Saratoga Springs, Utah

CBC members should stop demonizing tea partiers (Mayor Mia Love's Comments about Tea Party)

2011-09-13T17:03:00.000-07:00

I have yet to meet a tea party member who wants to see me “hanging on a tree,” as U.S. Rep. Andre Carson of Indiana recently suggested. He says the tea party considers me a second-class citizen. In truth, as a black conservative woman in Utah, I have been welcomed into the arms of a freedom-loving movement. The tea party reflects the principles of freedom and prosperity black Americans have long fought to win.

Today, however, some members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) are more interested in igniting racism than extinguishing it. Especially during a time when we reflect on the unity and common resolve our nation mustered in the aftermath of 9/11, we should be finding ways to bring people together, not tear them apart. Far from promoting freedom or unity, though, the CBC’s agenda calls for ever-increasing levels of animosity and, for black Americans, dependency. We will never win the fight for equality by asking to be singled out.

Carson’s comments, along with those of Rep. Maxine Waters of California telling the tea party to “go straight to hell,” send a disturbingly hostile message. As the only conservative member in the 43-member caucus, Rep. Allen West of Florida has urged the chairman of the CBC to condemn “hate-filled comments” of some members. West is still waiting for a response from the caucus, but what he really needs are reinforcements in Congress who will better reflect the diversity of views held by black Americans.

The principles reflected in the tea party are not at odds with the values of black Americans. You don’t have to be white — or black, or Hispanic, or Asian, or anything else — to care about the important issues facing our nation. My priorities of fiscal discipline, personal responsibility and smaller government draw upon my own experience as an American.

My parents immigrated to this country from Haiti with nothing but a strong family and a solid work ethic. My father, who took two jobs to help pay for my education, was a living example of personal responsibility. He is proud to say he didn’t take a handout. When I graduated from college, my father told me, “You will not be a burden to society. You will give back.”

The CBC’s vision statement reads: “We envision a world in which the black community is free of all disparities and able to contribute fully to advancing the common good.” While people of all races should have equal opportunities, the CBC legislative agenda calls for ever-increasing levels of dependency for black Americans through federally initiated entitlement programs.

I respect the desire of the CBC to provide for the needs of the poor communities they serve. However, I reject the notion that dependency on government is the answer. We spend nearly $1 trillion a year on means-tested poverty programs in this country. But those programs have done little to stem the tide of poverty in America. We can no longer afford to keep spending money on programs that aren’t working. Trimming government and getting it out of the way of economic recovery is the best way to create jobs and wealth that enable people to pull themselves out of poverty.

Personal responsibility, as demonstrated by my father, cannot be omitted from the equation. More importantly, as leaders in black communities, members of the CBC must stop demonizing those who promote such values. I join Florida Rep. Allen West condemning the comments made by senior members of the CBC.

The inflammatory rhetoric and class-warfare agenda of many of today’s CBC members do not reflect the values upon which this country was founded. As an American who is also black, I am proud to align myself with the forces of freedom.

Mia Love, the mayor of Saratoga Springs, Utah, is the first black female mayor elected in that state. In August 2011, she announced the formation of an exploratory committee to consider a 2012 run for U.S. Congress.

Utah County to gain in Senate, Provo/Orem to lose in House

2011-09-13T17:01:00.000-07:00

SALT LAKE CITY -- If the Legislature approves two proposed maps, Utah County will have five Senate seats of its own, but two legislators' districts will be combined in the House.
Rep. Ken Sumsion, R-American Fork, House chair for the Redistricting Committee, said the districts of Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem, and Rep. Chris Herrod, R-Provo, had to be combined because of population numbers. The numbers in Orem and Provo showed a need for districts to be combined, while areas in the north end of the county called for a new district to be drawn. Sumsion said that Herrod was one of his closest colleagues in the House, but the numbers showed a district in the Provo/Orem area had to go.
"We went out to dinner with our wives just a few days ago," Sumsion said. "I'm hopeful I'll still have a friend when this is done."
Sumsion revealed that the Sandstrom-Herrod district was a result of the fact that the committee was planning on Sandstrom running for a seat in the U.S. Congress. Sandstrom had been planning to run for the seat of Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, if Chaffetz chose to challenge Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. Chaffetz backed off the challenge, though, and has said he will run again for his House seat. Sandstrom has said he will not challenge Chaffetz, thus leaving him in Herrod's district and possibly forcing a race between the two close House members.
Sumsion also said that under the current House map that two new House seats would be created in the north end of the county, one seat centrally located in Lehi and another that covers the Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs areas.
The House map also shows a loss of House seats in Salt Lake County. Currently there are 30 seats in the state's most populous county, but the numbers call for the county to lose two seats. One of those seats will head to Utah County.
The Senate map approved by the committee was basically the same map that was presented to the committee last Wednesday. The committee stalled on a decision to approve the map last week after hearing concerns from residents in Tooele County. Committee members spent the remainder of last week trying to find a way to not divide the county but in the end said the map put Utah in the best situation to avoid a lawsuit from parties that were upset about how the lines were drawn.
"We looked very hard at the Tooele County area, looked at many options for potential changes in that area. ... Anytime we did it affected at least two other districts," said Sen. Ralph Okerlund, R-Monroe, the Senate chairman for the committee.
The maps still are subject to change, though. The committee reserved the right to make minor tweaks to the base maps, which will only serve as a guidelines for the full bodies of the House and Senate to consider when they meet in a special session in October to adopt the boundary lines. The current Senate map does preserve all the seats for the current incumbents in Utah County.
Both maps were approved unanimously by the committee made up of 14 Republicans and five Democrats. The committee is set to meet again on Sept. 22 to go over the boundaries for Utah's four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. The state's current members of the U.S. House have been invited to that meeting to present their own maps on how their districts should be drawn.

Saratoga Springs candidate told not to use officers quote

2011-09-04T16:47:00.000-07:00

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Controversy has erupted in Saratoga Springs over a statement in one city council candidate's campaign literature.
Ryan Peltekian quoted police Corporal Aaron Rosen as saying, "Ryan exudes confidence and humility; he had a warrior mindset," in a campaign brochure under the heading of "Endorsements."
The police department refuted the endorsement with a posting on the department's Facebook page. The posting states, "It has come to our attention that there is a member of the community, currently running for city council, that has inappropriately quoted a member of the SSPD on the campaign materials. We must clarify this is not consistent with the policies and procedures of the SSPD. The quote was used by the candidate out of context and does not reflect an endorsement for public office.
"The officer whose name was used in the flier was never previously contacted for permission, nor was permission granted by the officer to use his name or affiliation for campaigning purposes. SSPD take pride in supporting EVERYONE whose intention it is to serve in the public arena. It is a noble desire. However, we do not endorse any one candidate for any public office."
The quote comes from an award Peltekian received from the SSPD for his involvement with the Explorer Unit. He received the Explorer of the Year award.
Peltekian says he didn't previously know about the non-endorsement policy, but understands now. He still feels some city government and police department members are "trying to use any way possible to hurt my campaign."
Peltekian says "Transparency is my No. 1 goal. Transparency with the city and the police department in the things they're doing."
"I feel the rights of the citizens have come last in the goals of the city recently. Citizen is the most important political office. It seems Saratoga Springs has forgotten that," he said.
There is no law preventing police officers from giving political endorsements. This is a Saratoga Springs department policy. Law enforcement associations such as the Fraternal Order of Police often give endorsements in elections.
The Saratoga Springs Police Department did not return a call from the Herald for comment.

Update on Blog

2009-07-28T13:28:00.000-07:00

After having several people ask me about this blog, I've decided to start updating the blog again. It mostly provide articles relating to Saratoga Springs, Utah, but will also include personal articles and potentially articles from others in the city. I believe strongly in having a resource for residents of our city to stay informed of what's going on in our great city. I hope you find it useful.

Saratoga residents unite against UDOT project

2009-04-21T18:51:00.001-07:00

Saratoga residents unite against UDOT project
Cathy Allred - Daily Herald
SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Saratoga Springs residents are upset that the Redwood Road Expansion Project could severely impact their homes and safety, and they have organized to fight for changes.

Utah Department of Transportation spokesman Geoff Dupaix said they hope to address residents' concerns at an open house today from 6-8 p.m. at Saratoga Shores Elementary.
In February, UDOT staff met with nearby Redwood Road residents about the highway widening project. Initially, UDOT planned on constructing a drainage ditch down the side of Redwood Road (State Road 68) where a strip park exists but since the February meeting has changed those plans to place the drain culvert in the highway median, said Doug Graham, chairman of a road expansion committee organized by Saratoga Springs subdivision homeowners association members.

"People were concerned about ruining the 10 years of growth trees and grass, and a jogging path that many people use on a daily basis," he said.

Now there are more concerns about the expansion project.

"Hopefully, we'll be able to resolve some of those concerns at the meeting tomorrow, where those improvements will be, how they will change the rest of the plan and to improve safety," Dupaix said.

He said that since February the plans for the highway have been slightly shifted to the west, farther away from the neighboring subdivision.

Graham said he isn't holding his breath for improvements.

"With that expansion are several considerations, including my home," he said. "There is a safety factor that no one seems to be considering."

He said vehicles traveling along Redwood Road have twice veered off the highway slamming through fencing into residents' backyards. Graham said his group is concerned there will be additional risk after the expansion is completed because UDOT wants to raise the road to resolve flooding and drainage issues.

"We have the safety factor; it's an obvious big issue," he said. "There is also the aesthetic issue."

Residents not bordering S.R. 68 have raised another issue.

Pepita Ridgeway lives in the Saratoga Springs planned community near the HOA pool. Her family regularly bikes as an activity with their three young children. With ongoing construction for State Road 73 effectively blocking the Jordan River Parkway bike path and now the addition of the S.R. 68 expansion project, Ridgeway said she's frustrated.

"We'll have to just, I don't know, drive up to Provo Canyon, something like that," she said. "There's isn't much else we can go ... unless we just ride on the road, but you know what that's like. Motorists are not very cyclist-aware, I'd say."

Dupaix said UDOT's goal is to not take out the trail but to improve the road without significantly impacting the trail.

Graham said he and other residents will be at the open house tonight.

"I don't think they were expecting the reaction that they got," Graham said. "People are really concerned."

Eagle Mountain commuters face construction delays

2009-04-06T17:31:00.000-07:00

Eagle Mountain commuters face construction delays
April 6th, 2009 @ 1:25pm
By Randall Jeppesen
SARATOGA SPRINGS - Commuters in Eagle Mountain are facing a double dose of road construction.

The intersection known as the four corners in Saratoga Springs is a major route for motorists to and from Eagle Mountain. Redwood Road and State Road 73 in the area both are under construction. Both roads are being widened.

"It takes 15 more minutes, 15 to half an hour longer," one motorist said.

But Scott Thompson of the Utah Department of Transportation says when it's all completed, today's delays will lead to a much better drive.

"(They've) got a new Wal-Mart going in out there. You have a lot more people coming back and forth," he said.

Redwood Road is being widened from Bangerter Highway on the north to 400 South in Saratoga Springs on the south. It should be finished by this fall.

The S.R. 73 work should be wrapped up in June.

UTA buses begin new route on west side of Utah Lake

2009-04-06T17:30:00.000-07:00

UTA buses begin new route on west side of Utah Lake
April 6th, 2009 @ 5:44pm
By Randall Jeppesen
EAGLE MOUNTAIN -- For the tens of thousands living in Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs, there's finally a new way to get to Salt Lake for work. A new express bus route is rolling.

"That's good, probably a good idea. If you work uptown or something, that's probably the way to go," one man told us.

Some residents are saying anything to reduce traffic, and that will allow them to leave the car at home, is a good thing and needed; others not so happy about the price to ride.

UTA says the cost of a one-way express bus fare is $4.50 and a monthly unlimited express bus pass is $162.00. "I don't think it's worth it for the price they're charging," another man said.

Right now, there are only two buses that make the trip, but several residents say it's a start. They hope to see more buses added as more people jump aboard. [Click here to see a map of the new route]

Saratoga Springs may get library

2009-03-21T10:45:00.000-07:00

Saratoga Springs may get library
Lance Madigan - Daily Herald
SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Saratoga Springs has taken advantage of the Utah County Bookmobile for about two years now, and according to city officials, the service is heavily utilized.

The heavy usage has given the mayor an idea of how to make a full-fledged library happen in the city.
The Saratoga Springs Police Department is planning to move in the next few months, as soon as Alpine Pediatrics vacates the first floor of the Saratoga Springs City Offices and proper renovations can be made. Mayor Tim Parker has proposed that the trailer now being used by the police department could be converted to a beginning library.

"Right now, we have a small window [with the Bookmobile] of two hours every two weeks," he said, adding that while many people just come out and look at what is on the Bookmobile, the other option is to go online and request the book you want. The problem is, patrons must meet the Bookmobile during the prescribed two-hour block to pick up and drop off their materials.

A library facility would work to expand that window.

"The idea is, the Bookmobile can deliver and pick up books at a central access," Parker said. "Then six days a week, a person could pick up or drop off for the Bookmobile, rather than just the tiny two-hour window."

Parker said additional benefits would be that the library trailer could be a place to start a collection for the city.

"We have to discuss it with them," he said. "But it could possibly be a place for the Bookmobile to house part of their collection."

The mayor also proposed that it could be a reading room for individuals, as well as a place to set up a small Internet lab and as a way for Saratoga to strengthen its position to join the North County Library Cooperative between Lehi, American Fork, Pleasant Grove and Eagle Mountain.

Ken Leetham, Saratoga Springs city manager, said that if it were organized and manned by volunteers, there would be very little cost for the city.

City Councilwoman Denise Kelly said it could be an opportunity for Eagle Scout projects.

"It is the beginning of going toward the real thing," Parker said. "We might have to hang a sign on the outside of the trailer, 'Don't laugh, it's paid for,' but it is a way to get the snowball going."

All the city council members present were very supportive of the idea.

Now, city officials just need to decide if they want to remodel the trailer when the police department leaves, or work with the rooms as they currently exist. Parker said he could see using some of the city staff working on the police department renovation at the main city offices to concurrently make renovations very cheaply.

With the projection of the police department moving in June, he said they could hope to have something in place this summer.

Residents interested in helping organize the effort through a citizen library committee or providing volunteer hours or donations are encouraged to e-mail the mayor at mayortimparker@yahoo.com.

Saratoga Springs City staff consider administrative court

2009-03-18T11:46:00.000-07:00

Saratoga Springs City staff consider administrative court
Lance Madigan - Daily Herald
Officials are taking steps to open an administrative law court in Saratoga Springs to make things easier on residents while retaining revenue for the city.

The Saratoga Springs Justice Court has been open for slightly more than a year, and handles everything from domestic violence to unsightly yards cases. The court is open just one day a week and generally has a pretty full agenda when it is open.
Those are some of the main reasons Saratoga is looking at an administrative law court option.

"The biggest complaint that I think I received every single week, is that I have people that are coming into here that are being criminalized on behalf of the city for having their dog out," said Lindsay Jarvis, Saratoga Springs city prosecutor. "They are sitting in the audience court with citizens who have received DUIs, who are being investigated for domestic violence. They don't understand why they are sitting in this particular arena. They are sitting around guys who are going to jail."

Jarvis said the majority of the court cases have to do with code violations, and the city is losing out on a significant amount of revenue because code violators are being tried in Justice Court.

"The state charges us an 85 percent surcharge for every fine we bring in," he said.

An administrative court would give the city the power to create its own ordinances and enforce them. At present, Jarvis said this would probably be applied to animal citations, marina harbor violations, Department of Transportation violations and "messy yards."

"There are two main advantages here," said Ken Leetham, city manager. "One is not sharing court revenue. The other is, if we as a city are serious about property management, code enforcement and beautification of neighborhoods, this court and putting a comprehensive code together to address that is really the solution. And we really need to do that early on."

"I think the other thing is the better use of certain people's time for certain things," said Councilwoman Mia Love.

Enforcement, especially in the yard violation area, is a significant benefit according to Jarvis, because an administrative court would make it easier for city staff to enforce standards.

"We give notice of violation, or what we call an administrative citation," Jarvis said. "It gives them a notice of what the violation is, and then says 'You have 10 days to take care of this problem. Should you not take care of this problem in the 10 days, on the 11th day we are going to start charging you $25 a day per violation until it is taken care of.'••"

A lien could then be placed on a property, so in the case of unoccupied homes, new buyers would have to address the issue and pay the fine before they could get a certificate of occupancy.

The cost for the court would be minimal, according to Jarvis. She and the judge would have only a slight increase to their time since they have to hear these cases anyway.

The most expensive portion would be in the support staff for classifying and organizing these cases to be heard. The cost, she is quick to point out, would be quickly recouped in the fines that are not being sent to the state justice system.

The City Council was supportive of the idea. Jarvis, with the help of other city staff, will outline what administrative codes will cover in the city.

Once that is approved by the City Council, the court will just need to be organized so that it can start hearing cases.

"The sooner the better for us," Jarvis said.

North Utah County to see sewer fees jump

2009-03-02T10:16:00.001-08:00

North Utah County to see sewer fees jump
Caleb Warnock - DAILY HERALD
North Utah County residents are looking at a 35 percent spike in sewer fees -- a sign that at least sewer officials believe the recession cannot last forever.

The increase is necessary because Timpanogos Special Service District must proceed with a $107 million expansion despite the economy -- perhaps even because of the economy, said officials.
District officials are shopping three fee-increase scenarios around to city councils in the north end of the valley, each of which would increase rates by a total of 35 percent over two or more years, followed by a small annual increase every year thereafter.

The first scenario would increase rates 15 percent on July 1, and another 20 percent on July 1, 2010. Other scenarios might wait another year before the second increase, or vary the type of bond issue.

"The board is leaning toward the first scenario," said Alpine Councilman Tracy Wallace, reporting the fee proposal to Alpine. Wallace represents that city on the sewer district board.

Costs have gone up but fees have not been regularly increased, Wallace said of the decision to add small automatic annual raises after the larger fee jumps.

District Manager Jon Adams said the sewer plant must be expanded to meet the needs of future growth, even if growth has flat-lined now.

"You cannot guarantee me that we are not going to expand" the local population, Adams said. "If you are trying to tell me no one is going to have a baby, you are up in the night."

Built to treat up to 18 million gallons of human waste a day, the plant processed 15 million gallons a day in 2008, Adams said. That number is just too close to full capacity for comfort.

Sewer board members will choose one of the three scenarios at their March 19 meeting, and then a public hearing on the 35 percent increase will be held, likely in April.

The increase would allow the district to float a bond for $55 million. That combined with another $29 million the district has already borrowed, impact fees that have already been paid and will be paid, and monthly user fees will make up the cost of the $107 million project.

Indeed, economic recession may mean more people moving to Utah not to buy new homes but to move into their parents' basements, Adams said. And there are hundreds, if not more, of homes that sit vacant or approved for construction that have already paid fees for sewer, and the district must be ready at any time to give them service.

"We have an unprecedented number of homes where the fees are already paid for but they are vacant," he said.

All of this adds up to a need to expand now, despite the economy, but the rough economy may actually help as construction bid prices are dropping sometimes by as much as a quarter or a third of their original cost, he said. The sewer district hopes to take advantage of those savings.

"I don't see where we can wait," he said.

In addition, it now appears that the state will require sewer treatment plants to begin removing phosphorus from treated sewage before it is dumped into Utah Lake, and perhaps nitrogen too. Both of these mean Timpanogos will need to redesign its facilities. And odor control is part of the $107 million plan, too.

Commission accepts final draft of Utah Lake plan

2009-02-27T10:21:00.000-08:00

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

Panel OKs $214 million in stimulus projects

2009-02-25T18:17:00.000-08:00

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.

75 Utans take polar plunge to raise money for Special Olympics

2009-02-24T11:38:00.000-08:00

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

Saratoga Springs approves new police station

2009-02-14T09:42:00.001-08:00

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."

UTA announces express bus route from Cedar Valley to SLC

2009-02-13T14:54:00.000-08:00

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.

Saratoga Springs congratulates CERT grads

2009-02-12T07:49:00.001-08:00

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.

Finance committee forms in Saratoga Springs

2009-02-05T14:47:00.001-08:00

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.

Looking ahead for Saratoga Springs

2009-01-22T06:25:00.001-08:00

Looking ahead for Saratoga Springs
Lance Madigan - North County Staff
Each year at this time Americans take a moment to look back at what went right -- and wrong -- and then look ahead to the future hoping to build on things done right and correct shortcomings.

This is true for cities as well as individuals. Saratoga Springs is no different.
"This (2008) has been the most difficult year in the history of our city, which is somewhat ironic with it being our 10th anniversary," said Jefferson Moss, Saratoga Springs City Council member. "To say that the budget issue was difficult would be putting it lightly. ... But what happened next is what I think makes our city great."

He talked about efforts on the part of employees to trim costs and save dollars, as well as efforts by the city to enlist the help of volunteers to meet city needs.

"In order to save costs on our parks, we asked for volunteers to help us," Moss said. "We had residents from all over the city step up and put in the parks. This again saved the city thousands of dollars."

Another area volunteers are assisting the city is in financial reviews themselves.

"As a result of our financial situation, the council felt that it would be a great time to launch a finance committee made up financial experts in our city," Moss said.

The new Finance Committee was put in place in December, and will start meeting this month to review the city's revenues and expenses, and make recommendations to the council and administration to help prevent another economic crisis.

Bud Poduska, Saratoga Springs City Council member, added that there many new projects also ahead that would help ease financial burdens on homeowners by expanding sales tax revenues, including the opening of Wal-Mart, new Intermountain Healthcare and Alpine Pediatrics facilities, and a number of other smaller businesses and restaurants.

"The fall 2009 opening of our new high school and Fox Hollow elementary school will provide education for thousands of our children and job opportunities for hundreds of citizens," Poduska said. "These benefits will be even greater when the new middle school is completed the fall of 2010."

Poduska also noted that the Redwood Road expansion is scheduled for completion in the fall, and the east-west Pioneering Crossing from Saratoga to American Fork is expected to start anytime.

"These roads will make Saratoga Springs more appealing for residential development, commercial growth, and those looking for a new place to live," Poduska said.

Saratoga Springs has also sent out requests for citizens interested in helping plan civic events in the coming year. One position eliminated in last year's budget cuts was the civic events coordinator in the city.

Although some council members have tried to pick up the position's duties, they have other responsibilities and can't devote the time they feel it deserves.

