Orangeville City looks at annexing property

By PHIL FAUVER Guest Writer

During the December Orangeville City Council, a municipal building authority, public hearing was held to issue bonds for the construction of a skate park near the Orangeville City Park and pavilion on property purchased from Rue and Carol Ware a few years ago. The council approved the issuance of the bonds for the skate park. The Youth City Council Mayor Colton Leavitt reported on the snow day activities with about 30 youth attending.
Kelly Olsen appeared before the city council to ask for a donation for the Emery County Community Theatre, they will be putting on the play Honk in March. The council approved $100 and reminded her that organizations requesting money had to be on the city council approved list and in the budget each year. The community theatre is on that approved list.
Gary Hall of Castle Dale requested that the city council of Orangeville consider annexing his property and provide him with primary and secondary water, sewer and stock water. Hall has property on the North side of Bott Lane between Bott’s and Jim Fauver. He plans to purchase the property owned by Val Anderson and Tracy Jeffs, along the South side of Bott Lane. Hall’s plan is to create home sites on each of these properties, although he hasn’t said so, could in the future become a very large subdivision and increase the tax base for Orangeville. Because none of the property, Gary plans to purchase, is connected to Orangeville City boundaries, the owners of property between Hall’s property and the city would have to be contacted for their approval prior to annexation.
Annexation of property at the North end of Orangeville’s Main Street and East along Bott Lane could affect the business interests of some of the land owners (along Main Street) as they may not be able to live within the Orangeville’s three animal unit Ordinance and other rules to continue their business.
Mayor Bart Cox told Hall that under Orangeville’s current ordinances and the Special Service District current rules the city cannot issue a water hook up outside of the city limits. The mayor did indicate that those water hook up rules are under review and may soon be changed.
According to Dennis Tuttle zoning administrator, when Hall installs and pays for putting in utility lines to his properties then he can apply for the hook up connections to the city water and sewer systems.
The possibility of a sewer line from the South end of Main Street and down Bott Lane was discussed. The digging of trenches and putting utility lines along Main Street and down Bott Lane to these properties was also discussed.
Tuttle reminded the council that the city has an ordinance that requires all utilities should be in place before property can be annexed. In the past the city of Orangeville has required the land owner to install the necessary water lines to the property prior to accepting a request for a hook up to the city water lines. The city then charges a higher fee for the water usage from those hook ups outside the city on a monthly basis, because the land owner is not paying city taxes and are only paying county taxes.
Hall has asked to be on the Orangeville City Planning and Zoning agenda for Dec. 17. The recorder added his name to the agenda.
Craig Cox was approved for an animal permit. Mayor Cox reported on the responsibility of the city council to help with the 2010 Census.
Every house and address has been recorded on a GPS map.
Christmas bonuses for city employees were discussed and approval was given to keep them the same as last year.
The cost to the city of receiving city utility payments by credit card and debit card was discussed. The cost appeared to be prohibitive but will continue to be investigated.
Nick Manning and Dawnette Tuttle were approved for four more years on the planning and zoning board.
The city council approved asking Attorney David Allred for a price quote, about what he would charge to represent the city as the city attorney.
Councilman James Davis and Mayor Cox, as this was their last meeting, both commented on how much they had enjoyed the last four years representing the citizens of Orangeville and working with the employees and City Council of Orangeville.