Saturday, March 29, 2008
Powerhouse Gym Coming
City plans secondary water system for developing areas
| City plans secondary water system sfor developing areas |  |  |
| Lance Madigan - NORTH COUNTY STAFF | |
| Developing communities have a lot of needs, not the least of which is water. Desert-like communities such as Saratoga Springs often have to decide infrastructure based on development needs, but hope to not have to create limits. While not as bad as some areas, Saratoga has been struggling to meet secondary water needs for its growing community.In the last couple of weeks, the City Council was presented with plans that will involve digging new wells and creating a new distribution systems that will benefit all parts of the city. "This will serve the majority of the properties where we have been experiencing low pressure," said Ken Leetham, Saratoga Springs city manager. "It is also important to note this is essentially the key back bone to a potentially larger system that could be expanded for extra distribution," said Mark Edwards, public works director. Impact fees and water rates will need to be increased to help pay for the $12.9 million system, but exactly how much hasn't been determined just yet. "I think we have the ability to rather than make equal payments on the bond, to ramp up the payments on the bond obligations that the city has so that the initial water increases don't have to be as significant," said Spencer Kyle, assistant city manager. "The new growth that comes with building the system -- the additional revenue through water rates -- will actually be able to keep up with our bond application. "Larger population and larger revenue will make bonding for these facilities a lot more palatable," he said. Leetham added Saratoga Springs has had an informal policy that new development could not begin until secondary water rights and the ability to distribute that water were secure. That is another advantage to the new system. "There is excess capacity for several hundred units," he said. The new system would replace an existing well called the Sunrise Meadow's well. Edwards said the new well would feed the new reservoir in Saratoga Heights development. A new pump station would replace the Church Pond Booster Station to provide pressure to other areas. Finally, a pressure reducing system would be added to the lower end of the system. At the lowest section of the city, the pressure become unmanageable, and by installing a station near Redwood Road, the city could tie in much of the system to create redundant back-ups. If all goes well, the new system could be up and operational by the 2010 irrigation season. |
Party Officers rally voters for local caususes
| Party officers rally voters for local caucuses | | |
| Lance Madigan - NORTH COUNTY STAFF | |
| Tuesday evening caucuses were held around the state in homes, offices, and schools to elect local party officers. Saratoga Springs's Republican Caucus, along with Eagle Mountain's, was held at the Ranches Academy in Eagle Mountain."Basically [officers] are responsible for all the local politics that happen in our precinct area," said Becky Pirente, newly elected SR-03 precinct chair. "One of our primary responsibilities is to get our voter base energized and exciting about going out and voting." "They are trying to get people out to vote for the party they are looking to see in office," said Jeff Pendleton, new SR-04 precinct chair. Pendleton and Pirente were encouraged by the turnout, but stressed that everyone should get involved in order to make his or her voice heard. "I was concerned that I didn't have the abilities or skills to be involved or to have an impact," said Pirente. "The most important thing to do is to take that first step. Reach out to other people. You would be surprised at what you find. Other people might not be as knowledgeable as you think but they will be willing to help you out. It just all becomes part of the fun process of being involved in politics." Chris Pavia, new SR-03 precinct chair, agreed. He said that Tuesday was his first caucus meeting. "What a surprise. I go to a caucus meeting and I get nominated for precinct chair. I was hoping for maybe delegate or maybe treasurer or something. Low and behold, people like me, I guess. I was not expecting it." "It is easy to think that 'I don't have time for this' or 'Someone else will take care of it,'" said Pirente. "But I don't think that is always the case. You can't always just pass the buck." For more information on becoming involved or caucus results, visit www.utahgop.org for the Republicans or www.utahcountydemocrats.com for the Democrats. |
Planners want help with Utah Lake's future
| Planners want help with Utah Lake's future | | |
| DAILY HERALD | |
| Caleb Warnock Utah Valley residents are being asked to help plan the future of Utah Lake. The Utah Lake Commission, which is a new government agency tasked with looking after all things Utah Lake, is beginning the process of creating a master plan for the largest natural freshwater body in the West and wants community input on what that plan should be.Residents can comment on everything from a proposed Utah Lake causeway, to hunting, lake access, water quality, services they would like to see added, beaches that should be developed, areas that should be left untouched, lakeside trail systems and more, said Reed Price, commission director. Planning will include land roughly a quarter-mile inland around the lake. "The purpose is to create a vision and management plan for Utah Lake to guide us as a commission and agency members as we make decisions in the future," he said. The commission recognizes that there will be many opinions about the lake's future and they will not all mesh, he said. "We have already received several comments ranging from, 'Don't do anything' to, 'Create marinas all around the lake,' " he said. "We hope to blend that and create areas that are not touched and others for access and development." Cindy Gubler, a spokeswoman for the project, said many residents may be unaware that a new organization has been created to plot the lake's future. Public comment "is very important," she said. "This is their big chance. This is the first step, and this will sort of kick it all off. The lake is a huge resource to the community, and I think this is a great project for the community to be doing." Zoning maps and plans by cities surrounding the lake will be on display to show residents what exists now, as a starting point to planning, Price said. The plan will consider six elements: land use, natural resources conservation and management, public services and capital facilities, transportation, shoreline protection and recreation. Following public meetings this week, the commission will spend time evaluating public comment and developing a master plan, which is expected to be presented to the public at a meeting in July. A draft of a final plan will be presented in the fall for public comment. The Utah Lake Commission is made up of local government officials and state agency leaders. The Utah Lake master planning project is called Awake Utah Lake: Planning for the Heart of Utah Valley. Public open houses will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Lehi Senior Citizen's Center, 123 N. Center St. in Lehi; and on Thursday at the Utah Lake State Park Visitors Center, 4400 W. Center St. in Provo. For information about Awake Utah Lake or the Utah Lake Commission, visit UtahLakeCommission.org. "I think this is a great project for the communityto be doing." Cindy Gubler Utah Lake Commission spokeswoman |
Friday, March 28, 2008
City Council Agenda April 1, 2008
1. Reports:
a. Mayor
b. City Council Members
c. Staff
2. Adjourn to Policy Session
POLICY SESSION – Commencing at 7:00 p.m.
• Call to Order.
• Roll Call.
• Invocation / Reverence.
• Pledge of Allegiance.
• Public Input – Time has been set aside for any person to express ideas, concerns, comments, questions or issues that are not listed
on the agenda. Comments are limited to three minutes.