The Saratoga Springs Web site states, "The city's objective is to continue to have this celebration (Saratoga Splash), but without expending city funds. Volunteers should have an interest in participating and leading events during the celebration. Some of the related tasks will be soliciting volunteers, putting teams of volunteers together for events, leadership of groups of volunteers, event planning, fundraising and generally donating time and energy to the city celebration."

The idea, according to Mayor Timothy Parker, is "to form a committee, put out the word, and sign up volunteers and put them to work." Those interested in helping can contact Valerie Christensen at vchrsitensen@saratoga-springs.net, or by visiting the city offices.

"We really do have an amazing city," Moss said. "I strongly feel that we will make it through these difficult times stronger and a better city."

Other council members made similar conclusions, saying that the strength of the city lies not in the elected officials or administration, but in each and every one of its citizens.

"It is not unheard of to have new people moving in talking about how friendly their neighbors are," Poduska said. "Thank you for being who you are, and making this citizen what it is."

Eagle Mountain hopes for more help from state snowplows

2009-01-21T11:44:00.000-08:00

Eagle Mountain hopes for more help from state snowplows
January 21st, 2009 @ 9:44am
By Randall Jeppesen
Talks over a lack of Utah Department of Transportation snowplows near Eagle Mountain are improving as the city and state try to find the most efficient way to keep the roads cleared.

Highway 73 is the one major road leading in and out of Eagle Mountain. When it gets pounded with snow, UDOT has only two snowplows working the big roads west of Utah Lake.

"We don't have any other snowplows to dedicate out to those roads," said UDOT Spokesperson Scott Thompson.

He says UDOT is working to find ways to clear the roads quicker. Eagle Mountain Mayor Heather Jackson had asked for a third plow.

"We're not getting the third plow," she said, "but it's not that UDOT didn't hear and isn't trying."

UDOT is adjusting the snowplow routes. It also has a salt storage area south of Saratoga Springs, which means the plows now don't have to leave the area to refill, which should help.

Contractor begins construction on Pioneer Crossing

2009-01-21T10:28:00.001-08:00

Contractor begins construction on Pioneer Crossing
Cathy Allred - North County staff

Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs residents can breathe a collective sigh of relief.

Work began Tuesday on an alternative east-west route for motorists to get in and out of those cities and to access Interstate 15. Ground-breaking for the Pioneer Crossing project was held Tuesday afternoon.
The six-mile-long expressway project has been put on the fast track for completion, with 90 percent of the arterial expected to be finished by November.

"They will have this opened up to the Mill Pond Road," said Bryan Adams, Access Utah County director. "So you'll be able to go to the American Fork interchange or the Lehi interchange."

The second phase of the project from Lehi's 850 East to I-15 on American Fork's Main Street will be completed by fall 2010.

"I think it's great. I think it's long overdue," said American Fork Mayor Heber Thompson. "It helps significantly relieve the congestion on Lehi Main Street which all of us have experienced."

The Utah Department of Transportation has contracted Kiewit and W.W. Clyde and Co. for the $260 million project, which includes the I-15 diverging diamond interchange, the first of its kind in Utah. The design involves a major east-west artery that crisscrosses over the freeway with only two signals and a free flow of traffic on and off the freeway. The DDI interchange will replace the American Fork Main Street interchange.

Construction underway on Pioneer Crossing

2009-01-20T15:49:00.001-08:00

Construction underway on Pioneer Crossing
January 20th, 2009 @ 4:22pm
(KSL News) State leaders broke ground today for the Pioneer Crossing, a new road which will bring new east-west access to northern Utah County.

The road will bring much needed relief for those who live in Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain.

The highway will connect Highway 68, just south of the crossroads in Saratoga Springs with I-15 at the American Fork Main Street exit.

The road will have five lanes; two lanes each direction with a center turn lane. The speed limit will be 40 mph. It will also have six or seven stop lights from Redwood Road to the new American Fork Main Street overpass.

The project will also completely rebuild that interchange.

The construction project is moving forward, despite other cuts to the Utah Department of Transportation's budget.

Work on the road is expected to take just 11 months, and the new connector should be open sometime in late November.

Groundbreaking for Pioneer Crossing

2009-01-15T07:52:00.001-08:00

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is ready to begin
construction on Pioneer Crossing and invites you to celebrate at a
groundbreaking event.

DATE: Tuesday, January 20, 2009

TIME: 2 p.m.

PLACE: The construction site on Redwood Road, one mile south of the
Redwood Road/ SR-73 (Lehi Main Street) intersection in Saratoga Springs

Pioneer Crossing will be a new east-west road that will run from
Redwood
Road in Saratoga Springs through Lehi to I-15's American Fork Main
Street interchange. The project will also include reconstruction of the
interchange.

For more information about the project visit udot.utah.gov/pioneer or
call 877-222-3757.

UDOT to Eagle Mountain: We cannot do more to clear snowy roads

2009-01-15T07:49:00.001-08:00

UDOT to Eagle Mountain: We cannot do more to clear snowy roads
Caleb Warnock - DAILY HERALD
Concerned that icy roads could trap Eagle Mountain residents who have limited options when getting in and out of town, Eagle Mountain Mayor Heather Jackson has asked UDOT to provide a third plow for the two highways leading to the city.

UDOT has turned the city down, citing economic realities and the sheer number of residents on the road, making access for plows difficult.
"Right now we don't see that we have a way to put a third plow out there and do everything we have to do," said UDOT spokesman Scott Thompson.

Jackson said Eagle Mountain residents have become increasingly vocal in their dissatisfaction about the condition of roads on snowy days. Some residents realize the city has no jurisdiction to plow the highways, and some don't, she said.

Jackson said she met with UDOT a week ago to request the third plow, telling UDOT officials that when roads are dangerous, Eagle Mountain residents have few, if any, options.

"We feel it is critical to add an extra plow," Jackson said. "Our citizens have to travel both highways 68 and 73, especially if they work in the Salt Lake area. We get a lot of complaints about both of those not being plowed."

A third plow would allow UDOT to re-plow more frequently in heavy traffic areas, and especially when snow continues to fall, she said, noting that it now takes UDOT plows three hours to make a loop to clear the highways that are the city's lifeblood.

"They go out and finally come back and one side of the road has 6 inches of snow on it and you can barely tell they have been here," Jackson said.

The city is also trying to educate its residents about which roads the city has the responsibility to plow, and which are the purview of the state. In its most recent newsletter, the city devoted space to explaining the city's priorities in plowing streets, and which streets the state must care for.

UDOT has 11 plows in its Lehi maintenance shed, but the main priority for those machines is to keep clear up to 30 miles of Interstate 15, said Thompson.

"It takes seven of the 11 to do that and get all the lanes clear," he said.

Another plow has been ordered for the area but won't arrive in time to help with this season's snow clearing, he said.

Another reason the roads are so difficult to plow is because the highways leading to Eagle Mountain "are busy and congested on a good day in decent weather," he said. "So if there is a heavy commuter time, we have run into trouble getting our plows through traffic."

In the meantime, UDOT will consider whether there are more efficient plowing patterns that can be used as a short-term solution, Thompson said.

Utah County FrontRunner expansion on trac

2009-01-15T07:47:00.001-08:00

Utah County FrontRunner expansion on track
Ace Stryker - Daily Herald

While recessionary concerns threaten to reduce or close government projects across the state, a planned commuter rail extension into Utah County is rolling along just fine.

"As far as budget cuts go, that is not an issue," said Carrie Bohnsack-Ware, spokeswoman for Utah Transit Authority, which is heading up the FrontRunner endeavor. "We are plowing ahead at full steam -- pun intended."
The FrontRunner South project will connect the new railway from its Salt Lake Central Station to an intermodal center at 600 South in Provo, with stops along the way in Orem, Vineyard, American Fork, Lehi, Draper, Sandy and Murray. It's part of UTA's $2.2 billion FrontLines 2015 program, a series of commuter and light rail projects funded by federal and local authorities. The expansion is well under way and could be open "if everything goes well" in 2012, said project manager Steve Meyer, though it's unclear what the final cost will be.

"There isn't an easy answer because of several factors," he said. "There are over 300 individual parcels of right-of-way that we're in the process of acquiring."

But it's more than that, Meyer said. Along the way, existing Union Pacific track must be moved, utility lines must be relocated, bridges must be built -- all of which depends on parties outside of UTA's control. He said it's a safe bet the final price tag will be significantly higher than FrontRunner North's, which topped $600 million for an equal length of track -- 44 miles -- between Salt Lake City and Ogden.

"That was good practice up north," said Meyer, who also managed the first half of the project. "This is the real deal."

The biggest difference between the two legs is the number of structures needed to make the southern route work, he said. The northern segment required just two bridges. The southern part looks to require at least 60 structures, including bridges, boxes and irrigation. Construction is already under way for a bridge over the American Fork River, and brush clearing and grading is being done at other spots along the future line.

"This year's going to be a big year for us to get a lot of work done," Meyer said. "We're dependent upon those third parties to get some of that work done to open up the corridor."

Utah County's FrontRunner stations will be positioned along the Interstate 15 corridor at high-population nexuses: Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, the new Main Street interchange in American Fork, the old Geneva site in Vineyard, west of Utah Valley University in Orem, and at University Avenue and 600 South in Provo. The Vineyard station won't open with the others, but will be added as the county continues to grow, Meyer said.

The Orem and Provo stations will be part of larger "intermodal centers" that will also offer commuters an option to finish their trips on special "bus rapid transit" lines. The buses are designed to move rapidly through city streets to popular stops such as Brigham Young University. It's all part of a larger plan to make it possible for county residents to leave their cars behind and be able to access faraway destinations -- like the Salt Lake International Airport, EnergySolutions Arena or the University of Utah -- using public transportation, said Gary McGinn, Provo's director of community development.

"That'll be a major link," he said. "Once we have that backbone of good, reliable bus rapid transit service in our city, then we can have more local bus service branching off that spine into other areas of our city."

McGinn said Provo's intermodal center is scheduled to open concurrently with FrontRunner South.

When FrontRunner opens, travel from Provo to Ogden -- the line's terminal points -- should take just under two hours, Meyer said. But it may not stop there: There are discussions about extending the line as far south as Nephi, with additional stops in Springville and Payson, and as far north as Brigham City. He said Springville has already picked a site, and Payson has created a transit-oriented zone in preparation for future expansion.

"That 120 miles encompasses about 80 percent of the state's population," Meyer said. "That'd be the spine of the Utah transportation corridor."

A new Saratoga police station proposed

2009-01-14T11:52:00.000-08:00

A new Saratoga police station proposed
North County Staff
Lance Madigan

Five people using three desks in a 12-by-12-foot office. No permanent storage areas or personal space for staff. Working in a double-wide trailer that you are not only embarrassed to bring your family to but feel is unsafe because there is very little control to keeping potentially dangerous people in controlled areas.

These are just a few of the problems that Saratoga Springs Mayor Timothy Parker pointed out to the City Council last week when he expressed his concerns over the city's Police Department building.
In the end, the city manager Ken Leetham and his staff were instructed to continue investigation into costs and financing options for the first floor of the city building as well as investigate other potential sites. The City Council is scheduled to meet again Jan. 13 to continue the discussion.

With only one door into the facility, Parker explained at the Tuesday meeting that safety was a major concern.

"Anyone coming into the police department has to come in through that door," he said. He cited several cases in which victims of domestic violence came in, and were being followed by an abusive spouse. Parker explained that since the trailer is so small, it can be very difficult to keep individuals safely in separated areas. "Individuals come in an angry state, and there is no barrier. The risk there is tremendous."

There is also very limited space to secure evidence, creating the need to rent space from the Utah County Sheriff's Office in Spanish Fork. Besides the $8,000 a year to rent the space, someone that is authorized to handle evidence has to travel to Spanish Fork to pick up materials that are needed for investigations or trials. This can take more than three hours.

Parker's reason for expressing these concerns over the current police department facility was to propose the city move forward in acquiring new space for the officers.

Currently, the Saratoga Springs City offices are located on the second floor of a business building on Commerce Drive. The first floor is operated by medical service offices, including Alpine Pediatrics, which is constructing its own building and hoping to move out in the next few months. The mayor outlined a plan to have the police department occupy that space when Alpine Pediatrics leaves.

"Why am I bringing this up at this time? Why am I raising a claim of urgency of this situation? We started our police department a year and a half ago when we decided to go away from contract services. We made quite an investment. We made the decision to go above and beyond the bare necessities," Parker said. Besides startup equipment such as computers, cars, weapons and other tools of the trade, the officers and staff were paid at the high end of the going rate in Utah. With market adjustments, Saratoga police officers are now closer to the middle of the spectrum, he said.

Parker said that his concern is that police officers are now in great demand, and other departments are actively recruiting for personnel.

"I don't think it is an issue of salary, but the vision that they are given when they come in," Parker said. "Pay is very often not the deciding factor whether you want to work someplace or not. The important thing is in feeling valued, having the opportunity to grow, and your feeling of identity."

"The working conditions can be a deciding factor in our ability to recruit officers who will serve at the standard of expectations that we set," Parker said. "For an officer coming in before the (economic) crash, there was an anticipation of city growing. Maybe you had to go to work in trailer for a while, but there was opportunity to grow quickly. You were on the ground floor of something new."

"If my vision includes a much better facility, this trailer is tolerable," he said. "If my vision doesn't see a better facility on the horizon, this vision may be a deciding factor if I go here or somewhere else."

Parker said that when new city police departments were started in Carbon County and the sheriff started losing staff, the sheriff did a study that showed that it wasn't the people at the bottom or the incapable that left, but it was the best. "They estimated that it cost three years of the departing person's salary to bring the new person up to the skill level that they could fill that person's shoes."

"We are going to lose what we have invested in if we don't do something," Parker said.

"My biggest concern is finances," said councilman Jefferson Moss. "There is a definite need, but my concern is whether we can afford it. Fiscally, we need to consider if this is the right time."

"I just think about the tremendous change in the perception of the City Council and management when we shifted from the trailer to here," said Councilman Bud Poduska. "To me the safety of the city is one of the major concerns and the safety of the police officers."

The plan, as laid out by Parker, would be to convert the current Alpine Pediatrics offices into a workable space for the police department. "They could be here for 10 years, or 30 years," Parker said.

Because the city administration is still in negotiations with the building owners, the council went into a closed session to talk about costs and potential funding methods. Parker and the city manager said options such as leasing the space from the current owners, as well as purchasing the lower floor and renting the other parts of the building to tenants, were being investigated. The city already owns the second floor of the building.

Past plans had been to build a completely new City Hall with a space for the police department in the bottom. City Councilwoman Mia Love said she wanted to also investigate building a dedicated structure. "They could actually do all the infrastructure they need," she said. "If it costs a little more to build something that will work for years, that just makes more sense."

Parker said that while the owners would be willing to sell to the city, they also had contingency plans for the space. While the council didn't have to make an immediate decision, it was indicated that an intention needed to be made in the coming weeks to put plans into the works when the space became available.

Saratoga scales back in 2007

2009-01-02T07:23:00.001-08:00

Saratoga scales back in 2007
Lance Madigan - North County Staff
The topic that came up most often and dominated everything in Saratoga Springs in 2008 was the budget.

It actually began in the months leading up to this year, as the housing marketing started to stall throughout the nation, but particularly in Saratoga Springs.
It especially affected Saratoga, as one of the fastest growing cities in Utah. Saratoga Springs also had the double whammy that it relied heavily -- many would argue too heavily -- on revenue from new construction.

As early as February, the City Council was being advised by the administration that the city was experiencing a revenue shortfall. Early estimates put it at just over $1.1 million, but as the slump deepened that number more than tripled. And with a total operating budget in 2007-2008 of $8.2 million, that is a significant portion.

In an e-mailed interview, Jefferson Moss, Saratoga Springs City Council member, said, "As the fastest growing city on a percentage basis for seven years, we experienced tremendous pressure from our growth to keep up with the services that our city needed. With the housing collapse and credit crunch, our growth almost completely died. This left the city with a drastic shortfall in projected revenues, especially since our city had never raised property taxes once in our history. To say that the budget issue was difficult would be putting it lightly. As a council, we had to make very difficult decisions on what was the best for our city."

The City Council and Saratoga Springs administration rallied through the first part of the year -- cutting, trimming and even slashing in order to improve the numbers. Programs were scaled back. Projects were put on hold. Raises and benefits were affected. Staff were let go. Even the city's tenth anniversary Saratoga Splash celebration was slashed way back. By the time the new budget was due in June, the city was still short about $1.4 million.

Many felt that reliance on new construction fees and growth were the cause the city's financial woes.

"I was quoted in the press that I blamed the previous council for the shortfall. That is incorrect," said Denise Kelly, Council member. "I don't blame anyone. It is unfortunate that we haven't had previous increases, but it is no one's fault."

Others expressed concerns over the new police department and court the city had recently opened. As discussed over and over in the City Council, however, the city would have had to pay for public safety efforts regardless.

While the Saratoga Springs Police Department might have cost a little more than contracting through the Utah County Sheriff's office, the savings wouldn't have been significant.

"And the level of service we receive from Chief Hicken and his staff are far superior for the investment," said Brent Call, Council member.

So the City Council and administration hunkered down and reviewed the budget line item by line item.

"It was two, three meetings a week, going through every aspect of this budget," said Moss. "There were literally things we were knocking off for $50."

"We made significant cuts in the budget by laying off many of our great employees and asked those that stayed to take cuts in benefits," said Moss. "Doing this was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. Even with these cuts, we were still significantly in the red."

It was then that the City Council started talking about one of the most dreaded words a politician or resident can ever hear -- tax increases.

"We determined that any additional cuts would do more long term harm than any short term gain," said Moss. "Going through the Truth in Taxation Process -- especially in this difficult economy -- was tough."

In the end, the city imposed a property tax increase of about 116 percent upon its citizens. For a home valued at $200,000, that was projected to be an increase of about $24 a month.

"We knew that we weren't doing the popular thing. However, we felt this was needed to ensure the financial stability of our city to provide the necessary services that our residents need. We did receive our fair share of criticism and complaints," said Moss.

Saratoga Springs also formed a new volunteer Citizen Finance Committee with the goal of helping the City Council and administration review and plan ahead for such situations in the future. The City Council was recently put in place, and will hold its first official meeting in January.

As the city moves into 2009, the Council members and administrative staff say things are looking better. The first quarter financial reports in September showed the city right on track in both income and expenses. The Council and administration still point out that the entire country is facing economic hard times, but are confident they will come out better in the end.

City staff and leaders plan to continue to incorporate more volunteer help and assistance. Saratoga Springs recently honored several volunteers that helped to put in two parks at a $22,000 savings.

The Council has also put out a call for volunteers to help plan and organize the city's summer festival, the Saratoga Splash. This was originally done by a paid staff person who was let go last year.

"We really do have an amazing city. I strongly feel that we will make it through these difficult times stronger and a better city," concluded Moss.

For more information about how citizens can contribute, the Council and administration encourage individuals to review the city's Web site at www.saratoga-springs.net.

Saratoga volunteers honored

2008-12-27T09:55:00.000-08:00

Saratoga volunteers honored
Lance Madigan - North county staff
What can a city do when they have land set aside for a park, but no money for development?

Cash-strapped Saratoga Springs faced this problem as residents clamored to have their promised parks finished, yet budget cuts forced completion of the parks to be pushed way down on the priority list.
Having had many citizens say they would volunteer to help, the City Council and Mayor Tim Parker asked the administration to investigate the possibility of having a citizen corp do at least some work in the parks.

The idea was hardly new, but is often overlooked because of concerns about liability for workers as well as having volunteers with more enthusiasm than skill sets -- thereby causing a city more work and cost when they have to fix something that wasn't put in correctly in the first place.

However, with some careful management and creativity, Mark Edwards, Saratoga Springs public works director, reported to the City Council on Dec. 9 that both the Saratoga Hills and Dalmore Meadows parks were completed this year.

"Lot of residents came together to help with Saratoga Hills and Dalmore Meadows parks," Edwards said. "Three Eagle Scouts were very instrumental in this, along with the [Harvest Hills Fourth Ward] Young Women's group and lots of unnamed people that come out. All together hundreds of volunteers helped out."

The three Eagle Scouts included Joshua Anderson and Parker Jones (Troop 1059) and Derek Bayles (Troop 180). Each of these boys worked with Edwards and another volunteer, Cecil Tuley, to get volunteers out and coordinate their efforts.

"So the city didn't have the money to finish the parks, but said that if they had volunteers that they would supply the materials," said Jones, age 15. "So I volunteered to do the trees because I live near the park."

Jones said his group put in 48 trees of different varieties throughout the Saratoga Hills Park. It took the more than 60 volunteers about four hours, but everyone was excited by the results.

"I organized laying of sod for Saratoga Hills," said Anderson, age 16. Anderson said they laid more than 82,000 square feet of sod. "I coordinated with Mark Edwards and Cecil Tuley, planning and getting out fliers. We had about 150 volunteers -- not all at once, but over time during the day."

Bayles, age 16, said his group planted 21 trees throughout the Dalmore Meadows. "We had over 40 people there," Bayles said. "There were from around my neighborhoods, some friends, and some from Dalmore Meadows. We also had a few from the city, like the Fire Department and the parks guys."

In all, Edwards explained that the volunteers saved the city more than $22,000. "It is a pity we can't honor everyone that showed up."

The mayor and City Council, however, were suitably impressed. "I think it is very commendable that people want to get out and contribute to their city," said Jefferson Moss, council member.

"We often hear nothing but the negative of qualities of the youth in this county," said Brent Call, council member. "And then I see you."

"It is neat to see during difficult budget times people contribute," added Denise Kelly, council member. "It builds a sense of community. You helped build something, all of you that contributed. You have buy-in to your community and to our city."

Mia Love, a council member that lives in the area of the park, said, "I would like to publicly thank the City Council members that spearheaded this, and wanted to get as many volunteers as possible. The council is so incredibly diverse, and come up with things you wouldn't normally think about."

Everyone expressed their appreciation to the volunteers and city staff for working together to accomplish these great benefits for the city.

Community service, not jail, for mother in negligent homicide case

2008-12-17T11:30:00.001-08:00

Community service, not jail, for mother in negligent homicide case

By Sara Israelsen-Hartley
Deseret News
Published: December 17, 2008
PROVO — Inside her Saratoga Springs home, mother Regina Tausinga told the judge she has two pictures of 4-year-old Cooper Mardesich to remind herself and her son to make better decisions.

