Cleveland Town in conjunction with the Utah Department of Transportation has secured new flashing lights for the school crossing on Main Street in Cleveland. They have also hired two crossing guards to be present in the mornings before school and after school. Cleveland Elementary plans to encourage all students that can to walk to school on National Walk to school day on Oct. 6. Janae Minchey, crossing guard asked the Cleveland Town council if they would like to donate to the walk to school day. The council said they would donate monetarily to walk to school day. Minchey will look at some different ways to recognize the children as they walk to school this day. The Emery County Sheriff’s Office has been contacted and they are spending time patrolling in Cleveland and they said everyone has been very good about slowing down. UDOT may help with reimbursement of the cost of the power to the poles for the project. Council member Greg Oliver suggested the town write a formal letter of thanks to UDOT for their help with the lighting project for Cleveland.
The town is in the process of purchasing a new sign for the public safety building. The colors have been picked and power will be run to the sign. An amount of $18,172.59 is left over from the construction of the new building. The council will discuss what to do with this remaining money. A security system will be installed on one of the doors and possibly the other monies will be used for a back-up power source like a generator. New radios have been purchased for the fire trucks. The council discussed the purchase of land at 74 West and 100 South that belongs to Dot Allred. This land is for sale. If the city purchases the land they would always have room for the fireworks and in the future could build a skate park there.
Council member and fire chief Greg Oliver said they need a 300 foot buffer zone when they shoot the fireworks. If homes are built there it could cause some issues. The town will look at the possibility of purchasing the property.
Oct. 7 has been set for a public hearing for the general plan.
A Cleveland resident complained of nuisance trees, Chinese elms, on a neighbors property and they blow seeds all over and trees are coming up all over her property. She said it is messy and she is tired of cleaning it up each year all summer long.
Mayor Chris Parkins said Cleveland has an ordinance which deals with noxious weeds and he thinks the trash trees fall in this category. Council member Oliver said people need shade and he recommends a long term project as a town to remove trash trees and replace them with shade trees that aren’t nuisances. Bryan Christensen, council member said a long term solution needs to be worked out that everyone likes. Everyone needs to be proactive and diligent in getting the trees out.
The mayor said he will look up the ordinance on this issue. He told Jamie Jensen, town clerk, to draw up a letter to bring awareness to this ordinance and the town will seek voluntary compliance on weeds and nuisance trees.
Christensen suggested the town make it easy for the people to clean-up their trees by offering to haul off cut trees. The letters will be sent out with information on the burn season which is Sept. 25-Oct. 24.
The town is hiring for a position of flower watering and cleaning of the town offices. The current crossing guards Janae Minchey and Heather Norton will add these duties to their current ones. They will set their own schedules. There is a check list of all the tasks which need to be performed with this position. The town will pay closer attention to the upkeep of the water truck making sure it’s ready to go for flower watering.
There is enough B & C funds to extend the sidewalk near Bret Hansen’s property approximately 100 feet. This will be done while the contractor is still in town.
Christensen had a question on the style of sidewalk and the approaches. He said he is planning to change the one by his house. The mayor said during the sidewalk construction over the years the ADA standards have changed several times. As the town has used grant money for some of their sidewalks, they must adhere to the standards that are in place. If Christensen takes sidewalk or an approach out, it must be put back in according to ADA standards.
The mayor and Oliver will consult with local land owners to get their input on approaches and sidewalks coming to various parts of the city. Oliver said it has been the practice to visit with land owners to make sure things are done in accordance with landowner wishes wherever possible.
Cleveland Town goes forward with sidewalks according to the Castle Valley Service District’s plan. Sometimes residents feel like their street is being neglected, but the town is moving according to the CVSSD plan. Mayor Parkins said his goal is to make sure sidewalk is complete all around the school. He encouraged property owners to go ahead and do what they have planned for their yards. The city will try to plan and take into consideration what the resident has planned and the road and sidewalks will be dealt with when the time comes for their street to be done.
Cleveland had several entries to the clean-up contest. The contestants submitted before and after pictures. Only two after pictures came back and it was determined by the council that Josh Taylor be awarded first place and Eldon Holmes second place. Cash awards were given to the winners.
Jax Gardner approached the council about an Eagle Scout project he would like to pursue. He would like to place a welcome to Cleveland sign. It will be 14 feet tall and approximately 4 feet wide. The sign will be placed near 300 North on the west side of the road by Eldon Holmes property and Jim Jennings. The mayor said the sign will need UDOT approval since it is a state road. The sign currently in place will be relocated. The town agreed to finance the project for up to $550 and Gardner along with Eldon Holmes who is fabricating the sign will have artistic license with the sign. Holmes explained the figurine for the sign is called the Moab guy and is a petroglyph in Moab by their golf course.
Cleveland recently had their dump truck which needed repairs. The hinges were torn out when the bed lifted up. Council member Oliver wondered what the procedure is for the city to have repairs done in a timely manner as council meetings are only once a month and sometimes repairs are needed in between times. Mayor Parkins said it is the procedure to have repairs less than $500 performed, but those over $500 need to come before the council prior to being completed.
Oliver said if repairs for town equipment are included in the budget and the budget has been through public hearing and council approval then why can’t repairs take place in a timely manner. In emergency situations repairs need to be completed in a timely manner, if a grave needs to be dug then the backhoe needs to be repaired, or the authority needs to be there to make a decision to hire out the job, if town equipment can’t do the job. The mayor said he has adhered to the $500 guidelines so he isn’t making the decisions alone for large expenditures for the town, he likes council approval as a precautionary measure.
Oliver said people need authority to do what needs to be done for the town. Guidelines need to be set up. All small repairs shouldn’t have to be brought before the council. The council will further discuss this matter and review guidelines already in place.
The council voted to set up an account with National Tank Services (Trimac) so the town can do business with them on credit. Trimac’s shop is an open shop which services all types of trucks in North America. They have recently become certified to do commercial vehicle inspections.
Councilman Oliver abstained from voting on the NTS account. He is an employee of Trimac. Mayor Parkins pointed out that Oliver will receive no personal gain from any business the town conducts with Trimac.
In the discussion of the Class C roads fund update Jensen reported the town will be required to pay the CVSSD in the month after the deposits are made for the town. The town will pay 15 percent each year to the CVSSD. This will go into a fund toward payment of the chip and seal when it’s Cleveland’s turn for this to be done. This will be 15 percent of all future funds. Currently there is approximately $58,000 in this fund. It is very specific what these funds can be used for and includes road maintenance and equipment to maintain roads. The council will discuss future needs of the town and where that money may be used. The mayor suggested the town will need to look at purchasing another vehicle in the near future as the water truck is getting old.
Oliver reported he will fly to Omaha with the other fire chiefs for the final inspections on fire trucks on Sept. 21-23. The Cleveland truck should be ready by January. During October the fire department will give fire training to all the students in the elementary school. The students will come over in small groups to the training room at the new fire station.
Verla Jensen, council member presented a gift certificate to Jamie Jensen for her work on the 24th of July celebration. The council will meet on Oct. 13 in the training room to get started on the NIMS training. There will be lap top computers available to take the tests.
Mayor Parkins met with Sheriff LaMar Guymon and it is looking good for an ambulance to be placed in Cleveland in the new fire station. Christensen thanked Oliver for his work on the 24th of July fireworks and all his service to the town. The mayor told all council members he put a copy of the Roberts Rule of Order for the conducting of public meetings in their boxes for their review. The next Cleveland Town meeting will be on Oct. 14.
Cleveland Town increases safety
"Newly placed flashing yellow lights will add to the safety of Cleveland school children."