Karasema Events at Inn at Snow Meadows

Karasema Restaurant at Snow Meadows Inn is featured in the 2013 Utah Bride Issue and will be spotlighted on Channel Two  Road Trippin' on Thursday the 17th from 6-8am. That segment will run for 12 weeks and hopefully bring more business to Garden City.The Restaurant and Inn are also highlighted in the new 2013 Issue of Utah Bride and Groom for the big wedding they did in July here in Garden City.

 

On Saturday February 9th there will be a special Mardi Gras event with interesting food from New Orleans for a Valentines date. 

Rich Reading and Libraries

Silence
Doug Alder, Historian

Elaine and Doug Alder

From our nest high on Sweetwater Hill, we can take in Bear Lake’s greatest resource-- silence.  Occasionally we hear an airliner way up in the sky, seeing it before hearing it.  Sometimes a semi-trailer shifts down and we can hear it on the highway beside the lake. Usually it is silence that dominates.  That makes it possible to watch flocks of birds overhead and notice the morning ritual of deer visits.  About four times a year elk come by to see if our water is spraying and available to them.  Every day we see sage hens and occasionally wild turkeys.  Squirrels are always nearby, occasionally a badger.  A pair of finches make a nest each spring under our roof overhang and we experience the birth and eventual departure of their next generation.  The silence makes all this possible. 

Almost every day silence leads to reading. Like most residences, our home is the depository of many books, but the silence is better than elsewhere.  Of course, I have to recommend some reading about Bear Lake.  The first is Robert Parson’s “A History of Rich County.”  It was published as part of a 29-volume set to celebrate Utah’s Centennial in 1996.  The State Legislature sponsored the effort and made a full set available to all high schools, community libraries and academic libraries.  This book has been the basis of this series of articles about Bear Lake.  Parson is a Special Collections Librarian at the Merrill-Cazier Library at Utah State University in Logan.  When I was a faculty member at USU, my office was in the old Merrill Library.  Drs. Merrill and Cazier were my valued colleagues then.  I am very proud of the new library and it’s honoring of those two scholars.  

A second book is “Sons of Bear Lake” that I wrote and was published in 2003.   It is about the coming of age of young boys who grew up in the villages of Bear Lake Valley.  Some of them became my students at USU.  It has been available in stores around the lake and is in the local libraries. 

Speaking of libraries, it is important to know that Montpelier, Garden City and Randolph each have a library.  There is also one in the school in Laketown.  Each of them is a great value to their community. 

 

My wife, Elaine, and I and our children and grandchildren have been patrons of the Garden City Library since it’s founding by a group of community women.  Marie Weston and her friends, including one from Laketown, initiated an effort to have a library in Garden City.  The town leaders made a small room next to the council room available in the old town office.  The ladies solicited donations of books, videos and tapes.  They volunteered to be the circulation workers each afternoon.  They pressed the council to build a permanent library.  The elected leaders considered doing so and considered a site near the town park.  When the town was able to purchase a motel complex on Highway 89 near the town entrance, they included the library in their plans.  Today the facility includes a medical clinic, a swimming pool, a community room, a council chamber and the old entrance is the town library.  Citizens rallied and remodeled the facility, obtained equipment and coordinated with the State Division of Libraries.  The city hired a professional librarian and Garden City is now up to the standard of Montpelier and Randolph.  So silence is there for you to read and books are available.

                                                                       

Business Sign Ordinance Review

Randall Knight, Reporter
Rich County Times 

GARDEN CITY, Utah- January 9, 2013. The Public Hearing of the Garden City Planning Commission was held as scheduled to discuss Ordinance 12-18 Sign Ordinance #11C600 and 12-19 Definitions #11A-200-132.  No one was in attendance to discuss the two ordinances so the meeting was adjourned with no comments.  This reporter is always amazed to attend these meetings that affect not only the business owners (current and future) but indirectly the local residents and no one attends them except the board members and RCT reporters.

The Garden City Planning Commission held their regularly scheduled meeting  directly after the public hearing to discuss the sign Ordinance #11C-600 and 12-19 sign definitions #11A-200-A-132.

