Town of Daniel
Town Council Meeting
July 6, 2009
Wasatch County Services building
Room 132
55 South 500 East
Heber City, Utah
5:30 PM
The regularly scheduled meeting was called to order by Mayor Michael Duggin at 5:30 PM
Quorum present: Mayor Mike Duggin, Council members Heather Bateman, Eric Bunker, and Gary Walton. Council member Jon Blotter arrived at 5:35 PM. Recorder Merry Duggin was present to record the minutes.
Members of the public signing as being in attendance: Miguel Alvarado, Darwin McGuire, Ryan Taylor.
1) BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICANTS.
Council member Bunker introduced Miguel Alvarado of Doctor Fix-It, 471 E. Little Sweden Rd., who requested a license for his handyman business which has previously been licensed in Heber City for several years. Mayor Duggin moved to grant a business license to Mr. Alvarado. The motion was seconded by Council member Walton, and the Council voted unanimously to approve the license.
2) CONSIDERATION FOR ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE WASATCH HIGH SCHOOL CENTENNIAL
Mayor Duggin read the resolution in support of the Wasatch High School Centennial which our local school district would like to send to Governor Huntsman to ask him to attend the celebration of the Centennial in August. Council member Bunker moved to accept Resolution 2009-07-06A. The motion was seconded by Council member Walton. There was no discussion, and the Council passed the resolution with a unanimous vote.
3) CONSIDERATION FOR ADOPTION OF THE PARAMETERS RESOLUTION FOR TOWN OF DANIEL WATER REVENUE BONDS, SERIES 2009
The Town Clerk presented to the Council a Certificate of Compliance with Open Meeting Law with respect to this July 6, 2009 meeting. Resolution 2009-07-06B which sets the parameter of the water revenue bond issue at a maximum of $3,180,000 with a maximum of 1% technical assistance fee to be repaid over a maximum of 35 years was read by Recorder Merry Duggin. Mayor Duggin explained to those present that the parameters are set higher than the actual expected bonding figures (as suggested by our bond attorneys) to avoid going through the entire bonding process again if the figures should change during the process.
Mr. Darwin McGuire expressed his strong opposition to the fact that only the water system users will be required to retire the bonds. He felt that a new proposed rate structure might be too high for the users and should be adjusted downward. Mayor Duggin explained that the rates have not yet been set and would be explained fully in a letter mailed to the water users later in July.
Mr. McGuire continued that everyone in the Town of Daniel should be paying for fire protection and not just the water users. Mayor Duggin responded that the Town could not legally tax for fire protection.
Mr. Kim Norris wondered if we could charge for the fire protection when it is used in an emergency situation. He also suggested that though the Town cannot legally tax for the service, the Town could accept donations. Mayor Duggin responded that he believed that the people who would pay off these bonds have not even hooked into the system yet. The improvements financed by the bonds will allow growth and expansion of the water company system and replacement of the aging components before failure occurs.
With no further comments Mayor Duggin informed those present that an additional $312,000 could possibly be granted to Town of Daniel by the Department of Environmental Quality which would bring the total of grants and loans to the Town to approximately $2,800,000. He believed that this is an incredible amount to be granted to such a small town and is the result of a great deal of hard work.
Council member Bunker moved to pass Resolution 2009-07-06B. The motion was seconded by Council member Blotter, and the motion passed by a unanimous vote.
4) APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR JUNE 1, 2009 AND JUNE 25, 2009
Council member Walton moved to accept the minutes of our June 1, 2009 meeting as presented. The motion was seconded by Council member Bateman. The Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes.
Council member Bateman moved to accept the minutes of the closed session of June 1, 2009. The motion was seconded by Council member Bunker. The Council accepted the minutes with a unanimous vote.
Council member Blotter moved to accept the June 25, 2009 minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Council member Walton, and the Council also passed this motion with a unanimous vote.
5) COMMITTEE REPORTS
Planning: Council member Bunker reported that the Planning Commission has requested information on various projects that has not been produced as of this date, and it would move forward when the information is received.
Water Company: Mayor Duggin informed those present that West Daniel Land Association has been invited to address the Council at our meeting scheduled for July 10 at 6 PM. WDLA has not responded to our invitation, but we must wait to see if anyone will appear at this meeting. Council member Blotter reported that he and Mr. Taylor are looking at a new water rate structure with different formulas. Mr. Taylor reported that a tiered rate structure is almost a requirement placed upon us by the Division of Drinking Water. Mayor Duggin noted that it is difficult to find the proper rate structure “the first time around” without more information and that we will be able to change the structure as we see how well it is working.
Recorder’s office: Recorder Merry Duggin reported that she planned to have a tentative budget for the water company and a draft of the letter to be mailed to the water users for the meeting scheduled for July 10 to distribute to the Council.
Weeds: Mayor Duggin reported that we are having some problems with property owners not mowing their own weeds. Wasatch County has proposed an interlocal agreement with Daniel Town that would allow the County to spray and mow problem areas within our town. The land owners would be billed appropriately, and the bill would be attached to their County property taxes. It was decided that we would look into this.
6) ADJOURN
There being no further business Council member Bateman moved to adjourn. Council member Blotter seconded the motion. The Council voted unanimously to adjourn, and Mayor Duggin adjourned the meeting at 6:25 PM.
Merry Duggin,
Recorder