POLICY ITEMS
1. Public Hearing: Ordinance #08-9 (4-1-08): An ordinance adjusting the common boundaries between the City of Saratoga
Springs and Lehi City.(Brinkerhoff property)
2. Public Hearing: Ordinance #08-10 (4-1-08): An ordinance adjusting the common boundaries between the City of Saratoga
Springs and Eagle Mountain City. (Kevin Kirkland property)
3. Proposed bid award for storm drainage improvements on Redwood Road.
4. Proposed bid award for secondary water line connection on Fairway Boulevard and Redwood Road.
5. Proposed bid award for upgrade existing Church pond secondary water booster pump station on 800 South and 450 West.
6. Proposed Master Utility Agreement with the Utah Department of Transportation in connection with the widening of
Redwood Road through Saratoga Springs.
7. Ordinance #08-11 (4-1-08): An ordinance prohibiting connection to the City’s culinary water system for outside irrigation
use, establishing procedures for removal of illegal connection, establishing penalties and an effective date.
8. Ordinance #08-12 (4-1-08): An ordinance establishing a procedure for enforcing the City’s existing watering restrictions
and establishing penalties and an effective date.
9. Motion to enter into closed session for the purpose of discussion litigation matters, acquisition of real property or
authorized personnel matters.
10. Action from closed session, if any.
11. Adjournment.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Developer groups rate Utah County building and planning departments
Developer groups rate Utah County building and planning departments
A countywide report card - released this morning and commissioned by a pair of national organizations that represent developers' interests - gives Orem a pair of A+ marks and American Fork an F and a D. It shows Orem's building and planning departments are detailed, friendly and efficient while American Fork's are confusing, understaffed and disorganized.
Utah chapters of the National Association of Industrial & Office Properties and the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors have done the study for the
| Report card Grading for office development Orem: A+ Saratoga Springs: A Lindon: A- Pleasant Grove: A- Highland/Alpine: B+ Springville: B+ Payson: B Spanish Fork: B Eagle Mountain: C+ Lehi: C+ Provo: C American Fork: D Grading for industrial development Orem: A+ Pleasant Grove: A Saratoga Springs: A- Lindon: B+ Springville: B Spanish Fork: B- Payson: B- Lehi: C+ Eagle Mountain: C+ Provo: D American Fork: F Highland/Alpine: N/A |
In general, the report found that Utah County cities are friendly and accommodating, but they lack the knowledge and efficiency of Salt Lake County.
A group of BYU students conducted the survey by approaching 12 cities as "secret shoppers." They told officials they were looking to build a three-story, 84,000-square-foot office building or a 93,975-square-foot industrial project in the area and first needed cost estimates and timelines.
The report details various fees and timelines for general projects. Those that had low fees and quickly issued permits generally earned higher scores, while thosethat charged more and were slower scored lower.
Grades were officially based on a city's "friendliness, efficiency and knowledge."
Alan Rindlisbacher, director of corporate marketing for Layton Construction, said he hopes this year's report card will benefit developers and cities alike as a win-win project.
"This gives municipalities a mirror so they can see how they are perceived," he said. "It lets them know that they might need to improve to keep up with surrounding cities."
Provo spokeswoman Helen Anderson wasn't interested in the ranks and data, which put her city near the bottom with a C in office development and a D in industrial. Instead, she said she enjoyed sitting in on developers' conversations and taking advice on how best to improve certain practices.
Doug Meldrum, Lehi's economic-development coordinator, criticized the groups' past studies and said the report erroneously treats cities like they're on a level playing field. But he said this year's report should help Lehi determine whether to raise impact fees.
Said Meldrum: "We have a lot of development in front of us, and we want to be as facilitative as possible."
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
UDOT repairing and widening roads at record pace this year
March 25th, 2008 @ 5:10pm
Jed Boal reporting
Get ready to see the orange barrels multiply across the state. Road builders are already working full tilt on some projects, and many more start soon.
One major road will open, I-15 keeps growing and roadwork will accelerate even more in the years ahead.
Road building never stops in Utah. In fact, it's picking up speed. "This year we have over 200 construction projects across the state--whether it's maintenance projects or adding capacity to our existing lanes of traffic," said Adan Carrillo, spokesman for the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT).
It's $1.8 billion worth of projects, and you'll run into several of them along the Wasatch Front. For example, UDOT is rebuilding 9000 South from I-15 to 150 East to add capacity and improve safety. They should wrap up that work in July.
Work on I-80 will continue for a couple of years, and farther north, Legacy Parkway opens this fall after more than a decade of planning, legal limbo and then construction.
Crews will also finish the I-15 expansion from Ogden through northern Weber County this year. "They'll increase a lot of capacity on I-15 and ease the commute in northern Utah," Carrillo said.
UDOT will also widen Redwood Road between Bangerter Highway and S.R. 73. Adding an extra lane in each direction should really help drivers who live in the booming communities of Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain.
"Everywhere you look, you'll see a lot of orange cones this year," Carrillo said.
U.S. 6 gets will get safety work, and there'll be a new interchange for St. George.
State lawmakers and the governor plan to keep the money flowing for transportation. "We got more on our plates and more responsibility to get the job done," Carrillo said.
For a look at details on the projects statewide, click the related link.
E-mail: jboal@ksl.com
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Mountain View Corridor: Funds Detour Alarms Donor
in Sandy. Utah Department of Transportation project manager Teri Newell said the state will have to restore the $30 million to the Mountain View account at some point, but the diversion this year won't slow the project because environmental permits aren't lined up yet anyway. Millheim wants a meeting with Curtis. "We have a finite deadline that we want the state to act within or basically they start paying full freight for the highway," he said. The deal says that if the freeway is not completed by 2015, the state will pay the companies for their land. Curtis said the appropriations in HB242 won't delay Mountain View. Last year the Legislature authorized a $100 million bond against Salt Lake County revenues for various projects, with most going to Mountain View. This year it was appropriate to provide some locally generated revenues to local projects, he said. "I've been a big supporter of working on the Mountain View corridor," he said. "I wouldn't do anything that would jeopardize that or set it back."
Monday, March 24, 2008
County to Hold Party Caucus
County to hold party caucuses
Joe Pyrah - DAILY HERALD
While the old adage "If you don't vote you can't complain" generally holds true, if you really, really want to complain be sure to attend party caucuses on Tuesday. "People need to be more curious about what's going on around them," said Elaine Winger, a Provo resident and longtime caucus-goer.
Winger said she is constantly surprised how many neighbors are in the dark about one of the most basic, and most important, processes of a democratic system.
"If people got involved and tried to find out what it is, I think they would be more concerned about what is going on," she said.
The roots of grassroots
Don't know what a caucus is? A caucus is a group of voters in a precinct who get together to talk out political issues. The size can range from a dozen people in a home to a hundred in a school gym. Attendees are supposed to be members of the same party, though gaming the system with the opposition isn't unheard of. (A bit more on that later.)
The caucus then votes for a delegate who best represents the ideas and values previously discussed.
"They are what drive the party and the candidates in the future," says David Cox, a former four-term state representative from Utah County and caucus leader for eight years. "A candidate is much more likely to listen to a delegate than a constituent."