"I just want to apologize to the court, my family and friends and to the Mardesich family for the decisions I made that led up to this," Tausinga said through her tears. "Ted and Sharon (Mardesich) gave us a gift we can never repay. They forgave my son. I will try every day to be worthy of that gift."

Tausinga, 40, pleaded no contest Wednesday to a class A misdemeanor of negligent homicide and guilty to a class C misdemeanor of allowing her unlicensed 15-year-old son to drive — a decision that cost Cooper his life.

Cooper had been riding his bike in his Saratoga Springs neighborhood with his mother, Sharon, on Aug. 21, as they dropped another sibling off at the bus stop.

Tausinga's son, who was driving the family van, failed to see Cooper after the bus pulled away and struck him with the vehicle.

Cooper was flown to Primary Children's Medical Center where he later died.

The agreement was that Tausinga would serve no time in jail, but give 185 hours of community service and spend one year on court probation.

That was agreeable to the Mardesich family, who said they did not want their neighbor to go to jail, deputy Utah County attorney Guy Probert said.

"It had been such a tragedy for both families, enough harm had been done," Probert said. "(They knew) nobody would benefit from her going to jail."

Tausinga's son previously pleaded no contest to negligent homicide and was ordered by a juvenile court judge to also perform 185 hours of community service.

The story, though tragic, has developed an incredible overtone of forgiveness.

"Since this, the Tausinga and Mardesich families have become quite close," said defense attorney Stephen Frazier. "I haven't seen this before (where families) have come together over a tragedy like this."

Frazier said the families' bonding has helped with both of their healing processes.

"They are our friends," Ted Mardesich told Judge Lynn Davis, and called the accident an "error" and nothing malicious.

Rather than send Tausinga's case for a pre-sentence review, as is common with most class A misdemeanors, especially where a death is involved, both sides wanted the sentencing immediately.

Restitution will be settled within the next 60 days, as the Mardesich's are still receiving hospital bills related to Cooper's stay, Probert said.

"This is another amazing story, in my estimation, as it relates to the gift of forgiveness," Davis said.

S.S. woman pleads no contest to negligent homicide

2008-12-17T11:29:00.001-08:00

S.S. woman pleads no contest to negligent homicide
Janice Peterson - Daily Herald
A Saratoga Springs woman charged in the accidental death of a 4-year-old boy entered a plea agreement Wednesday in which she will not be required to serve jail time.
Regina Tausinga’s misdemeanor charges, which include negligent homicide, not having insurance and permitting an unlicensed driver to operate a motor vehicle, stem from an August accident in which her unlicensed teenage son struck and killed 4-year-old Cooper Mardesich.
Tausinga pleaded no contest to negligent homicide and guilty to permitting an unlicensed driver to operate a motor vehicle, while the charge of not having insurance was dismissed. She was also sentenced to one year of unsupervised probation and 185 hours of community service.
“I just want to apologize to the court, my family and friends, the Mardesich family, for the decisions I made that led up to this,” Tausinga said.
Tausinga told the court she now keeps two pictures of Cooper Mardesich in her home as a reminder to make good decisions and to be good people. The Mardesich family has given her a gift she can never repay - their forgiveness for her son. Every day, Tausinga said, she tries to earn their gift of forgiveness.
“We’ll be sorry forever,” she said.
The Mardesich family was in court to support Tausinga and was a part of the process, attorneys said. They spoke before Judge Lynn Davis, saying they are friends with the Tausinga family and do not wish to punish them for the accident.
“We don’t seek any kind of restitution,” said Ted Mardesich. “That’s really not necessary in our eyes.”
Judge Davis said he would reluctantly accept the motions from both sides to continue with sentencing Wednesday as well. Davis said he felt he had been left out of the loop, as he did not know the boy’s name, age or the circumstances in the case.
“I know nothing as it relates to the death of the small boy,” he said.
Davis also questioned the assertion that Tausinga had taken responsibility for the crime and should not serve jail time. A no contest plea, he said, was not the same as taking responsibility. However, prosecutor Guy Probert said Tausinga had pleaded guilty to the charge of allowing her son to drive the car, which was the catalyst in the event.
Defense attorney Stephen Frazier said Tausinga was not the one driving the car, and he believes the case could be defended well in court. However, he said his client feels horribly about the incident and wanted to resolve the case in order to help both families heal.
“It’s been difficult on both families, certainly the Mardesich family also,” he said.

Weather slows motorists across Wasatch Front

2008-12-16T12:59:00.001-08:00

Weather slows motorists across Wasatch Front

By Ethan Thomas and Sara Israelsen-Hartley
Deseret News
Published: December 16, 2008
Winter weather stormed through the state Tuesday and although it slowed traffic down, accidents seemed to be under control throughout the snowy morning.

The Utah Highway Patrol estimated a manageable 50 to 55 accidents on the freeway throughout Salt Lake and Utah counties Tuesday morning.

"We have not had anywhere near as many as we did in our last storm," Utah Highway Patrol trooper Cameron Roden said. "They have come in spurts when the snow hits."

Roden said the snow plows were out in full force throughout the morning and the roads seemed to be fairly clear during the morning commute.

The Davis County Sheriff's Office also saw a limited amount of incidents. They said they had received calls on about 20 accidents or slide-offs throughout the morning.

"There were a lot of delays but it is good because we know people are slowing down," Roden said.

Drivers were cautious in Utah County with just over 50 accidents across the county from around 6 a.m. till noon, and nearly all of them were non-injury accidents.

Provo led the way with nine property damage accidents and three personal injury accidents, as drivers slipped and slid their way to work early Tuesday.

Orem had around 10 minor accidents and American Fork logged in four. However, other cities like Alpine and Highland had extremely cautious residents and zero accidents. Lehi and Pleasant Grove each had one accident, dispatchers said.

"It's been amazing," said Pleasant Grove dispatcher Judy Schow. "I don't know if everybody took notes last week or something, but they've been going really slow. Maybe last week they learned."

Drivers in Saratoga Springs had an extra level of difficulty, trying to maneuver construction along Redwood Road which extends from Camp Williams at the county line to 400 South.

Saratoga Springs Police Sgt. Kerry Cole said one of their three accidents involved a couple whose car slid off Redwood Road and ended up in a deep hole.

"(They) weren't hurt," Cole said. "But their car was sticking up in the air. They were very lucky."

He said they're still trying to determine if the hole is a drainage hole or the future home of some pipes, but they believe it is construction-related.

"It makes it a little frustrating because of course people are watching for the cones and with the slick roads and conditions, (construction) makes it a little more daring," Cole said. "But everyone seemed to do quite well."

By mid-day the commute was still dragging as I-15 from 3500 South to 7200 South became an ice rink when a snow squall set up over the freeway, dumping as much as two inches of snow on the road. The parts that weren't snow packed were iced over, triggering accidents northbound at 4500 South and near 7200 South.

A semitrailer carrying two trailers got stuck in the snow in the middle of the freeway, its tires spinning madly. Traffic southbound ground to a halt with drivers cutting each other off as they tried to go south on the freeway or over to I-215 westbound, which was also snow-packed.

Resolution close for mom charged in negligent homicide case

2008-12-14T08:01:00.000-08:00

Resolution close for mom charged in negligent homicide case

By Sara Israelsen-Hartley
Deseret News
Published: December 11, 2008
PROVO — Attorneys say they are working toward a resolution in the case of a mother charged with negligent homicide when her 15-year-old son hit and killed a toddler riding his bike.

Regina Tausinga, of Saratoga Springs, was in 4th District Court with a group of family and friends Wednesday when her attorney, Nyal Bodily, told court the state had recently made an offer. Prosecutor Guy Probert confirmed an offer was made Wednesday.

"We're considering the details, we'd like to set it for entry of plea in a week," Bodily told Judge Lynn Davis.

Tausinga was charged with misdemeanors of negligent homicide, allowing an unlicensed driver to drive and no proof of insurance.

On Aug. 21, Cooper Mardesich, 4, had gone with his mother to drop a sibling off at the nearby bus stop and was riding his bike around the Saratoga Springs neighborhood. After the bus pulled away, Tausinga's son pulled out in the van and failed to see Cooper on his bike, hitting him.

Other neighbors at the bus stop performed CPR on Cooper until paramedics arrived and flew him to Primary Children's Medical Center, where he later died.

Tausinga's son was charged similarly to his mother, but resolved his case in juvenile court in November, pleading no contest to negligent homicide.

Two other misdemeanors, similar to those his mom faces, were dismissed.

The judge ordered that the boy serve 185 hours of community service, said his attorney, Greg Skordas.

Despite the tragic nature of the case, the Mardesich family has continued to stay supportive of the Tausingas, as evidenced by the mothers sitting side by side in court Wednesday.

"It would be a much harder case if there was a lot of animosity," Bodily said. "I could see things going differently if it were hateful."

But there has never been anything but support, all the attorneys say.

"They have been very kind and very understanding of the (Tausinga's) situation," Probert said of the Mardesich family. "I think everybody would probably agree this is a chain of most unfortunate events."

Tausinga will be in court again Dec. 17.

Cyberspace: Councilman blogs the good and bad

2008-12-14T07:56:00.000-08:00

I posted this because it mentions this blog.

Cyberspace: Councilman blogs the good and bad
DAILY HERALD
Eagle Mountain resident keeps public informed of city government doings on his Web site
Caleb Warnock

Looking for the good, the bad, and the ugly in Eagle Mountain? One councilman here has a blog for you.

Over the past three years, www.DavidLifferth.com, owned by City Councilman David Lifferth, has drawn nearly 300,000 page views from 84 countries by tracking all things Eagle Mountain.
Lifferth is hoping more elected officials will follow his lead into cyberspace.

"People just like someone who is going to be open about government," he said. "If I was not on the Council, I would want someone who was in the know to blog and talk about things."

"This blogging that I have done consistently for four years now has forced me to read, understand and explain the good, the bad and the ugly here in Eagle Mountain," Lifferth wrote in a recent e-mail to his fans. "I have been praised for my openness and candor while at the same time I have been threatened with a half dozen lawsuits for my openness. This openness and candor caused the readership of my blog to become massive."

Lifferth said his site "has frequently been the most read Web site in all of Eagle Mountain and surrounding areas. My Web site frequently had more page views than Eagle Mountain City's site, the local newspaper sites covering Eagle Mountain, blog and forum sites, and any of the developers' sites."

All this attention is one of the best things that could happen to city government, he said.

"The quote from Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis comes to mind: 'Sunlight is the best disinfectant.'"

Lifferth said one of the highest compliments paid his site came from a friend who said "the bad guys fear your Web site."

Lifferth is not exactly a cyber newbie, so to speak. He runs about 30 online sites, earning money from advertising on most if not all, though he does not make money from his site dedicated to city politics, he said.

To draw readers, he makes sure his posts are enticing. Take this recent example: "Reagan Caused Global Warming," a post which documents why, in Lifferth's view, a significant cause of the statistical increase in average global temperature has been the reduction in temperature reporting stations in the former Soviet Union and Reagan's role in that.

Getting 500 hits a day, Lifferth's most lucrative site is surprisingly not political at all -- it is a James Bond fan site, 007BondMovies.ning.com. He also runs JunkScience.ning.com and PonyExpress.ning.com, to name a few.

Lifferth said he tries to have fun with his sites. During his interview with the Daily Herald, he surprised this reporter by bringing up a photo on his Web site of this reporter perusing a competitor's weekly newspaper during a slow moment in an Eagle Mountain Council meeting. Lifferth said he took the photo from the Council dais during the meeting using his cellphone. This reporter never knew the photo existed.

"You've taken some jabs at me and once in a while I want to take some jabs back," he said. "I do think I have fun with my site. I have a playful attitude."

Jokes aside, every elected official should consider blogging as a way to give information directly to the public, he said. At least several Web sites allow anyone to set up their own blog for free, so getting started is easy.

"I think elected officials should talk about what the issues are, and why things are happening," he said, noting some elected officials in Utah Valley have begun to follow suit. Among them is Jefferson Moss of Saratoga Springs, who runs a regular blog.

Elk Ridge Councilman Nelson Abbott said he admires what Lifferth is doing to inform the public. "It is misinformation that causes problems in cities," Abbott said. "That is what I've liked about his blog. He puts it all out there for people to see." Abbott said he himself tried blogging for a couple of months recently, giving up the task after his computer crashed. Elk Ridge is redesigning its Web site to be more user-friendly and interactive, allowing residents to correspond more easily with Council members, which Abbott said he hopes will make blogging in Elk Ridge a moot point.

Commission presents Utah Lake plan

2008-12-08T09:39:00.001-08:00

Commission presents Utah Lake plan
December 8th, 2008 @ 8:38am
LEHI, Utah (AP) -- A commission has presented a plan to restore the 150-square-mile freshwater Utah Lake, which has been overrun by carp and is less used than in the past, when local residents remember frequenting the lake for fun and fishing.

The Utah Lake Commission's recommendations include eradicating carp, developing beaches and trails for recreational use and drafting a model land-use ordinance for the communities that surround the lake.

But there is some disagreement over whether a causeway linking the lake's east and west shores is a good idea.

Some say a causeway would relieve congestion in Lehi, while others say it would disrupt the ecosystem.

The lake's master plan doesn't address the causeway issue.

Residents encouraged by plan for Utah Lake

2008-12-07T17:29:00.001-08:00

Residents encouraged by plan for Utah Lake
Draft proposal » Restoring the waterway would also make way for recreation on and around it.
By Donald W. Meyers
The Salt Lake Tribune

Salt Lake Tribune
Updated:12/07/2008 04:38:25 PM MST

Lehi » When Gail Gibson was a child, Utah Lake was a happening place.
People would fish or visit the shoreline resorts, he recalled. Some couples would go out for dinner and dancing on some of the show boats that plied the lake, with band music wafting across the water.
"Back in the 1930s, '40s and '50s, it was the gem of Utah County," Gibson, an American Fork resident said. "Now we all live near the lake, but do nothing with it."
After seeing the draft proposal from the Utah Lake Commission for restoring the 150-square-mile freshwater lake and managing its use, Gibson believes that the old days can return.
Gibson was one of 30 people who came out to Willowbrook Middle School Wednesday to learn about the plan and offer comments.
He heard recommendations that include eradicating carp from the lake, developing beaches and trails for recreational use and the drafting a model land-use ordinance for the communities that surround the lake.
Like Gibson, Saratoga Springs resident Annette Harris has seen the lake decline in the 37 years she's lived in the area. She supports the efforts to draw more people to Utah's largest freshwater lake.
"It would bring a lot of attention," Harris said.
But there's another significant project she wants to see built: a causeway across the lake that would tie together the east and west shores. The lake's master plan remains mum on that issue.
The causeway, she said, would make it easier for people living in Saratoga Springs and other lakeside communities to get to the Wasatch Front instead of having to drive north and through Lehi's congested streets.
And that's something that worries Marc Heileson, the Sierra Club's regional representative. He said building a causeway would stir up hundreds of cubic feet of lake mud, fouling the water and disrupting the ecosystem.
He said such a bridge would satisfy only "greedy developers."
While Heileson believes the master plan represents a holistic approach to fixing the lake, he thinks it lacks teeth to stop a disastrous development such as the causeway.
Cox agrees that the commission doesn't have the authority to enforce the plan, but that doesn't mean it can be ignored without consequence.
"The commission does not have regulatory authority, but it has 20 members and the moral influence of its members," Cox said.
He said neighboring cities could exert pressure on each other to uphold the plan's terms and goals.
dmeyers@sltrib.com
What's in the plan
Among the recommendations for Utah Lake:
» Develop access to the lake and use it for boating, fishing, wind surfing 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 plan is available at http://utahlakecommission.org/document.html
What's next
Public comments will be reviewed and possibly incorporated into the document, according to Provo native Rick Cox, project manager for San Francisco-based consultant URS Corp.
The commission and the Utah Division of Forestry, Fires and State Lands will adopt the final plan -- URS was paid $210,000 for it -- in April.
Cox said the plan will become the state's management plan for the lake. The state has jurisdiction over the lake and its bottom, while cities and Utah County are responsible for the land adjoining the lake.

Tensions flare over hunting around Utah Lake

2008-12-06T07:15:00.001-08:00

Tensions flare over hunting around Utah Lake
Caleb Warnock - DAILY HERALD
As the saying goes, history repeats itself.

"When the pioneers came, they were drawn to places where they found water, wood, streams to fish [and] good hunting areas ...," wrote historians in a history of early Lindon. "Unfortunately, the land they chose -- the land around Utah Lake which had ample supply of these necessities -- had been the chosen haunts of the Indians for many years. ... Naturally they looked upon the coming of the white men as an invasion."
Now, conflict over the land around Utah Lake has broken out again. Saratoga Springs residents living on the shore of Utah Lake have had it with hunters taking geese and ducks within yards of their homes.

"I thought we were living in a civilized city," said Robert Kramer, who has lived in his lakeside home for more than a decade. "It is preposterous to me that people would be allowed to hunt so close. ... It is a dangerous situation."

Kramer is calling on county commissioners to make all hunting on Utah Lake illegal.

That raises the ire of Matt Clark, board member of the Utah Waterfowl Association.

"Our point is that we don't want to see development close to the lake," Clark said. "We don't want to see homes built down to the lake shore because that not only takes out waterfowl habitat, but it causes problems just like this."

And so tension surrounding the shores of Utah Lake, begun the day settlers arrived, continues in 2008.

More must be done to protect the historic rights of those who have hunted around the lake since settlement, Clark said.

With homes now dotting the shoreline on three sides of the lake, hunting simply cannot be tolerated any longer, Kramer said.

Both sides agree on one thing: Tension over the issue is only likely to grow as urbanization continues.

The law allows hunters to shoot within 200 yards of homes, said Ty Hunter, manager of Utah Lake State Park. Hunter said calls to his office by residents concerned about nearby hunters have been increasing in recent years.

Hunter said park rangers do respond, and occasionally find hunters out of bounds, but for the most part hunters are generally hunting within the law.

"There has been some pretty nasty responses to the hunters in Saratoga Springs," Hunter said.

It is important to note that many ballistics tests have shown that shotgun pellets do not travel more than 250 feet, Clark said.

Long experience shows that while it may be nerve-rattling to have shotguns blasting 600 feet from homes, that distance is safe for homeowners.

Kramer said that on at least one occasion, he has had shotgun pellets hit his home.

On the other hand, for too long, local planners have failed to protect the rights of hunters and the habitat of the lake, Clark said.

"In my mind, there should be a buffer zone a good mile around the whole lake, but that is never going to happen and has already been encroached on," Clark said.

City Council Agenda Dec 9th, 2008

2008-12-04T19:07:00.000-08:00

CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
WORK SESSION – Commencing at 6:30 p.m.
1. Reports:
a. Mayor
b. City Council Members
c. Staff – Public Safety Reports
3. Adjourn to Policy Session
POLICY SESSION – Commencing at 7:00 p.m.
• Call to Order.
• Roll Call.
• Invocation / Reverence.
• Pledge of Allegiance.
• Public Input, Awards or Recognitions – 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. Proposed Amendment to Fox Hollow Master Development Plan to relocate an elementary school and address other items that
are affected by this change; property is located in the vicinity of 3000 South Swainson Avenue; Alpine School District,
applicant; Fox Hollow Saratoga, LLC, owner.
2. Proposed Site Plan and Conditional Use for an elementary school within the Fox Hollow development located at approximately
3000 South Swainson Avenue; Alpine School District, owner and applicant.
3. Proposed Preliminary Plat for the Saratoga Springs elementary school within the Fox Hollow development located at
approximately 3000 South Swainson Avenue; Alpine School District, owner and applicant.
4. Proposed Site Plan for the Saratoga Town Center Professional Office located at 76 East Commerce Drive; Rockworth
Companies, owner; Adam Lambert and Chas Johnson, applicant.
5. Resolution No. 08-39 (12-9-08): A resolution of the City Council of the City of Saratoga Springs appointing a representative to
the Utah Valley Dispatch Special Service District and establishing an effective date.
6. Consent Calendar:
a. Warrant Register.
b. Minutes:
1. November 25, 2008
7. Motion to enter into closed session for the purpose of discussion litigation matters, acquisition of real property or authorized
personnel matters.
8. Action from closed session, if any.
9. Adjournment.

Commission lays out plan to revitalize Utah Lake

2008-12-04T08:44:00.000-08:00

Commission lays out plan to revitalize Utah Lake

By Jens Dana
Deseret News
Published: December 4, 2008
LEHI — Utah Lake could one day be restored to its former grandeur under a draft master plan that was unveiled for public consideration Wednesday night.
And, for the most part, dozens of community members said they were on board with Utah Lake Commission's priorities, which include eradicating invasive species, such as carp, promoting the proliferation of June sucker populations and constructing a continuous trail system around Utah Lake.

"It's really exciting," Saratoga Springs resident Marlene Mauer said. "I'd like it to be cleaned up."

"Yeah, cleaned up so it's water again," added American Fork resident Darrell Gibson.

The Utah Lake Commission, made up of 14 municipalities, three state agencies, Utah County and the Central Utah Water Conservancy District. presented the draft master plan at Willowcreek Middle School in Lehi on Thursday evening. Executive director Reed Price said the commission aims to protect Utah Lake's ecological systems while preserving and enhancing it's value as a recreational amenity.

"It's a great natural resource for the state of Utah," Reed said. "And ... it could could become an economic engine if managed properly."

The draft master plan focuses on five long-term approaches to restore, revitalize and preserve Utah Lake: recreation, transportation, land use and shoreline protection, natural resources and public facilities. The plan specifies it will support efforts to reduce carp populations and phragmites and the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program.

Marc Heileson, southwest regional representative for the Sierra Club, said he's impressed to see so many government agencies taking a holistic approach to weighing the future of Utah Lake. But he said he's concerned the draft master plan doesn't have "teeth to it," especially if developers want to build a causeway over the lake — something the plan does not address.

"What we're afraid of is the absence of regulatory powers," Heileson said.

Reed said the commission holds no authority to approve or deny any projects, but he said the key agency and municipality members of the commission are concerned with Utah Lake's future.

"All the agencies and municipals want what's best for the lake and the community as a whole," he said. "And that's the purpose of this master plan."

