Commission accepts final draft of Utah Lake plan
By Donald W. Meyers
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune
Posted:02/26/2009 02:11:01 PM MST
Provo » The final draft of the Utah Lake Master Plan might be done. But the work is just beginning.
That's Larry Ellertson's perspective. The vice chairman of the Utah Lake Commission says that before work to restore Utah's largest natural fresh-water lake and expand recreational opportunities, the planning document has to go through a 45-day review at the state level.
"This is something that needs to sit on the desk of every planner and anyone who has something to do with the lake," Ellertson said Thursday after the commission's vote to accept the document, in the works for the last 12 months.
The plan does not give the commission authority to enforce it. Rather, the commission serves as an advisory board and encourages its member communities and state agencies to follow the plan.
Greg Beckstrom, a member of the commission's Technical Committee, said the document represents significant progress at restoring the lake.
"Some of us had visions that we would accomplish more than what we have done," Beckstrom said, "but when we look at this document, we are further down the road than we were 12 months ago."
The commission approved changes based on recommendations from the technical committee and public comments. One was to clearly state that the commission did not take any stance on building a causeway across the lake to tie together the east shore with the rapidly growing west side.
The document said it would consider studies for the feasibility and need for such a project.
Lehi Mayor Howard Johnson also suggested that changing public perception of the lake -- one of the plan's goals -- be accomplished through education.
dmeyers@sltrib.com
What's next
The Utah Lake Commission will conduct a public hearing on the Utah Lake Master Plan at 8:30 a.m. March 26 in the Historic Utah County Courthouse, 50 S. University Ave. The state will accept public comments for 45 days, after which the plan will be formally adopted in May or June.
The plan
» Develop access and use the lake for boating, fishing, windsurfing and canoeing.
» Restore beaches.
» Establish a bicycle and hiking trail along the shoreline.
» Restore the native June sucker fishery, along with other native species, and continue to eliminate invasive carp.
» Create a model ordinance for cities to adopt that would govern land use around the lake.
The final plan will be available at http://utahlakecommission.org
Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Panel OKs $214 million in stimulus projects
Panel OKs $214 million in stimulus projects
Transportation » Road projects -- particularly in the Salt Lake Valley -- get the lion's share.
By Brandon Loomis
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune
Posted:02/25/2009 05:33:02 PM MST
The Utah Transportation Commission will funnel about $214 million in federal economic-recovery dollars in coming months to roads, bridges, buses, trains, sidewalks and trails all over the state.
So where are all that steel, asphalt and concrete bound?
On Wednesday, the commission approved plans for the spending, with most of the money -- $143 million -- going to state highways, as dedicated by Congress.
The commission also signed off on $46 million in projects proposed by the Wasatch Front Regional Council and Mountainland Association of Governments for the big urban centers. Another $18 million will flow to smaller population areas, and more than $6 million will go to sidewalk safety and disabled-access improvements.
--
State highways » The $143 million going to the Utah Department of Transportation will spread across the state -- from $1.3 million to replace the chip seal on U.S. 89 in Box Elder County to $3.8 million to rebuild Washington County's Valley View Bridge several years after flood damage.
UDOT's list includes a few $3 million bridge replacements on Interstate 80 in Salt Lake and Summit counties, and several $1.6 million bridges around Payson. Those projects reflect the agency's ability to get fixer-uppers moving faster than new roads or lanes that require more bureaucratic preparation.
"Our goal is 90 days" to start most stimulus work, UDOT Assistant Director Carlos Braceras said. In fact, half the state highways portion of the money must be spent within 120 days or Utah will have to give back part of its allotment. The local and metropolitan organizations have the full fiscal year to spend their allotments.
UDOT's share also will fund a few highway expansions, notably $15 million each for auxiliary lanes and improved interchanges from 7200 South to 9000 South in Salt Lake County, more lanes on Syracuse Road in Davis County and more lanes on U.S. Highway 6 in east-central Utah.
--
Metro areas » The Wasatch Front Regional Council has the next-biggest pot of cash. It will buy pavement, buses and train repairs from Salt Lake County to Weber County.