That's because the delegate then goes to the party's county convention in May and helps choose candidates for the primary or general elections. It's here that a crushingly predominant party makes the real decisions. For example, if the convention chooses a candidate by more than 60 percent, that person skips the primary and goes straight to the general election. Because Utah County hasn't elected a non-Republican based here for more than a decade, a GOP candidate coming out of the convention all alone has a perfect record in the general election. If you can't settle a future election via caucus delegates, you can at least get your ideas out there.
That's the push of the Democratic Party this year. There are plenty of interested people who aren't party members, even some Republicans who feel disenfranchised, said Utah County Democratic Party Chairman Richard Davis. The party is open to "people looking for a home."
The voice of the few?
A question that repeatedly arises is whether convention delegates, and the caucuses that sent them there, are an accurate representation of the public.
Cox doesn't think so.
"It's probable in both parties that the extremists tend to rule," he said.
It's for that reason he continues to attend caucus meetings.
"I want to be there because I want to have a well-rounded person representing me as a delegate," he said. "Paranoid people bother me."
The low-turnout nature of caucuses also leaves a better chance of skewing votes.
"The parties do have an interest in preventing members from one party raiding the meetings of the other party," said Todd Taylor, the executive director of the Utah Democratic Party, via e-mail. "Obviously that can't happen if we are both holding our meetings at the same time. So, this is one area that we regularly coordinate our schedules."
Cox said he rarely, if ever sees cross-party tampering but occasionally sees a caucus meeting flooded with people interested in a particular issue. Several years ago at the height of the bank/credit union wars, he said there was a concerted effort to fill caucuses with people who would favor one side or the other.
This year, there remains some vestiges of the voucher debate. Public educators have made no bones about trying to throw out lawmakers who pushed the failed voucher proposal, while on Friday the pro-voucher side sent out a mass e-mail stating: "The teachers union is hoping their supporters will be elected as delegates on Tuesday night so that their candidates will be on the ballot in November, instead of legislators who are committed to reforming our education system for the better."
Standing room only?
As the county's population grows, so has attendance at caucuses. Cox said what used to be a dozen people in a home has turned into 60 or more in a school gym. The Democrats have nearly tripled the number of caucuses they had a few years ago, though it may be putting the cart before the horse.
"One solution is to see if they will come if we bring it closer to where they are," Davis said.
He said the party wants to keep caucuses small because it allows for more intimate conversations.
Whatever the size of the room, however many people are in it, Cox sees a disturbing trend. "One thing that worries me is we're starting to get more and more people who don't trust the government ... even if they elect them," he said. "It's difficult then for even good people to govern."
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Saratoga Springs Road to Help Traffic, Flooding
| Saratoga Springs Road to help traffic, control flooding | | |
| Lance Madigan - NORTH COUNTY STAFF | |
| The Saratoga Springs Public Works Department proposed last week to the City Council to build a two-lane road along Redwood Road to the side of the Harvest Hills subdivision, both in an effort to help with traffic flow and safety, but also to control some of the flooding that takes place in that area. It would also be an arterial road for the future Mountain View Corridor, which is also planned to come into that area. Ken Leetham, city manager, and Mark Edwards, public works director, explained the 76-foot right of way would be a two-lane asphalt road with a 30-foot offset. This would allow the city to collect water from the nearly 1,400 acres that drains into the immediate area.Edwards explained that there are no plans for extensive landscaping, sound walls, or other features for the road other than street lights. One concern that was raised by the council is how close the road would come to the school. "If Mountain View Corridor comes in, are they going to overlay on top of that [road]?" asked Jefferson Moss, Saratoga Springs councilman. "My concern is that if this is 30 feet off these back fences, and they do an overlay of Mountain View Corridor. Is there any way we can prevent Mountain View from doing an overlay and putting a major freeway 30 feet off their backyards? "I think it is really early in the process to say where Mountain View Corridor is going to be," said Leetham. He did add, however, that he felt the road would not be overlayed and that the city would push to see that not happen. Edwards agreed, saying "This [Mountain View Corridor] is going to be a limited access highway. They are going to need access along here for safety. The potential of them leaving this road alone is good." The City Council members were adamant that they did not want to see that happen. "If and when Mountain View Corridor comes in, we would push to maintain the road," said Mia Love, Saratoga Springs councilwoman. Everyone present agreed. While Saratoga Springs is nearly ready to open the project for bidding, the staff and City Council decided the next step would be to plan a neighborhood meeting for those residents in the area that would be affected by the road. "We will take their comments, but our approach needs to be informational," said councilwoman Denise Kelly. "We want them to be able to ask their questions and stuff, but to feel there is a veto process, no." "We also need to make certain they know we aren't just pushing their way through their yards," added Kelly. "Sometimes the thought is 'Oh, this is so mundane to you, you do this every day.' We need to let them know that thought process." No times or dates were set for the meeting, however Leetham said notices would be sent to residents. The total cost of the road is estimated to be just shy of $2 million. Time estimates were not made regarding completion, however Edwards assured the council that the city wanted to see this project get started right away. The city has funds available at this time for the project, and both the traffic and flooding issues give priority to the road for safety concerns. |
Lake Pollution Could Cost Residents
Caleb Warnock - DAILY HERALD
There is no getting around this: Utah Lake is a sewer sink hole, with 214 tons of phosphorus pollution draining in every year that never leaves. State scientists have determined that 76.5 percent of that phosphorus comes from sewer treatment plants, a revelation with long-reaching implications. High levels of phosphorus can lead to dead zones in a lake, harming fish and plant life. Ultimately, the phosphorus problem could mean higher sewer rates in Utah County and perhaps much higher impact fees for those looking to build new houses.
The state has spent years studying phosphorus pollution in Utah Lake, trying to determine whether to force pollution controls on local sewer districts, and if so, at what levels. Now cities in north Utah County have decided, seeing the writing on the wall, to begin voluntary phosphorus removal.
"We had to redesign our [sewer plant] expansion for phosphorus removal," said Garland Mayne, manager of the north county sewer district.
This year will go into the history books as a watershed year for phosphorus, no pun intended. A 400-plus page state phosphorus pollution report on Utah Lake is expected to be finalized within weeks. And a week ago, Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. signed a bill "prohibiting the sale of household dishwashing detergent that contains 0.5 percent or more phosphorus by weight," beginning in 2010, making Utah one of a handful of states to move toward cleaning up lakes and streams.
Virginia, concerned about the damage phosphorus has done to the Chesapeake Bay, passed the same ban last month. Dishwashing detergents now contain up to 9 percent phosphorus, according to the Organic Consumers Association.
The statewide ban is expected to help, but not cure Utah Lake's phosphorus sink, said Dave Wham of the Utah Division of Water Quality. That is because while phosphorus can be removed from dishwashing soap, and has already been removed from laundry detergent by federal law, it is a nutrient, meaning it occurs naturally in food, and by extension, in sewage.
