By Brook Cox

NORTH LOGAN -- The City Council voted unanimously Sept. 30 to appoint David Marx to be judge of the justice court.

Marx will finish the remainder of Judge Griffin's term. Griffin retired Sept. 30. The council plans to advertise the job opening in December and make a new appointment in February. Marx said he was very interested in applying for the next term.

Marx told the council before the vote he firmly believes in the judicial system and feels a responsibility to preserve it. He has a degree in computer science and served in the National Guard. He now markets software. He is serving his third year on the Hyde Park bench, and is attending a Legislature-approved program to better educate judges.

He plans to begin work Oct. 6.

The council also discussed the need to make a decision concerning the city's opportunity to buy 50 acres of land in 10 increments of five acres each. The land is south and east of the city, where 2500 North ends at the canal. The land would be used for parks, open space and possibly a cemetery, according to the proposal.

"This is a one-time opportunity," said Mayor Jack Draxler.

The council must exercise this option before Nov. 30, by paying the rest of the earnest money, which is $6,000. The city has already paid $2,000.The closing date would be Jan. 31, 2000, when the city would need $79,500 to pay for the first increment of land. The city's land expenditure budget is not big enough for this cost and the council is thinking of helping pay for the land through an energy use tax.

Jeff Jorgesen, city administrator, said an electricity tax could generate around $80,000 a year, but divided out, it would only cost each household about $50 a year or less than $5 a month. Grants and assistance from the forest service and others are being looked at. Since this issue was not on the agenda, the council plans to vote on it next week.

The council also discussed Wal-Mart's plan to expand to a full-service grocery store and tire lube shop. The building expansion plan is only 15 feet from 1600 North, which would violate a city ordinance stating buildings must be at least 20 feet from the road.

Wal-Mart is the highest sales tax producer in the valley, the council said, and members want to keep the store happy. The council is looking into changing the ordinance or finding another way to comply.

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