The purpose of the ordinance is necessary to reduce potential risk to health, safety and welfare of the citizens and to ensure conformity with the surrounding environment according to the board members.  Several issues were discussed but a main concern was voiced about the costs that will be required to get proposed signs approved.  A recommendation was made to require signs costing $1000 or more to be professionally designed and installed.  Bill England voiced  his concern that the ordnance bans banner signs and recommended that certain banner signs should be exempt from the requirement as written for short periods of time because the local season is limited to basically 90 days.   The current ordinance states an owner is allowed to display temporary signs for a total of 90 days.  Another recommendation was mentioned in regard to the document being hard to understand and should be written in clearer language and with not so much legalese.  

Board members said there have been several previous sign meetings with little support from the local companies and residents.  England pointed out that the number of people attending the previous sign meetings diminished because of various conflicts in schedules and changes in meeting times.  Most of the board members stated they had received the ordinances just a few days ago and hadn’t had time to review them completely so a motion was made to review the documents so that they would be prepared to review them page-by-page at next month’s meeting.

Copies of the two proposed Ordinances are available at the city office building for review and comments will be heard at the next Public Hearing meeting scheduled for 6 Feb.  Because this ordinance will impact not only the businesses, but also the local citizens and tourists, this reporter recommends everybody review the ordinances and provide their comments to ensure the attractiveness of Garden City is maintained.

There is a concern about the canal easement changing from 15 to 30 feet as it transverses through the city.   George Peart, Rich County Building Inspector, stated that state bill HB298, Land Use Authority Notification of Canal Development, was passed and requires municipalities and counties to notify canal companies of proposed development within 100 feet of the center line of a canal and also requires the canal companies to provide the municipalities and counties with the company's contact information and a general description of the location of their canal(s) by July 1, 2010. Nobody in attendance knew if the local canal companies were in compliance.  The city feels they need to write an ordinance to address this issue.  Danny said he will write a draft for review and comment within the next 2-3 months.

County funding has been approved to aid in building a kiosk that will identify the local businesses and locations.  The kiosk will be located on Bear Lake Boulevard between the LDS chapel and Jake’s.  

Local Artist's Computer Art

By Garden City Computer Artist, Savannah Lamping

Winter at the Lake

Photo  of Bear Lake by Tammy Calder

Thanks to Computer Specialist Joe Stocking who fixed our photo upload feature on Blogspot we can have pictures in this weeks Rich Civic Times.  He volunteers to keep the paper going!  But if you find a computer problem, hire him...he is totally amazing!  

Life Guard Jobs May Be Available

The Garden City pool may need two lifeguards this summer.  If you are 15 or will be by the time summer begins you might want to see if you can qualify for life guard certification and apply to be a life guard.  If you are accepted, the city may pay for your training and that certification is good anywhere.

Pool Winter hours are 5-9 on Monday and Wednesday, and 1-9 on Fridays and Saturdays.

Why Was The South End Of The Valley
Settled Later ThanThe North End?
by Doug Alder, Historian 

When Charles C. Rich led Mormon Settlers into the valley in 1863, they entered through Emigration Canyon on the north in Idaho.  That was the easiest entry.  He immediately set up negotiations with Chief Washakie, chief of the Shoshone Indians.  Amazingly Washakie was amenable to the arrival of the Mormons.  Perhaps he was worried about Colonel Patrick Connor at Fort Douglas who had led the massacre of Indians in Cache Valley at the Battle of Bear River.  That is speculation but the fact is that Washakie agreed to allow the Mormons to settle in the north end of the valley, the Idaho part, in return for an agreement that the Mormons would provide the Shoshoni with flour and beef.  He insisted that the southern part be reserved for the Shoshoni.  So the northern settlements were undertaken, using the general Mormon plan of villages and family farms also using the northern entrance and later the Logan Canyon route.  They also settled mainly on the western side of the lake because they perceived it as the best agricultural land. 

