Newton seeks payment for pool permit

By Manette Newbold

November 19, 2005 | NEWTON -- Larry's Pools and Spas didn't pay the Planning Commission for a permit when residents hired them to construct their outdoor swimming pool, the commission discussed yesterday.

Commission Secretary Jenny Richards said residents Travis and Kelli Jones hired the company to construct their pool and gave them money for the permit, but Newton never received it. Now the pool is almost complete, Richards said, but Larry's never paid the bill.

Richards said she was contacted by Larry's before the construction began and Building Inspector John Chase had been to the Jones' and approved the project. The money received for the permit would pay Chase for the inspections and that's why Larry's needs to pay, Richards said.

Marie Bird, head of the commission, asked what should be done now that the pool is almost complete.

Councilman Jed Woodward said in the past if buildings were constructed without a permit, they were taken down. However, since the development is pool and not a building, the commission didn't know what measures to take in justifying this act.

Richards, who said she saw the receipt that showed the Jones' had paid Larry's for the permit, said it wasn't their fault and "it's the contractor that's being crooked."

Richards also said since Larry's is based out of Ogden, they have been hard to contact.

Jeff Watkins, commission member, said now that the pool is almost complete, they are kind of stuck with the situation.

Nothing was decided by the commission on what actions they would be taking with Larry's or the Jones' pool. Larry's was unavailable for comment.

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