300 West Road Project Delay

Kathie B. Anderson, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  Cindy Gooch, Funding Specialist, reported that the UDOT grant for the 300 West project has been delayed two years because of sequestered funding.  Originally, the grant was to be funded in 2016, but UDOT wants to move it to 2018 because of  limited funds.   Mayor Sphuler, Cindy Gooch, and the City Engineer will meet with UDOT on May 23, 2013 to attempt to get the grant funded for 2017, a one year delay.  

The Culinary Water Master Plan for Garden City is being prepared.  Grants and other potential sources of funding are being evaluated for the revitalization of downtown Garden City.

Recreational Director Position Discussed

Kathie B. Anderson, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

 

GARDEN City, Utah.  Garden City Council.  Keri Pugmire suggested that Garden City should have a Recreational Director incorporating 4-H, arts/crafts, swimming instruction, life skills, and safety awareness. The program would also be responsible for organized team sports such as, baseball, soccer, tennis, etc. The Garden City Town Council agreed that this would be a good investment for the youth. Keri Pugmire was given a stipend of up to $500 to organize a recreation committee.

The Garden City Town Council discussed H.B.333S1, regarding launching restrictions on Bear Lake.  

Garden City Council Meeting Report

Kathie B. Anderson, Reporter

Rich County Times

     

Staff Reports: 

GARDEN CITY, Utah. Riley Argle, Public Works Department, reported that the project to repair the water main line in Lakota has been moved to the fall.  A public hearing will be held next month on the proposed Garden City Gun Range.  So far, everyone who has seen the site is excited about this project.  An on-site visit will be available for the public before the public hearing.  Because of unavailability of asphalt, the project to replace five outdated water meters will be delayed until Monday of this coming week.  The GIS mapping is progressing.   

A bid for a parking lot at Heritage Park should be coming in this week.  New trees have been planted, a ramp has been installed, bentonite clay has been added, the head gates and boxes repaired, ditch improvements have been installed, and rock has been laid to slow erosion at the Heritage Park Pond. 

So far, eight of twenty decorative light poles have been installed in Garden City.   Landscaping surrounding the Water Treatment Plant is being completed as promised to property owners.    A water line must be installed in 300 West before construction of the roadway.  A 14” water line must be installed for bypass reasons, to serve properties, and for fire flow.  The estimated cost of this project is between $90,000 and $100,000, including hydrants, fittings, etc. 

Andy Stokes, Code Enforcement Officer, is preparing a new format for giving citations.  New businesses are being consulted regarding the sign ordinance.   Stokes has stated that most businesses have been cooperative regarding signage.  Signage stating that a business is open/closed, enter/exit signs are considered informational, not a product sign. 

Danny White, Garden City Administrator, performed jurisdictional determinations of the wetlands along 3^rd West.  Hydrophytic vegetation assessment, soils classifications, and hydrology assessments were performed.   Using GIS,  White compiled the data collected in the field and delineated the wetland boundaries. Two other roadway projects, 100 West and 75^th North-Beach Access Road, also were assessed, as was 300 West. An initial survey of the site (the 75 North parking lots) will determine the opportunities and constraints.  

A preliminary layout of the parking area has been produced.  Some changes on the layout of the decorative lights to allow more flexibility in the spacing have been implemented and installation of the lights is continuing.   White has met with State Parks, Utah  Division of Wildlife Resources, and the Rich County Commissioners to discuss the gun range design, and is  working with the Division of Wildlife Resource to mitigate the impact on winter grazing habitat, and with UDOT to determine if a turn lane will be needed.  

Garden City with is also working with State Parks to identify the locations of property corners on the site.  White spoke with Renegade Raceway and should have a letter of understanding that the Raceway will have the façade on the sign by the first week in July.  A map showing public beach access points and locations for future parking adjacent to these sites is being prepared.  An information Kiosk design proposed by White has been signed and stamped by JUB and will be under construction soon.

 

NEW BUSINESS IN TOWN 

A second location was approved for Epic Recreation, LLC., Nathan Smoot, at 200 N. 160 W. Boat, Sea Doo, UTV Rentals and Repairs. A third location was approved for Epic Recreation, LLC., Nathan Smoot, 201 N. Bear Lake Blvd. Boat, Sea doo, UTV, Rentals and Repairs. 

