City Manager, Ron Chandler, reported that North Ogden City (NOC) has “received a grant for $2,064.00… presented and approved by the Weber Council of Government.” He added that “this money comes from the $10 fee collected when people register their vehicles.” These funds are for purchasing property for a right of way, and Mayor Richard Harris clarified that “the corridor extends from approximately 1500 North, along the proposed alignment to 3100 North.” Council Member (CM) Brent Taylor recognized the efforts of Mayor Harris and stated, “This has been a long time coming… the mayor has put a lot of work into it for many years.” CM Taylor summarized by saying, “It is a great solution for the City to expand the road.” Mayor Harris added that, “The time is ripe for the City to purchase the land… while the land is raw and costs are down.”
NOC received “an unqualified opinion” from City Auditor Kent Christensen, who stated, “The City’s finances are in A shape… with a couple of areas with operating losses, but there is no significant concern.” He expanded on the losses by saying, “From a net operating perspective, the water fund had a loss of about $200,000, sewer utility has a loss of about $100,000, storm water fund had a loss of about $158,000, and solid waste had a net increase of about $100,000.” Kent explained that “although the numbers were showing operating losses… each fund had an increase of cash during the year. It is primarily due to depreciation. He assured the City council that “you still have some growth in your cash balances… and the city is in good financial state.”
The council discussed the implications on the existing NOC easement for the water line located by the Rice Creek water tanks above the Mason Cove subdivision. Bryan Steele, NOC Finance Director, said “Digis (a wireless signal provider) would like to put the power for the tower (antenna) along that easement.” Ron Chandler was very clear in stating that NOC has “access… but not the ability to grant that easement to others.” CM Wade Bigler was equally clear in saying “Digis will still need to negotiate with the residents.” Ron reinforced that NOC “cannot overstep its boundaries on this.” The council passed the requested Agreement with Digis for a $500 per month lease rate with a built in annual increase of 3.5%. CM Brent Taylor complimented city staff on their work on this agreement saying they did “a good job… in a way that respects the property rights of those owners.”
Progress is being made in the Public Works Committee (PWC) in considering the many options to solve the pressing needs of a new facility for the Public Works Department. CM Cheryl Stoker was concerned that the PWC be allowed to develop their own timeline “objectively and not have so much council input.” She is “hoping there is a way to do some funding that will not cost the City and residents a lot of money… and not have to do bonding on this.” CM Justin Fawson stated that “the public perception of the utility bond (that failed in the election of June 2012)” was that NOC was using this bonding process “because there was no public involvement.” He continued “we need to be very clear… on how the expense hits NOC residents.” CM Bigler added that the PWC “is moving forward… and will be done for the best possible price…. they want to look at every possible option” on behalf of NOC citizens.
