Come one, come all, to the Grand Opening of the North Ogden City (NOC) Public Works Facility on Thursday July 9, 2015. This much debated and controversial facility finally opens 7 months behind schedule.
Mayor Brent Taylor has proposed an addition to monthly NOC utility bills for a “$3.00 utility transportation fee because the $417,000 budgeted for overlay and seal projects does not include money for rebuild or future construction projects.” Citizen Gareld Christensen asks: “Why doesn’t the City use the $475,000 bonus the City receives as a result of the ten cent gas tax increase the City supported and was recently passed by the State Legislature, to cover these costs?” Council Member (CM) James Urry said he wanted to “poll the citizens regarding their preference for funding needed road projects;” which the mayor agreed to, if Mr. Urry “has the Council’s support.” He also suggested an advertisement be made to announce an “open house-type meeting to hear more about the fee proposal.” This new fee is in addition to the $5.16 average monthly utility increase the City Administrator and Finance Director, Bryan Steele, presented to the Council that “the Administration is considering this year.” CM Philip Swanson suggested that the new “street lighting fee ($1.00 of the $5.16 increase) be eliminated to make the transportation fee more attractive.” The Council discussed the fee and concluded they “had not heard complaints from citizens regarding the lack of street lights” and the mayor decided to “solicit public input regarding the proposed fees prior to adoption on the final budget.”
CM Urry pointed out that the “Parks and Recreation Department is not self-sufficient… only generate enough revenue to cover less than 50 percent of their budget” and suggested the Council consider “increasing participation fees to move in the direction of being self-sufficient.” The Council indicated they would “focus on park rental fees for non-resident or private recreation entities.”
Finally, CM Lynn Satterthwaite, pointed out “a decrease in the administrative budget of approximately 31 percent.” The mayor confirmed his observation and stated it was a “result of reduction in salary for an administrative employee.” CM Satterthwaite immediately requested “the money saved be banked rather than reallocated for a different use.” Mayor Taylor confirmed the savings “will remain in the General Fund.”
