (Craig) Layton, Barbara (Terry) Rich, Colleen (Thayne) Braegger, Vickie (Doug) Sink, Karen Spence; 19 grandchildren; 50 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and brother Terry (Jeanie) Willis.  She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Orval and Orson Jay Thomas, her sister Faye Floyd, step-father, Claude Willis, and granddaughter-in-law, Rachael Spencer.

The funeral will be held Saturday, November 25 at the Garden City LDS Church.  The viewing will be from 10:30 to noon.  Funeral will be at noon.





Thursday, November 16, 2017

MarJean Sorensen Thomson 1927 - 2017

MarJean Sorensen Thomson passed away at home November 15, 2017. She was born to Golden F. and Freda Longhurst Sorensen May 21, 1927 at her grandparent's home in Randolph, Utah.

MarJean attended school in Randolph and graduated from South Rich High in 1945. She later studied at L.D.S Business College while boarding at the Beehive House.

On November 5, 1947 MarJean married H. Leroy Thomson in the Salt Lake Temple. They enjoyed 63 years together.

She was a faithful L.D.S. Church member, serving in many callings during her life. MarJean was a devoted mother and grandmother who is survived by her 5 children: Connie (Dave) Rupp, Grace, Idaho, Brenda (Ralph) Johnson, Randolph, Utah, Steven, Salt Lake City, Utah, Russell (Nancy) Randolph, Utah, Robert (Kirsten) Copenhagen, Denmark, also 13 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Joy Herman, Evanston, Wyoming, and brother Max (Joan) Sorensen, Rexburg Idaho.

Funeral services will be held Monday November 20, 2017 12:00 noon at the Randolph L.D.S Chapel, located at 20 South Main Street, where a viewing will be held Sunday evening, November 19, from 5:00 till 7:00 p.m. and 1 hour prior to service on Monday. Interment, Randolph City Cemetery.
Condolences can be sent to the family at www.premierfuneral.com

Monday, November 13, 2017

Eighteen Wheel Philosophy

God and Heroes
By Mel Hansen, The Eighteen Wheeler Philosopher

This picture of the soldier has what they call the 50 yard stare. I remember looking at a picture of a World War II Vet in what I think was a Time Life Book. It made an impression on me because of the look on the GI’s face. As I was looking at it at the kitchen table, my dad walked by, glanced at the picture...read aloud to himself..."50 yard stare"…and continued on to the sink to get a cold cup of water. As he walked back by he put his hand on my shoulder and said... “They’ve titled that wrong!...that’s not the 50 yard stare, that there my boy is the...I’ve lost my soul!...stare. I’ve seen that look on numerous soldiers and when you see it, you want to get them help ASAP because they can become as dangerous as the enemy you are fighting!” And he continued out the kitchen door to go start doing the evening chores.

A few years later after I graduated high school and was about to leave on my church mission to
Adelaide, Australia, Dad and I were mending fences over on the east side of the lake and broke for lunch. While we were eating I asked dad if he remembered the event above because I had been thinking about it while we were fencing that morning, especially him saying it was the “I’ve lost my soul stare”. He said he did and I asked him to explain why he called it that. He was silent for quite a while...he never answered all the questions I asked him about the war. I was beginning to think he wasn’t going to answer but after a final tug to drain all of the Coke from the can and tossing it out the window into the back of the truck, which was usually a sign that lunch is over and time to get back to work, he looked at me and then said, “there is such a thing as a 50 yard stare, caused by constant shelling, machine gun fire, stress etc. most only had it for a while and then snapped out of it and was able to return to normal duty, those who didn’t got help as soon as possible. But those who got that, "I’ve lost my soul" look were just plain and simple, right damn scary and dangerous! They no longer have a belief in God, humanity or themselves! They no longer possess any feelings at all! Because of the things they’ve seen humans do to each other they lose all color in their eyes and have no facial expressions.  Killing and death has consumed them. You might as well be dead because that’s all you feel inside!”

He went on to say, “Son, a man has to believe in something bigger and stronger than himself. He has to believe in God to get through the horrors of war, otherwise he will not!” I asked my dad if he ever became that way?  He sat for about 15 seconds or more without saying anything, and I didn’t press the point.

But he told me about the two golden books that the Garden City Ward gave to him right before he left for the war, one is The Book of Mormon, the other is Gospel Principles. I now have these books that he carried with him throughout the war. He told me he would pull them out occasionally and read a few passages when he felt that he might be slipping. He said, ”my mother believed them, so I decided to have faith in her faith. By the end of the war I had come to know that there truly is a God, for only God could have brought me home.”
So today is Veterans Day. Happy Veterans Day to we, who benefit from those who have died...sacrificed through service for what we enjoy today... and dare I say...protest against!

As for me I will proudly, stand, in support, honor and reverence for those who have/are serving in our military. Especially for those veterans who have first-hand experienced the sights, sounds, smells, loss of comrades in combat. I support and honor the families who have lost loved ones, or have had loved ones who have lost body parts, or are suffering mental illness. May we as a nation be worthy of your sacrifice!  May we provide for your needs. May God bring solace to your soul, and heal what is broken.