The master plan is still in draft form and could be subject to changes. Utah Lake Commission will host another open house Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Utah Lake State Park, 4400 W. Center in Provo. Two technical committee meetings are scheduled for Dec. 15 and Jan. 12. In the meantime, Reed said community members are encouraged to give their input on the draft master plan.

More information about the draft master plan for Utah Lake is available at utahlakecommission.org.

Residents to get look at draft of Utah Lake plan

2008-12-02T09:02:00.000-08:00

Residents to get look at draft of Utah Lake plan
By Donald W. Meyers
The Salt Lake Tribune

Salt Lake Tribune
Updated:12/01/2008 04:18:18 PM MST

Provo » Imagine a Utah Lake with walking trails, recreation areas and few carp.
That is part of the vision for the future outlined in the Utah Lake Commission's proposed master plan, "Awake Utah Lake."
The commission is conducting two open houses this week to give the public a chance to see the proposed document and weigh in.
Rick Cox, project manager for URS Corp., told the commission late last month that the document involves setting goals for the lake and outlining policies that would implement them. URS Corp. is the San Francisco-based consultant the commission paid $210,000 to draft the plan.
Cox said the plan was based in part on residents' comments during public workshops, similar to those done for the Envision Utah process. But it's not done yet.
"This Master Plan is still a work in progress," Cox told the commission.
Among its objectives are supporting the June sucker and the lake's other native species, as well as providing ways for people to use it for recreation and educational purposes.
The plan calls for establishing a trail network along the shoreline, as well as a scenic byway for people who want to see the lake from cars.
The document does not take a formal position on any particular plan to put a causeway across Utah Lake.
The plan also calls for promoting mixed uses for adjacent land, such as agricultural, residential and commercial. It also recommends creating buffer zones to protect particularly sensitive areas.
One concern: Eagle Mountain City Councilman David Lifferth said the plan lacked any method for the commission to enforce its policies.
Cox said that would not be the job of the commission, but rather for the individual communities along the lake that are members of the commission.
dmeyers@sltrib.com
What's next
The Utah Lake Commission will conduct an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Willowcreek Middle School, 2275 W. 300 North in Lehi; and from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Utah Lake State Park, 4400 W. Center St., Provo.

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T07:41:00.001-08:00

"My fellow Americans: Over 350 years ago, a small band of Pilgrims, after gathering in their first harvest at Plymouth Colony, invited their friends and neighbors, who were Indians, to join them in a feast of thanksgiving. Together they sat around their bountiful table and bowed their heads in gratitude to the Lord for all that He had bestowed upon them. This week, so many years later, we, too, will gather with family and friends and, after saying grace, carve up a turkey, pass around the cranberries and dressing, and later share slices of pumpkin pie. We Americans have so much for which to be thankful. ... We will give thanks for these and one thing more: our freedom. Yes, in America, freedom seems like the air around us: It's there; it's sweet, though we rarely give it a thought. Yet as the air fills our lungs, freedom fills our souls. It gives breath to our laughter and joy. It gives voice to our songs. It gives us strength as we race for our dreams. ... Yes, as we gather together this Thanksgiving to ask the Lord's blessings, as we of whatever faith we are give praises to His name, let us thank Him for our peace, prosperity, and freedom. Happy Thanksgiving!"

--Ronald Reagan

Obama plan could quickly revive I-15, Mountain View freeway projects

2008-11-26T08:25:00.000-08:00

Obama plan could quickly revive I-15, Mountain View freeway projects
By Brandon Loomis
The Salt Lake Tribune

Salt Lake Tribune
Updated:11/26/2008 06:46:40 AM MST

Interstate 15 and the Mountain View freeway could get a federal lift out of the budget ditch.
The massive economic "jump-start" advocated by President-elect Barack Obama could recharge those projects and others in Utah that went dark last week.
Officials in Washington and Salt Lake City agree that Utah is unusually prepared to capitalize on an envisioned stimulus plan that would pour hundreds of billions of dollars into roads and bridges. The state stalled major planned projects -- including Interstate 15 reconstruction in Utah County -- because of plunging sales taxes, but not before securing environmental permits that could make its roads a ready recipient of federal funds.
"We can turn the switch on very quickly," Utah Department of Transportation deputy director Carlos Braceras said Tuesday.
UDOT last week shelved all projects not currently under contract, a list adding up to $3.9 billion. Among them are the I-15 rebuild in Utah County and a start to the Mountain View freeway in western Salt Lake County.
Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, said an infusion of federal road dollars probably would reach the Beehive State.
"To the extent that there are projects that are ready to go -- for example I-15 in Utah County -- clearly they are well-positioned to hit the ground running," he said. Infrastructure generally is a good government investment, he added, because "it's how we compete with the rest of the world."
"Utah is ahead of most states in having projects that are ready," said Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, who met Tuesday with Weber County commissioners and mayors.
Matheson and Bennett cautioned that there are scant details about a stimulus package. Matheson said he would need to review the details, including whether highway work would be paid through open-ended deficits, before deciding how to vote.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, also withheld judgment on the stimulus plan. "Support for another stimulus package may hinge on how fiscally sound it is and whether it can meet the demands of the House to offset the cost," Hatch said in an e-mailed response.
Obama told reporters at a Chicago news conference Tuesday that he would reduce budget deficits, but only after a quick emergency jolt to the economy.
The Associated Press estimated his plan at between $500 billion and $700 billion.
"We're more confident than we've ever been that we will see something for infrastructure pretty quickly with the new administration," UDOT's Braceras said.
If Congress grants Utah as much as the $2.6 billion needed to rebuild and widen I-15 in the state's second-most-populous county, it could even mean an expedited schedule for that project.
Mindful that road projects take notoriously long to inject wages into the economy, congressional staffers are asking states which roads and bridges they can start building within three months of a stimulus plan's passage, Braceras said.
Originally, UDOT hadn't planned to start I-15 work until late 2009. It could move up, Braceras said, as could Mountain View. If Congress requires a local match, he said, UDOT could find it -- even if it meant siphoning from other current road projects. Getting the federal match would be worth that.
Without federal aid, the state must decide whether restarting I-15 and other projects is worth a rare gas tax or other revenue hike. Lawmakers last week said they would consider such options in the upcoming legislative session.

Residents striving for self-sufficiency

2008-11-21T08:18:00.001-08:00

Residents striving for self-sufficiency
North County Staff
Saratoga family to harness wind and solar power
Lance Madigan

Wind power is becoming more and more common as a source of clean energy throughout the state, and one resident in Saratoga Springs has received approval to join the bandwagon.

"I am in a position where I have a large enough lot; I would like to do this," said Joe Galloway. "I have been looking at it for several years. I also intend to put in some solar panels too."
Joe and Gloria Galloway submitted a request and received approval from the City Council on Nov. 11 to erect a wind turbine on their one-acre property. The turbine pole will stand 33 feet tall, and the 8- to 10-inch blades will extend another six feet.

Galloway said the turbine would generate 1.8 kilowatts of electricity when running at full power.

"It will probably produce a third or better of the electricity that the home will use in a year, based on the winds we get through here," he said.

Since electricity generated cannot be stored efficiently, the Galloway's will also be able to contribute to the system.

"Rocky Mountain Power by law is required to put in a special meter," said Galloway. "When [the turbine] is generating electricity, it can be sold back into the grid. So basically that meter turns backwards when we are pumping more electricity out then we are using. The excess is all utilized; it is not wasted."

The City Council not only unanimously approved the conditional-use permit, but also complimented the Galloways for their efforts.

"I am very much in favor of this," said Mayor Timothy Parker. "They won't let me put one in in my subdivision -- it is against CCNR's."

The mayor actually encouraged the Planning Department staff to start looking at regulations so conditional-use permits wouldn't be necessary.

"I am in favor of these types of things as well," added Denise Kelly, City Council member. "These are the wave of the future. We want to be careful of where they are placed, of course, but I would like to see the day when the city can offer incentives for this type of thing."

Galloway said he wasn't doing it for incentives or for cost-savings so much, since the unit would cost between $10,000-12,000 to install.

"I like to be as self-sufficient as I can. And with the economic situation the way that it is, and President-Elect Obama's several statements about breaking some of the coal companies that produce our electricity, that is a concern," said Galloway. "Also, because we are so isolated out here, if we do have a disaster, we are really isolated and cut off."

He said there would be some savings with selling excess power and harnessing his own energy, but his main interest isn't the savings.

"My interest is not so much in the savings as it is in the self-sufficiency and providing some other alternative for out here in case of disaster," he said.

Besides providing electricity in an emergency, Galloway explained that many individuals had wells to provide water.

"Council member Poduska lives about two miles from me to the north," he said. "People like him who are on a well, if they have no power, they have no water. By charging several batteries using the wind turbine, we can use a converter to pump up enough water to fill his tanks. ... And it is a good source of water to supply to the community in case of an emergency."

The only concerns raised were potential noise and the blocking of views. Currently, there is limited development around the Galloway's property so it could potentially obscure the view of one neighbor.

Galloway said he and the neighbor talked, and came to an understanding that when the subdivision is developed across the street on Redwood Road, views wouldn't be an issue anyway.

Galloway said they hoped to have the cement for the foundation put in this week, and unit raised and generating power within the next two weeks.

As for noise, Galloway said, "It isn't any louder than the wind blowing through the trees. There are no gears clanking around in this thing. The head is one large generator. You essentially have a rotor turning in a magnetic field."

Volunteers needed for Saratoga Splash

2008-11-21T08:17:00.001-08:00

Volunteers needed --¬ The City of Saratoga Springs is inviting residents to get involved in their community with its city celebrations, particularly the annual Saratoga Splash event. Those interested in volunteering their organizational, marketing, people skills or who want more information can email council members Mia Love at mialove4cc@hotmail.com or Denise Kelly at denisek62@q.com. Thanks for your email. Mia and Denise were asked to get with the former civic events manager, Mandi Johnson, and put together Splash this year.¬ In light of our current economy, the elected officials opted to embrace a new philosophy with respect to civic events.¬ They want to pursue them by obtaining sponsors for events.¬ In the past, the city has subsidized all activities 100 percent.¬ The city has limited resources at this time -- declining building permit fees and minimal sales tax revenue due to the limited size of our commercial sector.¬ They are optimistic about the future, but they need have to make decisions based on what they know today, not what they hope will happen tomorrow.

¬ They are interested in finding volunteers that have fundraising experience, large event planning experience, or no experience but time and energy.¬ They are in the planning phase so these volunteers are the foundation of Splash.¬ Anyone interested should contact Denise at 362-4639.¬ We hope to get a group together very soon so that we can get going.¬ They are also welcome to contact Mia via e-mail through the city Web site.

$4 billion in roads projects on hold, including I-15 South

2008-11-21T08:15:00.000-08:00

$4 billion in roads projects on hold, including I-15 South
Joe Pyrah - Daily Herald
State transportation officials have put the brakes on $4 billion worth of road projects, including the massive Interstate 15 reconstruction through Utah County.

Sales tax revenues have tanked in the deepening economic crisis, leaving the Department of Transportation with an unknown amount of money to work with, said Deputy Director Carlos Braceras.
"We have to make sure we don't paint the governor or legislators into a corner," he said. "We could have easily painted them into an awful corner by putting all this money out for construction."

Anything currently under contract will continue to get funding, but it will be up to Utah's 104 lawmakers to hammer out as-of-now postponed projects in the 2009 session.

"We're not going to build a project if we don't have money," said Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem, who led the push for last year's approval of the I-15 project.

The state slashed $35 million from the transportation budget earlier this year as part of a 3-percent across-the-board cut because of revenue shortfalls. And just this week, revenue projections show a decline of 7.3 percent.

Valentine said he suspects that number will be in the 11- to 12-percent range come January.

"It's serious," he said of the state's economic situation, though with the caveat that Utah seems to be doing better than most other states.

The I-15 project was slated to begin within the next year and would have added lanes and new bridges from Lehi Main Street to U.S. 6 in Spanish Fork. Lawmakers approved a $2.6 billion price tag in this year's general session that would have drawn on much of the state's bonding capacity for years.

Braceras said it is still UDOT's No. 1 concern.

"By putting these projects on hold, we're not saying we're canceling," said Braceras, who sees himself as an optimist. "Things turn around faster than most people believe."

Braceras said he and others made the decision to put the projects on hold over the past few days.

"Sometime over the last three days we've had a sense of where we needed to draw that line."

County Commissioner Steve White said the county would have liked to have been in on the talks instead of simply being informed about the decision. The county passed a sales tax increase this year for roads that are supposed to support I-15 reconstruction. Commissioners also recently got an advance on future taxes from the Utah Transit Authority for about $55 million total over the next three years to boost the building of roads that are needed as Interstate 15 alternatives.

Utah County projects on hold:

Interstate 15

SR-198: Spanish Fork Main Street, Fairgrounds to Arrowhead

Geneva Road: Provo Center Street/I-15 to Orem 1600 North

US-89 (State Street): Pleasant Grove Boulevard to 100 East

US-89 (State Street): 2000 North in Orem to Geneva Road

SR-265: University Parkway at 2230 North, Provo

SR-92: I-15 to Highland

Utah Valley Connector (Utah Lake study)

800 North to I-15 American Fork interchange (Vineyard)

East/West connection in Utah County (Mountain View Corridor)

Money still a problem for Mountain View Corridor

2008-11-19T16:30:00.001-08:00

Money still a problem for Mountain View Corridor
November 19th, 2008 @ 12:03pm
By Randall Jeppesen
UDOT has the green light to build the Mountain View Corridor, but it isn't going to come quickly.

After six years of working on plans and doing studies, UDOT finally has the thumbs up from the Federal Highway Administration to build the Mountain View Corridor, but there's still a major issue.

UDOT spokesman Nile Easton said, "It's a $3 billion project with about 10 percent of that funded."

With the funds they do have, Easton says they'll start building the road in Lehi from I-15 to Redwood Road next year, but the rest of the road from Utah County to I-80 will have to wait for more money. "[It will take] three different phases for the majority of the project for the next 25 years," Easton said.

The first phase of the road will have stoplights and raised intersection, but will be designed to later change into a freeway.

No source pinpointed for Utah Lake PCBs

2008-11-18T13:01:00.001-08:00

No source pinpointed for Utah Lake PCBs
November 18th, 2008 @ 12:55pm
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Manmade chemical compounds known as PCBs are showing up in fish at Utah Lake, but it's still unclear where they're coming from.

The Utah Division of Water Quality had hoped to have some answers this fall from a study of the lake's bottom sediments. But the results released Tuesday didn't pinpoint one source.

State officials say levels of PCBs were relatively low in the sediments, meaning they likely aren't a key source for PCBs showing up in fish at the lake.

They say it's possible the PCBs aren't coming from a new source, but are simply being passed from one animal to another in the lake's food chain.

Meanwhile, a fish consumption advisory for catfish and carp caught at Utah Lake remains in effect.

Feds approve Mountain View freeway plan

2008-11-18T12:56:00.000-08:00

Feds approve Mountain View freeway plan
Final approval » Utah still needs money for west-side route
By Brandon Loomis
The Salt Lake Tribune

Salt Lake Tribune
Article Launched:11/18/2008 12:32:15 PM MST
The Federal Highway Administration has approved Utah's plan for a Mountain View freeway through the western Salt Lake Valley and northern Utah County, the Utah Department of Transportation announced Tuesday.
The federal agency signed off on the state's environmental study and road plan, which won wide praise from environmentalists and health advocates for its inclusion of a parallel transit system and air-pollution filtration at nearby schools. If or when the Utah Legislature funds the $3 billion project, an eight-lane freeway will run along 5800 West from Interstate 80 in Salt Lake City to 2100 North in Lehi and a link from there to Interstate 15. The plan includes a bus rapid-transit system running on its own lanes down the middle of 5600 West.
"Five years of collaboration has resulted in a balanced solution of roadway, transit and trails that fits within the framework of the communities," UDOT project manager Teri Newell said in a written statement.

City upgrades poles

2008-11-14T09:23:00.004-08:00

I just wanted to add that the funds for this will come out of impact fees, not general funds.

City upgrades poles -- Saratoga Springs City Council voted Oct. 28 to upgrade traffic signal poles for the Four Corners intersection. UDOT will be replacing the poles as part of the Redwood Road improvements at a cost of $13,851 per pole. Saratoga Springs was given the opportunity to put in a more decorative pole, but needed to make that decision quickly before UDOT orders materials for the Redwood Road project.

The poles will include a base with the city logo, be painted black and include other decorative features. The upgrade would cost $4,100 more per pole, for a total of $16,400 to the city.

Gateway area expanded

2008-11-14T09:23:00.003-08:00

Gateway area expanded -- The City of Saratoga Springs expanded its Gateway Area to include 2,604 feet north and south along Redwood Road, and similar distance west on State Road 73.

City planning staff said the new definition would extend from Redwood Road all the way to the city boundary at the Jordan River along SR 73. The zone extends back from the street's center line for 600 feet on both sides.

As the entry to the city, the council supported the move at its meeting Oct. 28. The Gateway Area is subject to certain land use restrictions in its Regional Commercial Zone as identified in the city's building code, available at the Saratoga Springs City Offices.

Transportation Master Plan updated

2008-11-14T09:23:00.001-08:00

Transportation Master Plan updated -- In an effort to keep ahead of growth rather than get stuck in grid lock, the Saratoga Springs Planning Department presented an updated Transportation Master Plan to the City Council for approval last week.

Many of the changes were in response to plans presented by UDOT on state projects planned within city limits such as the Mountainview Corridor.

For example, Saratoga Springs's original transportation plan for Lehi's south east-west connector was to have it join with SR 73 and come into Saratoga's Four Corners area. The connecting point has changed, now being aligned south of the Dalmore Meadows subdivision.

Bonneville Drive is another future project that was moved. Previously lower along Saratoga's west slope, city staff felt it better to move it right up to the unbuildable area on the side of the valley where it could also act as a brush fire and wildland buffer.

The new Transportation Master planned was unanimously approved by the Council. Residents interested in the plan are encouraged to visit the Saratoga Springs city offices during business hours.

S. Springs teen driver settles case

2008-11-14T09:19:00.000-08:00

S. Springs teen driver settles case
Daily Herald
A teenager charged with negligent homicide in an accident that killed a toddler has settled his case in juvenile court.

The 15-year-old, unlicensed and driving alone, struck Cooper Mardesich on Aug. 21. Cooper was riding his bike across the street at the intersection of Parkway Boulevard and Wagoneer Road in Saratoga Springs.
The driver's mother, Regina Tausinga, of Saratoga Springs, is charged with negligent homicide, not having insurance and permitting an unlicensed driver to operate a motor vehicle. The charges are all misdemeanors.

Gregory Skordas, an attorney representing the teenager, said the boy pleaded no contest Nov. 3 in an agreement with prosecutors. He was sentenced to 185 hours of community service and probation for an undetermined time. The teen's charges of driving without a license and driving without insurance were dropped.

Skordas said the case was sensible and the boy clearly should not have been driving. The family wanted their son to deal with the charges and move on.

"The family just didn't want to put the victims through anything at all," he said.

Skordas said the Mardesich family has been very supportive of the teen and he has never seen families work so well together as these have. Skordas said Regina Tausinga's case may or may not turn out as well, but he said everyone felt justice was served and the outcome was good.

"I think everyone felt very good about how the case was resolved," he said.

Accidental death hearing delaye

2008-11-13T08:54:00.001-08:00

Accidental death hearing delayed
Daily Herald
A pretrial conference for a Saratoga Springs woman charged in the accidental death of a 4-year-old boy was continued Wednesday while attorneys continue to gather more evidence.

Regina Tausinga's misdemeanor charges, which include negligent homicide, not having insurance and permitting an unlicensed driver to operate a motor vehicle, stem from an August accident in which her unlicensed teenage son allegedly struck and killed 4-year-old Cooper Mardesich.
According to police, Tausinga's 15-year-old son was making a left turn as Cooper was riding his bike across the street at the intersection of Parkway Boulevard and Wagoneer Road, and allegedly struck the boy with his vehicle. Cooper was treated at the scene and later died at Primary Children's Medical Center.

Stephen Frazier, Tausinga's attorney, said prosecutors and defense attorneys are still awaiting evidence from the police department. Frazier also filed a motion for a bill of particulars, or the evidence prosecutors will be using to prove their case. Without all the evidence, Frazier said it is hard for his client to make an informed decision about whether to go to trial.

"We need to look at all the evidence and see where to go from there," he said.

New Saratoga high school will have 9th-graders for one year

2008-11-13T08:49:00.000-08:00

New Saratoga high school will have 9th-graders for one year
Cathy Allred - North County Staff
11"The Alpine School District has never had a ninth-grade class at the high school except way back in the olden days when they started to do more than an eighth-grade education," said Rhonda Bromley, district spokeswoman.

"This will be something different, but it won't be something that we're going to continue. It will just be for one year."
After the first year, upcoming ninth-graders for fall 2010 will be able to attend Westlake's neighboring junior high school building, now under construction.

Only the ninth-grade students for fall 2009 within the Westlake High School boundaries will attend the high school, instead of Willowcreek Middle School.

"What it will do is keep us from going up to 2,400 to 2,500," said Willowcreek Middle School Principal Mike Browning. "It will keep us at 1,800, which allows us to function effectively."

The junior high school has about 1,800 students -- the facility was built for 1,500 students. There is one portable unit with six classrooms and another with two classrooms.

After the new junior high school in Saratoga Springs is completed in 2010, Browning said the school would have a student population of around 1,200 to 1,300.

Those students who will be in the ninth grade and are within Lehi High School boundaries for the 2009-2010 school year will remain at their junior high school.

The Westlake High School ninth grade class will have all the activities and studies that a Willowcreek Middle School or Lehi Junior High School ninth grade would have -- band, choir, drama, sports.

The reason for the one-year-only, ninth-grade high school class is growth.

"Willowcreek Middle School, their administration, has done some very creative things this year for lunchtime, assemblies and activities," Bromley said. "They've had to do things in waves. We've just outgrown that school."

The last high school the Alpine School District opened was Lone Peak in Highland. In preparation for opening that school, the district allowed upcoming seniors to decide which school they would attend.

The same thing will happen after the first of the year for the opening of Westlake High School -- juniors at Lehi High School will have to declare which school they will attend. They will also be opening the choice of school to this school year's sophomores.

"We don't have a date yet, but it will be after the first of the year," Bromley said. "This time we're letting the juniors and seniors do it, so this will be interesting."