The council will put $10.5 million into a new interchange at 6200 South and Interstate 215, possibly using continuous-flow traffic, said council Deputy Director Doug Hattery.
"At night," he said, "that really backs up traffic [on I-215]."
The council's list also steers $40 million to the Utah Transit Authority to renovate an old Jordan River warehouse south of 2100 South into a light-rail repair center along the new West Valley City TRAX line. Another $10 million goes to new buses, partly to serve new express routes to Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain.
The list does not include some of Salt Lake City's priorities, including a downtown streetcar circulator or another streetcar linking Sugar House to TRAX in South Salt Lake. That doesn't mean Mayor Ralph Becker won't get those projects with stimulus dollars, Hattery said, but he will have to vie with other cities for a piece of $1.5 billion in discretionary funds that U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood can dole out.
Mountainland, in the Provo area, plans to use more than $5 million on trails -- a historic rail trail in Lehi and one in American Fork -- and $3.6 million to widen the highway out of the mouth of Provo Canyon, among other projects.
--
Small towns » Coalville will collect more than $1 million for a Main Street project, Tooele will snag the same for State Road 112, and Emery County will get $2.2 million for a long-awaited reconstruction of a road to Goblin Valley State Park.
In Cache Valley, the state will tap part of its share to build a $2.8 million road along 100 East from Logan to Providence, and the area's transit agency will get $1.7 million to buy hybrid-electric buses.
Transportation » Road projects -- particularly in the Salt Lake Valley -- get the lion's share.
By Brandon Loomis
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune
Posted:02/25/2009 05:33:02 PM MST
The Utah Transportation Commission will funnel about $214 million in federal economic-recovery dollars in coming months to roads, bridges, buses, trains, sidewalks and trails all over the state.
So where are all that steel, asphalt and concrete bound?
On Wednesday, the commission approved plans for the spending, with most of the money -- $143 million -- going to state highways, as dedicated by Congress.
The commission also signed off on $46 million in projects proposed by the Wasatch Front Regional Council and Mountainland Association of Governments for the big urban centers. Another $18 million will flow to smaller population areas, and more than $6 million will go to sidewalk safety and disabled-access improvements.
--
State highways » The $143 million going to the Utah Department of Transportation will spread across the state -- from $1.3 million to replace the chip seal on U.S. 89 in Box Elder County to $3.8 million to rebuild Washington County's Valley View Bridge several years after flood damage.
UDOT's list includes a few $3 million bridge replacements on Interstate 80 in Salt Lake and Summit counties, and several $1.6 million bridges around Payson. Those projects reflect the agency's ability to get fixer-uppers moving faster than new roads or lanes that require more bureaucratic preparation.
"Our goal is 90 days" to start most stimulus work, UDOT Assistant Director Carlos Braceras said. In fact, half the state highways portion of the money must be spent within 120 days or Utah will have to give back part of its allotment. The local and metropolitan organizations have the full fiscal year to spend their allotments.
UDOT's share also will fund a few highway expansions, notably $15 million each for auxiliary lanes and improved interchanges from 7200 South to 9000 South in Salt Lake County, more lanes on Syracuse Road in Davis County and more lanes on U.S. Highway 6 in east-central Utah.
--
Metro areas » The Wasatch Front Regional Council has the next-biggest pot of cash. It will buy pavement, buses and train repairs from Salt Lake County to Weber County.
The council will put $10.5 million into a new interchange at 6200 South and Interstate 215, possibly using continuous-flow traffic, said council Deputy Director Doug Hattery.
"At night," he said, "that really backs up traffic [on I-215]."
The council's list also steers $40 million to the Utah Transit Authority to renovate an old Jordan River warehouse south of 2100 South into a light-rail repair center along the new West Valley City TRAX line. Another $10 million goes to new buses, partly to serve new express routes to Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain.
The list does not include some of Salt Lake City's priorities, including a downtown streetcar circulator or another streetcar linking Sugar House to TRAX in South Salt Lake. That doesn't mean Mayor Ralph Becker won't get those projects with stimulus dollars, Hattery said, but he will have to vie with other cities for a piece of $1.5 billion in discretionary funds that U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood can dole out.
