Hyrum
postpones vote on funding mosquito abatement district
By Emma Tippetts
February 18, 2005 | HYRUM -- The City
Council met Thursday and discussed the needs of funding
for the Cache Mosquito Abatement District. Each member
of the district is asking to give a grant of one dollar
per citizen to the district for the fund. Each of the
surrounding areas in Cache County are members of the
district except for Logan, Mendon and Trenton.
The mosquito abatement district was created last year
and will be funded by taxes. The problem is the tax
money won't be available until the end of the year,
abatement must start in April to be effective. The start
up fund will help with short term expenses such as mailings,
postage, space rentals and equipment.
Councilman Tom Labay said the budget is about $160,000,
but that money will come at the end of the year, so
it will take a few years to catch up.
"Our budget is small enough we were thinking of issuing
fly swatters," Labay said.
Mayor Gordon Olsen said this issue is an important
one and needs to be addressed.
"Besides being unpleasant, [the mosquitoes] provide
health risks," he said.
Labay, who is a member of the mosquito abatement district,
said because had a conflict of interest he would not
be able to vote. There was not a quorum available, so
no vote was taken on the issue. It was decided the issue
needed more recommendations and public input.
The council also discussed a city ordinance clarifying
parking restrictions for recreation vehicles, agricultural
equipment and supplies, semi-trucks and trailers on
public property.
"This is a complex issue, and a significant issue
that affects every block," Councilman Brent Jensen said,
the ordinance must be planned and considered. A motion
was made for the council to wait for the general planning
meeting to move any further on the issue.
The council discussed the annexation of public property,
and the possibility of a moratorium on the issue until
the general plan is revised. Councilman Jensen said
the council is absolutely sovereign when it comes to
annexation, and suggested taking each situation on a
case by case basis rather than a "blanket" moratorium.
No decision was made until the general planning meeting.
An open workshop on the city master plan was planned
for Thursday, Feb. 24.
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