Ferron City held their council meeting on Aug. 22. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and approval of the previous meetings minutes. There was one item for the board of equalization. The Stressing home has been rented and she requested bills from the city be sent to the new tenants.
The meeting was open for public comment. Mickey Syndergaard made a complaint about the trailer park owned by Ethan Hurdsman. “We have filed complaints, my neighbor and I, about the garbage and their dogs and I guess Ethan was notified today and so they did a quick clean up today and there’s a mattress lying on the lawn between them and me and the dogs are eating the mattress and it will be all over my house with all of the toys pretty quick. I was just wondering if there was something we could do to keep that enforced if they will keep it clean. Clothes hanging in the trees you know it’s just kind of an eyesore and it is hard for us to have to live with so we would like to see if there is something we can do if we can’t make them clean it up can we go to the property owner.”
Another concerned citizen, Eve Jackson, who lives across the street from the trailer park, “Ethan promised me that it would be a clean trailer park and that it would be skirted, he pulled that one trailer in. It has been sitting there unskirted for about two months and he told me someone was moving in and told other people it was just parked there temporarily. The tongue and everything is just sitting there. It’s just an eyesore for everyone going to the canyon and to the golf course. It’s sad that it has become worse than it ever was and we just want it cleaned up. I realize everyone isn’t the same, but I still think people need to be courteous and I don’t let my dogs run at all people don’t even realize I have dogs. I keep them in my place and we have horses and we try what we can to keep our place clean.”
Mayor JoAnn Behling said, “I can agree with you I have been driving around town and can’t believe how untidy many of the lots are that we go by, no pride.” Mayor Behling asked Councilwoman McCall Fuller if there was a contest the city could do to tidy up the yards.
Jackson, had heard that the city of Castle Dale had similar problems with a property owner who refused to clean up his property. The owner was given two or three notices to comply with the city ordinance. After ignored notices the city went onto the property and cleaned it up and charged the citizen for the clean up. She continued to say, if the owner did not pay for the clean up within 30 days charges would be pressed.
Mayor Behling said “We can’t put them in jail, but we can attach the bill to their property tax.”
Misty Hansen, a resident of the trailer park spoke about the trailer park. She said, “I just moved into that property of Ethan’s that they are talking about. I’m a single mom with four kids and I’ve lived there probably since Aug. 8 and that is when I finally got things moved in. I’m trying to get things situated with my kids with school and doing all that being a single mom with four kids. I also have Graves disease, which don’t judge a book by its cover until you ask people. Graves disease is a very difficult disease to deal with. There are many days I can’t even get out of bed. Ethan is a hardworking guy and I don’t appreciate them sitting here saying he’s a slumlord. He’s not a slumlord. He has been the best landlord I’ve had since I’ve moved here and he is trying but he is really busy. He is a real estate agent so he has other businesses he is working on and he’s had a couple kids over there and yes their are people moving into that vacant trailer. Will it stay in the same spot the way it is? I don’t know. He may choose to move it closer to us or he may chose to move over by the other one. He is doing the best he can with the property that he bought. Yes, he bought it in the condition it was in and he knew that and yes he is busy so yes I believe he does need to hire out some people to help, but I did clean up my yard today the best I could. There is not a lot of room in that trailer and I have a little bit of storage space under the trailer. It’s not that big of an eyesore. My dogs got off their chains a couple times. Their collars are loose I fixed that. You know honestly I’ve never been treated so hatefully and so ignorant. I came from Manti and I lived there most of my life. I came here in February and I can’t wait to leave. It’s that bad.”
Hansen said both neighbors had threatened her and her dogs, which resulted in an exchange of words and allegations between the parties. Mayor Behling restored order to the council meeting and warned that any further behavior would stop the public comments on the issue.
Snydergaard said she never threatened anyone, but she did go over to the residence one night at 11 p.m. to ask them to keep the noise down. She admitted she wasn’t very nice, but was just tired of all the noise.
Jackson said “I don’t blame them, I blame Ethan I called him today and said can you call me or be there (at the council meeting.) He’s in Colorado he can’t be there. I went over and I talked to him and his guys.”
Mayor Behling allowed one more comment on the trailer park issue. Hansen suggested having the inmates to help clean up the property. Mayor Behling said the inmates could not be used on private property. Hansen suggested maybe the community could come together and help him clean up the property.
Mayor Behling allowed other public comments, not associated with the trailer park.
Kathy Brotherson resides on second east at the very end of town and wondered if the speed limit, which is on the end of her property could be moved down the road so people can realize that there are people living there now. There are little kids that live on the street and people come up the hill going 45 because they don’t slow down for the 35 mph sign.
Mayor Behling said they would take it into consideration as soon as possible.
Councilman Ronnie Bloomer commented on the trailer park and said he sent a letter to Hurdsman on Aug. 12 hoping things would be taken care of. He has 10 days to comply.
The council made a motion to canvass the 2013 primary election. It was approved unanimously.
The annual Peach Days celebration was discussed. Some citizens were wondering if there was going to be mutton busting this year. The fire department said they were not willing to move the tires in and out of the arena because it is very labor intensive and not feasible just to accommodate the event. Councilman Bloomer said there was no easy way to move the tires.
The soap box derby was discussed. Councilwoman McCall Fuller asked if three wheel cars would be allowed. As set forth in the original rules the only conditions were the vehicle must stop, go and turn with no stipulation on the number of wheels. Last year there was two divisions, three and four wheel. For the 2014 Peach Days the rules will change that all soap box derby cars must have four wheels.
Citizens were wondering if they could get their parade lineup number in advance. Councilman Jackson said that wasn’t possible because entries just show up on parade day without having registered, so the numbers are given out the morning of the parade. Preregistered entrants could be e-mailed or given a phone call with their parade number.
The council discussed the chicken ordinance, because of the noise of roosters crowing all day. Chickens are also running loose and getting into yards. The crowing roosters could be treated as a nuisance complaint if it is a continual problem. The city ordinance does say the chickens must be kept in a coop at all times. Mayor Behling said the city ordinance covers the issues but we just need to enforce it.
The council voted to go into a closed session to discuss the lease or sale of real property-pursuant to Utah code section 52-4-205 (d). After the closed session the council returned and voted unanimously to continue with the council meeting.
Mayor Behling discussed moving the next meeting from Sept. 26 to Sept. 18. It was approved unanimously.
There was no update about the water truck. They are waiting on a part. The horse panels that were loaned out still haven’t been returned.
Rex Funk has been having sewer problems he is still on the old system. The city is going to put a manhole closer to his property to see if they can reach it and clean out the line.
Councilwoman Fuller said the curbs have been painted and look good.
Ryan Winn gave the golf course report. He said the golf course had a computer stolen on Sunday evening from the old club house. The individual(s), first attempted to break into the lower maintenance shed and were unsuccessful. Grand Junction Pipe has given the golf course a temporary computer until the old one can be replaced. There was also a short in the TWI wire. A new one was sent from Rainbird, but it was the wrong one.
Insurance should cover what was taken and the golf course can be watered with satellite boxes.
The door and the frame will also have to be replaced. The golf course business has picked up over the last few weeks.
The budget report was given and the meeting was adjourned.
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