Mountainland, in the Provo area, plans to use more than $5 million on trails -- a historic rail trail in Lehi and one in American Fork -- and $3.6 million to widen the highway out of the mouth of Provo Canyon, among other projects.
--
Small towns » Coalville will collect more than $1 million for a Main Street project, Tooele will snag the same for State Road 112, and Emery County will get $2.2 million for a long-awaited reconstruction of a road to Goblin Valley State Park.
In Cache Valley, the state will tap part of its share to build a $2.8 million road along 100 East from Logan to Providence, and the area's transit agency will get $1.7 million to buy hybrid-electric buses.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
75 Utans take polar plunge to raise money for Special Olympics
75 Utans take polar plunge to raise money for Special Olympics
Cathy Allred - Daily Herald
Seventy-five people braved the 30-degree Utah Lake water Saturday afternoon and took the Polar Plunge to raise money for the Utah Special Olympics.
There was only one fatality, a digital camera dropped into the frigid water, and everyone made it out of the lake safely.
The hosts of the event, Saratoga Springs police, were able to raise more than $5,000 for the 2009 Special Olympics.
"This is our first Saratoga Springs Police Department Polar Plunge," Saratoga Springs Police Chief Gary Hicken said. "We have the perfect facility for it, we really do: six miles of shoreline."
SSPD Sgt. Kerry Cole organized the event. His team wore orange shirts with black lettering that spelled out "Cole." They were also able to spell out the world "cold," which they did just before the jump.
A chainsaw had to be used in preparation for the Polar Plunge, to cut out 16-inch thick ice blocks from the frozen lake using a loader to clear a 10- by 20-foot area of water at the Pelican Bay public marina unloading ramp.
Participants took turns jumping into the 6-foot deep icy water and got out quickly.
Police Chief Gary Hicken stood at the shore's edge offering wet jumpers a donut, and another officer wearing a dry thermal suit was standing in the water to help jumpers out of the lake if needed.
Utah Valley Desperados, a semi-pro football team based in Orem, took the chilly leap.
"We thought it was a great cause," team member Jeremy Williams said. "We thought why not?"
Seven team members made the plunge.
"It was fun, it really was," said Williams, laughing. "It was not bad, actually."
The U.S. Army was represented by SSG Tom Robertson and Sgt. Bryon Lennon of the 142nd Battalion.
"We got invited to set up the tent and humvee and stuff," Robertson said. "Well, we're here, we might as well jump in."
From T-shirts and ties to a colorful floral swim cap and striped socks, most plungers dressed with a flair for the occasion.
Hicken gave out awards for the best costume, most funds raised and for the first jumper. Best costume award went to Kyler Daybeel who dressed up as a blue shark. The first jumper was Frank Morgan, and Fred Reagh was able to raise the most funds, $800, for his jump.
"We appreciate [Reagh's] tenacity in getting people to donate," Hicken said.
He was awarded a "Super Plunger" jacket with the motto "Freezin' for a reason" printed on it.
"Thank you to the hundreds who are fund raising, and don't drown," said Bruce Maples, a global messenger for the Special Olympics events.
Polar Plunge winners
• Best costume: Kyler Daybell, a blue shark
• First jumper: Frank Morgan, Lake Mtn. 2nd Ward bishop
• Most donated: Fred Reagh, $800
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Saratoga Springs approves new police station
Saratoga Springs approves new police station
Lance Madigan - North County staff
Saratoga Springs police officers will have a new office soon, after the City Council approved a plan to purchase the bottom half of the City Hall building and convert the majority of it into a police station.
The major concern raised by the City Council was how to pay for the purchase, which will be more than $1 million. Last year, Saratoga Springs struggled to bring the city budget into balance with the economic downturn. Although much better off this year, thanks to cutbacks and planning, city officials don't want to saddle the city with new debt.
The police department is now housed in a double-wide trailer at 2015 S. Redwood Road.
"Trailers have no cupboards or closets," said Police Chief Gary Hicken. "You don't have any protection or barriers. You don't have the kind of walls or doors to provide for secure evidence rooms. No place to hold something. The lobby as you walk in you immediately walk into people's offices. We have had that [problem] where people walk in on detectives. They can come in on you angry and mad, and they are on top of you before you even know they are there. Those things are big deals."
