By Traci Fowler

SMITHFIELD -- Laughter and high spirits were the tone of a meeting between the Smithfield and Hyde Park city councils last Thursday at the Senior Citizens Center in Smithfield. Mayors Dave Kooyman of Hyde Park and Ray Winn of Smithfield, along with their council members, met to discuss several issues concerning the two cities.

"It's wonderful that we have such a good relationship between our two cities," Winn said.

While eating pizza and cookies, the councils talked about roads connecting their cities, development of property, the canal system and the fire department.

Concerns were raised about the canal system losing 50 percent of its water from seepage after it leaves the canyon. The two cities, along with North Logan and Logan, all receive their culinary and secondary water from Logan Canyon.

The Council also discussed commercial zones along U.S. 91. As of now, minimal commercial property exists along much of the stretch of road, leaving nothing but open fields; however, both councils agreed that in order to keep budgets intact, some commercial property will have to be made.

"When we did our master plan, all land along the highway was supposed to be open, but until the sales tax laws change, we'll have to have commercial zones... that's the only way you survive," Mayor Kooyman said.

Concerns were also raised if North Logan and Logan City want to leave open fields along the highway. The Councils suggested all the cities share responsibility in sales tax.

"If they want to leave it open we'll have to be compensated for what we're going to lose," said Smithfield Councilman Preston Watts.

Following talks on U.S. 91, Smithfield City Manager James P.Gass opened up discussion on expansion of the Smithfield Fire Department. Smithfield proposed expanding their fire department into Hyde Park to better serve the Hyde Park residents and make it easier on Smithfield City.

Gass suggested turning a large maintenance shed in Hyde Park into a building for the fire department.

"Since most of the Smithfield Fire Department is staffed by Hyde Park residents, that would also make it easier on them," Gass said.

Two more budget meetings will take place before any decisions will be made concerning the expansion.

NW
TJ

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