While Lehi High School juniors and seniors who live within LHS boundaries next year will be able to declare Westlake and attend the new school, students from within Westlake boundaries will not be able to declare Lehi High.

Sports will be a little different as far as declaration.

"Once you've tried out [for a team] at a school, you are committed to that school," Bromley said.

"You've established your eligibility at that school according the Utah High School Activities Association."

$2.6 billion rebuild set for I-15 in Utah County

2008-11-12T07:48:00.001-08:00

$2.6 billion rebuild set for I-15 in Utah County

2 east-west roads and interchange included

By Laura Hancock
Deseret News
Published: November 12, 2008
The Utah Department of Transportation is gearing up for a massive, $2.6 billion reconstruction project involving 20 miles of I-15 in Utah County and two east-west roads that drivers will be able to use to avoid the freeway construction.
UDOT has hired Kiewit Corp. and W.W. Clyde & Co. to design and build a new six-mile road in Lehi called Pioneer Crossing and to rebuild the American Fork Main Street interchange of I-15 using a two-bridge, diamond-shaped engineering concept developed in Europe that UDOT officials hope will be more efficient for drivers.
The project will cost $250 million, with about half of that coming from the $2.6 billion I-15 reconstruction budget. Pioneer Crossing will run along 1000 South in Lehi from the American Fork Main Street interchange to Redwood Road, UDOT spokesman Scott Thompson said.
The second east-west corridor to be built prior to I-15 reconstruction is a new road called the Vineyard Corridor, about nine miles winding between 800 North in Orem, Vineyard, Lindon and the American Fork Main Street interchange. The Vineyard Corridor will cost $200 million and is separate from the $2.6 billion I-15 reconstruction budget, said Joe Walker, communication outreach manager for the project.
Construction of the two east-west roads will begin in earnest next spring, although excavation work will soon be underway for Pioneer Crossing. UDOT plans to award a contractor for the Vineyard Corridor by March 20.
Both roads and the new American Fork interchange will be finished in the fall of 2010, although vehicles will be able to drive along the Pioneer Crossing and on the interchange by November 2009 as construction crews work around the traffic.
Pioneer Crossing, which Thompson said will have a speed limit of 45 or 50 mph, will come as welcome relief for residents of Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain. The only roads now leading out of the cities are Redwood Road and Main Street in Lehi. City officials for years have wondered what would happen if a natural disaster were to hit the area and everyone tried to evacuate at once.
The average daily traffic at the intersection of Redwood and Main is 20,980 vehicles, according to UDOT data.
UDOT is negotiating with property owners who live in the Vineyard Corridor area, but no properties will be condemned along Pioneer Crossing. "What Lehi city had the foresight to do was to leave a corridor of green space through the subdivisions and the development that has happened in the area," Thompson said.
The American Fork Main Street interchange will be built as a Diverging Diamond Interchange. Instead of one large overpass, the diamond interchange will contain two bridges, one for eastbound traffic and one for westbound traffic, which requires fewer traffic lights. In Europe, diamond interchanges have proven to be safer and move traffic more efficiently, Thompson said.
The diamond interchange will be cheaper than a traditional freeway interchange, because it requires less steel and concrete. It also requires less space, and UDOT will not have to purchase so much property to build it, UDOT spokesman Nile Easton said.
"It does seem to be the wave of the future," Easton said. "Engineers are very excited about how those are designed."
The American Fork Main Street diamond will either be the first or second in the United States. Construction on a diamond interchange is under way in Springfield, Mo.
With 20 percent of the state's population, Utah County is expected to grow at a faster rate than other parts of the state. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Utah County had 483,702 residents in 2007. The I-15 reconstruction project will begin in the spring of 2010 and is expected to be finished by the fall of 2014.
Reconstruction will result in additional travel lanes along I-15, plus the rebuilding or modification of 11 freeway interchanges and the replacing of 55 aging bridges.
Ten years ago, when I-15 in Salt Lake County was reconstructed for the 2002 Olympics, UDOT first widened portions of I-215 and Redwood Road. "A part of it is providing alternative options," Easton said.

Utah Lake: Causeway or bridge? Neither, some say

2008-11-08T15:05:00.001-08:00

Utah Lake: Causeway or bridge? Neither, some say
November 8th, 2008 @ 1:25pm
PROVO, Utah (AP) -- Utah's Bridge to Somewhere might not be dead in the water.

One state lawmaker says a private venture like Utah Crossing Inc. could be interested in building a toll causeway across Utah Lake if the state can straighten out rules for required environmental studies.

The Utah Legislature slashed a $3 million spending item to study "a raised highway that traverses Utah Lake" to $750,000 two months ago, and lawmakers probably will take the remaining money next year to keep the state budget balanced.

State Rep. Ken Sumsion of American Fork says he's looking at sponsoring legislation that would give private companies exact guidance on commissioning their own environmental studies.

The 7-mile bridge was proposed as a way to shorten and ease the commute for residents on the fast-growing west side of Utah Lake. Commuting on country roads around the lake's north end can take more than two hours.

Local boaters, hunters and environmental advocates have opposed a bridge or causeway. The Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club says the idea should be scrapped altogether, calling it a land development scheme that would forever mar the lake's ecosystem.

Relief in sight for thousands of Utah County commuters

2008-11-07T19:42:00.001-08:00

Relief in sight for thousands of Utah County commuters
November 7th, 2008 @ 4:01pm
By Sam Penrod
Residents of Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain have limited access to their communities, but the Utah Department of Transportation is planning a brand new road.

Redwood Road and Lehi's Main Street are the two main routes to Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs. Now UDOT is gearing up to start building what will be known as "Pioneer Crossing", a new road giving a direct route between I-15 and Redwood Road.

With dramatic growth in the past decade, traffic is an issue in Lehi along Main Street as residents living there, along with those in Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain, travel to and from I-15. Bryan Adams, program manager for Access Utah County, said, "This facility will actually give another alternative, which give them easier access to I-15."

The road will connect to Redwood Road, south of the crossroads and will travel east six miles, to the American Fork Main Street exit.

The project will also mean a complete rebuild of that interchange with a new design called a diverging diamond interchange.

"It operates a lot better than most interchanges, but it also allows us to maintain traffic better to try to alleviate any impacts on the traveling public," Adams said. "It's a lot smaller interchange, it requires less right of way, and we also feel it's a much safer interchange as well."

Pioneer Crossing has a price tag of $380 million and is just one of four major road projects underway, or in the works, to provide some alternate routes before I-15 in Utah County is completely rebuilt in the next few years.

UDOT hopes construction will begin in the new few weeks.

While the new interchange will take two full years to complete, the interchange will reopen during all of the work.

The new Pioneer Crossing road should be open by this time next year.

Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs to welcome bus service

2008-11-07T19:40:00.001-08:00

Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs to welcome bus service
November 7th, 2008 @ 12:03pm
By Randall Jeppesen
Residents in Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs are eagerly awaiting bus service after voting in favor of a quarter cent sales tax.

In Eagle Mountain, about half of the work force makes the daily 40-mile drive to the Salt Lake City area. But since a new sales tax increase was passed, UTA will start running express buses from Eagle mountain to Salt Lake in the spring.

Mayor Heather Jackson says it's great and they could use even more buses. "I already started talking to UTA last night," she told us.

Jackson says Frontrunner going through Utah County will also be a big help. "Bus service will actually change and will be serviced from here to the Frontrunner line," she said.

Commuters there are looking for any help they can get to make the commute a little better.

UDOT will use new interchange in American Fork

2008-11-07T19:39:00.001-08:00

UDOT will use new interchange in American Fork
Janice Peterson - Daily herald
Transportation officials are working to alleviate congestion around the county through the Access Utah County project, and some new innovative designs may do the trick.

Utah Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Thompson said a brand new design will be used for the American Fork Main Street interchange on Interstate 15. The Diverging Diamond Interchange, or DDI, will be put in place to improve traffic flow in the area.

The design involves a major east-west artery that crisscrosses over the freeway with only two signals and a free flow of traffic on and off the freeway. Thompson said the idea is an improvement over single point urban interchanges, like the on-ramp at University Parkway in Orem, because commuters will make only one stop instead of four or five.

"All of the left turns and right turns on and off the interchange, people won't have to stop," he said.

Thompson said the technology is new in the United States, but not for the rest of the world. American Fork will be the first place in the western United States to have such an interchange, while Springfield, Mo. will be building one at the same time.

"It's relatively new for the U.S., though they have been using this interchange technology in Europe," he said.

The design has several advantages over other, more common interchanges. Thompson said it will be laid out flatter than other designs and only uses two bridges over the freeway. It also uses less right of way and should be safer for motorists.

"The advantage of it for us is we feel it moves traffic more efficiently and safer," he said.

Thompson said the bridges over the freeway will be constructed off-site, similar to the recent work on Interstate 80 in Salt Lake City. When the bridges are complete, they will be moved into place and traffic will only need to be interrupted for a short time.

"We're not going to affect the property owners around that interchange as much as we might have," he said.SClBAlthough the interchange should be much more effective than other designs, Thompson said he does not know whether it will be used again for other projects. Officials will monitor its effectiveness before deciding whether the design should be used again. It may also not be the most cost-effective strategy for every situation, which designers must take into account.

"We want to be innovative, but we also want to be good stewards of the taxpayers' money," he said.

Bryan Adams, UDOT Access County director, said the project will cost approximately $250 million in its entirety, which will include nearly 6 miles of roadway. The interchange is part of the Pioneer Crossing project, which will create a new thoroughfare from Saratoga Springs to American Fork through Lehi.

"Really, what this project is all about is trying to alleviate traffic off of Lehi Main Street," he said.

Lehi Main Street is the major east-west corridor in the area at the moment, so the project will greatly reduce congestion in a quickly growing area of the county. Adams said some phases of the work should start within the next month and the roadway will be complete in fall 2009. The interchange will take until 2010 to complete, but Adams said traffic should not be hampered by the work in the meantime.

American Fork Mayor Heber Thompson said city officials have been working with UDOT for nearly two years to come up with a design and the city is excited for work to begin. The design should leave a lot of green space for the city and access to businesses and the new FrontRunner train will be very good, he said.

"I think it's really efficient and the best solution I've seen to this point," he said.

Mayor Thompson said he is not worried about any confusion with the new system. UDOT will be working to inform the public of the change, and once a motorist is on the road it will be hard to go the wrong way.

"I think the lights will regulate this very well," he said.

Utah County may raise tax rate

2008-11-07T08:46:00.000-08:00

Utah County may raise tax rate
Joe Pyrah - Daily Herald
The county's first tax increase in a decade likely hinges on the decision of one commissioner, as the other two appear to have made up their minds.

Gary Anderson said Thursday that he doesn't see a way to avoid a tax increase while Steve White says "under no circumstance" will he vote for one. Left in the middle is Larry Ellertson.
After several attempts to explain where he stands, Ellertson settled on, "I guess what I mean is that I'm reserving judgement on that."

Anderson foresees an 8-10 percent increase (about $20 per year on a $250,000 home).

"This is a crisis tax," he said. "Our economy is going to come back and when it does this tax is going to come off."

The increase would accompany a buyout of as many as 50 employees. In the event the county doesn't get enough takers of the buyout offer, some layoffs would likely follow. Commissioners recently agreed on a tentative budget of $70 million, which is $17 million lower than this year's original budget.

"To raise taxes or lay people off is a decision I thought we'd never have to make. And now we've got to do both," Anderson said.

White disagrees.

He said there are ways the county can be more efficient, along with elimination of open positions, buyouts, and yes, layoffs if needed. White is still irritated at the budget passed last year (which he opposed) that included $7 million in one-time dollars.

"Had they done the budget I offered last year, we wouldn't be here," he said.

Anderson disagrees.

He blames the economic crash coupled with a county that has one of the lowest tax rates in the state and a budget that is already considered the leanest.

"We cut the fat long ago," he said. "We cut out the muscle. I can see bone."

For his part, Anderson has offered up the $12,000 raise he received this year.

"I don't think it's going to save the budget," he said, "but I think it will help me sleep better."

Both Anderson and White have concerns about the Sheriff's Office, but in separate ways.

Anderson says that Sheriff Jim Tracy has already made $6 million in proposed cuts, but that at this point it has become a matter of safety. He doesn't want to cut canyon patrols that bust drug dealers or sex crimes.

"I will not compromise law enforcement," he said. "I won't do it, and that's what it comes down to."

White says it's a matter of getting cities to pay the right amount for the services rendered by the county.

Wherever the county finds the money (or cuts) to balance the budget, it's clear commissioners are facing the hardest choices in years. Anderson said an employee on the layoff bubble came into his office recently with a picture of his family saying they were praying for the employee to keep the job.

"How do I deal with that?" said Anderson.

Flu vaccinations for disabled

2008-11-07T08:41:00.001-08:00

Flu vaccinations for disabled

Published: November 7, 2008
PROVO — The Utah County Health Department is adjusting to help disabled individuals get their influenza vaccination a little easier.
Disabled residents can visit the Health Department clinic at 151 S. University Ave., where an individual's driver may go inside and a nurse will go to the person's car to administer the vaccine at no extra charge.
The clinic is open Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Flu shots are $23 if paid at the time of service. The health department accepts Altius, DMBA, Medicare, Medicaid, PHEP, Select Health and United Health Care plans. It also operates clinics in American Fork, Payson and Saratoga Springs and residents may call 801-851-7025 for an appointment at these sites.

Cities eager to get rolling on express bus line

2008-11-07T08:40:00.000-08:00

Cities eager to get rolling on express bus line
Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain hope the route eases traffic woes
By Jennifer W. Sanchez
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune
Article Launched:11/07/2008 01:19:01 AM MST
Starting in spring, Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs residents will be able to commute to downtown Salt Lake City via an express bus.
Voters Tuesday overwhelming approved a quarter-cent sales-tax increase to get a route with a stop in each city.
With roughly half of Eagle Mountain residents commuting about 40 miles north to the Salt Lake City area, few folks questioned the bus-route proposal, said Mayor Heather Jackson.
"Everybody, since the second we announced it, [have] been very supportive and positive about it," she said.
Officials in both cities had said they hope the express-bus route alleviates traffic congestion caused by construction within the rapidly growing northern Utah County community.
"I hope it will help our local commuters . . . get to work every day," said Saratoga Springs City Manager Ken Leetham. He also said the route is the beginning of other UTA partnerships in the future as the city grows.
Each city will have a park-and-ride lot and express-bus routes - two in the morning to downtown Salt Lake City and two returning in the evening.
Bus fare will be $5 each way, according to the UTA Web site.
As for Eagle Mountain, Jackson said roughly the other half of the city's residents now want an express-bus route to the Provo-Orem area. She said she plans to set up a meeting with UTA officials about the idea.
jsanchez@sltrib.com

Bus route OK

Voters approved a quarter-cent sales-tax increase to get an express-bus route in Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs:
Eagle Mountain
For: 77%
Against: 23%
Saratoga Springs
For: 67%
Against: 33%
What's next
Service with stops in both cities to begin April 2009.

City Council Agenda Nov 11, 2008

2008-11-06T19:53:00.000-08:00

CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
WORK SESSION – Commencing at 6:30 p.m.
1. Reports:
a. Mayor
b. City Council Members
c. Staff
POLICY SESSION – Commencing at 7:00 p.m.
• Call to Order.
• Roll Call.
• Invocation / Reverence.
• Pledge of Allegiance.
• Public Input, Awards or Recognitions – 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. Proposed Conditional Use for a Wind Turbine to be located at 3736 Panarama Drive; Joe and Gloria Galloway, applicants
and owners.
2. Proposed Concept Plan for a 229-unit multi-family residential development located on Lot 5 of the Saratoga crossroads
Subdivision (approximately 1300 South Commerce Drive); JMMS Enterprises, owner; Mike Stewart, applicant.
3. Approval of agreements for professional services related to the survey, design, inspection and project management of
Center Street, Gilson Engineering.
4. Public Hearing: Ordinance #08-28 (11-11-08): An ordinance adopting amendments to the City of Saratoga Springs Land
Development Code.
5. Resolution #08-35 (11-11-08): A resolution authorizing an employer pick-up of retirement contributions.
6. Approval of employment agreement with the City Prosecutor.
7. Discussion of the City’s noise regulations.
8. Consent Calendar:
a. Warrant Register.
b. Final Bond Release, Acceptance of Subdivision, and commencement of 24-month warranty period for Summerhill,
Phase 3
c. Final Bond Release, Acceptance of Subdivision, and commencement of 24-month warranty period for Summerhill,
Phase 4
d. Final Bond Release, Acceptance of Subdivision, and commencement of 24-month warranty period for Saratoga
Hills 1 & 2, LDS Ward.
e. Final Warranty Release for Aspen Hills, Plat G
f. Final Warranty Release for Jacobs Ranch, Plat G
g. Minutes:
1. June 14, 2008.
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.

DOT chooses builders for Lehi road

2008-11-06T19:11:00.001-08:00

DOT chooses builders for Lehi road
By Brandon Loomis
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated:11/06/2008 03:18:38 PM MST
The Utah Department of Transportation has chosen a consortium led by Kiewit Construction and W.W. Clyde Construction to build a new east-west alternative to Main Street in Lehi.
The $380 million road, called Pioneer Crossing, will stretch from Redwood Road in Saratoga Springs through Lehi at about 1000 South to Interstate 15 in American Fork. It will link to the freeway with a first-in-Utah "diverging diamond interchange," a European-style interchange that speeds traffic through with only two traffic signal phases instead of the three or four at other interchanges.
"Pioneer Crossing is intended to address a real transportation need in northern Utah County for additional east-west alternatives," project manager Bryan Adams said.
The companies will design and build the project, with major construction likely to begin in January. The road is expected to be completed from Redwood Road to Lehi next November, with the rest finished by fall 2010.

Report from Police Department

2008-11-05T08:38:00.001-08:00

SARATOGA SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT

BLOTTER RELEASE TO MEDIA

SEPT. 8-NOV. 4, 2008

For this fifty-eight (58) day reporting period, the Saratoga Springs Police Dept. responded to a total of 749 calls for service and case reports. Of those cases, there were: 87 ANIMAL PROBLEM cases, 43 ACCIDENTS, 6 DUI’s, 42 FALSE ALARMS, 2 SEX OFFENSES, and 5 WEAPONS OFFENSE cases. These are representative of just a few of the 749 total reports taken:

September 13, 2008- TRESPASSING 7:06am

An SSPD Officer, while on routine patrol, found two male individuals attempting to steal copper wire from an abandoned house near the Wal-Mart construction project. Both were interviewed on scene, and admitted to possessing bolt cutters, and attempting to take the wire. Both men were charged with various charges, including criminal trespass.

September 14, 2008- ROBBERY 04:16am

An unsuspecting SSPD Officer, while filling-up his patrol vehicle at the Chevron Top-Stop, noticed a suspicious male. The man boarded his ATV and started to drive south on Redwood Rd. The officer, tried to stop the man, but he tried to elude the officer; a chase ensued. The dispatcher told the officer that the man was a suspect in an armed robbery that had just occurred at the convenience store. The officer, along with two other officers in the area, surrounded the robber, and took him into custody. He was booked into the Utah County Jail for felony charges.

September 17, 2008- FORGERY 5:01pm

SSPD Officers received a complaint that an area homeowner had written a check for Pest Control services. The check was fraudulent. The officer discovered that the man who wrote the check had actually made-up the check at his home, and tried to pass it to the contracted service provider. It was also later determined that this same suspect tried to pass other fraudulent checks to other businesses, as well. Other than this man having no money in his account to pay for the services, the only other problem with the checks themselves…no account numbers along the bottom!?

September 26, 2008- KIDNAPPED K9 12:59am

SSPD Officers responded to a residence in the golf course area. The victim in this case was upset that her new dog was taken from her yard. The dog owner said that she didn’t know who would take a beautiful dog from her family or her children. The dog apparently was posted on KSL.com, for sale. SSPD Officers, along with Tooele City PD Officers worked together to assist the victim in this case. Following contact by police, it was discovered it was not the same dog. The possible suspects removed the dog from the website. The dog’s whereabouts are unknown.

October 10, 2008- DEATH INVESTIGATION 9:43am

SSPD Officers responded to the area of SSD, on the report of a 42 year old man who was not breathing. It was determined that the man had possibly overdosed on prescription medication. Officers tried to resuscitate the victim until medical staff could arrive. All attempts to save his life were unsuccessful.

October 22, 2008- WEAPONS OFFENSE 8:40pm

SSPD Officers responded to the area of the Jacob’s Ranch subdivision, on the report of a Weapons Offense. It was discovered that over the course of many weeks, several juveniles were “doorbell ditching” in the area. As the investigation continued, it was learned that one of the resident’s was upset by the kids’ behavior. One evening, the area resident, confronted two juveniles who were “doorbell ditching”, and told them to, “Stop!...Or I’ll shoot!” According to the juveniles, they said that they saw a handgun being pointed toward them, by this upset neighbor. As the case unfolded, it was discovered that there was never really a “gun”…only a camera. The irate individual simply tried to take their picture, so as to capture their craft “in action”, and turn it over to police.

Tip-of-the-month: As we are now mid-way through the 2008-09 school year, it should always be the focus of any parent to monitor the activities of their child(ren). With so many on-line predators, and other risky internet activity, parents should consider these tips:

#1- Place the computer in a heavy-traffic area of the home (ie- kitchen, hallway, living room). Children should always be monitored, along with their activity on the internet.
#2- Know WHO your child(ren) are talking to on the internet. This means asking questions and getting involved with your children. For a child to simply say, “…oh, just a friend I’ve met on-line”, is NOT sufficient. Predators routinely make-up identities and profiles.
#3- Monitor your child’s web pages, blogs, and on-line “community” involvement (ie- MySpace, Facebook, etc.) These are great avenues for children to meet and “hang-out” with their friends. Web predators also know this. And finally,
#4- Have access to your child’s log-ins and personal password information on the family computers. Set up family log-ins to access the desktop, that only you (as parents) know. This will control when they’re on the machine. They are your children, and as such, have a lesser expectation of privacy on the family computer. Also, set strict guidelines for time allotment on the computer. Advise your child that for every hour spent on the computer, they can be doing something worthwhile….volunteering or some other form of service. –Corporal Aaron D. Rosen, PIO (SSPD)

New construction set in Saratoga Springs

2008-11-05T08:17:00.001-08:00

New construction set in Saratoga Springs

Published: November 5, 2008
SARATOGA SPRINGS — New construction planned for the developing downtown includes a series of retail and office buildings just east of the Redwood Road and state Route 73 intersection.
Saratoga Ridge will be built at the corner of SR 73 and Riverside Drive and will include retail space with offices above and restaurants, city manager Ken Leetham said.
Additionally The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is planning an 11,323-square-foot seminary building next to the new West Lake High School, which opens next fall. A new junior high is also planned west of the high school on land not yet annexed into the city, Leetham said. Center Street, which will run to the new schools, is also under construction.
The City Council on Tuesday took steps to move the new construction along, holding hearings to review concept plans and other details.
— Rodger L. Hardy

Saratoga Springs residents to get express bus service

2008-11-05T05:32:00.001-08:00

Saratoga Springs residents to get express bus service
Daily Herald
Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain residents will be getting express bus service to and from Salt Lake City after voting to approve a tax increase to join in Utah Transit Authority's coverage area.

