By Jacob Fullmer

October 30, 2006 | NIBLEY -- A couple from Kaysville is working with Nibley City to earn money to treat an illness foreign to Utah. Kieth and Johann Yorgason of Kaysville approached Nibley Planning and Zoning to create a minor subdivision Thursday night. Unknown to the city, the Yorgasons thought they had already created the subdivision.

Kieth Yorgason, who has never been a resident of Nibley, obtained two acres on Hollow Road 10 years ago from his former son-in-law, Robert Barrett. A contract was drafted but no one ever petitioned the city to allow a subdivision of the land.

Now the Yorgasons want to sell the land but the bank won't release the deed until a subdivision is on file with the city. Kieth said they are selling the land to help pay for the treatment of Johann's Lyme disease.

While the illness is more common in the Eastern United States it is being found in an increasingly wide array of locations. The disease was originally diagnosed in Montana 24 years ago but, according to Kieth, Utah still doesn't have a qualified doctor to treat the disease. Along with the costs of regular treatment, Johann flies to California for specialized treatment.

The Yorgasons want to deal with the land as soon as possible but are "astonished" at everything that needs to be done.

"This has been a task for me," Kieth said. "I thought: it will be one meeting and I'm through."

To get approval for a subdivision in Nibley, a preliminary approval of the plat must be gained from the commission first and then from city council. After these two meetings, the Yorgasons will need to get a final approval from both the commission and the council in two separate meetings, a process usually taking four weeks.

Due to the nature of the situation, City Manager Larry Anhder has requested the Nibley City Council consider granting preliminary and final approval at their next meeting so long as the Yorgasons meet conditions given to them Thursday night.

Kieth said City Planner Conley Thompson has been "a good man to work with.

Eyebrows were raised, however, when the council learned who the potential buyer of the land was. According to Kieth, Nathan Zollinger is in the process of buying the two acres adjacent to his property. Zollinger recently finished a process spanning months to get approval for a home on Hollow Road.

"The more you talk, the more things are making sense," said City Councilman Scott Wells, who acts as an advisor to Planning and Zoning.

At city council last week, Zollinger was given approval to build his home but some council members questioned whether he had a proper right-of-way for entrance to his land.

Zollinger, absent from Thursday's meeting, was contacted and said he has a proper right-of-way and is buying the additional land as an investment. Zollinger and city staff have each expressed a desire to help the Yorgasons throughout the process.

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