Saratoga Springs city manager Ken Leetham said with the approval, the next step would be to make an offer to the owner.
"We have discussed the value of the building, and now the city will make a purchase offer," he said.
As negotiations would soon begin, Leetham said he could not discuss the potential value of the building or what the cost might be to the city. Leetham said he hoped to come back to the City Council with a final proposal in the next 30 to 45 days.
"We all understand the need for the building, it was just how are we going to pay for it," said Councilman Jefferson Moss. "It is very important that the public know that the biggest concern that the council had was any potential liability to the general fund.
"We are looking at scenarios where we are drawing fully from impact fees, a million dollars of which has already been set aside from our public safety impact fees which can only be used for this type of project."
He said almost $1 million is already available and any additional amount the city draws down from other impact fee funds would need to be repaid when other impact fees come into the city coffers.
"By law, these impact fees can only be spent for the purpose of development of public safety," said Councilman Bud Poduska. "We currently have about two-thirds of the entire cost of the purchase in our Public Safety Impact Fee Fund."
He said the third that needs to be borrowed would be paid back with interest into the other city funds.
"The impact fee funds are currently large enough, and the amount borrowed is small enough, so the temporary use will not interfere with any projects that will be paid for by these funds. In this way no property taxes, utility revenues, or sales tax revenues will be involved or needed in order to provide the police department with a safer and more efficient facility," Poduska said.
The new facility would be about 4,000 square feet. The double-wide trailer, according to Hicken, is just less than 1,200 square feet. Hicken also wanted to assure everyone that they would be good neighbors.
"I don't think it will cause as much difficulty for lessees downstairs as some might think," he said. "We will be doing all of our entering and exiting through the north doors. You are not going to be seeing police officers coming in these front doors."
The space the city will be negotiating is currently housing medical offices, the Alpine Pediatrics group. The clinic is building a new facility, which opened up a significant portion of the building. That prompted Mayor Timothy Parker to make the initial proposal.
Leetham said that once an agreement is reached, the city would then have to wait for Alpine Pediatrics to complete its building and move. Then renovations could begin.
"We just have to make some minor changes to the interior," he said. "I would think the actual construction would take a week to two weeks. It may take us about 30 days to finalize construction plans and get a contractor to help us."
Lance Madigan - North County staff
Saratoga Springs police officers will have a new office soon, after the City Council approved a plan to purchase the bottom half of the City Hall building and convert the majority of it into a police station.
The major concern raised by the City Council was how to pay for the purchase, which will be more than $1 million. Last year, Saratoga Springs struggled to bring the city budget into balance with the economic downturn. Although much better off this year, thanks to cutbacks and planning, city officials don't want to saddle the city with new debt.
The police department is now housed in a double-wide trailer at 2015 S. Redwood Road.
"Trailers have no cupboards or closets," said Police Chief Gary Hicken. "You don't have any protection or barriers. You don't have the kind of walls or doors to provide for secure evidence rooms. No place to hold something. The lobby as you walk in you immediately walk into people's offices. We have had that [problem] where people walk in on detectives. They can come in on you angry and mad, and they are on top of you before you even know they are there. Those things are big deals."
Saratoga Springs city manager Ken Leetham said with the approval, the next step would be to make an offer to the owner.
"We have discussed the value of the building, and now the city will make a purchase offer," he said.
As negotiations would soon begin, Leetham said he could not discuss the potential value of the building or what the cost might be to the city. Leetham said he hoped to come back to the City Council with a final proposal in the next 30 to 45 days.
"We all understand the need for the building, it was just how are we going to pay for it," said Councilman Jefferson Moss. "It is very important that the public know that the biggest concern that the council had was any potential liability to the general fund.
"We are looking at scenarios where we are drawing fully from impact fees, a million dollars of which has already been set aside from our public safety impact fees which can only be used for this type of project."
He said almost $1 million is already available and any additional amount the city draws down from other impact fee funds would need to be repaid when other impact fees come into the city coffers.
"By law, these impact fees can only be spent for the purpose of development of public safety," said Councilman Bud Poduska. "We currently have about two-thirds of the entire cost of the purchase in our Public Safety Impact Fee Fund."
