By Nancy Heiner

RIVER HEIGHTS - With no debt and a lot of cash, River Heights is in an exceptional position compared with other small towns in the valley.

"You are the only city that I do that has no outstanding debt," accountant Steve Misener told the City Council.

Misener audited River Heights city for the year ending June 30, 1999, and summarized his financial report at the council's Oct. 12 meeting.

Misener audits 12 cities in Cache and Box Elder counties.

River Heights has a $925,000 balance to collect interest on, which helps pay for projects. Another source of revenue is sewer payments. However, costs involved with the new River Heights Elementary School have drained money from the balance. The city paid for consulting fees, a road, and water and sewer lines.

"We've lost about 10 percent of cash reserves by taking on that project," said Misener.

The city has also lost money on water. River Heights has been undercharging its residents and picking up the slack when the county's bill came. The error was discovered in September and residents will soon be charged what it costs the city to pay the county. River Heights picked up a tab of $22,000 in the interim.

"We didn't pick that up in time. Now we have," said Mayor Ralph Degn.

Misener said that some cities, such as Garland, charge twice the $8 to $9 River Heights does.

The council anticipates that in a year or two the city will probably start modeling for a new reservoir, expected to cost $500,000 or more, council member Noel Cooley said. Misener said the city is in a good position to do so.

Misener also commended treasurer Annette Smith. "We ask for anything and it's there before we get off the phone, practically," he said. "And the records truly are easy to follow."

The council unanimously accepted the audit report.

The council also heard from three Summerwild Avenue residents who complained about the rules to obtain a kennel permit. They don't think they're strict enough. The smell and the noise from a dog kennel in the neighborhood bothers them.

Junior Nyman said that when visitors drive up to his house, "they hold their nose when they come in the house. It's unbearable." Nyman also said he hears barking all night.

Felger Johnson, another neighbor, complained that the dogs don't have enough space in the kennel. "It's inhumane," he said.

The council agreed that the kennel policy should be reviewed and Degn said he would go to the house to investigate.

In other business, Mason Palmer and Ronald Miller of Bridger Landscaping, who will be doing on improvements on Hillside Park, requested that the city hire a landscape architect to help design retaining walls.

"We don't have the legal licensure to even place a retaining wall on a piece of paper," Palmer said.

The council decided to hire Chris Sands, who Palmer and Miller suggested. Sands will be paid $50 an hour for a minimum of $100 and a maximum of $500.

The city is paying for the estimated $18,000 in improvements on the park with a grant.

Public works supervisor Kent Parker wasn't at the meeting, so Cooley read his statement. Parker reported that the city is filing a lawsuit against Ron Foster Construction for not installing a promised second meter at the new elementary school.

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