Castle Dale City reports successful celebration

Castle Dale City met in their June meeting. Mayor Dan Van Wagoner welcomed everyone to the meeting. Gordon Bennett from the Castle Valley Pageant asked for the city fire department to take a truck to the Pageant site and fill up the pond on the site during the Pageant. It would need to go up five or six times, Aug. 2-4 and 7-11. The total cost to the City would be $250 to $350.
Ryan Hayward appeared and questioned the council about his brother’s semi truck that was parked near his home in a residential area. It has been parked there occasionally for two years with no complaints. Why does it have to be moved now?
Mayor Van Wagoner stated it is against the city ordinances to leave the truck parked in a residential area. Since it came to the attention of the city and the council, it has to now be enforced. The truck driver could park the tractor in the residential driveway if the entire vehicle fits and doesn’t block the sidewalk.
Fire Chief Nosh Arrien presented a resolution to adopt the state’s code for times fireworks may be discharged.
Fire Chief Arrien said that the city cannot totally ban fireworks, but can designate areas where fireworks will be prohibited. The council and Chief Arrien determined on a city map the areas where fireworks will be prohibited.
Recorder White reported that as per Councilmember Giles request, she contacted the ULCT. Their legal department stated the volunteer firefighters and Land Use Committee, as well as code enforcement officer are considered employees by the IRS. The city will now pay them as employees, and deduct FICA from their pay as well as contribute the city’s portion. They will receive a W-2 instead of a 1099 at the end of the year.
Recorder Lael White informed the council about the CIB Grant that the city applied for. It is for a salt shed. The City is asking for approximately $16,000 for concrete footers and stem walls. The city crews will erect a donated shed from Rocky Mountain Power that they tore down in March. It will be behind the current city shop on Center Street north of Highway 29.
The council looked at amending Resolution 2-2-18 Councilmember Giles informed the council of the language changes he wanted in this resolution. They included removing the language about refilling the secondary pond. He also added the intent that each area of property was to be watered a maximum of three times per week.
Councilmember Giles recommended wording changes to the new lawn watering permit. When spot seeding an area, not the whole lawn, they are allowed to water only the spot that was seeded, not the whole lawn. They can hand water that area.
They are allowed to water for five minutes every two hours, every day for two weeks. Jaki Collard will make the changes to the permit.
Councilmember Joel Dorsch stated that the property owner next to the food court area of the Fairgrounds has removed the trees, and is installing a chain link fence. Since it would enhance the look of the City’s property, he wants to know if the City can contribute to the cost of the fence.
The council discussed that it would set a precedent, and the city would have to do the same for all property owners adjacent to City property. No one moved to approve this, and the matter was dropped.
The GPS headstone map of the cemetery hasn’t been updated for more than five years. The cost to do this with Johansen and Tuttle will be $1,800. Nosh stated that this is the most valuable map for work in the cemetery.
Recorder White went over the changes in the budget reviewed at last month’s meeting. They include an increase in estimated income. Some department budgeted amounts were increased. A line item for donations was added which will include labor and supplies donated. The FICA for land use committee, firefighters, and code enforcement were also added.
Councilmember Julie Johansen brought up that she had learned about the recreation for public purpose lease from the BLM. The lease cost is minimal, and she would like to lease land south of the sheriff’s office and build ballparks.
The council discussed that they tried to do this before and couldn’t get permission. They also discussed the cost of new ballparks, and whether the city needed new parks.
The animal control report was presented by Seth Smith.
The justice court hasn’t updated our fee schedule. They have been short handed, and some people haven’t been charged the right fees. There was a complaint about a new puppy that was resolved.
PTIF Resolution 2-2-18 B This resolution, required by the state treasurer requires the city to authorize three signers on the Public Treasurers Investment Fund with the state. They will be Jackie Collard, Mayor Danny Van Wagoner and Lael White
On Aug. 24-25 there will be a regional fire school in Castle Dale at the fairgrounds. The volunteer firefighters will also attend trainings in Moab in October or St. George in January. The fire department burned a home for demolition and for training. The city hall needs to have their fire extinguishers inspected soon.
Wash Fire update. The county was accidently charged for this fire. It has been resolved.
State, federal, and BLM lands may be charged for fire suppression. Private property owners are not charged for suppression.
We now have a fire truck stationed at the Huntington Airport for the Trail Mountain fire. Jason Kava, Brooke Fielder, Cammeron Westinskow, and Jason Smith have been attending that truck.
Emery County has been asking Castle Dale for a percentage of the monies we are being paid for sending our trucks to non-local fires.
The history of this is no fire department in Emery County has sent out a truck for about 20 years. Castle Dale is the only fire department in the county qualified to send trucks on non-local fires.
In the past seven years, the Fire Board has contributed $130,000 to the Castle Dale Fire Dept, including one truck, several SCBA’s and liability insurance on the fire trucks. This money comes from mineral leases. Castle Dale City has contributed $250,000 during the same time period.
We have on average 30 call-outs per year for our department, with five on those in city limits, and 25 outside City limits in our assigned area of the County.
The county wants an MOU, which Chief Arrien has requested for several years. Any monies from non-local DNR fires that is turned over to the County will be given directly to the fire board and distributed from there.
Chief Arrien will meet with the fire board and commissioners to work out this matter.
Chief Arrien issued a fire citation for burning without a permit. The fire Department was called out, and was able to quickly suppress the fire. The property manager cooperated with the fire department and will pay a fine.
The sidewalks at 920 N 150 E will be repaired in a couple of weeks. Crews are working on the maintenance list, and cleaning the city shop. Arrien met with Commissioner Kent Wilson about the county fair. Commissioner Wilson said he would pay the city whatever costs are incurred in preparing for and cleanup during and after the fair.
Arrien is to furnish the county with reports on hourly wages paid to the regular workers, and additional workers hired for the fair. Mayor Van Wagoner reviewed Manning’s reports, and noted that JJ is out every day watching for water violations. He has turned in excellent detailed reports.
Treasurer Collard reported on sales tax, and transportation tax. There were no donations or fee waivers during May. Recorder White reported the city has re-issued 48 business licenses. Twelve of those are no cost home occupation businesses.
Mayor Van Wagoner complimented the city celebration It was fantastic. “We had a good turnout for the kid’s games and the kid’s rodeo especially,” said Mayor Van Wagoner.
He asked the council to sign a letter to an owner of property on Main Street that is in poor condition, and is causing problems.
Information provided by Castle Dale City.