He said the third that needs to be borrowed would be paid back with interest into the other city funds.
"The impact fee funds are currently large enough, and the amount borrowed is small enough, so the temporary use will not interfere with any projects that will be paid for by these funds. In this way no property taxes, utility revenues, or sales tax revenues will be involved or needed in order to provide the police department with a safer and more efficient facility," Poduska said.
The new facility would be about 4,000 square feet. The double-wide trailer, according to Hicken, is just less than 1,200 square feet. Hicken also wanted to assure everyone that they would be good neighbors.
"I don't think it will cause as much difficulty for lessees downstairs as some might think," he said. "We will be doing all of our entering and exiting through the north doors. You are not going to be seeing police officers coming in these front doors."
The space the city will be negotiating is currently housing medical offices, the Alpine Pediatrics group. The clinic is building a new facility, which opened up a significant portion of the building. That prompted Mayor Timothy Parker to make the initial proposal.
Leetham said that once an agreement is reached, the city would then have to wait for Alpine Pediatrics to complete its building and move. Then renovations could begin.
"We just have to make some minor changes to the interior," he said. "I would think the actual construction would take a week to two weeks. It may take us about 30 days to finalize construction plans and get a contractor to help us."
Friday, February 13, 2009
UTA announces express bus route from Cedar Valley to SLC
UTA announces express bus route from Cedar Valley to SLC
Daily Herald
Daily Herald
The Utah Transit Authority has announced the schedule and stops for a new express bus route from Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs to Salt Lake City.
UTA Express Bus Route #806 will begin service on April 6. The route will provide direct service from the Cedar Valley area to Downtown Salt Lake City. There will be two northbound buses each morning and two southbound ones in the afternoon.
Buses will stop at an LDS meetinghouse in Eagle Mountain, 7746 N. Sparrowhawk Way, and an LDS meetinghouse in Saratoga Springs, 2101 N. Providence Drive. Buses will leave the Eagle Mountain stop at 6:13 a.m. and 6:43 a.m., passing through Saratoga Springs at 6:26 and 6:56 a.m. and arriving in Salt Lake at 7:25 and 7:55 a.m. Return buses leave downtown at 4:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m., passing through Saratoga Springs at 5:17 and 5:47 p.m. and arriving in Eagle Mountain at 5:30 and 6 p.m.
Beginning April 1, one-way express bus fares may be purchased for $4.50 or a monthly unlimited express bus pass for $162.00.
Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs residents voted by large margins in November to approve a quarter-cent sales tax increase to become part of UTA's coverage area.
Daily Herald
Daily Herald
The Utah Transit Authority has announced the schedule and stops for a new express bus route from Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs to Salt Lake City.
UTA Express Bus Route #806 will begin service on April 6. The route will provide direct service from the Cedar Valley area to Downtown Salt Lake City. There will be two northbound buses each morning and two southbound ones in the afternoon.
Buses will stop at an LDS meetinghouse in Eagle Mountain, 7746 N. Sparrowhawk Way, and an LDS meetinghouse in Saratoga Springs, 2101 N. Providence Drive. Buses will leave the Eagle Mountain stop at 6:13 a.m. and 6:43 a.m., passing through Saratoga Springs at 6:26 and 6:56 a.m. and arriving in Salt Lake at 7:25 and 7:55 a.m. Return buses leave downtown at 4:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m., passing through Saratoga Springs at 5:17 and 5:47 p.m. and arriving in Eagle Mountain at 5:30 and 6 p.m.
Beginning April 1, one-way express bus fares may be purchased for $4.50 or a monthly unlimited express bus pass for $162.00.
Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs residents voted by large margins in November to approve a quarter-cent sales tax increase to become part of UTA's coverage area.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Saratoga Springs congratulates CERT grads
Saratoga Springs congratulates CERT grads
Lance Madigan - North County staff
Saratoga Springs Fire Chief Tim Hay presented the first graduating class of Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers in January.¬
¬ Jeanne (Georgina) Anderson, Natasha Call, Kitty Cheney, Jarrah Gerald, Jeri Hansen, Elizabeth Harmer, Alicia Howard, Julie King, Julie Mohler, Allison Schipaanboord, Sabina Suggs and Kelsey Watson went through extensive training to learn about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area.¬
The training included basic disaster responses skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations.¬ They were also taught such skills as how to make homes disaster-ready, run basic fire operations equipment such as generators and radios, and how to conduct house-to-house searches.
