Castle Dale city council talks about problem properties

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Castle Dale City met in their July meeting to discuss city business. Mayor Danny Van Wagoner conducted the meeting. Councilmember Julie Johansen thanked Joel Dorsch for a successful City Celebration.
Randy Johnson approached the council and said the traffic on 200 North between Center Street and 100 East, and up the hill to the elementary is going too fast. He wants the City Council to consider what can be done for the safety of the children that live on that street. He has contacted the Sheriff’s Office and they are good to help, but can’t be there all the time. He is especially concerned when school is in session.
Councilman Dorsch suggested putting up a speed limit sign. Mayor Van Wagoner said they will have the maintenance department put up a speed limit sign, then table the matter for a month for when Brad Giles is present as it is his department.
Bryant Anderson talked about the Habitat for Humanity Brush With Kindness Program. This program will do minor home repairs for homeowners who are elderly, disabled, or otherwise in need. The labor is free, and the program provides no interest loans for the materials. He wants the City to be aware so they can refer people to Habitat. He has the contact information. The projects are evaluated on a case by case basis. There is an application that will need to be filled out. Anderson’s phone is 748-0088.
Nosh Arrien invited the Council Members to ride on a truck set aside for them in the Emery County Fair Days Parade. The Firefighters will pass out bottled water. Be at Stewarts parking lot at 9 a.m. on Aug 2. The parade starts at 10 a.m.
The office staff wants a merchant account so they can accept payments online and they think it would help eliminate delinquencies. They have many people come in the office wanting to pay with a debit card. Mayor Van Wagoner suggested the office staff keep a tally for 60 days. How many want this and are they willing to pay a fee?
The staff will keep a tally and find out the costs on the program Orangeville is using. The fee for rezoning was discussed. Ferron sent their paperwork and they charge $300 and Orangeville charges $100. Kerry Lake zoning administrator remembers the fee as $72
Council member Dixie Thompson asked about animal rights. Lake said it depends on the size of the property. One animal unit per 10,000 square feet above the building lot size. Minimum building lot size is 8,000 square feet. One horse, cow or other large animal is a unit. 20 chickens counts as a unit.
Arrien reported they have the ladder truck from the federal government. It is not certified, and the ladder is not retracting as is should. The Fire Chief from Price is helping with the ladder, and it should be an inexpensive fix. We can use it as a fire truck, but cannot use the ladder until it is certified.
The Fire Dept is helping with the Fair and parade and helping with the second week of the Pageant.
Thompson said we have not received any communication on the Seely properties. They also have not been cleaned up. She wants to send a second letter, certified this time, with a copy of the ordinance. This letter will mention the 14 day compliance period. If this fails we need to do something, possibly going through the courts, getting an estimate to clean it up, or using the fire code. Other properties are Clifford Price at 210 East 100 North. There are many non-operating rusty cars on his property. Douglas Winter’s property at 200 East 200 South has an abandoned foundation. People are dumping garbage in it. The office staff will send letters to these three people.
Julie Johansen said, “I attended the County’s LEPC meeting. It was about Hazmat training. We turn these matters over to the Sheriff’s Office. I have not been able to schedule CERT training.
Thompson suggested talking to the Sheriff Greg Funk. He will get it scheduled. Lael White said they found the ordinance on Business Licenses required licenses for rental properties with three or more rental units. The office will be sending letters out on this next week to the rental property owners.
The city will be advertising for a new code enforcement officer to work part time.
The County will not help with the demolition or hauling the debris on the Main Street Project. The city does not have a demolition permit yet. The State issued one, then retracted it because of the historic nature of the building. The city will develop a plan to knock it down. The city has the equipment to haul the debris away. Councilmember Dorsch may be able to help with this property.