Mayor Mike Leonhardt's request to the Governor

I have had several conversations with Udot and Governors office.. I will be meeting next week with UDOT region 1 director to put in place a high priority agenda to put in a brake check pull out and signage plus a truck ramp. I believe this will happen on a fast track because the study and plan has already been done 

Thank you everyone for your emails of support.. It takes all of us to make a great community... I appreciate all of you ... Attached is the letter that was delivered to Governor Herbert ..

Another semi plows through Raspberry Square

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  August 15, 2019. For the second time this year another semi truck crashed into Raspberry Square at the end of Logan Road in Garden City, Utah at about 3:35 pm Thursday afternoon.  Rescue and law enforcement were there within five minutes of the crash.

Photos by Domenik Garcia

Carol Ann Dyer reports that the the driver ran through the stop sign and took out the condo garages 3-6.  Rescuers took a chainsaw and cut one of the garages open and then were able to get into the adjoining garage where the truck had stopped and extracted the man who seem to be alert and talking to paramedics.  He was later taken to Logan Regional Hospital by ambulance.  Dyer took pictures of the crash.

Photo by Carol Ann Dyer

The giant logs that held up the Raspberry Square sign was cut down from the last crash but in one of the photos you can see that the truck driver hit the stump then almost went completely through the condo garages. The truck also narrowly missed a large propane tank.

The truck was hauling chocolate milk and was driving downhill when the brakes overheated and the driver was unable to stop at the stop sign near the intersection of U.S. Highway 89 and state Route 30, Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Lee Perry said.

Photo by Barbara Turbow

Many people have commented that it was very lucky this didn't happen during Raspberry Days or a day when there were lots of visitors because there might have been several lives lost.

On the Accident

Jason Wade Matthews

So this evening as I surveyed the wreckage I was in awe of all there was to see. The driver of the truck had no experience coming down a steep grade and crashed into the garages of a popular condominium complex here in Garden City. 

Normally I just see broken stuff, items that can be replaced. Rubble that needs to be cleaned up but tonight was a little different. Tonight I saw sentimental attachment to the rubble in the aftermath. I saw a woman break into tears as she saw her youngest child’s four wheeler completely smashed. She saw memories just destroyed, nothing can replace lost or destroyed memories. It moved me to see her emotion come to the surface. And then I saw a little girls bike mangled on the ground and a thought hit me, had it been Friday the little girl may have been on that bike. 

Thankfully no life was lost but for some folks, precious memories were destroyed in seconds. My heart breaks for that poor woman, she taught me that it’s not just stuff.

Master your craft, if you can’t do your job well then don’t do it. For some of you, lives may depend on it. And never say,”that’s what insurance is for.” 

It’s been said that UDOT will not respond to such things until after there’s been a death, well here is the second semi vs building in Garden City. A chief deputy for Rich County Sheriff has been run over by a run away semi. At least four other semi roll overs coming out of the canyon that I know of. Countless calls about semi brake fires. When is it OK to say no more? Who will listen? 

I don’t hold contempt for those who know how to handle a semi in mountains so please don’t think that much but I do hold contempt for the CDL mill drivers. I hope something changes after this, next time we may not be so lucky. If that driver turned left today.......this would have been a much worse story.

Pickleville Philosophy

Rumors

By Jim Stone, The Pickleville Philosopher

Oh my goodness I’m in turmoil right now.

You guys know how rumors are spread. 

Sometimes rumors are just rumors.  Sometimes we believe them, but maybe sometimes we don’t.

Well dang, I heard a rumor today. The rumor was that when we all help people feel good about themselves, boom, all of a sudden there is a big contagious smile.

It’s easy to give a compliment to someone, like you’re wonderful, you look beautiful, congratulations on your accomplishments. You’re an amazing person, best mom and dad in the world or I’m proud of you!

You know you guys it’s just giving a boost or kind thought or a few kind words just letting that person know we care about them and their well-being and happiness. Speaking for myself, I never ask for a pat on my back. But it’s so nice and makes all of us feel whole and better when there are kind thoughts and words involved. It’s just really nice.

So I’m gonna have to spread the rumor. I think that this rumor is true.

Here comes the rumor. It’s a big smile and a lot of laughter like uncontrollable laughter. When we all laugh and smile we are happy and our happiness becomes contagious and spreads big smiles to everyone.

North Beach

Photo by Laurianne Wakefield, Little Starling Photography

Rich County Fair August 12 -17

Rodeo, Concert, Livestock Show, Parade, and Fireworks! Held at the fairgrounds in Randolph, Utah. 

Website: https://www.facebook.com/RichCountyFairandRodeo

Rich County Fair Grounds

30 East Church Street 

Randolph, United States 84064 + Google Map

Seegmiller warns of county road problems

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah.  August 7, 2019.  Ed Seegmiller, who has been a city manager and a water district manager in small towns in Texas and California, moved to Meadowville  full time in 2014.  Since then he has been looking at road budgets and road construction.  He noted that the road budget is the largest expense in the Rich County Budget.

The last two years the budget has been flat yet there is enormous growth happening and the county may not be preparing for it. It may be important to realize there must be change, he said and added, "there is a complete new set of people moving to Rich County who are not rural people and they will want things they enjoy in the cities including good roads even if they are dirt and gravel roads."