With all of Saratoga Springs's five precincts reporting in by 11 p.m., its voters agreed roughly 2:1 to join UTA and raise sales tax by one quarter of a cent in their community. Unofficial numbers were 1,844 voters for the initiative and 929 against.
Eagle Mountain results showed a wider margin of approval, reporting in 40 minutes after Saratoga Springs polls with 1,783 voting to ratify the initiative and 509 opposed.

Passing the initiative allows UTA to provide bus service as soon as April 2009. Residents with disabilities in both cities will also have access to UTA's Paratransit program.

"I am going to use it," said Saratoga Springs resident Todd Abney. He waited 30 minutes to vote at Harvest Hills Elementary.

"They have UTA van pool at work," said Abney, who works at Novell in Provo. "I guess they've organized a Saratoga Springs van pool."

Utah County sewer bills may spike

2008-10-31T08:37:00.000-07:00

Utah County sewer bills may spike
Caleb Warnock - DAILY HERALD
The global economic crisis became intensely local on Thursday night as north county sewer officials spent hours debating how and when to bill residents for $140 million.

The answer? Come January, if you live in north Utah County, look for perhaps a 30 percent spike in your sewer bill. Or a jump in property taxes. Or both.
Sewer officials also proposed hiking impact fees for new homes to $4,000, an increase of almost $900 and a move that almost surely will be protested by local builders, already struggling to find buyers. State law could require the issue to be decided within the next two weeks depending on whether a property tax increase is needed.

Months ago, sewer officials -- elected and appointed representatives from each of the north county cities -- had hoped to bill an $82.5 million expansion to new homeowners through impact fees. But with housing starts "in the basement," as one official put it, and the sewer district over capacity in some areas, the expansion project that is already underway must be finished.

The district must secure loans with user fees or property taxes because the promise of impact fees to be collected someday is not enough, district members were told.

Sewer officials watched with grim faces on Thursday as they were presented a lengthy list of projects that need to be started almost immediately. The list, which includes a sewer plant expansion, work to reduce odors and millions to fix badly corroded pipes, totaled $140 million.

Without upgrades, some existing sewer pipes could leak or overload. District staff warned that sewage could back up into homes in Lehi, Alpine and Highland.

Sewage "could come out of the tops of manholes into the streets, or could back into residential homes into basements," said Larry Bowen of the sewer district. "I don't think this is set up so it would flood any basements the way it is, but we need to do this as soon as we can."

District officials argued at length whether residents might howl at being asked to pay for the expansion, whether residents would approve a property tax for the sewer district at the polls, whether the county could authorize the district to tax without going to the ballot or whether the whole increase should be paid through spiked sewage fees and impact fees.

Even if they had the power to allow the district to levy a property tax, County Commissioners -- who ultimately give authority to the district board -- could balk, said Commissioner Larry Ellertson, who was at the meeting.

Based on past votes, the commission would likely say "this service ought to pay for itself" through user fees, Ellertson told sewer officials.

Officials said they may narrow the $140 million list to perhaps $94 million worth of projects that absolutely cannot be delayed for safety and growth reasons, but staffers asked how long the other projects could be ignored.

At one point, David Bunker of Cedar Hills was urging Ellertson to push the County Commission to allow the board to levy a property tax. Ellertson stopped the conversation with five simple words.

"Are you an elected official?" Ellertson said to Bunker. Bunker is a Cedar Hills employee and is not elected.

That was not the only tense exchange during the meeting. Frank Mills, manager of Pleasant Grove, said repeatedly that residents are not going to be happy to discover they are paying for sewer plant expansion.

"Users will come back to us and say 'You are making us pay for new growth,' " he said.

District board member Brian Braithwaite was perhaps a lone voice in saying property taxes should not be used to fund the sewer district.

"Anytime we take away from a citizen's ability to see where the money is used is a mistake," he said, saying fees should be the district's only income.

Sewer officials agreed that they may have a public relations problem in trying to explain fee increases and property taxes to local residents, and argued at length about how much of the $140 million list was necessary because of growth, and how much was ongoing operations and maintenance.

District officials were also asked to decide how much odor should be allowed to emanate from the sewer plant, and how much it might cost long-term to discard of sewage in landfills, or to compost it near Eagle Mountain, paying gas money to haul biosolids to Cedar Valley and haul it back as compost to sell to the public.

The district needs to spend as much as $12 million to build a new composting facility, said Larry Bowen to sewer officials.

"You can't fool around too long because by the time you get [an expanded] sewer plant up and operating, you have to do something with the biosolids," he said. "The expectation [of the public] is that the odor should be nothing, and if we continue to do what we are doing, I think that would not be acceptable."

In addition, if the sewer district does not spend $8 million on a satellite treatment plant in the area of Saratoga Springs and Lehi, they risk losing state permissions that have taken years to secure.

June Sucker to make a comeback at Utah Lake

2008-10-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

June Sucker to make a comeback at Utah Lake
By James Davis
Deseret News
Published: October 23, 2008
OREM — A decade after dwindling to near extinction, the June sucker is looking to take back Utah Lake — with a little help, that is.
Representatives of the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program (JSRIP) spoke on the endangered fish species' current state at the Utah Lake Symposium held at Utah Valley University Tuesday. They offered encouraging words on the return of one of the lake's native fish and outlined plans to increase its population.

"I don't think the people who are here ever realized that they were going to change that ecosystem with what they did," he said. "But, as you can see, there have been massive changes in the lake."

Since 1991, when the June sucker was on the brink of extinction, the fish has made a steady comeback. Only 300 to 500 fish were estimated to populate Utah Lake in 1998 and now, a decade later, those numbers have risen to more than 170,000.

The effort to bring the June sucker back to Utah Lake comes at no small cost — about $36 million so far — but JSRIP program director Reed Harris said the entire Utah Lake ecosystem and surrounding communities benefit from a strong June sucker population.

"It just goes a lot further than just to save a fish, and I have a hard time explaining that to people," he said.

Harris said the goal of the JSRIP, which works in conjunction with a number of federal, state and local agencies, is to first recover the June sucker to the point it no longer needs protection. Secondly, the group wants to make sure there is enough water to provide for the the continued success of the June sucker's recovery.

While the project to recover the June sucker has surpassed $36 million in cost, nearly $23 million of that has gone directly toward the preservation of water sources key to the Utah Lake ecosystem's success, Harris said.

Introduced into Utah Lake in the late 1880s, the common carp has overrun all other species of fish in Utah Lake. The species comprises about 95 percent of Utah Lake's biomass and the population of carp ages two years and older is more than 7.5 million.

In the course of working to restore Utah Lake to its pre-1900 state, JSRIP has studied the impact of the carp and has come up with a plan to remove millions of pounds of carp from the lake through commercial fishing over a seven-year period. JSRIP Local Coordinator Michael Mills said the anticipated impact of removing that much fish would be a return of native fish, an increase in zooplankton and a increase in macrophytes — leading to a decrease in algae and an increase in water clarity.

Plan under way to improve Utah Lake

2008-10-22T18:58:00.001-07:00

Plan under way to improve Utah Lake
October 22nd, 2008 @ 7:11pm
By Randall Jeppesen
A 5 million-pound effort will soon be under way to try and improve Utah Lake.

The lake is gaining more public attention, according to Michael Mills with the Central Utah Water Conservancy District. A lot of that, he says, has to do with all the people moving in along the shore.

"You look at Saratoga Springs and just how that area has exploded," Mills explained.

To help the endangered June sucker survive in the lake, commercial fisherman will soon start hauling out as many carp as they can catch -- the goal is 5 million pounds.

"The commercial fishermen actually can fish through the ice," Mills said.

The hope is when the carp numbers go down, the June sucker survives and the lake water gets clearer -- which benefits the plants and fish in the lake, as well as the residents living around the lake shores.

Utah budget cuts may kill plans for bridge study

2008-10-18T19:35:00.001-07:00

Utah budget cuts may kill plans for bridge study
The Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 10/18/2008 11:11:32 AM MDT

PROVO -- An American Fork lawmaker says recent cuts in Utah's state budge have not left a plan to study a bridge over Utah Lake dead in the water.
Republican Rep. Ken Sumsion says $3 million in study funding was slashed to $750,000 in last month's round of budget cuts. The cuts came just weeks before some study contracts were signed.
Sumsion says he'll meet with Utah Department of Transportation to see where the project can now go.
The 7-mile bridge was proposed as plan to shorten and ease the commute for residents on the fast-growing west side of Utah Lake. Currently commuting on country roads around the lake's north end can take more than two hours.
Local boaters, hunters and environmental advocates have opposed the bridge study.

Is the proposed Utah Lake bridge dead?

2008-10-18T19:32:00.001-07:00

Is the proposed Utah Lake bridge dead?
Caleb Warnock - DAILY HERALD
Funding for a legislative proposal "to study a raised highway that traverses Utah Lake" was deeply slashed during recent state budget cuts, but is the project dead in the water?

"Not yet, no," said Rep. Ken Sumsion, R-American Fork, who sponsored House Bill 114, which was approved by the state Legislature, authorizing $3 million for the study.
But that money was promised before the global and local economies tanked.

"We were within probably one to two weeks of getting some contracts signed, and then funding was cut," Sumsion told the Daily Herald.

Forced to trim the state budget, legislators recently cut the $3 million funding for the study to $750,000.

"I am meeting with UDOT at the end of the month to kind of see where we can go," Sumsion said. "We have a couple of different ideas that I am not ready to discuss at this point, obviously because we have not met with them yet. I am hoping it is not dead. I am hoping to move forward."

Local boaters, hunters and environmental advocates have opposed the bridge study.

"They should save the state even more money by cutting it all together," said Marc Heileson, of the Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club, on Friday. "This project blatantly violates the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, all for a land development scheme across Utah Lake. This truly is Utah's bridge to nowhere."

Sumsion said his passion for the bridge is motivated by Utah's growing population.

"In the next 30 years we are going to be building Salt Lake City in Cedar Valley; that is the population projection," Sumsion said. "Eagle Mountain has the potential to be the largest city in the state of Utah."

That vision, however, was not enough to convince fellow legislators of the necessity of studying the bridge now, and Sumsion said he was not able to prevent the money from being cut -- in the minds of fellow legislators, the project is "a bit more of a pie-in-the-sky dream."

Asked about opposition to the proposal, Sumsion said a bridge would actually benefit the lake because the project would be required to spend money to remediate any environmental changes, and that money could be used to clean up the lake ecosystem.

Not so, said Heileson, noting that he believes the bridge would immediately undo years of restoration work, irreversibly damaging the lake during bridge construction.

In addition, Utah Valley is now in violation of federal clean air standards and must show a plan to clean up air or risk losing federal transportation funding, he said.

Adding a new bridge would only create "a feeding tube for air pollution and sprawl" on the west side of the lake, compounding the problem rather than working toward a solution.

S.R. 92 updates

2008-10-17T09:35:00.000-07:00

S.R. 92 updates -- In order to expedite work on the wildlife undercrossing and as the Camp Williams truck crossing, traffic will be shifted slightly west onto a detour road in the area of SR-68 north of Camp Williams main gate.

The project team will remove and replace this structure all at once by using the detour, reducing impacts from eight months to four for this operation. Please note that the speed limit will be reduced to 40 mph in this area.

Also, be aware that project information and updates are now being broadcast on Highway Advisory Radio 1300 AM. Tune in each week to hear project updates.

Beginning south of Bluffdale and ending just south of Camp Williams, the new traffic signal at the Camp Williams main gate is now operational. Please drive safely and be prepared to stop in this area.

Asphalt work is expected to resume at the end of this week and continue through the beginning of next week in this segment.

Traffic in the area of Camp Williams has been shifted onto a detour road. This will allow crews to complete work on the wildlife undercrossing and truck crossing for Camp Williams.

Beginning south of Camp Williams and ending just south of the intersection at SR-73 in Saratoga Springs, crews will complete work removing a large outcropping of rock on the west side of the highway in this area. Motorists and residents should expect some vibration and dust from this operation.

Storm drain work will continue on the east side of the highway south of 10400 N. this week.

Beginning south of the intersection at SR-73 and ending at 400 South in Saratoga Springs, crews will continue grading and placing fill in the areas south of SR-73 this week.

Passing is strictly prohibited throughout the work zone. Recreational activities such as biking and jogging are strongly discouraged in the construction area due to the narrow lanes.

For additional project information visit, www.udot.utah.gov/sr-68south. For specific questions or concerns, contact the Public Information Team at sr68info@langdongroupinc.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 801-455-3116.

City Council Agenda Oct. 21, 2008

2008-10-16T15:04:00.000-07:00

Agenda
6:30 P.M.
1. Final bond release, acceptance of subdivision improvements and commencement of twoyear
warranty period for Jacobs Ranch Plat O.
2. Motion to enter into closed session for the purpose of discussion litigation matters,
acquisition of real property or authorized personnel matters.
3. Action from closed session, if any
4. Adjourn.

Woman faces charges for toddler's accidental Aug. death

2008-10-16T08:54:00.001-07:00

Woman faces charges for toddler's accidental Aug. death
Janice Peterson - Daily herald
A Saratoga Springs woman made her initial appearance in Provo's 4th District Court on Wednesday on charges in the accidental death of a 4-year-old boy.

Regina Tausinga's misdemeanor charges, which include negligent homicide, not having insurance and permitting an unlicensed driver to operate a motor vehicle, stem from an August accident in which her unlicensed teenage son struck and killed 4-year-old Cooper Mardesich.

"She would enter not guilty, please, to these three counts," said Nyal Bodily, Tausinga's attorney.

Tausinga's 15-year-old son also faces charges in juvenile court for the incident. The teenager was making a left turn as Cooper was riding his bike across the street at the intersection of Parkway Boulevard and Wagoneer Road, and allegedly struck the boy with his vehicle. Cooper was treated at the scene and later died at Primary Children's Medical Center.

Bodily said he is still going through evidence in the case and it is too early to say whether any plea deals may be struck. He said the case has been hard on the families involved, and Tausinga has since moved from the neighborhood.

"I think there's certainly been some pressure on the family since this happened," he said.

Although the case has been difficult, Bodily said Tausinga has had a lot of support from family and friends. The Tausingas knew the victim's family before the incident and have since had their support.

"The neighborhood, the family, has been very supportive," he said.

Stephen Frazier, Tausinga's second attorney, said several Mardesich family members were in court Wednesday with her. Although he could not say what affect their support will have on the prosecution, Frazier said it says a lot about the situation between the families.

"I know that the Tausinga family is very grateful for that," he said.

Frazier said while the Mardesich family has been supportive of Tausinga, Cooper's death has been difficult for both families.

"Our hearts go out to the family that lost their son," he said.

Deputy Utah County attorney Guy Probert said he has not yet spoken with Tausinga's attorney about any plea deal. Probert said the Mardesich family has been very generous in their support, but such support does not change the law in the case.

"I would never put a plea deal out of the question, but we have to take it seriously, and a child is dead," he said.

Probert said the support of the victim's family could affect the way the prosecutors look at the case, but oftentimes what should be done must be placed above the will of the victim's family. Either way, Probert said more evidence needs to be gathered before he has enough information to make such a decision. Probert said there are still a handful of statements the police need to collect that would be necessary for the prosecution.

"I think we need all of that information together before we even talk to the other side about a resolution," he said.

Utah population to top 6.8 million by 2060, report says

2008-10-14T08:02:00.000-07:00

Utah population to top 6.8 million by 2060, report says
By Brandon Loomis
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune
Article Launched:10/10/2008 03:06:48 AM MDT

Picture a Utah with nearly 7 million residents, crowded schools and mind-numbing traffic jams. It's not too hard to see from here for most Utahns, who rate population growth and its attendant headaches a Top-10 issue.
The Utah Foundation released a research brief Thursday based on a January survey by Dan Jones and Associates in which 52 percent of respondents said the state is growing too quickly. The 2.6 million who live here now will see their numbers swell to 6.8 million or beyond by 2060, the foundation projects.
Think it's crowded now?
Utah is a growth leader that shows no signs of slowing. The population is expected to eclipse 4.5 million in about two decades, a little smaller than present-day Colorado but bigger than today's Oregon.
By 2060, it could reach 6.84 million - bigger than either Arizona or Washington state today. Among other challenges, that surge will put a squeeze on Utah's water supply, one of four growth-related issues that Utahns graded 4 or higher as a concern on a 1-to-5 scale. (The other three were traffic, school crowding and crime.)
Between a Lake Powell pipeline in the south and a Bear River diversion in the north, the state's water-development tab will exceed $1 billion in coming decades, according the Utah Foundation.
Southern Utah could experience acute water shortages as early as 2012, thanks largely to growth around St. George. Construction of a pipeline isn't expected to start until 2015.
A mess of our own making
Utah's growth issues have been, and likely will be, mostly due to its high birth rate.
What's driving traffic?
In sheer numbers, the big urban centers like the Salt Lake Valley and the Provo area keep adding the most. But smaller outlying cities are starting to stack up as serious bedroom communities that will steer transportation expenditures.
Saratoga Springs, on the west side of Utah Lake, was the percentage growth leader at 37 percent from 2000 to 2007, and Herriman and Eagle Mountain followed, each increasing around 30 percent.
Of the top 10 for growth, only Lehi had a population higher than 25,000. It all adds up to crowded streets - and costly upgrades - far from established freeways.
"It's always difficult to expand the transportation infrastructure fast enough to accommodate that kind of growth," Utah Foundation President Stephen Kroes said.
The foundation isn't recommending specific actions, although Kroes said he would not advise that cities impose housing restrictions that could balloon prices.
Who's responsible?
Most years, Utah's nation-leading births outpace its migrants, but last year was a rare exception, when migrants slightly edged natural increases, according to the foundation report.
That likely will reverse now that the economy is slowing, but Utahns appear much more worried about newcomers than they are about babies. When asked if they were more concerned about migration or the birthrate, 67 percent named migration, 7 percent said births and 13 percent listed both.
"They don't want people telling them how many kids to have," Utah Foundation President Stephen Kroes said.
While immigration is another top issue (it surpassed growth's No. 10 rank at No. 5 among respondents), most said they were only moderately concerned about social or cultural changes coming from an influx of outsiders (averaging a little over 3 on the 1-5 scale). Traffic was a bigger worry.
Who's in school?
By a large margin - 73 percent of the growth in enrollments last year - Utahns are breeding their own classroom-crowding issue. Tooele School District led the way with 5.6 percent growth between 2004 and 2007, the Utah Foundation found.
Statewide, the numbers are expected to spurt from barely 500,000 to nearly 700,000 by 2015. Meanwhile, higher-education enrollment already has more than doubled in the past 20 years. Won't crime grow, too?
Statistics disprove the theory that Utah's crime rate is ramping up with its population. Though major cities experienced crime spikes last year, the long-term trend is downward. Between 2000 and 2006,
Utah had only the 29th-fastest-growing prison population at the same time that it was the third-fastest-growing state.
Still, in real numbers, a larger population naturally will lead to more crimes even if the rate per 100,000 people goes down. "Even lower rates," Utah Foundation President Stephen Kroes said, "can mean more crimes around you."

FrontRunner South could be delayed

2008-10-12T07:28:00.001-07:00

FrontRunner South could be delayed
Pushing it back 6 months will save $10 million, UTA says
By Laura Hancock
Deseret News
Published: October 12, 2008
The opening date for the 44-mile FrontRunner commuter rail connecting Salt Lake and Utah counties could be pushed back six months to save money, according to the Utah Transit Authority.
Construction is still on schedule for the FrontRunner South line into Utah County, because the agency recognized that construction costs tend to rise with time, and delays would only be more costly, said UTA spokeswoman Carrie Bohnsack-Ware. But after construction is finished, the trains will not pull into Utah County until 2013, instead of mid-2012, which is the date UTA originally announced when it broke ground on the line Aug. 12.

Fares only cover 17 percent of the cost of maintenance and operations. Most of the money comes from sales tax, which has been low recently. If that sales-tax trend were to continue, the agency would have to spend more money on subsidizing the maintenance and operations costs, Bohnsack-Ware said.

"By pushing it back by six months, like we're doing, it will save $10 million over all the projects," she said.

By opening FrontRunner South in 2013 instead of 2012, Bohnsack-Ware said, the initial costs associated with opening and operating the commuter-rail line will be reflected in the 2013 budget year, instead of the 2012 budget year. UTA's budget years are calendar years.

UTA receives the majority of its funding from the sales tax in the counties and cities in which it operates. In recent years, UTA has received increases in the sales-tax revenues of about 4.5 percent. With the economy's slowdown, the quasi-private, quasi-public organization could see a $14 million loss in sales-tax revenues in 2008.

On Wednesday, a UTA subcommittee met and discussed a future with only 1-2 percent increases in the sales tax. The UTA Board of Trustees meets Oct. 21 to vote on approving the recommendation for FrontRunner South.

In addition to extending FrontRunner into Utah County, UTA is building TRAX light-rail lines to Draper, West Valley City and the Salt Lake City International Airport, as well as a Mid-Jordan line through Murray, Midvale, West Jordan and South Jordan.

UTA plans to open the TRAX lines to the airport and Draper ahead of schedule, with the airport line slated to begin operation as early as 2012 and the Draper line by 2014. TRAX operating expenses are less expensive, Bohnsack-Ware said.

Utah County transportation meetings start Wednesday

2008-10-12T07:24:00.001-07:00

Utah County transportation meetings start Wednesday
Daily Herald
Utah transportation representatives will be on hand at several transportation and community planning open houses scheduled to take place at three locations in Utah County over the next two weeks.