The southern part of the valley needed to be settled if the Mormon plan of preventing non-Mormons from claiming the land were to be achieved but the Washakie agreement stood in the way.  Charles C. Rich limited himself to the north.  In 1864 Luther Reed was assigned to go to the Bear Lake settlements.  He recruited a group of a dozen men (not families) to accompany him.  They entered the valley by the northern route but then went directly to Round Valley.  Washakie and his leaders had left the valley on a year-long hunting trip so hey had some time to get established.  Upon arrival Joseph Moore, one of the group, was appointed as presiding elder. 

The Shoshoni quickly responded and began to threaten the settlements.  The issue became heated and the Round Valley settlers fled to St. Charles.  Charles C. Rich agreed to negotiate with Washakie once more.  He took a delegation of men and met with Washakie.  The chief was fully aware that waves of American immigrants were swarming over the West, not just Mormons.  He was deeply worried about the future of his people.  Once again he agreed to allow the Mormons to settle in the valley, this time including the south.  He hoped that Rich would help the Shoshoni fine a new home.  Rich was an Indian Agent but did not have the power that Washakie hoped.  Nonetheless the U. S. Government was planning a reservation in the Uinta Mountain region and by 1872 the Shoshoni began settling there.  The delegation of men returned to the south end and built a fort at Laketown with David P. Kimball as leader. 

In 1868 a road into Bear Lake valley via Ogden Canyon was accomplished.  This brought settlers to the valley, entering at the south.  Most of these were self-motivated rather than assigned.  The growth was substantial.  Garden City was begun, initially as ranching but then as farms and village about 1870.  Initially it was called Little Valley but in 1878 it took the name Garden City that meant it had become a village.  It was the last town to be established in the Valley.  The next two decades were filled with strenuous labor to establish irrigation systems and farms throughout the south end of the valley.

(Much of this information is based on Robert E Parson’s book A History of Rich County.)

 

 

 

 

Musings of a Muddled Male

By Bob Stevens, The Muddled Male

 

What's in a Name?

      When I was in Jr. High School and living in Devils Slide with my parents, my bedroom was a small room just off the kitchen.  The room had been converted from a pantry, and it was barely big enough for my twin size bed.  It didn't have a door, and I suspect that was so that my parents could keep an eye on me..  At the foot of the bed was a little cubby hole where I hung my clothes, and above the cubby hole there was a large flat area where I kept all my treasures.  The most important of my treasures was a catcher's mitt where I hid the notes that I received from my girl friend Ann, who is now Ann, my wife. 

      One night I was laying in bed re-reading a few of her especially good letters when I came upon one with a scribbled note that had been added in handwriting that was not Ann's.  The handwriting was my dad's and the note said, "I liked this one best of all."  Now I'm no dummy and I knew immediately that my dad had invaded my catcher's mitt.  My space had been, to use a common phrase, violated.  Worse, it had been a joint effort between my dad and Ted London, his friend and accomplice.  So to protect myself from future trespassers I placed some small posts along the edge of my treasure storage area, strung strings between the posts to form a fence, and hung signs along the fence saying, "PRIVATE PROPERTY, NO ENTRY, R. L. STEVENS."  I used "R. L. STEVENS" instead of Bob because I wanted the sign to appear authoritative.  As you may have guessed, the signs didn't carry nearly as much authority as I had intended, but the name stuck.  From that day until he died of old age, Ted London called me R. L. 

      I'll bet your mother was the same as most mothers.  When you weren't in trouble she called you softly by your first name, or your nickname.  But when you were in trouble she spoke crisply and used both your formal first name and your middle name.  Isabelle Ann, instead of Ann, or Robert Leland, instead of Bob.  I was reminded of this when my friend the Math Professor called to tell me he was concerned for my well being.  Well, I assumed that he was referring to my former profession since he is a purest-numbers-man and has always had to bite his tongue when he says the word that stands for a practical-numbers-man, "Engineer."  But then he explained that he had been talking to Ann, my wife, at Church and she referred to me as "Robert" in a rather crisp way. 

      Now I too am concerned about my well being, and I have moved into the garage with the door locked and signs on the door that say, "BOB'S PLACE, NO ENTRY, R. L. STEVENS."  I am needing to hire an official Taster to make certain that the food Ann slides under the door is not tainted.  If you are interested in applying just knock three times and then whisper, "R. L., R. L., it is me your taster."  I really need a taster if Ann slides M&M's under the door and claims they are a treat.