Since Utah Valley residents are unlikely to give up eating any time soon, the Utah Lake phosphorus sink will continue to grow until local cities pay up to remove phosphorus from the sewage water that drains into Utah Lake day after day.
In interviews with representatives from all of the local sewer authorities that drain into Utah Lake, the Daily Herald learned that while many cities believe some kind of state mandate to remove phosphorus is likely, many are not planning voluntary removal as the north county has done, preferring instead to wait to find out exactly what that mandate will be before taking action.
The north county sewer district was already planning an $80 million expansion to deal with population growth, to be completed in two years, making now the ideal time to add phosphorus removal technology. Using microbes to eat the phosphorus, the technology can only reduce the pollutant by about two-thirds, which would seem to be a victory until residents realize that even the remaining third is potentially more than enough to damage the lake, according to Reed Price, director of the new Utah Lake Commission, a quasi-governmental body only recently approved by the Legislature and Governor Jon Huntsman Jr.
The commission has passed a resolution in support of the Utah Lake pollution study but has not encouraged its member cities to voluntarily begin removing phosphorus because no one knows how stringent state requirements could be if required at all, Price said.
The cost of removing phosphorus
When it comes to wondering what phosphorus removal could cost Utah County taxpayers, local authorities point repeatedly, and with trepidation, to the experience with the East Canyon water treatment plant in neighboring Summit and Morgan counties.
East Canyon went through a nearly identical phosphorus pollution study that ended with a stringent mandate in 2000, requiring them to eventually reduce their phosphorus from 3 parts per million to 50 parts per billion. The sewer district there initially spent $8 million to build new facilities that have not been able to get the phosphorus levels to the legal limit imposed on East Canyon Reservoir, and the district is now spending more than $74 million to basically tear that plant and a second one down, rebuilding them with better technology to meet the state phosphorus requirement while expanding them to meet growth demands, said Micheal Luers, who runs the Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District, which oversees both plants.
Calculating a total cost so far of $82 million for those two plants, local authorities point out that in Utah Valley, seven sewer treatment plants drain into Utah Lake, covering almost every city.
The good news is that residential rates in the areas served by East Canyon have only had to be raised 15 to 20 percent because of the new expenses. That is because impact fees charged to those building new houses will pay the rest of the cost.
"We charge $2,000 per bedroom," Luers said. "That is $6,000 for a three-bedroom home."
Expensive changes are already looming in Utah Valley.
Just this week, south county cities agreed to spend $5 million to buy 240 lakeside acres in Palmyra to build a new $300 million sewer treatment plant that would, in about 15 years, remove phosphorus from sewer water. The agreement, more than a decade in the making, comes at least partly because city authorities expect some kind of phosphorus removal mandate as a result of the Utah Lake pollution study, said Spanish Fork Councilman Wayne Andersen, who chairs the organization of cities planning the plant.
North county sewer authorities said their plan to remove up to two-thirds of the phosphorus from sewer water will cost no more than $100,000, but acknowledge there is no way to know if that removal will meet any future state mandate. Removing most of the remaining third would be much more expensive.
Bruce Chesnut, public works director for Orem, said that city has begun testing its phosphorus levels, but will not voluntarily remove phosphorus because it is impossible to guess what level of removal the state might require, if it is required.
In Provo, public works director Merril Bingham said that unlike the north county facility, Provo does not need to rebuild now, and so will also wait for state mandates make phosphorus illegal before moving to rid it from the sewer water drained into the lake.
Is the lake poisoning itself?
While it may seem counter-intuitive, it is possible, because of Utah Lake's unique hydrology, that being a phosphorus sink may not be a problem at all -- at least for cities.
Just over 23 percent of the phosphorus coming into the lake is naturally present in streams and springs, the state points out.
Common sense would dictate that adding more phosphorus to the Utah Lake sink would be a bad idea, but local authorities repeatedly pointed out that the real question is whether reducing the amount of phosphorus draining into the lake can be beneficial.
Yes, you read that right. The real question is whether there is any point in trying.
The question is not just an exercise in politics and money, while they do inform the debate. There are many unanswered questions that state scientists are continuing to tackle. Because 23 percent of the source of the sink is natural and will continue to flow no matter what, would reducing or even removing the rest do any good? And even though no one disputes that human settlement has increased phosphorus flowing into the lake, unknown tons of phosphorus have been trapped in the lakebed over thousands of years -- would reducing the flow now have any affect on the lake's health?
And while there is no question that the ecology of the lake has changed over time, causing many native species to die out, threatening those that are left, and allowing introduced species like carp to thrive, is human-caused phosphorus pollution now hurting fish? What will the long-term effect of the human-added phosphorus be?
There are signs that human sewage pollution may have tipped the balance. Once in the lake, phosphorus is either trapped in lakebottom mud, or suspended in the water, where it fertilizes "massive open-water cyanobacteria blooms in the late summer and fall," according to state scientists.
Normally such blooms could cause a mass die-off of fish, but that has not happened in Utah Lake because wind and carp stir up the lake bottom mud, making the water cloudy enough to prevent sunlight filtration, thus keeping blooms from growing to lethal proportions. Ironically, carp could be protecting Utah Lake from human pollution, even as they push native fish toward extinction. A project to rid the lake of carp is expected to begin this summer, and authorities admit the effort could backfire, allowing algae to grow out of control if phosphorus is not reduced.
And there is evidence that even the spawning of non-native species that have taken over the lake is being hurt by temperature changes and lake conditions, according to state scientists.
As a result of these questions, several more years of study will be needed before the state can determine whether phosphorus restrictions will be mandated, and how stringent that mandate could be, Wham said.
To read the evaluation and draft pollution report on Utah Lake, visit www.waterquality.utah.gov/TMDL/ and scroll down to the Utah Lake section of "In-Progress TMDL Water Quality Studies."
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
UDOT Plans Meeting on Mountain View Corridor Plan
The meeting will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at Willowcreek Middle School, 2275 W. 300 N., Lehi.
The 4800 North option was submitted by Lehi. The Federal Highway Administration and UDOT decided the option wasn't viable compared to the alternatives UDOT had proposed.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Attempt to keep freeway out of Lehi squashed
Randall Jeppesen reporting
A push by Lehi leaders to keep a freeway connector out of their city appears to have been squashed.
They held rallies and sent out flyers, but with all the noise a citizens' group and Lehi city leaders made, it appears a new freeway connector from I-15 west to the Mountainview Corridor most likely will run through the northern end of Lehi.
Doug Larsen lives in a Lehi subdivision right next to the Utah Department of Transportation's (UDOT) preferred route of 2100 North, and he's actually in favor of the freeway. "There needs to be an access road going out west, and this is the best alternative," he said.