I will kneel to God, to give thanks for each and everyone of you and your families. To that same God my father came to know, believe, and trust in. 

Winter Lake View


Photo by Dawn Brady, Garden City

State Parks Review

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. November 6, 2017.  Richard Droesbeck, Utah State Parks, reported on the 2017 State Parks Review.  In 2017, the  division estimated there were over 298,000 visitors this year and $1.2 million in revenue.  

However Droesbeck thinks the number of visitors is closer to 450,000. “Every year we have more and more people, seventeen nights had overflowing campsites.  Last year we had ten and the year before, four.   Parking was at capacity at the marina for twelve days, and people were being turned away.  There was a profit of $758,000 this year, at least $71,000 ahead of last year. Our concessionaire made $1.5 million, making it the best year ever,” said Droesbeck.

Last year was the 8th annual Cisco Disco which was held the last Saturday in January.  The 7th annual Swim Across the Lake was held, as were mile swims near the marina.  This year’s Raspberry Days Boat Light Parade had twenty two boats.   There were twenty four special use permits issued for large groups.  There were several minor search and rescue efforts and more boating accidents but most were minor.  There was one fatality in South Eden Canyon and one ATV fatality in Franklin Basin.  Utah State Parks conducted water rescue training.

Projects completed included the Rendezvous Pavilion, interior of entry station, fencing, marina decking refinished, enlargement of long term rental parking, and a new fish cleaning station.  The east side was paved to Cisco Beach.  They used old pilings for North Eden Campground.  They are in the middle of getting a launch ramp on East Eden which would be solar powered and will have two motor access project first point launch pad.  They want access trails to campsites and are looking for funds. 

Droesbeck said there was a need for a full time maintenance person at the park because the facilities are aging. He also needs a full time office manager/accountant. 


Parking capacity at marina is still a problem and the marina needs a restroom facility at top of the launch ramp.  Rendezvous needs more parking and more restrooms.  He is getting a quote on how much it would be to renovate public campground which would make more campsites.  They would like water and sewer into the east side campsites and more camping facilities at Rainbow Point.  The southwest property gun range is proposed but there may be no funding. If funded they would like to start it next spring.  

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Storm Coming

Photo by Darrin Pugmire, Garden City

Last Year A Good Year For Tourism

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. November 6, 2017.  Melinda Hislop and Tammy Leonhardt of Bear Lake Convention and Visitor Bureau told County Commissioners that they are working on new target markets.  They have bought a billboard in Afton, Wyoming showing the route to Garden City.  Right now the shortest route is through Cokeville, Wyoming, but the most scenic route is the Utah one.
They will also push conferences and retreats because two new conference centers are being built in Garden City.  

Digital marketing has become more important to the tourism industry. Print advertising costs more so less is being done but more digital marketing is planned.  They will have to adjust visitors center budget and internet costs went  up.  In addition they would like to have more staff at the visitor center. 

The state is updating TRT monthly.  In 2016 there was a 36% increase in taxes received.  Room tax was $42,750 restaurant tax was $53,000 and TRT returned $285,000 in 2016.
The projects came through this year for funding were good so all of them received funding and some money is coming back because projects funding requested were not done by Woodruff and Laketown and The Bear Lake Regional Commission. 

The Bear Lake CVB has a good relationship with Cache Valley Tourism which provides $8,000 for the overlook and keeps it well supplied with brochures. 

More Flooding This Year

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. November 6, 2017.  “It may flood again this year, because weather patterns look similar to last year,” said Bryce Nielson, Emergency Management Director.  He is upgrading the Emergency Plan for Rich County and rewrote the hazmat plan.  Now written approval of the Commission Is needed.  The plan delineates who is responsible for what in an emergency.  The Commission will vote on it in the December meeting. 

Nielson said that the biggest issue was the flooding in Garden City and on the east side of the lake. “I tried to warn people that this was coming, this was snow melting on snow and the flooding was expected.”

Emergency Management spent money for sand bags out of the County Emergency Fund, but next year Garden City should be somewhat responsible.  There was flooding like 2017 in 2010.  Garden City needs to look at water runoff areas in new subdivisions as they are built.  This year Azure Cove was dredged out in anticipation of flooding and it did work.

Commissioner Bill Cox said, “If we have a winter like last winter we will have issues of the lake being too full.”   Nielson said they are letting water off the lake.  But he is concerned that Pacific Corps is taking a big risk keeping the lake full.   Last year Dingle was flooded for weeks. If the canals fill with snow and the rain comes, Harbor Village should prepare for flooding.  Commissioner Norm Weston said that the county should have the sandbags available and sand. 

Nielson did some training about communication during emergency, mostly Garden City people came.  Neilson got his ham radio license and there are two or three operators in the area who will help in an emergency. He went to the public safety meetings this year in Ogden, and was involved in a mock mass casualty drill and learned about how to deal with relatives of victims.   He is thinking about a Facebook page to notify people in the county about planned electric outages or emergency conditions.  Garden City has a Logan Canyon page which allows people to find out about weather and road conditions. 

Nielson said that there needs to be an assistant emergency manager when he is out of town. That assistant could be paid hourly.