Permits for Boat Ramps and Changes to Comprehensive Lake Plan

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah- January 2, 2012. Jennifer Hanson, Utah Forestry, Fire and State Lands, said that in the last few years the Comprehensive Plan for Bear lake has been implemented for more safety at Bear lake.  The division finds that they need more flexibility to manage Bear Lake than the plan authorizes.  They are working to make that change in this legislative session.  The change will allow, with written authorization, the division to either post against ATV use or to allow it in certain areas.  This gives more authority to the Bear Lake Management Plan and is specific to the Bear Lake area.   State Rep. Rhonda Menlove will sponsor the bill.    

In another matter, State Lands are considering closing private, non-permitted boat ramps on sovereign lands.   There are 240 permanent boat ramps on sovereign lands on the lake on the Utah side.  Sixty were  permanent concrete ramps but only 6 have permits.  If legislation passes, permits will be needed for a boat launch.  Hanson said, “Private use for public land should be compensated.”

 

Commissioner Tom Weston was opposed to this.   In years past people have been required to get permits for boat ramps but enforcement was lax.  Hanson  said that a lot of people were permitted for an easement but did not take the next step to get current permits.    Tom Weston said some of those have been in for 50 years. "This will be the fight of a lifetime." He said.

 

 “There is a new sheriff in town," said Hanson.  There is currently no beach launching fee and no permit required for tractors pulling into the lake.  Commissioner Bill Cox asked if this would be a yearly permit.  “We are at the beginning stages of these issues,” said Hansen.  Trying to manage things like keeping quagga mussels out of the lake with that many boat ramps becomes impossible. 

Commissioner Norm Weston suggested that there be a requirement that boats be cleaned and inspected before leaving infected waters rather than trying to prevent it in Bear Lake.  He said, “If we have an infected animal on the ranch, we are not allowed to take it off the ranch but have to dispose of it there before it infects others.”   With only one inspection site at the Marina it is just a matter of time before the lake becomes infested.

 

Sheriff's Report, December

Anita Weston, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah – December 2012.  There were 76 total incidents reported during the month of December.  There were 13 citizen assists, 9 traffic accidents with damage, 8 animal problems, 7 agency assists, 5 alarms, 5 civil process procedures, and 5 traffic hazards. 

There were 4 medical emergencies, 3 domestic disturbances, and 3 suspicious persons and/or circumstances.  There were 2 citizen disputes, 2 thefts, and 2 vandalism reports.  There was one each of the following: an abandoned vehicle, an assault, booking of a prisoner, a DUI because of alcohol and/or drugs, a fire, a traffic accident with injuries, a transportation of person and/or property, and a trespass.  

Of the above incidents, 33 occurred in Garden City, 28 in Randolph, 12 in Woodruff, and 3 in Laketown.  

There were also eight traffic citations given and nine traffic violations.  The traffic violations included a minor in possession of alcohol, one no proof of insurance, an open container and/or drinking alcohol, three speeding tickets, one traveling too fast for existing conditions, an assault, and false personal information given to police.

Poll on Budget Deficit

This is from bobspring@bonnevilleresearch.com  of Bonneville Research.  It seems to be the clearest definition of the national deficit.  It would be interesting to hear Rich County's take on how to solve the budget deficit.

The deficit that Congress is struggling to deal with is projected to be $672 billion for next year, 2013. This does not include deficit spending related to Medicare, as this is dealt with in a separate budget with a separate revenue source.

If Congress wants to reduce the $672 billion deficit, it has two options: it can raise taxes, it can reduce spending or both.

The following is the part of the budget that Congress has to approve every year, known as the discretionary budget for 2012.

The critical question therefore before Congress is "whether and how much the deficit should be dealt with by reducing defense spending, as opposed to increasing taxes or reducing non-defense spending".

Which of the following do you think Congress should do to address the discretionary budget deficit?