UDOT told the Lehi City Council it would cost an extra $700 million to follow its suggestion of building the freeway connector near the Point of the Mountain--an option UDOT says is not reasonable.
Herald Editorial on Mountain View Corridor
| IN OUR VIEW: Let highway plan proceed | | |
| Daily Herald | |
| It's time for Lehi's leaders to face reality and accept a planned freeway through the city. Utah County badly needs the proposed Mountain View Corridor, which must include a link with Interstate 15. After a long process, the Utah Department of Transportation says its proposed six-lane 2100 North Freeway through Lehi is the best option.But Mayor Howard Johnson and other civic leaders say the road would cut Lehi in two, threaten groundwater supplies and lower property values. They came up with an alternative, an expensive connector in the vicinity of 4800 North. Johnson said it would disrupt Lehi less, save drivers time and gas, and link better with the thriving Point of the Mountain area. But UDOT and the Federal Highway Administration have released an analysis of the 4800 plan that shatters the hopes of its advocates. Engineers concluded the connector requires a bridge as much as 2,300 feet long and 280 feet high. The link to I-15 would be 12 lanes that would have vehicles weaving through a spaghetti maze of ramps. The agencies estimated the 4800 North plan would cost $1.2 billion, compared to $540 million for the freeway. UDOT officials say they can no longer consider the 4800 North concept. You don't have to be a rocket scientist, or even a highway engineer, to know that UDOT and FHWA have a strong case. All you have to do is look at a map. The 2100 North plan is the most direct route, would affect few people, avoids most wetlands and runs where a new highway is needed now, not where one might be needed later. In public controversies, the voice of the people needs to be heard. In Lehi, it has. Our observation is that UDOT has taken pains to talk to people in the affected areas and to assess how highway plans will affect the community. The people who must be heard include area residents who have pleaded for better roads. It's a need that can't be ignored any longer. In such a dispute, the people, the government and the professionals eventually have to reach a decision and act on it. It need not be a perfect decision. Building a highway will necessarily inconvenience some people more than others. In this case, it looks as though the 2100 North Freeway offers the most benefits with the fewest difficulties. Hearing the news Tuesday at a council meeting, Lehi council members were speechless. But the mayor, asked before the meeting about the 4800 North plan, told one of our reporters, "It's not dead. It is not dead." We take that as meaning that he believed the idea was only mostly dead, which is slightly alive. But the meeting pretty much ended the debate. The 4800 North plan moved from mostly dead to all dead. In the past, Lehi has kept the notion of a lawsuit slightly alive as well. It's time to kill that notion as well. We urge the city's leaders to publicly announce their willingness to move ahead with the freeway now that the alternatives have been properly vetted. Such a move would have a salutary effect on relations with neighboring communities, whose residents also have an interest in a new freeway. We appreciate the difficulties involved in creating a major transportation corridor. Perhaps it's easy to say, but it seems that the freeway will be a benefit to Lehi in the long run. It could ease traffic congestion and draw homes and businesses to the relatively undeveloped part of that city. In any case, the Mountain View Corridor should benefit the region as a whole, including Lehi. With that in mind, we urge all the cities to work on making this plan succeed. Each day that passes raises the project's cost and increases the difficulties involved. Signing on now is the best way to ease the pain and move forward. |
Washington DC Visity By Mayors
Cathy Allred - NORTH COUNTY STAFF
Lehi, Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs officials were united as they approached their representatives in Washington, D.C., for transportation funding last week. Saratoga Springs Mayor Tim Parker went on the trip to show his support for Eagle Mountain's request for $4 million, to straighten and complete construction of the Pony Express Parkway.
"I thought it went well and I hope later we get piles and piles of money," said Parker. "I actually went along to support Eagle Mountain's request. It sort of duplicates our request from last year."
He said their request "oddly enough" would be spent almost entirely in Saratoga Springs for the road completion of the Pony Express Parkway which unites Eagle Mountain's The Ranches over Unity Pass to Eagle Mountain's City Center.
Eagle Mountain Mayor Heather Jackson said she would like to have a significant portion of the Pony Express project completed before the Saratoga Springs high school abutting that road opens in 2009. Parker said the road would help alleviate traffic congestion on S.R. 73 as well as serve the school.
Lehi and Mountainland Association of Governments each gave a letter of support for the request and also sought funding for 2300 West construction as a north-south artery in the city. Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain supported Lehi's efforts with a letter too.
They met with Senators Orrin Hatch, Bob Bennett, and Congressman Cannon or with office staff.
"When we met with the congressmen and senators one thing I made sure is that they knew all three cities were supporting each other on these requests," Parker said.
Jackson said it was refreshing to walk in and have everybody they spoke to recognize that there was a transportation problem in the north Utah County area.
"I thought it went really quite well," she said. "The proof is in the pudding, so we are going to have to wait to see what funding we actually get out of this."
Historically, relationships between the three cities could be described as tenuous with disagreements over boundaries, jurisdiction, water, and even transportation issues.
"We are working together to complete our regional transportation plan," Jackson said. Eagle Mountain city also requested funding for the distribution line for water coming from the Central Utah Project, for funding distribution lines for reused water from the sewer treatment plant, and for an expansion of the library. The total amount requested was $6.45 million.
"Of course our primary concern was our transportation," Jackson said.
Annexation Contention
Cathy Allred - NORTH COUNTY STAFF
With a 45-day hiatus annexation agreement with Saratoga Springs in place, Lehi City approved a petition Tuesday to annex the disputed property bordering both cities, anyway. This time the 1,834-acre annexation was carried out by petition instead of by resolution. Utah state law allows city to use either method to annex property.
Mayor Howard Johnson of Lehi had signed the Stipulation and Settlement Agreement to not annex by resolution on Feb. 26, the same day Saratoga Springs filed suit with Lehi City in 4th District Court disputing the annexation.
But when the landowners approached the city with a petition, that changed the rules, city officials said.
"Last night was an annexation by petition, which was not excluded by the agreement," said Lehi attorney Ken Rushton of the Lehi Council decision. "We're doing it because that is what Saratoga Springs wants us to do."
Mayor Tim Parker of Saratoga Springs agreed to a point.
"They're following the rules as far as we have got them," Parker said. "I'm certainly not opposed to property owners annexing. Our opposition to the previous annexation was the procedure the city was using previously."
Other than that, he said he would have to refer the issue, whether or not the city approves of the annexation, to the city attorneys.
"The city will take an action on this annexation but that will be in the future," Parker said. "We are in a position to act in the best interest of the city but I can't say what that is at this time."
Lehi City began the annexation by resolution of what is being called the Holbrook Annexation, acreage west of the Jordan River and north of Saratoga Springs, with a public hearing noticing its intent to annex in January.