The first meeting will be Wednesday from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Orem Senior Friendship Center, 93 N. 400 East. On Thursday, a 4:30 to 6 p.m. session will take place at 439 W. Utah Ave. in Payson. The final open house will be Oct. 22 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at 54 E. Main St. in American Fork.

Officials from the Mountainland Association of Governments, Utah Department of Traffic and the Utah Transit Authority will discuss issues such as air quality, roads, public transportation and community development. Specific topics may include I-15 Core, the Provo to Nebo Corridor Study, the Mountain View Corridor and Geneva Road.

UTA considers adding on to transit district

2008-10-11T08:01:00.000-07:00

UTA considers adding on to transit district
Donna Milakovic - North County Staff
Members of the Utah Transit Authority Board of Trustees traveled to Eagle Mountain on Friday evening for a public hearing on the proposed annexation of Eagle Mountain City and Saratoga Springs into its transit district.

"I am excited about the proposal," said Hugh Johnson, Timpanogos Regional UTA general manager.

A federal grant distributed by Mountainland Associates of Governments will pay for express bus service from the cities to Salt Lake City for the first three years. MAG is requiring that Eagle Mountain City and Saratoga Springs both join UTA.

In August, the cities' council members passed resolutions to join UTA and the public hearing on Friday was the next required step in the process. There is a 30-day protest period during which citizens can notify UTA if they are opposed to the annexation.

The Board of Trustees will then decide whether or not to move forward with the process and vote. Residents will also vote in November on the quarter of a cent sales tax increase on the election ballot. Should the cities' voters approve the tax and the annexation passes the board of trustees, then the Lt. Governor is notified and will issue a certificate of annexation.

Residents of the two cities voiced their support and asked questions about the annexation.

Some were opposed to the one-quarter of a cent sales tax increase.

Eagle Mountain City Council member Donna Burnham said she would probably never use the bus since she doesn't commute to a job, but that if the initiative passes and express buses are available and more people did ride the bus, it would make "everyone's commute easier."

"Many days there are so many people on the bus they have to stand or wait for the next bus," said Sharon Barnes, who commutes from Lehi to Salt Lake City regularly. "The express bus is mostly business people. I feel very safe riding it."

Some concern was raised that after the initial three-year project funded by a federal grant is over the interest may wane and services to Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs may not continue.

"If you use it that will go a long way to ensuring that it will be maintained," said Board of Trustees President Larry Ellertson.

Other options for future transit in the area were also discussed including connecting the east/west travelers to the commuter rails once the Utah County leg of the system is completed.

UTA also has paratransit, rideshare and a Van Pool project. The Van Pool system allows citizens to lease a 15-passenger van and then rideshare with neighbors to split the cost of the lease and operation of the vehicle.

Early Voting Locations and Times

2008-10-11T07:43:00.000-07:00

According to the Utah County Website, this is the information on early voting:

Weekdays from October 21, 2008 - October 31, 2008 at the locations and times listed below.

Utah Community Credit Union
1364 North Commerce Drive, Saratoga Springs
Hours 1pm - 5 pm

American Fork Library
64 S. 100 E., American Fork
Hours 3 pm - 7 pm (3 pm - 5 pm on October 31, 2008)

Utah Valley University, Sorensen Student Center
UVUSA Office (SC105), 800 W University Parkway, Orem
Hours 10 am - 2 pm

Utah County Administration Building
100 E Center Street, Room LL900, Provo
Hours 8 am - 5 pm

Spanish Fork National Guard Armory
2801 N Main, Spanish Fork
Hours 3 pm - 7 pm (3 pm - 5 pm October 31, 2008)

City Council Meeting Agenda Oct. 14, 2008

2008-10-10T17:33:00.001-07:00

WORK SESSION – Commencing at 6:30 p.m.
1. Reports:
a. Mayor
b. City Council Members
c. Staff
3. Adjourn to Policy Session
POLICY SESSION – Commencing at 7:00 p.m.
• Call to Order.
• Roll Call.
• Invocation / Reverence.
• Pledge of Allegiance.
• Public Input, Awards or Recognitions – 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: Public hearing regarding the issuance and sale of not more than $2,400,000 aggregate principal amount of
water revenue bonds, series 2008 and other related matters.
2. Proposed Site Plan for America First Credit Union located at 1420 North Commerce Drive, America First Credit Union, owner;
Jeff Randall, applicant.
3. Consent Calendar:
a. Warrant Register.
b. Final Warranty Release for Harbor Bay Phase 1.
c. Final Warranty Release for Harbor Bay Phase 2.
d. Final Warranty Release for Harbor Bay Phase 3.
e. Acceptance of the Saratoga Heights annexation petition to the City Council.
f. Minutes:
1. May 27, 2008.
2. May 31, 2008.
3. June 4, 2008.
4. September 16, 2008.
5. October 2, 2008.
4. Presentation of Quarterly Financial Status Report by Department.
5. Motion to enter into closed session for the purpose of discussion litigation matters, acquisition of real property or authorized
personnel matters.
6. Action from closed session, if any.
7. Adjournment.

Utah population to triple by 2060, report says

2008-10-09T14:45:00.000-07:00

Utah population to triple by 2060, report says
By Brandon Loomis
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 10/09/2008 03:08:45 PM MDT

More than half of Utahns say the state is growing too fast, the Utah Foundation reported in a policy brief Thursday.
They see it in their increasingly slow commutes, their crowded classrooms and the explosion of far-flung bedroom communities such as Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain. Soon they may see it in either water shortages or massive projects to keep pace with development's thirst. And policymakers need to take note, foundation President Stephen Kroes said, because Utahns surveyed last winter rated growth their No. 10 priority issue.
By 2060, according to the foundation's policy brief, Utah's population is expected to bolt from 2.6 million to 6.8 million. It's the one reality that has the potential to drive nearly every other issue, Kroes said, from crime to education to water supply.
"If we weren't a growing state," Kroes said, "we wouldn't worry about water."
Traffic was tops among Utahns' growth-related complaints, followed closely by school crowding. Respondents rated those two plus crime and water supply a 4 or higher on a scale of 1 to 5, where 5 means they are "very concerned" about the issue.
Dan Jones and Associates conducted the statewide priorities survey of more than 600 Utahns in January. Since then, the foundation has released several reports targeted at informing voters and officials about top issues.
The highest
priority among Utahns in the survey was energy, including gasoline prices.

FrontRunner line to Utah County may be delayed

2008-10-09T14:22:00.001-07:00

FrontRunner line to Utah County may be delayed
The Associated Press
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah -- The FrontRunner train line from Utah County to Salt Lake City might open six months later — in early 2013 instead of mid-2012 — because of the struggling economy, Utah Transit Authority officials said.

But UTA said it can push up the opening date for the TRAX light-rail line going to the Salt Lake City International Airport to 2013 and can open the line headed to Draper two years early, in 2012. That's possible because their operating budgets are small compared with FrontRunner, UTA general Manager John Inglish said Wednesday at a budget committee meeting.

"We are certainly not in the (bad) shape of a lot of transit systems," Inglish said.

UTA budget officials have dropped projected tax revenue growth for 2009 from 4.5 percent to 1.5 percent, and they expect to get $73 million less in tax revenues between now and 2015.

By delaying the opening of the Utah County rail line to reduce operating costs, UTA saves $10 million. Construction of the train line will continue on schedule and if the economy recovers, UTA could cancel the delay.

Provo Mayor Lewis Billings said his constituents will be disappointed to hear that FrontRunner will fall behind the TRAX lines. But he said he understands budget troubles are facing everyone.

UTA has already addressed some of its funding problems through administrative cuts and fuel surcharges on fares.

Neighborhood sells pumpkins for 3-year-old with leukemia

2008-10-07T07:33:00.001-07:00

Neighborhood sells pumpkins for 3-year-old with leukemia
Ace Stryker - Daily Herald
For months, Mark Myers nursed the pumpkin patch in the empty lot next to his Saratoga Springs house.

It's been a tradition in the neighborhood for years now; when the pumpkins are plump and orange, kids come running to pick their favorite ones to take home. Back when it all started, next-door neighbor Cindy Jones helped plant the first seeds.

"This is something I just do for fun, just for a hobby," Myers said.

But this year, Myers tended to his pumpkins with a specific purpose. In February, he and the rest of the tight-knit neighborhood reeled from news that the Joneses' youngest child, a 3-year-old boy with Down syndrome named Jameson, was diagnosed with leukemia.

"When I found out that this little boy had cancer, it was like, 'kick me,'" he said. "I live with some great, great neighbors. It's really tough to see people, especially them, down like that."

Over the summer, Myers would watch Jameson while his family went to church. The boy was in the midst of weekly chemotherapy sessions and his family feared his weakened immune system couldn't sustain exposure to too many people. During those Sunday visits, Myers said the two formed a strong bond.

"I guess I was the lucky one. I got to baby-sit him," he said. "He's a great kid. It just tears at my heart."

Eventually, neighbors got wind that the Joneses were having to pull their other kids out of extracurricular activities because they faced a mounting pile of medical bills. So Myers and others around the block hatched a plan: The pumpkin sale this year would be a fundraiser to help the family. The neighbors sought donations for the sale and eventually secured some extra pumpkins, corn stalks and straw bales. The last step was telling the Joneses the sale was for them.

"From the moment they decided to plant the seeds, they knew they'd be donating this money to Jameson," neighbor Heather Anderson said. "Everybody in the community pitched in on this, and they had no idea the whole time."

Myers said he'll never forget the day he asked Jameson's father, Troy, to meet him in his driveway.

"He said, 'There's probably other people who could use it,'" he said. "I said, 'No, not as much as you guys could use it. You guys have been through hell and back.'"

Consistent rain didn't stop people from coming out for the sale Saturday afternoon. As friends and new faces alike paced the rows of pumpkins looking for the perfect one, Jameson got a wheelbarrow ride down the street from Myers.

"I was in tears when I showed up today," Troy Jones said. "It was overwhelming."

Tucked inside a yellow-hooded rain jacket with a grin spanning from ear to ear, Jameson appeared the image of childish glee. Troy said the family hopes the worst is behind them, but with three years of monthly chemo sessions ahead for Jameson, they're not ignorant of the realities they face.

"We realize that no matter how bad we want him to be healthy and stay with us, it will work out like it was meant to be," he said. "Things can change so fast. We feel like things have gone well."

After a moment, he added: "No matter how bad it gets, there's always hope."

But the experience has taught his family one certainty, he said: They have great neighbors.

"It just lets us know that people care, that there are good people in the world. There are people here that we know are in tough circumstances," he said. "We've seen the goodness in people."

UTA moving ahead on bus service

2008-10-06T08:44:00.000-07:00

UTA moving ahead on bus service
Many Eagle Mtn., Saratoga residents support transit plan
By Rodger L. Hardy
Deseret News
Published: October 6, 2008
EAGLE MOUNTAIN — Bringing Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs into the Utah Transit Authority District won't be used as a wedge to get the rest of Utah County in, UTA board President Larry Ellertson said at a Friday public hearing.
However, if voters pass the ballot measure on Nov. 4 to bring the two cities into the district, the county commission will go to work encouraging the Legislature to allow commissioners to bring in the rest of the county.

The public hearing at the Eagle Mountain City Hall was another step toward getting bus service between the two cities and Salt Lake City.

A quarter-cent sales tax will be assessed to subsidize the service if approved. UTA will then begin express bus service twice daily, possibly by April, after an interlocal agreement gains approval between the UTA and the two cities.

Several residents said they are already paying the tax when they shop outside of Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs in towns that have the service.

The Mountainland Association of Governments is offering the two cities $200,000 a year in federal grant money for the next three years to help establish the route. By then, a link to a new FrontRunner commuter station at Thanksgiving Point should be in operation, boosting the service, UTA attorney Bruce T. Jones said.

Most residents at the hearing supported the plan for the two cities to join the district, so the UTA board agreed to move forward by consensus. A comment period continues for 30 days.

However, two residents dissented, with one noting that all residents will have to pay for it if the ballot measure passes, but not all will use it.

"That is a socialistic concept, and I won't support it," one said.

Another resident compared the situation to school taxes. She said she has no children in school but pays for schools anyway through her property taxes and is OK with that.

Brandon Clark of Saratoga Springs said he doubted 25 percent of the residents would use the bus service. But Ellertson said those who don't use it will still benefit with reduced congestion.

Lehi, which gets the brunt of the Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain traffic, could see traffic drop by some 15 percent, Jones said.

"Not a majority will ride it, (but it) is an investment in the future," Ellertson said.

Other residents said the bus service now in place to Salt Lake City is overcrowded.

Another worried that an express bus service may bring criminal activity to Eagle Mountain, but board member Keith Bartholomew responded, "If they're going to steal your DVD player, they're not going to wait for the bus."

HIgh arsenic levels may shut down hot springs pool

2008-10-04T21:05:00.001-07:00

HIgh arsenic levels may shut down hot springs pool

Last Update: 3:22 am

A Saratoga Springs neighborhood may be in danger of losing its hot springs pool because of arsenic levels in the water. The state has proposed a rule that the residents are not happy about

The historic hot springs pool has been around for more than a century and so has the arsenic in the water. Swimmer Mira Menssen says, “We have never been ill from this water so I think it must be ok.”

But a proposed state law would require geothermal pools like the one in Saratoga Springs to meet drinking water standards of ten parts per billion of arsenic. Health officials claim this pool has three to four times that amount. Terry Beebe says, “Their arsenic level right now is somewhere between 30 and 40 parts per billion.”

Part of the proposed law reads, "The rule allows local health departments to require operators to admit fewer bathers in a pool if bacterial levels are consistently high and requires the closing of a pool if maximum levels are exceeded." HOA board member Larry Johnson says the trace amounts of arsenic has never posed a health risk, “It's not been proven to be harmful unless you drink gallons of it and we don't use this water for drinking, just for bathing.”

The homeowners association is fighting against the proposed law - doing their own assessment. They have hired technicians to test samples of the pool water. Those results should be back within the next few days. While they wait, just the thought of having this pool closed for good is upsetting. Resident Lewis Church says, “This is the focal point of our whole community.” It may be enough for them to pack their bags since it's the pool that brought them here in the first place. Johnson says, “If you loose your pool it's like somebody taking your backyard away.”

Right now, the pool is chlorinated and has natural circulation because of how the mineral water is pumped in. If this proposed law is passed it could cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars for annual testing, flow meters, and permits.

Public comment on this proposal is open until October 15th. If passed, the law will be enacted on October 22nd.

Who is responsible for Amanda Lane?

2008-10-03T07:58:00.000-07:00

Who is responsible for Amanda Lane?
Lance Madigan - North County Staff
Greg Hill and his family moved onto Amanda Lane in Saratoga Springs in June 2004. At the time, he said he didn't realize that it was a private street. Now exact ownership and responsibility for much-needed repairs are in question.

According to Hill, when the road started to sink, buckle, break up, and even become impassable in places, he and several other residents went to their Home Owners Association to ask them to fix Amanda Lane.
"We met with them, and we were told it wasn't their responsibility but the city's responsibility," said Hill.

When brought before the Saratoga Springs City Council on Sept. 23 by Hill and several other residents, the city explained that Amanda Lane was a private road. Mark Edwards, Saratoga Springs Public Works director, explained that the city's role in a private street such as Amanda Lane was to accept plans for construction plus 110 percent of construction cost from the developer.

Upon completion, the city would inspect it -- or have a representative inspect it -- to make certain it was properly constructed and that all appropriate improvements were made.

At the time of completion, Amanda Lane was passed without issue and most of the bond was returned to the developer, Tom Shippen. Normally, 10-12 percent of construction costs are kept as a warranty, according to Edwards. In the case of Amanda Lane, it amounted to about $10,000.

But after two years, the road literally fell apart. Sink holes had formed, water intruded into the substructure, soils had collapsed, and still other problems making many parts fail and others become impassable.

"Prior to ending of two year warranty period, we gave a punch list to the developer to do improvements or fix defective behavior," Edwards said. "In this case, safe to say the developer saw the repairs exceeded the $10,000 and he basically told us to keep the money."

Ken Leetham, Saratoga Springs city manager, said normally ownership of private roads such as this normally transfer from one owner to another without the city becoming involved. The most common situation is that a road transfers from the developer to the local home owners association. Leetham said that he thinks that should have happened here, but didn't for some reason.

"The city's position is that if you [the HOA] don't own the road, you should own the road," said Leetham. "We [Saratoga Springs] have to accept the road. We don't own a road because somebody slipped a fast one on us or we made a mistake."

Meanwhile, Shippen apparently also left other bills unpaid, such as the taxes on the street. Residents found out literally in the final hours that the street would be put up for auction if the back taxes weren't paid. In a last minute decision, the residents came together to prevent an auction sale of their street.

"As a home owner, if you know the street is up for auction it could have gone who knows where," said Hill. "We had to make a decision to protect ourselves."

Parker asked for specifics of when the street starting failing -- dates that couldn't be provided during last Tuesday's meetings but which city officials and residents felt could be documented. Parker also said the Council and staff would need specifics on ownership to assess who owned the property at what time.

"Responsibility for the road, from what I understand of the situation, lies squarely on Tom Shippen," said the mayor. "However, that source has dried up and blown away."

City staff promised to continue to work with the home owners as well as the HOA to find a resolution to the issue. Shippen was unavailable for comment.

Contact Our State Reps Regarding Shutting Down Pool

2008-10-02T09:01:00.000-07:00

I want to encourage everyone to contact our state reps regarding the attempt to shut down the pool in our city. This pool has been around for a very long time and has been a great attraction for our city. This could have an impact on our city in many ways. Even if you don't life in this community, shutting this pool down could impact the economic development in the city as a whole. I encourage you to contact our state representatives. Our State House Rep is Ken Sumsion. His email address is ksumsion@utah.gov. Our State Senate Rep is Mark Madsen. His email address is mmadsen@utahsenate.org.

Arsenic in geothermal pools becomes issue

2008-10-02T08:44:00.001-07:00

Arsenic in geothermal pools becomes issue

Published: October 2, 2008
SARATOGA SPRINGS (AP) — A set of geothermal pools in Saratoga Springs have been bathing people for a century.
Turns out the pools contain arsenic, and new state regulations could shut it down.
Instead of being alarmed, residents of a private development that took over the pools are outraged that health officials are trying to apply drinking-water standards to the bathing springs.
The limit for arsenic in drinking water is one part per billion, and the pools exceed that by three or four times.
The state is proposing the new rule because many geothermal pools around the state are unable or unwilling to comply with the public pool standards requiring chlorination.

Mountain View Corridor will be built in phases, new statement says

2008-10-01T07:57:00.001-07:00

Mountain View Corridor will be built in phases, new statement says
By Laura Hancock
Deseret News
Published: October 1, 2008
A newly released environmental impact statement shows the Mountain View Corridor will be built in phases and the highway will initially have two lanes in each direction before expanding to four lanes in each direction.
The Utah Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration released the final statement Friday. The public can view it through Oct. 26 at local libraries or at www.udot.utah.gov/mountainview. The most recent draft statement was available three months ago, and the public, including environmental groups, commented on it.

Cameron Cova, co-founder of Utah Moms for Clean Air, was happy with the changes made in the final statement. "For our membership, it was eight lanes being so close to those schools without any real ways to mitigate against those pollution concerns," she said.

The final statement provides money for air filters along the corridor and offers to purchase land to move an elementary school that is close to the corridor.

UDOT is awaiting a final "record of decision" approval from the Federal Highway Administration before it can begin building the highway, which will span from 2100 North in Lehi to I-80 in Salt Lake City. In western Salt Lake County, the highway runs along 5800 West. Originally the corridor did not have any public transportation but now there are plans for a designated rapid-transit bus lane.

"Then we'll wait to see where the funding is," UDOT spokesman Nile Easton said. "And as we get the funding, we can start building."

The project is estimated to cost $3 billion. UDOT has $330 million to begin building. "We're still trying to see which piece will be built first. ... Whether it's 2100 North in Lehi or the piece in Sandy, we're still working through those things," Easton said.

Proposed rule could close pools for arsenic

2008-10-01T07:51:00.000-07:00

Proposed rule could close pools for arsenic
Caleb Warnock - DAILY HERALD
A Saratoga Springs neighborhood appears to be in danger of losing its historic hot springs pools.

A proposed state law would require geothermal pools to meet state drinking water standards of one part per billion of arsenic, said Jason Garrett of the Utah County Health Department. The Saratoga Springs pools test at three or four times that level. The pools, located at 625 S. Saratoga Drive, are owned by a private development.

A public comment period on the proposed rule ends on Oct. 15.

"It is just an outrage," said Larry Johnson, a board member of the homeowners association that runs the pools. "It is just bureaucratic oversight. It's been here 100 years."

The arsenic is naturally occurring, and there was no concern until the state decided to change its rules, Johnson said. The board has submitted an official appeal to the state.

Debra Woods Hamilton says she swims in the pools three times a week. The pools use only water from natural hot springs and are open year-round.

"I am very distressed to think that our pool may be closed down due to the changes in this new rule," Hamilton wrote in a recent letter to state Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Eagle Mountain. "I love swimming in this outdoor pool year round in this glorious setting. It is truly a one of a kind landmark of Utah. I implore you to do what is within your power to keep our lovely pool open."

Hamilton said the historic pool has been used by residents for more than a century "with no instance of arsenic poisoning or other related illnesses" and that water in the pool naturally turns over more than three times a day because of circulation from the hot springs. Residents who don't want to use it don't have to.

"Many homeowners bought their property here specifically because of the pool," Hamilton said. "Having access to that pool year-round is a major factor impacting property values and the marketability of our homes here in Saratoga Springs. The loss in quality of life and the value of our homes would be greatly impacted by this change."

Retrofitting the pool to make it a conventional swimming pool would be too costly, she said.

"In this soft housing market, the last thing we need is to lose one of the greatest assets we have here in Saratoga Springs," she said.

Utah County Health Department officials agreed that arsenic removal can be prohibitively expensive.

The state is proposing the new rule because many geothermal pools around the state are either unable or unwilling to comply with the public pool standards requiring chlorination, which geothermal pools are now subject to, said Garrett.

"In some ways this rule is meant to make life easier for them by allowing for [water] turn-over to be their treatment rather than chlorination," Garrett said.

