Hyde
Park antes up to help mosquito abatement district get
going
By Lexie Kite
March 10, 2005 | HYDE PARK -- Cache Valley's
mosquito abatement district is teaming up with Bear River
Health Department in the fight against mosquitoes and
the use of pesticides, spokesman David Gatherum told the
City Council Tuesday.
"We have every intention of going out on our own with
this organization, but we thought we'd use the health
department to help us gain a better understanding of
what we're up against," Gatherum said. BRHD will not
only help the district gain experience, but they have
the funding necessary for the project to continue, he
said.
However, the health department cannot help fund Cache
Valley's mosquito abatement district until taxes return
in the fall.
"It seems like we're moving along pretty well except
for one slight issue: We don't have any money," he said.
"The health department can't help us until we collect
taxes later this fall. They can only extend us the money
from that point.
"We don't even have money to start a checking account
to cover legal fees," he said. "So our district has
been advised to go to local city councils for funding."
The district has been asking area city councils for
$1 per city resident or $1 per household in city limits,
Gatherum said.
"The money we receive as a city comes from taxes,"
Mayor David Kooyman said. "So I'd be supportive of putting
money into this project if I knew we would be paid back
once taxes were collected in the fall. Otherwise, residents
are being double-taxed."
Kooyman said he would be willing to offer funding
to the organization if it was considered a loan, and
the council would be repaid later this year.
"I think the city ought to be willing to commit $1,000
to the MAD up front with the understanding that we will
be reimbursed when taxes come in," he said.
Councilman James Skidmore said, "I see this project
as an ongoing thing and a little bit of money would
be of good support."
The motion was approved 3-2 with the understanding
that the contracted grant will be reimbursed after taxes
return in the fall.
In other business, the council discussed revisions
to the Planned Unit Development ordinance currently
being written by the planning and zoning commission.
Mark Lynne, planning and zoning chairman, said the commission
has agreed at least one resident of a PUD must be over
age 55. He also said the revised ordinance states PUDs
in Hyde Park must be 1,800 feet apart.
"I like the work done on this ordinance," Kooyman
said. "We are moving toward a document we can all feel
comfortable with. I'd like to see the council hold a
public hearing to see how our citizens feel about this
new PUD document."
The council agreed to hold a public hearing regarding
the revised PUD ordinance at their April 6 meeting.
Skidmore said he has been studying issues regarding
illegally subdividing personal property in the area,
and the problem needed to be discussed with the council.
"We have had a few instances where people were subdividing
their land without permission of the city," he said.
"I researched and found several examples of Utah residents
having to go through a subdivision ordinance when their
land is divided.
"I figure we need to do our part to make sure residents
of Hyde Park are complying with Utah law," he said.
"The bottom line is I think it is prudent for the city
to have such an ordinance for people who subdivide their
property with others."
Councilman Robert Balls disagreed. "Just because someone
else imposes a law, doesn't mean it's a necessary law,"
Balls said.
Councilman Charles Wheeler said it would be in the
best interest of the council to talk to Cache County
about the subdividing concerns. He said the county recorder
needs to oversee when subdivisions are filed and make
sure the proper guidelines are being fulfilled.
"Let's take some time to cool down and review our
options," Kooyman said. "Be prepared to come discuss
these issues in a couple weeks when we have more information."
The council will continue this discussion at its April
20 meeting.
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