Orangeville city discusses cemetery project

By PHIL FAUVER staff writer

Mayor Roger Swenson conducted the October meeting. He invited John Hughes the Principal of Cottonwood Elementary School to address the meeting on the topic of an Orangeville Facebook Page. Hughes explained how the Cottonwood Elementary School Facebook Page has helped get more interaction with the parents. He felt the Orangeville Facebook page could benefit Orangeville residents and requested that he as a volunteer be given permission to take over the page and update the Orangeville City page. This page would help promote city events like Orangeville Days. Hughes said he would provide updates to the page including upcoming events around the holidays and any announcements the city council would like to make such as information about secondary water. The page could also be used to highlight community businesses. The city council agenda could be added to the page and may possibly get more community involvement. City Councilwoman Carole Larsen would supervise his Facebook work. Mayor Swenson thanked Hughes for volunteering to help the community.
Scout Cache Leavitt the son of Julie Leavitt reported on the completion of his Eagle Scout Project at the Orangeville City Cemetery Veterans Memorial. His crew removed the plastic barrier surrounding the flower and shrub garden. They then replaced that barrier with a level red brown block wall about eight inches high. This block wall really makes the Veterans Memorial look more attractive. Cache provided the city council with a photo of his finished project. The 150 bricks used in the project were purchased on sale for 1.79 each instead of the normal price of 2.51 each. The council thanked him for his good work.
Councilman Kent Wilson pointed out that the Orangeville City policy currently does not provide a way to compensate an Orangeville family for correcting their driveway approach. The Butler family built a new home and the driveway approach in the curb and gutter is not in the correct place for an entrance to his property. Councilman Kent Wilson over road, water, sewer and animal control suggested the city give Jared Butler $1,200 to pay for the cost of cutting 20 feet out of the existing curb and gutter and putting the driveway approach where he would like. This money would come out of Class B Road Money. Kent pointed out that when the curb and gutters were originally made a driveway approach was installed every 100 feet. That driveway placement did not always match up with where the homeowner wanted it. Kent said the City of Huntington had a policy of compensating new homebuilders a fee to replace the driveway.
Councilwoman Carole Larsen over Planning and Zoning said she spoke with the Huntington City secretary and found that Huntington’s current policy does not now provide that driveway correction compensation. She suggested this item should be taken up in Planning and Zoning.
Kent Wilson reminded the Mayor that one citizen had been compensated $3,000 by the city from Class B Road Money to correct a problem with his sidewalk and driveway approach and which occurred without a city policy in place. The Mayor said that was a different circumstance.
The Mayor commented, if the city approves of $1,200 to correct a driveway approach problem for one citizen then everyone that has a driveway approach problem could come forward to the city and ask for their $1,200 compensation. This could become a financial burden for the city. It was noted that in some cities the homeowner and not the city pays for the cost of changing or making a driveway through the existing curb and gutter provided by the city.
In preparation for the upcoming election the city council approved a list of election judges. The election judges approved are Melanie Thompson, Dwayne Story, Shirley Van Zyverden and each will be compensated $100 for their service.
Ruanne Leeflang reported that on Thanksgiving there would be an Orangeville Bouldering Festival.
Mayor Swenson stated he has signed the rental agreement with the John Deere Company on behalf of the city for a New John Deere backhoe to be used by the city. The amount of the rental is to be $891 per year. He said this is a very great deal for the city. This is much better than having to repair or replace the older Orangeville City backhoe.