At the February Orangville City Council meeting, the council provided a letter concerning the construction of a new fire station. The city’s current fire station was built in the early 1960s with an addition built in the 1970s. The fire department currently has two fire trucks, a mini-pumper, a foam truck and the Emery County Fire District air tanker. There is a serious need for more room. In answer to suggestions to build onto the current building, the city does not want to use up the land from the city park. Should the new station be built, the city plans to remodel the old building and use it as either a recreation facility for park events, civic and private parties and perhaps a museum.
The city has recently acquired a lot on 400 South Main, which they feel would be an ideal location for the new station. To help with the funding of the project (estimated at $600,000) the council applied to the Permanent Community Impact Fund Board for a CIB grant. In January city representatives met with the CIB to discuss the grant. The board indicated that the city will be awarded a $300,000 grant and a $300,000 interest free loan. This funding will enable the city to build a five-bay fire station.
To help repay the loan, the city held a public hearing on Feb. 16, to discuss raising utility bills $2 per month. This rate increase comes shortly after the city was able to reduce rates by $2.20 per month.
The city must attend a final meeting on April 7 for approval of the grant and loan. The council feels this is a one time opportunity for the city and encourages citizens to show their support.
Also at the meeting Phil Fauver informed the council that the Economic Development committee wants a copy of the economic development plans for Orangeville, including industrial zoning, enterprise zoning or the general plan. Brad Reed represented the Orangeville EMTs in asking the council for a contribution to help them pay for the new coats that have been purchased. Lorraine Frandsen asked for a contribution to support the Girls State participants. Yvonne Olson requested a business license to run an ice cream truck in Orangeville one day per week.
The council also discussed more of the recodification to the city codes. The council is currently going through the city codes and trying to get them up to date with the state codes. The council will discuss at the March city council meeting and also hold a public hearing in March to gather input concerning the changes.
During the staff reports, Dennis Tuttle, Planning and Zoning/Animal Control, reminded the council of the dog licensing and rabies clinic that was held on Feb. 19, at the fire station. He also mentioned that the state just had the first case of someone surviving rabies. Cindy Nielson, treasurer, requested to go to the Treasurer’s Convention in St. George, April 12-15. She also informed the council that she has earned her Certified Public Finance Administrator points, which requires 100 hours of education and 40 points of experience (4 points are earned per year). She wanted to send in to receive her certification, which will be awarded in August. She also brought up an addressing problem that the city has with one home. The address the city has doesn’t exist and the address the county has doesn’t exist. The council is looking at giving the home a physical address so that emergency personnel can locate the home easily.
Murleen Bean, recorder, informed the council that the county will be mailing notices of building permits issued to the city on a weekly basis. She presented some legislative issues: all meetings will be taped and kept for 180 days; abatement of weeds and neglected properties; and water rights and irrigation companies. She received a letter from the Local Government Trust stating that workers compensation will be based on payroll. She read a letter from the community theater requesting donations. She noted that there is going to be changes made to the way that donations from cities are done. They will require a public hearing, or to get around having to have a hearing each time, the city could include line items for contributions in the yearly budget. Donations will have to meet the state qualifications which are fairly broad. Bean will also be retiring in June.
Pat Jones, council member over the fire department and the cemetery, reported that they have cut out more of the Chinese elms at the cemetery. They have removed a total of 70 trees and have replaced them with 70 to 80 new trees over the past three to four years. They will be turning the water on April 1.
Kelly Alton, council member over planning and zoning and the historical committee, suggested more names of people to be put on the planning and zoning committee and the board of adjustments. He also stated that he wanted to change the ordinance so that committee members can not be on both boards. Jones stated that they had discussed this previously and decided that it would be more fair to have one representative on both committees for background purposes. Alton then suggested having a secretary on both committees, that would know the background but not be a voter. The council approved Bill Dellos and Joyce Staley for the board of adjustments and Carol Larson for the planning and zoning committee. Alton will submit more names in March for the last vacancy on the planning and zoning committee.
Jeff Tuttle, council member over roads and water and the sewer department, stated that there is county property on Main Street from about 500 South to the end of town that needs to be deeded back to the city. He also brought charts showing Orangeville’s culinary water usage for 2004. He listed several intersections that are in need of street lights. The city will look into getting them placed, as well as getting power to the cemetery.
Mayor Thayn Cox informed the council that the Castle Valley Special Service District has requested that cities hold public meetings (informational purposes only) because they have had land owners changing layout after the work has started. Energy West has requested an outside water connection.
The council decided to begin training of a new recorder in March and to have the person also attend the Recorders Convention in Richfield with Bean. They will be hiring through Workforce Services. The next Orangeville City Council meeting will be held March 10 at 7 p.m.
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