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Sentinel News Staff North Ogden City Council – January 12, 26 & February 9, 2010
By Helen Taylor and George Parsons
New Mayor Harris along with 2 new Council Members, Wade Bigler and Brent Taylor, effected a smooth transition from outgoing Mayor Harrop and Council Member Jed Musgrave, who were honored by the city staff and local citizens for their many years of service.
Subdivision Progress: “Valley View” needs some improvements by the developer and Pine View Water before any more lots are able to access secondary water. The foreclosed “Cove at Willow Springs” was granted a 12- month extension while Farr West Bank searches for a new buyer. The Council issued their final acceptance of “Silver Spring Phases 4 & 6” upon the recommendation of City Planner Craig Barker, City Planner.
Dave Norquist, Community Services Director, is pursing every avenue to contain the costly Federal Mandate on pool drain system safety improvements, enacted by Congress after Senator James Baker’s grand-daughter, Virginia, drowned in a spa in 2002. The Council approved an initial request of $26,000 on this mandated, but unfunded expense.
Fred Philpot, of Louis, Young, Robertson & Burningham Associates, reported on City License Fees, recommending a decrease in the initial application fee from $100 to $82 while keeping the current renewal fee of $64. However, they stated the City may be losing money on disproportionate service costs that could be passed on to businesses. Council Member Bigler responded that North Ogden businesses are an asset to the City, and Council Member Harris indicated her concern on moving too quickly to raise fees that would “discourage our business community at this time.” She also expressed her desire to have solid data from them to justify any future changes to the City License Fee structure.
Mr. Philpot also proposed a “Good Landlord Program”. Citizen, Wayne Allen, closed public comments by stating “The more laws we make, the more rights we lose.” He is a participant in the Ogden program and felt it has only cost landlords money and had not provided much else other than (required) class-room time. Annette Spendlove, City Recorder, commented that one of the city’s biggest problems is with landlords being stuck with unpaid tenant utility bills. Allen responded that Ogden’s program requires costly background checks and still does not guarantee tenant payment. The Council will review the study, together with the new City budget at the Feb 26th budget retreat to which the public is(was) invited. |