Green River City update

By COREY BLUEMEL Staff Writer

As Green River City Council met in their regular session in August, Joni Pace from the Green River Community Center awarded the volunteer of the month award to Mark and JoAnn Williams. The Williams’ have recently moved to Green River from Arizona and became involved in community activities. They have given many hours of service, surveying and leveling the ground at the community center for a basketball court, helping with the Kid’s Cafe, and serving and delivering meals.
The first two items on the agenda involved Sunrise Engineering. One was to approve or deny Sunrise to oversee the water project, for which a CIB grant has just been awarded, and the other was to approve or deny Sunrise to draw up a culinary water management and conservation plan for Green River.
The water project will involve the installation of a new high pressure water line on the west side of Green River, and the installation of a pressure relief valve. Along with this new high pressure line, 20 new fire hydrants and radio read meters will be installed. (Later in the evening, the councilmen would open the CIB discussion and approve to withdraw the addition of the radio read meters and proceed with more pressing water issues, such as a broken river crossing line, repairs to other lines, and repairs to sidewalks for ADA qualifications.)
In regard to the Sunrise Engineering projects, two councilmen, Dan Harrison and Kerry Bigelow, cast their votes against using Sunrise Engineering, while two other councilmen, Blaine Evans and Tom Burr, voted to accept the services of Sunrise Engineering. Mayor Dale Johnson was required to cast the tie breaking vote, and he voted to accept Sunrise to oversee these two projects.
Howard Tuttle, of Johansen and Tuttle Engineering, informed the councilmen about the recent bid opening to do reconstruction work on Pirate Avenue (400 North). He stated that both companies from which the bids were received are conscientious and reliable. The engineer’s projection for the cost of the project was $147,000. The bid from LeGrand Johnson’s was $146,000 and the bid from Nielson’s Construction was $158,000. The council approved to accept the bid from Johnson’s. Oct. 31 is the projected finish date for the project.
Since the council meeting in July, at which the council approved to raise water rates in the city by 25 percent, the final budget has been analyzed and the water department is not in the red. The council approved to rescind the rate increase from July’s meeting and restore the previous rates for water customers.
Mayor Johnson then expressed his desire to amend the curb, gutter, and sidewalk policy in Green River. The current ordinance reads: 10-12-22: Curb, gutter, and sidewalk policy: A. New development: The entire cost of the curb, gutter, and sidewalk shall be the responsibility of the developer and/or the owner of the property. This shall include all new development, whether it be in a new subdivision, an addition in an existing subdivision, or the development of a single lot that does not appear to be part of any apparent subdivision. The curb and gutter shall be completed prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy. Also, all grades for curb and gutter shall comply with the current master plan for drainage, and shall be surveyed by the city by a surveyor or engineer of the city’s choosing, at the city’s expense.
B. Existing structures within city limits: The city shall provide curb and gutter at the city’s expense. This shall be done on a first come first served basis, except in cases as it deemed necessary by the council that a more urgent need for the control of drainage is needed elsewhere. It is the desire of the city that sidewalk be constructed at the time the curb and gutter is constructed, and shall be required by the property owner. The city may secure bids for the cost of the sidewalk or the owner may secure his own bids. Either way, the property owner is responsible for all costs associated with the sidewalk. If the property owner chooses to allow the city to do the sidewalk, the cost shall be agreed to, in writing, prior to construction. (Res. 5-09-2000, 5-9-2000)
The proposed changes are: 10-12-22: Curb, gutter, and sidewalk policy: A. New development: The entire cost of the curb, gutter, and sidewalk shall be the responsibility of the developer and/or the owner of the property. This shall include all new development whether it be in a new subdivision or an existing subdivision. The curb and gutter shall be completed prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy. Also all grades for curb and gutter shall comply with the current master plan for drainage, and shall be surveyed by the city, by a surveyor, or engineer of the city’s choosing, at the city’s expense.
B: Existing city streets: The city will provide curb and gutter on all city streets that are in place and are designated as such on the date this amendment was passed by the city council. The construction of curb and gutter will be scheduled by the city council upon the availability of funds and where the needs are greatest. It is the desire of the city that sidewalks be constructed at the time curb and gutter is constructed, but will be the responsibility of the property owner.
No ordinance can be approved without first holding a public hearing and gathering public input. The council was instructed to study the proposed amendments and a public hearing will be scheduled. No action was taken and the measure was tabled.
Two resolutions were approved during the meeting. The first was #04-2005, appointing an ordinance enforcement officer. Mayor Johnson said that many in Green River are in violation of city ordinances. The city council and city employees have strived to bring the property owners into compliance with no success. In dialogue with other cities and the county, Mayor Johnson stated that if an enforcement officer is appointed, that officer could issue citations to alleviate this problem. Roy Pfanders, who is currently the animal control officer in Green River, was appointed and sworn in, to be the enforcement officer.
As a part of the enforcement officer’s duties, he will take direction from the mayor. As the process to bring a resident into compliance with city ordinances is followed, the last step in the process will be to issue a citation, and Pfanders will be instructed by the mayor when that becomes necessary.
Resolution #05-2005 was also approved. This ordinance authorizes the Emery County attorney to represent the city of Green River in any actions taken in county court. This resolution in contingent on approval by the Emery County commissioners.
In other action by the Green River City Council, a water and sewer rate change was approved. The request was from the Green River post master for a change from a commercial rate to a residential rate. The council also approved to sell the roto mill material to resident for $1 a yard, with the revenue to be added to the road department budget. As a final act, the council approved to become a platinum sponsor of the Castle Country Economic Summit to be held in Castle Dale on Oct. 6-7.
The next Green River City Council meeting will be held Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. in the Green River City Hall.