Named after Stephen Holbrook, who initiated the annexation, the process was begun with the majority of property owners within the proposed area requesting annexation into Lehi. Holbrook is also a Council member for Lehi City. He refused to comment Tuesday on the annexation.
Kim Struthers, Lehi City planner, said he estimates it's been since the 1990s that Lehi City has had an annexation done by petition.
The two processes are similar, taking about the same amount of time, but Sturthers said the speed of this annexation process will depend on whether there are objections filed with the Utah State Boundary Commission.
Lehi City administrator Jamie Davidson has maintained his city has historically annexed by resolution and the county has favored and encouraged annexation by resolution.
Rushton said the involved parties, including Saratoga Springs, will be notified of the annexation by petition process that was begun this week.
"We may still end up proceeding on the resolution process," Rushton said. "We're currently keeping both option open."
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Mountain View Corridor Open House
March 2008udot.utah.gov/mountainview
MOUNTAIN VIEW CORRIDOR OPEN HOUSEON MARCH 19 IN LEHI
Come and review the results of the proposed 4800 North Connector evaluation
Lehi City submitted a suggested roadway alternative for the Mountain View Corridor to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and UDOT in August 2007. The evaluation by FHWA and UDOT demonstrated that the impacts of the proposed 4800 North Connector are comparable to the Utah County alternatives studied in the EIS. However, because it would cost more than the other alternatives and have additional operational, safety and maintenance concerns, FHWA and UDOT have determined that the proposed 4800 North Connector is not a reasonable alternative. The public is invited to review the results of the evaluation at the open house.
CAN'T ATTEND THE MEETING?
Click here for more information or on the web at www.udot.utah.gov/mountainview
Lehi Loosing Road Placement Fight
decision. Lehi officials fear the state's preferred route could hurt residents' health and home values. A disappointed Mayor Howard Johnson said Tuesday that the city's option is better in virtually every area. The shorter 4800 North route, for instance, would save motorists 100 million gallons of fuel over a 30-year period and save $2 billion in travel costs - an average of nearly $670,000 per year. At a time of soaring gas prices and increasing pollution, Johnson said, "it is unacceptable to not consider [4800 North]." Wherever the connector road ends up, it is expected to ease congestion on Lehi's gridlocked Main Street and move heavy traffic in and out of Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs.
Comparing the two routes
Cost * 4800 North: $1.26 billion * 2100 North: $540 million
Wetlands impact * 4800 North: 7.4 acres * 2100 North: 14.7 acres
Traffic-delay reduction * 4800 North: 49 percent * 2100 North: 53 percent
Business and home relocations * 4800 North: 20 * 2100 North: 33
Note: Lehi's 4800 North Connector option was studied in tandem with a smaller road at 2100 North.
What's next The Utah Department of Transportation will hold an open house about the connector route from 5 to 7 p.m. March 19 at Willowcreek Middle School, 2275 W. 300 North, Lehi.
Lehi's Alternate Route Rejected
"What we decided is that this option was not reasonable," said Newell. "It has been removed from further consideration."
The Federal Highway Administration, which ultimately must approve whatever route is chosen for the Mountain View freeway, had concerns with Lehi's proposal, forcing UDOT to redesign the proposed road to become a 12-lane snare of ramps and lanes where it met Interstate 15, Newell said.
That would have jumped the price to build the road to $1.26 billion dollars, compared to $540 million to build the route UDOT prefers through Lehi.
"Due to its cost, it is not a reasonable alternative," Newell said.
After Newell's presentation, there was a profound silence as Lehi Council members stared at their laps.
"You've got us speechless," Mayor Howard Johnson eventually said. "I have a lot I might say." His voice then trailed off.
The mayor did say, as he has many times over the past few months, that construction of the road would disrupt groundwater, potentially causing some residents to lose water in their wells.
No member of the Council mentioned UDOT's decision during the regular Council meeting on Tuesday night.
Councilman Johnny Barnes said during the meeting with UDOT that he would like to see UDOT show as much concern about the road's impact on Lehi as they are showing over the expansion of the Highland Highway through Lehi and Highland.
"I think that is hopeful," said Newell, noting UDOT would like to work with Lehi to find ways to make the freeway more acceptable to the city.
Saratoga Springs Mayor Tim Parker, who has spoken out against Lehi's proposed alternative, told the Daily Herald on Tuesday that he was pleased with UDOT's announcement and hoped Lehi and surrounding cities could begin working together to plan the new freeway.
In an interview before the meeting with UDOT, Johnson said he found out about UDOT's decision on Friday.
"Obviously I'm very disappointed," he said. "To us, it is a poor decision."
It is unclear whether or how the city will respond to UDOT's dismissal of the city's proposal, but Johnson said he did not consider the issue dead because he had an obligation to work to protect the city's residents who might be negatively impacted by the freeway.
"It's is not dead," he said of Lehi's proposal. "It is not dead."
Though UDOT says it would cost $700 million more to build, the proposal should still be considered because it would save commuters money in the long run and have a far smaller impact on Lehi, Johnson said.
UDOT will hold a meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. on March 19 at Willowcreek Middle School, 2275 W. 300 North in Lehi, to allow the public to see documentation for how UDOT reached its decision, Newell said. For more information about the Mountain View Corridor, visit www.udot.utah.gov/mountainview.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
UDOT Nixes 4800 North as Path for Lehi Road (Mountain View Corridor)
The Utah Department of Transportation told members of the Mountainland Association of Governments Thursday that the option proposed by Lehi isn't reasonable.
Teri Newell, UDOT project manager, told the association's Metropolitan Planning Organization Regional Planning Committee that after several months of looking into the alternative, they decided it wouldn't meet the needs of the county. UDOT and the Federal Highway Administration looked at whether the road would meet traffic needs, as well as cost, environmental impacts and technical aspects.
"The place at 4800 North wasn't doing everything it needed to to solve east-west issues in north Utah County," she said.
However, one of the main reasons the option was killed related to cost. The 4800 North option, compared to the other options UDOT has proposed, would cost $700 million more to build. The highway administration also has minimum requirements for roads and even with the extra cost, the 4800 North option would barely meet those, Newell said.
"It's something (that's) already costly and it's at minimums that are not desirable to federal highways," she said. "(With) operational, safety, maintenance and cost to it, our conclusion out of this process was that it is not a reasonable alternative."
If they had found it to be a viable alternative, another environmental impact study would have been completed, Newell said.
UDOT has already identified 2100 North as its preferred option; however, the federal agency hasn't decided which option it thinks is best. It will have the final say as to where the corridor will be built.
Lehi submitted the 4800 North proposal in August, and it was included in UDOT's public hearings. Lehi residents and the city's government oppose the 2100 North option because the corridor would then be close to homes and create pollution in the residential areas.