Many of the roads are well built with crowns and wear well but many are not.  The roads represent the county like a banner on the wall he said.

  

The increased traffic and truck travel means that the quality of gravel needs to be improved and perhaps the design and specifications for the county roads. “Look to the future,” he said.  “Plan for the growth and incrementally increase taxes. Have a Dust Prevention Program.  Put the mag water on the whole road not just part. The roads will need less maintenance and in the long run you can save on labor and fuel costs and have a longer lasting road.” 

Commissioner Bill Cox said that many of the county roads are 40 to 50 years old and are not designed to current requirements. Cox said that spring breakup of frozen gravel roads is the cause of most of the problems with the roads.  “Everything we do is magnified by the winter issues.  Our gravel pits don’t meet specs so that we have to get gravel from outside the county.  Our roads are 40 to 50 years old, so as we look at improvements as we did on the East Side of the lake we are faced with bad design which means that we have to start from scratch.”

The entire county budget is $1.3 million, nearly $1 million is for the roads.  Cox said, “We are losing the value of centrally assessed taxpayers .  We actually lose money even though our valuation have gone up, because the centrally assessed corporations are usually given big waivers on their tax debt leaving the taxpayers and counties to support the corporations needs from their budgets.

The roads are funded with a portion of the gas taxes given to the county, but cars are getting more efficient so the gas tax money funding is going down.  Cox explained.

"A good share of the road budget goes to snow plowing.  We have been proactive, we have purchased a roller and a road grader."

  .

“Each year there you should put an increase in your road budget,” Seegmiller replied, “ the decay of road system and bridges is a major responsibility,  and though the commissioners want to keep taxes low you may need to raise taxes to keep the infrastructure solid.”

More Of Our Amazing Sunrises

Photo by Carol Ann Dyer

"Emergency Plan won't be read but should be."

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH,  Utah. August 7, 2019.  Bryce Nielson, Rich County Emergency Management Coordinator, said he needed a letter agreeing with the emergency operations plan.   It is a 200 page document which outlines ESS (emergency support services).  Transportation, communication,  damage , firefighting, planning, mass care, resource support, health and medical services, search and rescue, hazardous material, food and water, energy, law enforcement, and terrorism are addressed.

It also notes who is responsible for each of these services.  It has been updated to reflect that social media has become more of an emergency support.

Commissioner Norm Weston asked how the rest of the county officials will know their specific responsibility.  Nielson said that he would send it to them, but they may or may not read them. 

Neilson said he has been doing this for 12 years and then watched emergencies in the county so his job will be to oversee what everyone is doing under county guidance.  

  

Commissioner Bill Cox said, “For example, what would the road department do?  How that plays into the plan and what their responsibilities are.  And wouldn’t it  be good for them to know what their role is before the emergency occurs? And what happens if you are out of town?"

“The county officials need to find out what their roles are and have the procedures in place.  Weston said “Hopefully they will look at their responsibilities first and then read the whole plan.”  However there is no real plan to educate county officials. 

Nielson said five years ago when Laketown was out of power for 5 days,  the entire community pulled together to make sure everyone was taken care of .  Weather is our biggest threat he added.  With the increase of tourists and the short term rentals that have no hotel fire requirements, and are packed with 60 or 70 people  a fire emergency scares him.  He suggested that the commissioners take an emergency training but he understands their time constraints.

American Legion

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah.  August 7, 2019  Tom Britton, Rich County American Legion Post 52, asked Commissioners for a donation to the Post of $500.  The Post needs money to pay for flags for the Courthouse and Randolph Cemetery, and Veterans' funerals.   Some of the money is for the flags that are presented to the veteran’s family. They also do some charity payments for utilities for veterans. The Post funding comes from donations.  Five individuals donated $100 each to buy the rifles they use at funerals and a scholarship for the high school.  The auxiliaries are auctioning off a quilt to raise money. 

“We appreciate all you do and a lot is not noticed.” said Commissioner Bill Cox.

Bike path and new P&Z board member

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. August 7, 2019.  Mitch Poulsen, Bear Lake Regional Commission asked Commissioners to add Erin Quinn from Laketown as a new board member of the County Planning and Zoning.  He will be replacing Kathy Hislop from Garden City.  Poulsen said that Quinn was very knowledgeable about the county planning.

Poulsen said that the Community Impact Board (CIB) granted a request for $20,000 to update the County Comprehensive Plan. 

The bike path is moving along slowly.  Ideal Beach has been asked to sign an easement for the bike path and they have indicated a willingness to give the easement.  There is a culvert by Ideal Beach that either needs to be lengthened or have a bridge over it for the path.   Brent Sanders, County Engineer, suggested that they do the bridge as a separate project because it is so expensive.  It is estimated that the cost will be $200,000.

Commissioner Bill Cox asked if the culvert should be lengthened rather than having a bridge over it making it cheaper than the bridge.  He also asked if UDOT is going to allow a bridge structure that close to the highway right of way.  Brent Sanders suggested that those questions could be answered if the bridge were a separate project. If you do the bridge later it might move the project further said Brent. Commissioners told Sanders and Poulsen to get the path out to bid as soon as possible.   “We’d like to start it by fall,” said Cox.