"The Saratoga Springs CERT teams are members of the community," said Rick Scott, fire fighter and CERT program coordinator.¬ He explained that while there were CERT groups set up through LDS wards, this new group has a city-wide focus.
The course started last June, with meetings twice a month for six months.¬ The instructors were members of the Fire Department, including Scott, Dawnya DeKarver, Kayli Frazier, Jack Homen, Robb Rowley, Tim Spek, Dan Lincoln and Darren Wright.¬ Funding was first provided by A Plus Benefits, but participants have supplied some materials on their own as well.
Kitty Cheney, a recent graduate, said, "I always wanted to learn a little more about how the city runs and how we can prepare for emergencies. I had taken a citizens academy in a previous city that I lived in and it was about the neatest thing I had ever done."
¬ When asked what was most interesting, Cheney said, "Triage.¬ That's a fun one, when you have a disaster and you can't help everyone."
¬ "The best part (was) gaining confidence in CPR skills and life saving abilities," said Sabina Suggs.¬ "Feeling a little more confident that if an emergency were to happen I would be more prepared as an individual."
The graduating CERT members are now going on to start Fire Corp training.¬ "The mission of Fire Corps is to increase the capacity of volunteer, career and combination fire and EMS departments through the use of citizen advocates. Fire Corps provides resources for departments to utilize citizen advocates in non-operational roles so they can develop, implement and sustain programs and services that will help their department meet the needs of their community.
"Fire Corp will last for one year.¬ The members will be trained under the standards set by the State of Utah Fire I level and the American Red Cross," Scott said.
"We are excited about it and want to utilize them anyway we can," added Hay.
"In April 2009, we will open the training up again to the community," Scott said. "The current members will be the instructors and the leadership of the teams.¬ Our goal is to have 50 members by 2010."
¬ For more information or to join the next CERT course, please contact Rick Scott at 801-443-1090 or e-mail your query to rscott@saratoga-springs.net.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Finance committee forms in Saratoga Springs
Finance committee forms in Saratoga Springs
Lance Madigan - North County Staff
Hoping to avoid the financial trouble the city faced last year at budget time, the Saratoga Springs City Council has adopted a new volunteer finance committee, which met for the first time last week.
"This committee is expected to make recommendations to the city manager and City Council regarding budgeting policies, practices and any other finance issues," said Ken Leetham, Saratoga Springs city manager.
At the beginning of the year, the City Council was informed Saratoga Springs could be facing as much as a $3.5 million deficient. This was news to the City Council as well as very concerning to them.
At that time and ever since, the council and city administration has been working to form a volunteer committee with the express purpose to provide third-party revenue and ideas for city finances.
"I am very excited to be getting this finance committee going," said City Council member Jefferson Moss. "I think we have some amazingly talent people willing to help."
The mayor and City Council interviewed the applicants and selected the members at the end of last year. The Saratoga Springs Finance Committee members were named and the committee officially formed by city resolution at the end of November.
The five regular members include Travis Clegg, Kory Farrer, Jeff Francom, Jeffrey Randall and Stephen Willden. Bill Ennis and David Funk will serve as alternate members.
Clegg is a security manager at the Utah Community Credit Union. With 14 years experience at the credit union, as well as a bachelors in business and an MBA, Clegg said, "I thought it was a great opportunity to serve in my community. I believe community service is important to the long-term success of any community."
Farrer is an international controller for ACS.
"I knew that the city had got in some trouble in some finances -- overspending, projecting more revenue than they were getting, et cetera," Farrer said.
Farrer said he works with employees outside the United States to help coordinate budgeting and reporting for the company. He also has experience with tax preparation, and has been counseling clients on budget preparation for more than 20 years.
