Hyde Park says no on county-wide library

By Mark Vuong

February 13, 2009 | HYDE PARK -- The City Council opposed the plan of a county-wide library by a 5-0 vote on Wednesday night.

Under the current proposal, residents of Hyde Park would have to pay $38 per year, including start-up costs.

The council also agreed to not pay Logan City for its service in emptying green waste bins this spring. The members talked about burning the green waste, but complaints from business owners about the smell wafting into their buildings and getting on their clothes made the council think twice.

"I knew we were burning it away from the residential area, but I didn't even think about the commercial area," Mayor David Kooyman said.

Kooyman also said burning the waste would defeat the purpose of being green.

The graffiti ordinance was brought up at the meeting, however, council members will not vote whether to pass it until after a public hearing to be held Feb. 25. With the current ordinance parents of the perpetrator will be charged with a misdemeanor if the offense is repeated.

Councilman Brent Kelly showed concern, saying, "If the parent wasn't an accomplice I think that is harsh."

Kelly also doesn't agree with the ordinance on charging the victim with an infraction if the graffiti isn't cleaned up within five days of notification.

"I don't feel that it's right to charge a victim with a crime when they didn't do it," Kelly said.

Kooyman backed up the ordinance, saying it acts as an incentive for the owner to clean it up.

North Park Police Sgt. John Italasano said, "The problem with graffiti is that if it's left up for a long time it just gets worse and worse."

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