Lehi Mayor Howard Johnson said the city was disappointed in UDOT's finding and believes the alternative option would be cheaper and better for residents. Johnson said the 4800 North alternative would lower travel time and would save residents money in gasoline in the long run. He also said he feels UDOT didn't address a groundwater issue associated with the 2100 North option.
"As a city, we're not pleased with it and we'll try everything we can to work with them," he said.
Newell said UDOT would continue to work with Lehi and clear up and address any further concerns the city has.
The 40-mile Mountain View Corridor will run from I-80 in Salt Lake County to either Lehi or Saratoga Springs, depending on which option is chosen, and will connect to I-15.
Friday, March 7, 2008
City Council Agenda March 11th
WORK SESSION – Commencing at 6:30 p.m.
1. Reports:
a. Mayor
b. City Council Members
c. Staff
2. Adjourn to Policy Session
POLICY SESSION – Commencing at 7:00 p.m.
• Call to Order.
• Roll Call.
• Invocation / Reverence.
• Pledge of Allegiance.
• Public Input – Time has been set aside for any person to express ideas, concerns, comments, questions or issues that are not listed
on the agenda. Comments are limited to three minutes.
POLICY ITEMS
1. Awards and recognitions.
2. Public Hearing: Proposed Rezone, Zoning Clarification & General Plan Amendment for the North Saratoga Center located at
approximately 2175 North Redwood Road, Vaughn Mayo, applicant.
3. Concept Plan approval for the North Saratoga Center located at approximately 2175 North Redwood Road, Vaughn Mayo,
applicant.
4. Ordinance #08-8 (3-11-08): An ordinance amending the City’s official Zoning map and the Land-Use map for certain real
property; instructing the City staff to amend the City zoning map and other official records of the City. (North Saratoga
Center).
5. Public Hearing: Proposed Plat Amendment for the Riverbend Phase 2 development located at 1140 North Redwood Road,
Brian Knowlton, applicant.
6. Public Hearing: Proposed Minor Subdivision for the commercial portion of the Riverbend development located at 1140
North Redwood Road, Brian Knowlton, applicant.
7. Public Hearing: Proposed Plat Amendment for the Harbor Bay Plat 5 located at approximately 20 East 3840 South, Summit
Development, applicant.
8. Public Hearing on Resolution #08-10 (3-11-08): A resolution amending the City of Saratoga Springs budget for Fiscal Year
2007-2008.
9. Award of architectural services for city parks in the amount of $78,000 to Allred Soffe Wilkinson and Nichols, Inc.
10. Resolution #08-11 (3-11-08): A resolution amending the consolidated fee schedule for the City of Saratoga Springs.
11. Approval of the Fire/EMS Reciprocal Aid Agreement.
12. Arbor Day Proclamation & Celebration.
13. Consent Calendar:
a. Warrant Register.
b. Minutes
1. January 8, 2008.
2. January 15, 2008.
3. January 22, 2008.
c. Resolution#08-12 (3-11-08): A resolution declaring the need for the Housing Authority of Utah County to
operate within the City of Saratoga Springs.
14. Motion to enter into closed session for the purpose of discussion litigation matters, acquisition of real property or
authorized personnel matters.
15. Action from closed session, if any.
16. Adjournment.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
$150000 approved in Legislature to Study a Road Across Utah Lake
This year's bill spends the last $398 million lawmakers had to allocate.
Also historically, a few ineresting items sneak into the final budget bill, while some other items have been long debated and well known, or are required in other bills which carried a fiscal note, or cost.
Here are some interesting items in the 2008 — bill of bills — which passed Wedneday night:
• $1 million to pay for costs associated with moving the Legislature back into the Capitol, membership dues and legislative per diem.
• $3.8 million to =93bank land.=94 Sources said the money goes to two projects desired by Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, to buy land near Utah Valley University and land in Ogden for a future court building.
• $150,000 to study a road across Utah Lake.
• $85,000 for the Capitol Hill dining services.
• $750,000 for =93critical languages.=94
• $100,000 for the Emergency Food Network, to make up for a loss in its tax break on food sales tax.
• $100,000 to the Gunnison Community Theater.
• $815,000 for state computer security.
• $500,000 for the motion picture fund, money demanded by the governor.
• $250,000 for the Museum of Natural Curiosity, Thanksgiving Point.
• $349,000 for a judicial performance evaluation.
• $357,000 for the Thanksgiving Point Museum.
• $900,000 for UCAT equipment.
• $3 million for English language learner software.
• $5,000 spent for the "state women's golf tournament."
And a number of museums and art organizations got cash, including:Ballet West, $178,500; Freedom Festival, $107,000; Moab Music Festival, $50,000;Tuacahn, $150,000; Leonardo, $250,000
Saratoga Springs Court Runs Like Clockwork
| Saratoga Springs Court runs 'like clockwork' | | |
| Lance Madigan - NORTH COUNTY STAFF | |
| With two sessions now under their belts, Saratoga Springs court and city officials are pleased with their new justice court. "Nothing has not gone quite as planned," said Saratoga Springs Judge Keith L. Stoney. "It has gone like clockwork. That might be a surprise. With something new, you almost expect to find things that you have missed, or just overlooked, and this lady has done an incredible job of keeping things to where they need to be."The lady he refers to is court clerk Daphnie Rivera. She has been working since December to get all the necessary preparations completed. All the little details for running a court --- from forms, to setting appointments, to getting a gavel for the judge -- had to be set up and seen to. "There are a million little things," she said. "There is a general rule in courts," said Stoney. "You always try and please the clerk, because she really is the one that runs the show. Everybody thinks it is the guy in the dress that does it and its not. It is the clerk that runs everything. If you have a judge that looks good, you can bet that you have an excellent clerk." Stoney also credits the city's prosecutor, Lindsay Jarvis. "They [Saratoga Springs] hired an excellent prosecutor," he said. "That made things much easier on the court, and made things move much more smoothly. For lack of a better word, the city has done things right." For Stoney, he says he couldn't be more pleased. A full-time judge in West Valley, at present Stoney visits Saratoga twice a month to hold court. "The pace has been wonderful," he said. Stoney said most of the cases he has seen so far are traffic related, but a few had to do with dogs running at large. He said he was a little surprised to not see more DUI and domestic violence cases, but credits law enforcement efforts for that. "I have been very impressed with the police department. They are doing very well. They are very capable and are on top of things." Stoney said that the goal of the new court was to serve the community. "Our slogan is basically to make our communities a better place." "When we have trials, I think it is our job as the judge to make sure that people feel comfortable defending themselves," said Stoney. "You shouldn't have to be an attorney to come in here and do okay." For himself, Stoney said that while he was born in Utah, his father was in the military and moved around a great deal while growing up. Stoney attended Ricks College and returned to Utah to attend Brigham Young University to complete his undergraduate and law degrees. He said he has been a cop, held a private practice, and been a city prosecutor. But he enjoys sitting on the bench. "I really enjoy doing what I do," he said. "Most people say 'how can you stand that' or 'is it difficult' or 'how can you find someone guilty.' I am not judging people, but judging their actions. Probably 99 percent of the people we see are very good people. They just made a bad decision." Stoney lives in South Jordan with his wife Eileen. He has eight kids, but describes himself as an empty-nester. "Eleven and a half grandchildren. One's in the hopper." The court staff, and Stoney in particular, said they are very pleased to be working for Saratoga Springs. "I think it is the fact there are so many great people here. I have been treated incredibly well by everyone on the City Council, everyone that works here." |