"I am amazed that some people that only make $40,000 [annually] with 20 kids still have invested income," he said. "I have developed some systems of budgeting that I share with clients and members of the community. I hope that I can help the city out. I want my community to be nice and have control of their finances. "
Francom has been a financial advisor for 12 years, and currently operates the Edward Jones Investment office in American Fork. He said his goal is to "... make sure every dollar is making an appropriate return on investment."
"'Does it make sense?' That applies to whether you are investing or deciding to do something in a public park or a new program in public safety," Francom said.
"I felt like I finally could apply my professions skills in a setting which can have a positive effect on my community and neighbors as opposed to shareholders of a large corporation," Willden said. "As a senior auditor for Zions Bancorporation, my primary responsibilities involve reviewing practices and working with executive management to improve, strengthen or streamline current procedures, processes and controls. This requires me to very quickly gain an understanding of processes at both a high and detailed level in order to really understand what changes need to be made or what is working well. I then present my recommendations to Zions Bancorporation Executive management. I expect that I will use my current skill set in the very same manner as directed by the City Council."
In explaining the goal's of the committee, Leetham said the committee will provide input on the city's long-range goals and be another set of professionals that will provide balance and input on what best practices should be implemented, set long-range financial goals and provide recommended financial practices and strategies. The committee will also provide the City Council with specific budget recommendations.
Lance Madigan - North County Staff
Hoping to avoid the financial trouble the city faced last year at budget time, the Saratoga Springs City Council has adopted a new volunteer finance committee, which met for the first time last week.
"This committee is expected to make recommendations to the city manager and City Council regarding budgeting policies, practices and any other finance issues," said Ken Leetham, Saratoga Springs city manager.
At the beginning of the year, the City Council was informed Saratoga Springs could be facing as much as a $3.5 million deficient. This was news to the City Council as well as very concerning to them.
At that time and ever since, the council and city administration has been working to form a volunteer committee with the express purpose to provide third-party revenue and ideas for city finances.
"I am very excited to be getting this finance committee going," said City Council member Jefferson Moss. "I think we have some amazingly talent people willing to help."
The mayor and City Council interviewed the applicants and selected the members at the end of last year. The Saratoga Springs Finance Committee members were named and the committee officially formed by city resolution at the end of November.
The five regular members include Travis Clegg, Kory Farrer, Jeff Francom, Jeffrey Randall and Stephen Willden. Bill Ennis and David Funk will serve as alternate members.
Clegg is a security manager at the Utah Community Credit Union. With 14 years experience at the credit union, as well as a bachelors in business and an MBA, Clegg said, "I thought it was a great opportunity to serve in my community. I believe community service is important to the long-term success of any community."
Farrer is an international controller for ACS.
"I knew that the city had got in some trouble in some finances -- overspending, projecting more revenue than they were getting, et cetera," Farrer said.
Farrer said he works with employees outside the United States to help coordinate budgeting and reporting for the company. He also has experience with tax preparation, and has been counseling clients on budget preparation for more than 20 years.
"I am amazed that some people that only make $40,000 [annually] with 20 kids still have invested income," he said. "I have developed some systems of budgeting that I share with clients and members of the community. I hope that I can help the city out. I want my community to be nice and have control of their finances. "
Francom has been a financial advisor for 12 years, and currently operates the Edward Jones Investment office in American Fork. He said his goal is to "... make sure every dollar is making an appropriate return on investment."
"'Does it make sense?' That applies to whether you are investing or deciding to do something in a public park or a new program in public safety," Francom said.
"I felt like I finally could apply my professions skills in a setting which can have a positive effect on my community and neighbors as opposed to shareholders of a large corporation," Willden said. "As a senior auditor for Zions Bancorporation, my primary responsibilities involve reviewing practices and working with executive management to improve, strengthen or streamline current procedures, processes and controls. This requires me to very quickly gain an understanding of processes at both a high and detailed level in order to really understand what changes need to be made or what is working well. I then present my recommendations to Zions Bancorporation Executive management. I expect that I will use my current skill set in the very same manner as directed by the City Council."
In explaining the goal's of the committee, Leetham said the committee will provide input on the city's long-range goals and be another set of professionals that will provide balance and input on what best practices should be implemented, set long-range financial goals and provide recommended financial practices and strategies. The committee will also provide the City Council with specific budget recommendations.
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