Subway Restaurant location was approved for John Jensen at 25 North Bear Lake Blvd. upon condition of a NO PARKING SIGN or STRIP, and that the parking ordinance will be followed.

 

SHORT TERM RENTAL LICENSES  

Short term rental licenses were approved for the following: 

At 135 South Bear Lake Blvd, Elizabeth Seiler, Property Management Company in Bear Lake Lodging; and Marina View Condo #11, Glen Smith, Property Management Company in Bear Lake Cabin Rentals on condition of a fire inspection by Dan Kurek, Fire Chief, and completion of a checklist by George Peart, Building Inspector. 

Funding for Bear Lake Annual Conference

Kathie B. Anderson, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  The Garden City Town Council held a public hearing on Thursday, May 9, 2013.  Mitch Poulsen, Bear Lake Regional Commission, asked the Garden City Town Council to match funds with the Rich County Commission to host the Bear Lake Annual Conference which will be held on Saturday, May 18, starting at 9 a.m.  The first session will be moderated by Jennifer Hansen, Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands.  Mitch Poulsen, Bear Lake Regional Commission, will moderate the second session.  Vaughn Rasmussen, Bear Lake County Commissioner, will be the keynote speaker.  The Garden City Town Council voted to approve the $500 funding requested.    

 

 

Heads Up - New Plans For Bear Lake

Heads-up Utah Bearlakers, The Bear Lake Regional Commission, Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands(FFSL) and Garden City are hosting meeting on May 18th at the lake. Check out the half day agenda (attached). It has many topics of interest, but it also includes at least one of particular importance: Utah State Lands is proposing to amend the Comprehensive Management Plan along with changes in the rules regarding: Where boat launching will be allowed Where vehicles may travel How launching permits will be issued and to whom. Should "Private Ramps" or any structure that crosses on to state land be allowed/Permitted The attached notice was mailed out to those who have property adjacent to lake, but this is important to all who use the lake in Utah. This is to be a public process. You are the stakeholders, even if you can't attend, make sure your views and interests get expressed properly. Please look over this material and feel free to reply or call us if you have questions or concerns. Attached: Agenda for May 18th Notice from State Lands Withdrawal of Permitting Private Boat Ramps House Bill 333

Claudia & David Cottle Executive Directors Bear Lake Watch, Inc. 2629 Hwy 89 Fish Haven, Idaho 83287 801-243-8980 - Claudia 208-530-0058 - David Working to keep Bear Lake "Clean, Deep and Blue"

Spring!

Spring Flowers In Our Mountains

Rich County Commission Notes

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

RANDOLPH, Utah. May 1, 2013.  Kim Wilson, County Treasurer, presented some personal property exemptions for approval by the Rich County Commission.  She noted that in the last legislature the amount had been changed from under $4,000 to under $10,000 in order to apply for personal property exemptions.  She felt this will have a real impact on the County.  The exemptions she presented were approved. 

An Auditor has been engaged to review county records.  The commission approved this action. 

Scott Jacobson informed the commission that three bids on a county building exterior had been obtained.  He noted that most of the cost concerned a 14' x 14' door.  They requested that he get one more bid from a company who has done good work for the county in the past before making a decision on the bidding for this project. Jacobson noted that the new dumpsters are nice looking and working out well.  One of the garbage trucks needs to be advertised with bids due on the 10^th of May.  

Interviews for part time summer help for the Sanitation Department will be held next week, May 8, at 1 p.m.  The commissioners requested that a background check be made on all applicants for these positions.   

Lou Jean Argyle reported to the commissioners that the apportionment from the Ruby Pipe Line must be paid back.  The county will need to return $107,000.  There are several entities effected by this appeal by the pipe line company.  In addition to Rich County, the Rich County School District, the Woodruff Cemetery, and the Woodruff School are some involved.  It was noted that the School District will probably raise taxes to cover this loss.  Ruth Smith has contacted all of the entities involved and will hold back their apportionment until their portion of the bill is paid. Currently this item is shown as a negative until all monies have been paid back. 

A refund was requested to be granted to one of the county tax payers.  Part of his property was in green belt, and the county was unaware of this designation on his property. 