Settlement Reached in Saratoga Springs Explosion
| Settlement reached in S. Springs explosion | | |
| Jeremy Duda - DAILY HERALD | |
| Attorneys have reached a settlement in a lawsuit filed by a Saratoga Springs man whose wife was killed when a gas leak blew up their house. Colin King, an attorney for Greg Roper, said the confidential settlement with Questar Gas, Qwest Communications Corp. and several contractors includes an undisclosed, seven-figure cash payment. It also includes an agreement by Questar Gas to change some of its procedures for handling underground gas leaks. The settlement was reached in January.Roper's wife, April, was killed in February 2007 after a leak in a Questar pipeline filled the Roper home with gas and ignited. The explosion also killed Questar employee Larry Radford. A construction crew that was burying an underground telephone line in the neighborhood punctured a gas line, and Questar employees came to turn the gas off, King said. When Radford went with April Roper into her house about 25 minutes after the gas was turned off, an explosion ripped through the home. "They should've not let April Roper back in the house, and they should've shut down all the ignition sources in the house prior to even them going back inside, which they did not do," King said. "And they should have made sure the house was cleared of gas before they allowed April or anyone back in it, which they did not do." The cash settlement will be paid out to Greg Roper, April Roper's parents, and the couple's 2-year-old daughter, Olivia. The portion of the settlement that is going to the Ropers' daughter will be put in a trust account, King said. The cash settlement will be paid by all five defendants: Questar, Qwest, Niels Fugal Sons Co., S&E Cable Inc. and Angilau Communications and Construction. Niels Fugal, S&E and Angilau are contractors and subcontractors hired to bury Qwest's telephone line, King said. Greg Roper said he was happy that the lawsuit is over, and is especially pleased with the changes it brought about in Questar's policies and procedures. "We're happy with those types of changes so these types of things can be prevented in the future," he said. |
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Saratoga Springs soon to get Super Walmart
Company officials say the building, being built on the northwest corner of Redwood Road and state Route 73, just west of the Chevron Top Stop, could be done by the end of the year.
"Generally from the time we start moving dirt, it usually takes 10 to 12 months," said Wal-Mart spokeswoman KariAnne Fallow. "The last two or three months are consumed with setting merchandise on the inside of the store."
City Council members approved the store's site plan in the summer, but Wal-Mart pulled its full building permits from the city about three weeks ago, which allows it to start building, said Jim McNulty, Saratoga Springs planning director. Construction workers are currently putting in the foundation, he said.
Fallow said the store will employ about 400 people. McNulty said the store also could attract other retailers to the area.
"Because the Wal-Mart will come in, we'll get large office and retail users, like Home Depot or Lowe's," he said. "Midbox or bigger operations will eventually come to Saratoga, too, because Wal-Mart came in first."
Residents of Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain and west Lehi will shop at the Wal-Mart store, which also adds to the appeal for businesses to follow in Wal-Mart's footsteps and establish stores in the fast-growing city, he said. Residents in Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain and Lehi now have to drive to American Fork to visit the nearest Wal-Mart.
Although many people are anti-Wal-Mart, city officials say they have seen little resistance to the incoming store. Only one or two people have spoken against it publicly, said Saratoga Springs City Councilwoman Mia Love. Several of those who spoke out against the store were owners of car repair and tire stores who opposed the tire center.
Flooding closes major road in Eagle Mountain
Janice Peterson - DAILY HERALD
Spring runoff occurs every year, but Eagle Mountain is dealing with some new troubles this season because of the extra water. Eagle Mountain city spokeswoman Linda Peterson said flooding in the city has closed a major road for the first time, due in part to extra snow on undeveloped land. Sweetwater Road is a major artery in Eagle Mountain, connecting the Ranches to the City Center. Many residents use the road, but Peterson said detour routes have been well-publicized and there have not been any complaints of confusion.
Sweetwater Road was closed Friday evening and remained closed through Monday to deal with the flooding, which Peterson said occurred after the ground stayed frozen for longer than usual. While the ground remained frozen, the snow melted and water poured off as though it was on top of ice, instead of being absorbed.
This, as well as extra snow on undeveloped land, caused trouble in the area of Sweetwater Road from south of Lake Mountain Road to the Eagle Park Subdivision. Throughout the past week water levels have been consistently 1 foot deep across the road near Eagle Valley Elementary School. One spot has a significant dip, which causes more water to accumulate, and Peterson said a main concern was that drivers would travel too fast on the road and have an accident.
One driver was involved in a rollover accident Wednesday morning when he travelled too fast for conditions and rolled his car on the 2-inch-thick ice on the road. He was unhurt in the accident, and even though water was not present on the road Monday, officials kept the road closed to ensure safe conditions would last throughout the day.
"Our primary concern is safety, so we don't want to be too hasty," Peterson said.
The road was also closed to allow for sandbags to be placed across the road to divert water to the east, to the city's storm drains.
Peterson said the water on the road was nonexistent for most of Monday, but road workers were watching to see if the situation would change overnight. Monday was the first day that water had not gone onto the road by midday. The water has appeared later each day for the last week, so it looked like the situation may be close to an end.
"They're just going to monitor the road day to day this week with the temperatures changing and see how that will affect (the water)," she said.
Temperature variances can cause the water to come down at different speeds and times, and Peterson said city officials did not want to aggravate residents by opening and closing the street through the day.
Peterson said there have not been many other areas affected by the flooding, but a section of East Eagle Mountain Boulevard has been closed indefinitely due to a collapsed road. There are concerns about the structure of the road, and one lane is currently open for local access. According to the city's Web site, the city is offering assistance to homeowners who have been impacted by flooding. Those with an immediate need will be able to obtain sandbags and shovels from the city's public works department to control any flooding problems.
Peterson said the city is considering extending the storm drain system to the west side of Sweetwater Road to prevent a similar situation in the future.
In Saratoga Springs, where flooding all but closed Redwood Road, the water from spring runoff has come under control. City Manager Ken Leetham said the road was restricted to one-way travel with a police escort for two days last week due to high water. Although the water continues to run off the nearby farm land, Leetham said the city has constructed berms and channels along Redwood Road to divert the water to a location where it can be pumped into the city's storm drains.
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