The arsenic rule in particular is being proposed because of concerns about the effect of the poison over long-term exposure, he said.

Both health and community officials said the arsenic is in no way tied to the city's drinking water, and residents should not confuse one with the other.

"We can say with confidence, [the drinking water] has been tested and meets the standards," Garrett said.

Because the proposal is simply that, and not a law, there are no immediate plans to close the hot springs pools, health officials said. They also stressed that the proposal is a state and not a county proposal.

According to the proposed rule, called R392-303: Public Geothermal Pools and Bathing Places, there are about eight geothermal facilities in Utah that could be affected by the rule. If enacted on Oct. 22, the rule could cost those facilities from $600 to $2,500 annually for testing, flow meters and permits.

Public comment on the proposal will be accepted until Oct. 15. Comments can be e-mailed to rmarsden@utah.govThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , made by phone to 801-538-6191 or mailed to 288 N. 1460 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116-3231.

Homeowners in Saratoga Springs worry about flooding

2008-09-29T20:03:00.000-07:00

Homeowners in Saratoga Springs worry about flooding
Reported by: Buddy Blankenfeld
Last Update: 8:50 pm

SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah (ABC 4 News) - People in one Saratoga Springs neighborhood worry about flooding, they fear a canal will overflow and water intended for irrigation will flood their homes.

The homes on the western edge of the Sunrise Meadows subdivision near 850 North Red Fox Lane came close this weekend. Home owner Jessi Johnson was just glad he was home to fight the flood water. “We were able to stop it before it got in anybody's homes this time.” Johnson and his neighbor Dave Blakely got out the shovels and diverted the river. “We shoveled like mad to slow it down,” said Blakely.

The water came from a clogged canal about 50 yards in back of their homes. Turns out the culprit in this case was grass clippings from the neighborhood that ended up blocking a grate.

Neighbors say the ditch is too overgrown with foliage and debris and it will flood again if something isn't done. We spoke to Saratoga Spring's City Manager---he agrees. “It appears there hasn't been a whole lot of maintenance done on the canal for some time.”

We also spoke to director Steve Holbrook of Welby-Jacob, the company that maintains the canal. He said they plan to dredge out the debris and clear away the foliage next spring, since there are only ten days left in the irrigation season, but neighbors are lobbying for a more fail-safe solution. “It wouldn't take much to put a pipe in it. It's just a matter of people agreeing,” said Jessi Johnson.

The developer piped in the canal just 400 feet from Johnson’s neighborhood because it was on the Sunrise Meadows subdivision property. The open canal behind Johnson's home is on private property so no one is stepping up to pay for such an operation. “We're talking a small dollar value compared to one of these houses if it goes down,’ said Dave Blakely.

City Manager Ken Leetham told ABC 4 he will meet with the canal company to resolve this issue. “We hope there are several solutions we don't want to leave any neighborhood with potential flooding that could damage residents.”

Another issue; the bankrupt developer was supposed to install a fence against the canal. Home owners like Johnson are worried children could end up in the two feet deep water. Leetham is also looking into resolving that matter. We will keep you posted on the results.

If Congress passes bailout, interest on Saratoga water bonds could fall

2008-09-29T10:09:00.001-07:00

If Congress passes bailout, interest on Saratoga water bonds could fall

By Rodger L. Hardy
Deseret News
Published: September 29, 2008
SARATOGA SPRINGS — If Congress passes the $700 billion federal bailout bill, interest rates could drop on secondary water revenue bonds under consideration by the City Council.
The council has adopted a resolution to issue $2.4 million in water-revenue bonds for the development of secondary water systems on the south end of the city between Redwood Road and Utah Lake.
The bonds mature in 25 years and could carry an interest rate as high as 7.5 percent, but city accountant Chris Pavia is expecting the rate to be closer to 5 percent or 6 percent or even lower.
"Seven-and-a-half percent is really high. If the bailout passes, it may go lower," he said. "The bonds are repaid with impact fees so there isn't much risk associated with these bonds."
A public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14 for residents to discuss the economic impact of the bonds on their property with the council. The hearing begins at 7 p.m. in City Hall.
The bonds more directly affect developers, city recorder Lori Yates said.
Future subdivisions are already laid out with some further advanced than others, Pavia said. The bonds will finance the secondary water systems for those homes. When builders pay the $1,800 impact fee for secondary water for each home they build that money goes toward paying back the bonds, Pavia said.

Utah County, UTA weigh service

2008-09-29T10:05:00.000-07:00

Utah County, UTA weigh service

All cities should be included in district, commissioners say

By Rodger L. Hardy
Deseret News
Published: September 29, 2008
A bid to annex two northern Utah County communities into the Utah Transit Authority for bus service could be expanded to involve all of the county.
Both Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain have requested district admission, but UTA trustee Terry Deihl wants Utah County commissioners to pursue legislation in the 2009 legislative session that would bring in all of Utah County with a vote of the commission.
That was one of the terms that he asked be included in an interlocal agreement as an addition to trustee Keith Bartholomew's motion that the UTA board hold a public hearing as a step toward annexing the two north Utah County cities into the district.
The motion passed unanimously with these additional conditions:
• Both cities must annex.
• Congestion mitigation and air quality funding must be available.
• Minimum sales tax revenues must be available to continue the route after the CMAQ funding period.
• No commitment is promised for continued services after the CMAQ funding period. Services beyond the CMAQ funding period would be up to the UTA board, as is the case with the rest of the transit district.
• As an alternative, the board would consider providing the express bus service now without annexation, based on the air quality funding, and make an annexation decision later.
• Because it is difficult to cancel a route after three years even if tax revenues fail to justify its continuation, UTA could consider asking Utah County to guarantee sales tax revenues.
• As has occurred with other annexations, Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain would agree that all sales tax revenues be commingled with other UTA income, which would be pledged against bonds for projects throughout the transit district.
UTA would provide express bus services for both Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs to and from downtown Salt Lake City, northbound in the morning and southbound in the evening through the end of 2011 once a final agreement is reached.
The service would likely switch to a connector service in 2012, taking passengers to a planned commuter rail service at Thanksgiving Point, Deihl said. Ground has already been broken for the terminal.
The public hearing is scheduled for Friday, 7 p.m., in the Eagle Mountain City Hall.
Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs voters decide Nov. 4 whether they want to raise sales taxes to pay for the express bus service to Salt Lake City.
If it passes, the city's sales tax will go up a quarter cent.

Cuts may delay big road projects

2008-09-26T08:00:00.001-07:00

Cuts may delay big road projects
By Brandon Loomis
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 09/26/2008 01:34:05 AM MDT

Related
Utah legislative special session
Sep 26:
Utah budget: Lawmakers must find a way to balance a $354 million shortfall
Human services may be pared for hundreds
Medicaid in Utah may lose millions
Colleges hit hard by proposed budget cuts; public schools protected, for now
Sep 25:
Public schools OK this year, worry about cuts to come
Tuition aid for Guard members spared from cuts - for now
The Utah Department of Transportation will have to slash $35 million from its Critical Highway Needs Fund this year, state lawmakers agreed Thursday, putting the next phase of Legacy Parkway and other projects at risk.
Additionally, the state will cut $5.5 million in one-time funds it previously allocated to several projects, including a road from Green River to the gas fields of the Uinta Basin, and a study of a potential Utah Lake crossing.
The transportation budget committee had orders to chop, though some feared the economic-development consequences.
UDOT opted to take the money from its $90 million annual Critical Highway Needs list of 27 projects including:
* North Legacy.
* Mountain View corridor planning.
* Bluff Street and Dixie Drive interchanges in St. George.
* 1000 West bypass in Logan.
The Utah Transportation Commission will choose which on the list to delay.

Press Release From Police Department

2008-09-25T11:46:00.001-07:00

Speak against violence-Act for Peace!

Approximately 33 million people in the United States have been a victim of domestic violence at some point in their lives. Domestic violence is one of the most serious issues facing Americans today, yet few people know what they can do to help end it. A solution begins when families and communities start openly discussing the issue. Starting that conversation at home is one way to educate and teach our children that violence is not acceptable. As parents we need to be an example for peace. Violence at home spills over to society and affects all of us in many different levels. The Saratoga Springs Police Department along with the Crime Victim Advocate would like to raise awareness to our community. Domestic Violence Awareness Month was first observed in 1987 and that first year the first national toll-free hotline was begun. As a community we can show our support to end violence by wearing a purple ribbon. Let us not forget the people that have tragically lost their lives to this horrible crime and remember the people who have survived it. We all need to be a voice against domestic violence!
To speak to an advocate anonymously and find out your options please call 801-420-6341

Planners scale back Mountain View freeway to address pollution concerns

2008-09-25T09:23:00.000-07:00

Planners scale back Mountain View freeway to address pollution concerns
By Brandon Loomis
The Salt Lake Tribune

Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated:09/25/2008 06:20:32 AM MDT
Environmentalists are praising Mountain View freeway planners for their responses to air-pollution fears and mass-transit desires in a final environmental study that the state will release Friday.
In fact, it won't be a freeway for years to come, but a limited-access, four-lane expressway that's still governed by streetlights at major intersections. A full eight-lane freeway is expected to cost $3 billion. Officials were not immediately sure Wednesday evening how much the scaled-back approach saves, but so far the Legislature has granted only a few hundred million for initial work.
The plan would build four lanes west of Bangerter Highway from Salt Lake City to Lehi in conjunction with a bus rapid-transit system that runs on curb-separated lanes down the center of 5600 West. It also would put millions into pollution controls at schools along the route.
Utah proposes to spend $3.1 million filtering air inside the schools and $1 million to monitor the air outside. The state also would buy land in West Valley City to relocate the closest school - Hillside Elementary - if school officials decide to move.
"In our ideal world the freeway would have shifted locations entirely, farther away form the schools," Utah Moms for Clean Air co-founder Cameron Cova said. "But given that that location is pretty much a done deal, we're pretty excited about the aggressive approach to air filtration. It's exciting that UDOT responded so well to citizen groups and comments."
That's part of planners' job, Utah Department of Transportation project manager Teri Newell said. Many of the public comments were about air pollution, and the state acted on those.
The state cannot afford to build the full eight-lane proposal anytime soon, and traffic models don't predict it will be necessary at least until after 2015, Newell said. The state still will acquire enough land to build an eight-lane freeway someday.
The expressway won't have access from residential streets, but only at major intersections spaced about a mile and a half apart, Newell said.
The Sierra Club is pleased the plan includes bus rapid transit that will link Salt Lake City International Airport to the three west-valley light-rail lines currently in development by the Utah Transit Authority.
"We still need to keep reading [the study], but we like what we've seen so far," Sierra Club regional representative Marc Heileson said.

Saratoga Springs horse contracts West Nile

2008-09-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

Saratoga Springs horse contracts West Nile
Reported by: Angie Larsen
Last Update: 9/22 6:55 pm

Cisco, horse with West Nile in Saratoga Springs (ABC 4 News)
SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Summer may be over, but mosquito season is not. Fall is one of the worst times of the year for the West Nile Virus and there is a new case in Utah. It's the first case in Saratoga Springs.

This is the time of year people start to let their guard down when it comes to mosquito protection. But a horse owner in Utah County says don't let the cooler weather give you a false sense of security.

17 days ago, Cisco, a beautiful young horse could not even walk. “He kept falling and was all wobbly,” recalls Cisco’s owner Carmen Stansell.

Stansell knew something was terribly wrong with her horse. “And it was too painful to watch and so we got the vet out here as fast as we could,” she expresses with tears in her eyes.

The veterinarian told Stansell that Cisco had severe nerve damage but wouldn't be able to make a clear diagnosis until the blood test came back. “But we held on, we didn't want to make a decision to put him down or let him go until I knew what it is,” states Stansell.

For 14 days, Stansell juggled work, seven grandkids and even receiving her u-s citizenship with caring night and day for a sick horse.

“I do love him, I bonded with him. He's a very sweet horse. He's my buddy,” says Stansell.

On Friday, Stansell found out her buddy has West Nile.

Cisco is the fourth horse case reported this year.

In 2007, there were 70 human West Nile cases, with two deaths. There were also 18 horses affected.

So far this year there have been 20 human cases with no deaths and four horses.

Stansell’s advice for other horse owners is to check up on them often and watch for symptoms of West Nile. She explains, “If you have a healthy horse and give him what he needs, a horse has a better chance to survive with a strong immune system. You can survive.”

Cisco will most likely make a full recovery in about six months.

After the rain Monday - it's very important to get rid of any standing water that may have collected. Also wear insect repellent with "Deet", Picaridin or oil of lemon or eucalyptus in it. - when outside from dusk to dawn. And wear long-sleeved shirts and pants during those hours as well.

The C.D.C. says it's extremely rare for house pets such as cats and dogs to get infected. Even if they do, they don't have symptoms.

About eighty percent of people who have West Nile have no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they develop up to fourteen days after a mosquito bite.

They include fever, tiredness, headache, body aches and occasionally a skin rash and swollen lymph nodes.
They usually last up to six days for a mild infection. Severe infections can last from weeks to months. The CDC's web page has a question and answer page with everything you need to know (see link above).

UTA looks to force tax district hold-outs

2008-09-20T07:43:00.001-07:00

UTA looks to force tax district hold-outs
Caleb Warnock - DAILY HERALD

The Utah Transit Authority voted Friday to use Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs as a wedge to force the rest of the county to join the UTA tax district.
The vote is a political power play and means, at least on paper, that unless county commissioners agree to lobby the Legislature for the power to vote as a commission on a countywide transit tax district, Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs could be denied express bus service.

Residents of Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs will vote on the proposal, which includes a quarter-cent sales tax increase, in November. Residents will be able to comment on the express bus proposal at a 7 p.m. meeting on Oct. 3 at Eagle Mountain City Hall.

Most of Utah County has joined the transit tax district in city-by-city votes over the years, a fact that has long been a source of irritation to UTA because other counties have joined as whole counties, ensuring more tax money faster for the agency.

Utah County Commissioner Larry Ellertson is a member of the UTA board and was part of the unanimous vote on Friday. In a Daily Herald interview, he said most of Utah County already belongs to the transit tax district, which requires a quarter-cent sales tax increase for members. Goshen, Genola and Santaquin are the last holdouts, he said, "and they have indicated a desire [to join]. ... I am not aware of any huge objection to it."

So why force the issue, rather than letting those cities volunteer to join the district as Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs have done?

Because in those cities, the issue "just has not brought itself about yet," Ellertson said.

"Good, that will save us having to put it to a vote," said Santaquin Mayor James DeGraffenried when told about Friday's UTA vote.

DeGraffenried said Santaquin was considering voluntarily joining the transit district anyway next year because the city would like to have bus service for its senior citizens and others who need it.

Ellertson said Genola and Goshen would be little affected by the move because, with limited services in their cities, residents already shop in areas where they are subject to the transit tax. Mayors from Genola and Goshen could not be reached immediately for comment.

Officials from both Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs told the Daily Herald they were not concerned about UTA's caveat.

"I am aware that there has been a move afoot for quite some time to get the whole county into the district at once," said Saratoga Springs Mayor Tim Parker.

Eagle Mountain "is comfortable that things are moving forward as scheduled and we are looking forward to a public meeting for Eagle Mountain residents on Oct. 3," said city spokeswoman Linda Peterson.

Even though Friday's vote of the UTA board was unanimous, there was some trepidation about the move.

"I am concerned about if we can bind Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs," said board member Michelle Baguley, who represents Salt Lake County. "Maybe we should make the language fuzzier so they just have to encourage them [the county]."

"I think [the vote] is probably a good move, except when you go west of Santaquin into Goshen, Genola and Elberta," said Burtis Bills, who is a UTA board member and also the mayor of Payson. "I don't know if there are people enough there to support any kind of bus service. Are we opening a can of worms?"

Board members said district members are not guaranteed bus service, even though they have to pay the increased tax.

Terry Diehl, a board member who represents Salt Lake County, said the board should use Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs as leverage to push county commissioners toward converting the entire county into transit district members.

If approved by voters at the polls this fall, the express bus agreement would mean UTA would provide two northbound morning buses and two southbound evening buses through the end of 2011 using federal grant money to pay for the service.

In 2012, after the grant money has expired, UTA would provide connector service taking passengers throughout the day to the commuter rail station at Thanksgiving Point.¬

Friday's vote specified that one of UTA's "minimum terms" for service to Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs is that Utah County "would agree to pursue legislation in the next session that would bring the entire county into the transit district upon a vote of the County Commission."

In addition, "because it is difficult to remove services after three years even if tax revenues do not justify continued services, UTA could consider asking Utah County to provide a guaranty, possibly from [other transportation sales tax funds], of a certain level of sales tax revenues."

City Council Agenda September 23, 2008

2008-09-19T18:43:00.000-07:00

CITY COUNCIL AGENDA

WORK SESSION – Commencing at 6:30 p.m.

1. Discussion on the relocation of the Sunrise Meadows restrooms.
2. Reports:
a. Mayor
b. City Council Members
c. Staff
3. Adjourn to Policy Session

POLICY SESSION – Commencing at 7:00 p.m.

• Call to Order.
• Roll Call.
• Invocation / Reverence.
• Pledge of Allegiance.
• Public Input, Awards or Recognitions – 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. Consideration for Adoption of a Resolution of the Council of the City of Saratoga Springs, Utah, (the “Issuer”), authorizing the issuance and sale of not more than $2,400,000 aggregate principal amount of secondary water revenue bonds, series 2008 of the issuer; fixing the maximum aggregate principal amount of the series 2008 bonds, the maximum number of years over which the series 2008 bonds may mature, the maximum interest rate which the series 2008 bonds may bear, and the maximum discount from par at which the series 2008 bonds may be sold; providing for the publication of a notice of public hearing and bonds to be issued; providing for the running of a contest period; and related matters.
2. Harvest Village-Architectural clarification for the Site Plan located at the northeast corner of Harvest Hills Boulevard and Harvest Moon Drive, Harvest Development LLC, owner; Steve Anderson, applicant.
3. Consent Calendar:
a. Warrant Register.
b. Final Warranty Release for Harbor Bay Phase 5 Amended.
4. Motion to enter into closed session for the purpose of discussion litigation matters, acquisition of real property or authorized personnel matters.
5. Approval of water right purchase agreements with WW Ranches.
6. Action from closed session, if any.
7. Adjournment.

Prison guard ordered to trial for taking lost wallet

2008-09-19T18:42:00.000-07:00

Prison guard ordered to trial for taking lost wallet
By Kristin Owens
Special to The Tribune

Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated:09/19/2008 07:06:56 PM MDT
Posted: 6:47 PM- AMERICAN FORK - A Utah State Prison guard was ordered Friday to stand trial for taking a lost wallet out of a Saratoga Springs grocery store and waiting four days to return the $1,142 inside.
A Saratoga Springs detective testified during the preliminary hearing that he watched surveillance video that showed Sgt. Rick J. Nichols, 49, walk into the grocery store, pick up the forgotten wallet and walk out in a matter of seven seconds.
The wallet was reported missing the next day, June 3, by a woman who told police it had contained cash to pay for a recent surgery. The wallet and all its contents, minus the cash, were found in a post office drop box the same day.
Police had identified Nichols as the man in the video and were ready to contact him for an interview when Nichols called the police station himself the morning of June 6, said Detective Bruce Champagne.
Nichols returned the cash and was charged with theft of lost or mislaid property, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
Nichols' attorney argued that his client never intended to keep the cash and only waited to turn it in because he worked several graveyard shifts and spent a day home sick.
Judge David Mortensen ruled that there was probable cause to believe Nichols could have taken the wallet with the intent to keep it and later changed his mind, possibly realizing there would be security footage.
"Leaving the store with the wallet without taking it to management alone is unreasonable," said Mortensen. "And . . . why couldn't he call from work saying, 'Look, I found this'? There's so many opportunities."
Nichols said he did not go to store management with the wallet because he was worried he would be blamed if any cash were missing, Champagne said.
There is no evidence that Nichols was tipped off by another officer that he was suspected of the theft, said prosecutor Alex Ludlow.

Agenda for UTA regarding service to Saratoga Springs

2008-09-19T08:52:00.002-07:00

Thursday, September 18, 2008

UTA Board Meeting Announcments

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AGENDA OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE

BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UTAH TRANSIT AUTHORITY

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given of the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Utah Transit Authority at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 24, 2008, in the Board Room of the Administration Building at the Meadowbrook Facility located at 3600 South 700 West, Salt Lake City, Utah, with the following agenda.

1. Welcome.

- Larry Ellertson

2. Public Comment (10 Minutes).

- Larry Ellertson

(The Board of Trustees invites brief comments or questions from the public during regularly scheduled Board meetings. Please note, in order to be considerate of everyone attending the meeting and to more closely follow the published agenda times, public comments will be limited to two minutes per person per item. A spokesperson who has been asked by a group to summarize their comments may be allowed five minutes to speak.)

3. Resolutions

a. Resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Utah Transit Authority Amending the Records Access and Management Policy

--Michelle Baguley

b. Resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Utah Transit Authority Adopting an Interlocal Agreement Between Utah Transit Authority and Midvale City

--Terry C. Diehl

4. President’s Report

-- Larry Ellertson

5. General Manager’s Report.

- John M. Inglish

6. General Counsel’s Report.

– Bruce T. Jones

7. Closed Session.

a. Strategy Session to Discuss the Purchase, Exchange or Lease of Real Property when Public Discussion would Prevent the Public Body from Completing the Transaction on the Best Possible Terms.

b. Strategy Session to Discuss the Character, Professional Competence, or Physical or Mental Health of an Individual.

c. Strategy Session to Discuss On-going and/or Potential Litigation.

8. Action Taken Regarding Matters Discussed in Closed Session.

– Larry Ellertson

9. Other Business.

10. Consent.

a. Approval of Financial Statements of June 30 and July 31, 2008.

b. Approval of Minutes of Board Meeting of July 30, 2008.

11. Adjournment.

AGENDA OF THE SPECIAL MEETING

OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UTAH TRANSIT AUTHORITY

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given of the special telephonic meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Utah Transit Authority at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, September 19, 2008, in the Board Rooms of the Administration Building at the Meadowbrook Facility located at 3600 South 700 West, Salt Lake City, Utah, with the following agenda.

Discussion Item: Proposed Annexation of Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain into the Transit District.

This Notice is being posted in compliance with the Open Meetings Act and in anticipation of full Board attendance. There will be no public comment period.