Ruth Smith suggested that rodeo tickets be made available online.  It is a quick and easy way to handle tickets for this event.  The monies would be placed directly into the fair account.  However, since all tickets are for general seating, the Commissioners didn’t think there would be much advantage to doing tickets this way.
 

The Rich County Commissioners passed a resolution in support of the Sage Grouse Management Program.  This resolution will bring the county in compliance with the state requirements.  The general land usage plan will need to be amended.  Identification of the number of acres for sage grouse must be made and give priority to these birds in those areas.  The designated areas that have been identified will take precedence over mineral extraction, improving trails, fishing on the lake shore, further recreation in those areas, as well as the land currently being considered for the proposed gun range.

Musings Of A Muddled Male

By Bob Stevens, The Muddled Male

Am I Old Already?

      I was thinking that it was only yesterday that I was in high school swaggering around wearing a D.A and lookin’ cool.  Wearing a D.A., for those of you not of my era, meant that one’s hair was saturated in Brylcreem and combed back on both sides to meet at the middle in the rear so that the back of the head looked like the south end of a duck waddling north.  I would still be wearing my hair that way except that Ann, my wife, put her foot down immediately following our wedding vows and told me that I was forbidden to blow my nose in any hanky that she was expected to wash, and no greasy head was allowed to stain the pillow cases on her bed.  I don’t know if my mother was just kinder than Ann, or if she just assumed that greasy pillow cases and a used hanky were the price for having someone around to shovel snow. 

      I began worrying about having grown older when I received an invitation this past week to my 60^th high school reunion and realized that we will be a bunch of old people sitting around trying to talk about the good old days that we can’t remember.  I have already started studying my library of old high school yearbooks hoping that I will be able to remember names, but I suspect that my problem will be that I will be able remember names but not recognize faces.  I began to worry about recognition this morning as I was shaving and the face staring back from the mirror didn’t match anyone in my yearbook. 

      Have you noticed that as we grow older things that used to be supple and soft tend now to be leathery and brittle, or that men who once had a full head of hair now have bald spots but hair growing out of their ears.  I recognize that growing old has its challenges.  The thing I fear most about my reunion, however, is that Ronald “G” is still tough and mean, and I still won’t be able to outrun him.  If I could, I just might go to my reunion sporting Brylcreem, a D.A., and packing a hanky to show them that I am still lookin’ cool.  To translate that into teenager speak, “to show them I am still, like, lookin’ totally awesome, dude.”  The only thing holding me back is my fear of Ronald, plus the thought of Ann taking me down to the Garden City Car Wash to clean me and my hanky off with the high pressure hose before she lets us back into the house.

Scouts Denied Bike Race Permit

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. May 1, 2013.  Jason Eborn, a representative of the Trapper Tails Scout Council, asked the Rich County Commissioners to approve the Scouts “Bike the Bear” event.  It is scheduled for August 16-17 and would begin at the LDS Church Building in Garden City.  The scouts would ride their bicycles around the lake on the Utah side to a 25 mile marker, then turn and come back to Garden City.   

The Commissioners informed  Eborn that there was a safety issue when  bikers are going both directions at once, especially on the east side of the lake where the road is so narrow.  They noted that the dates were during the busy season which meant there is a great deal more traffic that normal and makes it an even greater danger for the individuals on bicycles.  They would be glad to approve the activity if it was moved to May or September, but they could not approve the activity in August.

Eborn noted that he had 100 volunteers to help, that at least 1/3 of the riders were serious about bicycling, he would have trained and certified flaggers, and so forth.  They would make the event as safe as possible.  The Commissioners said it still couldn’t be approved for that date.

Eborn said he would go back to the Scout committee and report that the activity could not be held in August.  He said he would ask that it be pushed into September and would let the commission know of their decision.

Mountain Men Rendezvous

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

RANDOLPH, Utah. May 1, 3013.  Lee Johnson of the Bear Lake Rendezvous met with the County Commission.  He wants to begin a tradition of holding a Mountain Man Rendezvous in the Meadowville area.  Plans are underway for the activity to be held this coming August 22-25.  The public is invited, and those putting on the activity will set up their booths and so forth prior to the 22^nd.   There will be activities every day all day long.   