County Seat on Channel 4

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich County Times

The County Seat produced on Channel 4 at 8 a.m. is according to their website: “"The County Seat"  a public affairs program that focuses on the issues that affect county government. The show provides a platform that allows county leaders and related private industries to reach the public with news that affects the viewer at the local level. The focus of the program is not directed exclusively at the metropolitan areas, as is the case with other local news shows, rather it is focused on the affairs in rural Utah.   

Energy and roads are two of the main topics that the show will be covering. Chadwick Booth & Co. has independently produced both local and national television shows that are geared at educating the public on land issues for the past 19 years. "At Your Leisure" has been recognized by the Blue Ribbon Coalition, Utah Shared Access Alliance, and the Utah Association of Counties as an expert on handling stories that educate the public on land access.” 

Rich County pays over $15,000  for the program.

 

New County Chair and County Attorney Ill.

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich County Times

 

RANDOLPH, Utah – January 2, 2012.  Commissioner Norm Weston, who ran unopposed for County Commissioner was sworn in by Becky Peart, County Clerk.  Commissioner Bill Cox was re-elected to chair the commission.    

County attorney, Judd Preston, who has not been to a county meeting in several months,  has severe gout and some health problems and feels that he cannot do all the work he needs to do.  He would like to hire his former legal partner, Joe Chambers, and have him be appointed as a chief deputy attorney by the commission to do his work when he cannot.   Preston would be paid less and Joe Chambers would take that part of his salary, so no additional revenue is needed.  Preston is an elected official, Chambers would technically be an employee of the county.    

It was questioned whether the position needs to be advertised.  There was also discussion of what happens when an elected official is incapable of performing duties for a long period.  The party leaders recommend replacements and then the commissioners appoint the replacement from that list.    Commissioner Cox said that he probably needed to talk to the Utah State Attorney General regarding this.  Commissioner Norm Weston, said with a grin, “You mean we have to check with the State Attorney on what our attorney told us?” 

The requirements to be County Attorney include being a resident of Rich County.  Chambers is a Logan resident.

In other matters, the courthouse is having new carpet placed in the hallways to replace, old and buckled carpet and the concrete stairs will be repaired.

County Landfill Report

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah – January 2, 2012.   Mitch Poulsen, Bear Lake Regional Council, told the Rich County Commission that the landfill closure report was almost ready to submit.  The document has been ready for several years, but not submitted, so Poulsen needed to updates  cost estimates and needed a plan for an alternative landfill cover that met quality assurance quality control rules.   He was able to get the changes done for free.  Landfill application will be submitted.  

The mechanism for funding needed to be changed also to met State rules.  The commission will set up a fund  at the State Treasurers Pool in a PTIF (Public Treasures Investment Fund).   It needs to be kept separate from the general fund and be designated for landfill closure.  When landfills are full they need to be closed, reclaimed and turned back into a natural, covered area.  Total cost of reclaiming Rich County’s landfill is $14,294 this year.  Of course costs will go up, so each year the county needs to add money for that inflation.   The larger the landfill becomes the more money needs to be set aside for appropriately closing.   The county currently only has one active landfill cell open and they are closing each cell as a new cell is dug.

Bear River Mental Health Report

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah - January 2, 2012.  Rob Johnson, Board Member of Bear River Mental Health, presented the 2011-12 Yearly Bear River Mental Health Audit review to the county commission.  It also goes to the State Auditor. There were no issues with the audit. 

 

“With the school shooting in Connecticut there is more emphasis on mental health said Commission Chair, Bill Cox, but there will be less funding in the future.   “This year,” said Johnson, “expenses were over $268,000  more than revenue this year.  Federal Medicaid revenue to Utah went down by $1 million.    The Federal government pays 70% and the State of Utah pays 30% of the total cost.  “We have one of the better match rate than other, most states have a 50/50 match,” said Johnson.  “It is based on per capita income and since we have more children than other states our per capita income is statistically less." 

Funding structure is built on county funding first.  There is a 20% match of the 30% from the state for counties to leverage to $7.4 million in funding.  Because most of the cost goes for personnel  who deal with mental health problems, personnel expenses account for 76% of expenses and administration 14%. The rest is for maintenance and operation of facilities.    Mental Health services are in Rich County schools one day a week and it provides services at clinics in Garden City and Randolph.