HNC Home Page
News Business Arts & Life Sports Opinion Calendar Archive About Us
Happy feet: Toes are only truly happy when you let them out to play. The return of spring has brought out the footwear of freedom, seen here outside the TSC. / Photo by Josh Russell
today's word on
journalism

Friday, April 8, 2005


"Once you have learned how to ask questions, you have learned how to learn."

--Neil Postman, journalism scholar (1931-2003)

USU JCOM NEWS NOTE: THE JCOM Department celebrates the Class of 2005 Friday with JDay, showcasing the best of student work in print and
broadcast journalism, the Web, photo, and public relations. Followed by the annual JCOM Awards Banquet--student awards, 2005-06 scholarship winner, speaker Robert Kirby of the Salt Lake Tribune, all with fine dining. For information or reservations, contact the USU JCOM Department at jcom@cc.usu.edu or 435-797-3292.

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.

NW
DN

Copyright 1997-2005 Utah State University Department of Journalism & Communication, Logan UT 84322, (435) 797-1000
Best viewed 800 x 600.