Johnson noted that he has had 30 years of experience working with the Ft. Bridger Mountain Man Rendezvous.  Ft. Bridger holds their activity for four days and has about 10,000 people there each day.  However, this activity has grown almost too much.  The county there no longer feels it can handle the needed sanitation issues, and the city feels there are too many people everywhere.  He feels that event is on the decline and would like to start a new tradition here in Rich County just west of where the original Rendezvous was held in 1827. 

The Rendezvous Committee sponsors this event as non profit .  Because it is non profit and the costs of the activity are escalating, Mr. Johnson asked that the County wave the $500 fee for this year to help in getting this event started.   

Mr. Johnson reported that the event is really pretty self-contained.  They have their own security, it is a family oriented event, and it will be held on the north side of Big Creek with plenty of parking.  They have estimated that this first year will draw about 500 - 1,000 people.  Arrangements have been made for a shooting range on the hillside close by which will be carefully controlled and safe.

Forest Service Road Contract and Work

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

RANDOLPH, Utah. May 1, 2013. Jennifer Parker of the Forest Service, Ron Lance, a landscape architect, and Kim Martin, a Forest Engineer, met with the  Rich County Commission.  They reported on the meeting that had been held the day before dealing with the Overlook above Garden City.  The original plans for that facility had been changed, and these individuals felt that the original plan needed to be revisited and some changes made to accommodate more visitors, to try and use less water,  and plant vegetation that will grow easily in that area. 

A road contract between the county and the Forest Service had been drawn up.  The contract was for a ten-year period and would include three roads each year.  There would be a schedule that would be reviewed annually listing the roads that would be worked on and maintained for that year.  Roads would be deleted and added as needed with signatures and dates put on the schedule.  That way those areas needing the most attention could be brought to the front each year and allow for flexibility in keeping and maintaining those areas that need work done on them. 

UDOT is going to put up a snow fence by the snowmobile tunnel at the top of Logan Canyon.  The tunnel has been filling with snow and not usable.  The snow fence should help until natural trees and plants are placed in the right location and grown big enough to provide for a long-term fix for this problem.   

There is an International Forestry Convention scheduled for October 2014.  The convention usually includes several field trips to see various areas.  Northern Utah is on the calendar for some of the tours for this upcoming convention.

County Building Remodel

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

RANDOLPH, Utah. May 1, 2013. Jon Nichol reported to the Commission on the remodeling that is being done on the County Building.  The window wells were opened.  One in the front is deep and could be a place where someone could hide.  It could compromise the jail.  In addition, there needs to be an egress from the sheriff’s office through one of the windows.  That window could have a grate placed on it that could only be opened from the inside if escape through there were ever necessary.  Currently, none of the windows meet code.  

Water issues and mold have all been taken care of.  The rain gutter system works quite well and is adequate.  There are some repairs that need to be made on it in two separate places.  All of the down spouts need to be replaced and either a heat coil system with a separate switch or heat tape will be used to keep gutters and down spouts open.    

The foundation looks good.  The window wells need to be filled and planted over.  Any soil next to the building needs to slope away from the building for better drainage. 

Nichol estimated that about $1,500 would be needed for plants and shrubs.  He suggested some plants that hold their form and do not require a great deal of maintenance. Those for under the windows only grow to about three feet in height.  The others between the windows grow much taller. 

A new sprinkler system needs to be installed.  Separate bids will be obtained for that.  The county can either use local companies or go to Home Depot or Lowes for what they need.  Some top soil will need to be brought in and will cost about $240 a load. 

Mr. Nichol was asked to write up his comments and plans and get them to the commission so they can look them over and make some decisions.

First Sails

First Sails
Photo by Laurieann Wakefield

Plans For The Overlook

Reported by Bess Huefner

Rich Civic Times 

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  April 30, 2013.  Garden City council members, Brian House and Bess Huefner met with officials from USFS, UDOT, Rich County Tourism (Melinda Hislop, & Don Hunt), the management of rest areas, and Wayne Earley from the State Parks, at the Overlook for a discussion about the use and future of the Overlook.

 

The group learned that there had been questions on how the use of the overlook had strayed from the original design. Originally, the use was just to be in the summer and fall.   However, there are enough people stopping in the winter that perhaps the facility should be open and manned year round.  Also, vegetation had changed from the original design of xeriscaping for high mountain deserts. 

During the discussion the group was informed that in order to keep the Overlook safe for future use, the original agreements may need to change. 

Jennefer Parker, from the USFS, suggested that the group meet again, review the original plans, and see what is now needed at the Overlook. 

Suggestions were made to change the urinals to flushless ones, to encourage bus companies to just stop for the view and then go on to Garden City to use facilities there and perhaps shop. The group was told that the mountain vegetation just did not take root and grow and had been replaced with plants that are now surviving.

 

New Businesses Approved In P & Z Meeting

Randall Knight, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

 

GARDEN CITY, Utah. May 1, 2013. The Planning and Zoning meeting was held as scheduled at 5:00 PM on the first Wednesday of the month.  The board members in attendance were: Lance Bourne (chair), Mike Schiess, Dallas Solom, Nate Gracey, Chuck Stockings and Jim Wood.  The following member was absent: Dwayne Gifford 

The first topic discussed was the Parking and Architectural Standards for Epic Recreation for a business to rent watercraft and off-road vehicles located at 201 N. Bear Lake Blvd.  The business will be located in the Berry Bowl building.  Lance stated he did not have any concerns with their business plan.  Lance pointed out that there is a parking ordinance requiring 1 in every 10 parking stalls to be for oversized vehicles but that shouldn’t be a problem at that location.  The other board members agreed.

The next topic discussed was the plan proposed by Epic Recreation for a business at 200 N. 160 W for the rental/repair of watercraft, UTV’s, etc.  This business will be located in one of the buildings West of Vic’s Hardware.  The board had no concerns with this proposal as well.  The Epic representative stated the business would be open year round and they will work with the Beaver Creek Lodge snowmobile rental during the winter months.

The next topic addressed oversized parking for restaurants.  Lance stated he thinks it would be an over burden to require the restaurants to have oversized parking.  The board agreed this requirement should be limited to only businesses with overnight parking because the impact to the traffic would be for a longer period of time.  Mike shared his concern with the city making concessions for the current businesses and new proposed businesses instead of trying to move the oversized parking locations and eventually new businesses off Hwy 89/30 and onto 300 W.  The Mayor pointed out the city has invested a lot of money and effort to provide more parking at 75 North hoping people will start parking there and walk to the shopping and eating establishments.  Dallas stated his concern with the state not working with the city to help rectify the parking problem along the highway before somebody is injured or killed while trying to cross the road; especially near the Bear Trapper, and City Park.  This sparked a long discussion on how the city has been trying to get the state to reduce the speed limit and work with the city on the parking issue along Hwy 89/30 during the busy season. The board decided to table the discussion to the August meeting.

The Mayor shared the discussion held during a Fire Board public meeting pertaining to short term rentals and inspections.  He recommended the P&Z board start working with the city to identify the various residential areas that favor short term rental and those that don’t, so authorized zones can be setup.  That way when a person applies for a short term rental business license the City Administrator’s will be able to determine if the requesting party lives in an authorized zone or not.  The board thought it was a great idea and asked for a list of the HOA’s and private owners who are interested in short term rental, so they can discuss the topic in more detail at the next meeting.  The Mayor pointed out that currently the city is obligated to issue a license to whoever requests one and then that party has to work within their HOA with any issues that arise.

Lance stated that Sunrise Resort has decided to put their business on hold at Harbor Village.

Mike shared a discussion he had with the city of Richfield in regard to their ATV jamboree and how they handle the OHV traffic.  He was told they use directional signs to help control the areas where the ATV’s can and cannot go.  The signs have proved to be great help in organizing the various rides offered and how to access the various trail heads from within the city.  He was asked to put together a plan and identify the number of signs that would be required to provide directional signs to the various authorized ATV trails accessible from the city.

Dallas pointed out there are parking spaces painted along a road in Snow Meadows that restricts the width of the road to emergency vehicles.  The Mayor said this had already been brought to his attention and the Fire Chief is going to measure the width of the by-pass to determine if the 21 foot requirement is met and notify the city of his findings.

Subway Sandwich was given approval by the Variance Committee to proceed with their effort to get a business license if a couple of minor things are rectified in the Texaco service station.  The Mayor stated he was pleased with the processes and the way the affected groups followed them.

Chuck pointed out that SB153 Local Government Amendments were changed and signed into law by the Governor last March.  So the city needs to review the changes to see how they will impact their current ordinances for new developers.