By Myrna Trauntvien
TN Correspondent
Each year the council typically reviews the fees charged for various services and this year they increased fees in several areas to prevent the city from earning less for the services than they expended. “Increases in wages and materials raise the cost of providing services over time and it is important to maintain updated fees to keep up with these costs,” said Seth Atkinson, city administrator. “Without fee updates, the costs to provide services end up using tax revenues or fund balances, which erode the ability for the city to maintain other services or provide for capital and equipment needs.” One fee that was added were fees for the city gun range, he said. He said the city staff had done some research and work looking into the fees that could be charged at the gun range. Following that, they had certain fees and services to recommend. “The first is that the gate would work similar to the stand pipe,” said Atkinson. “If the fees are paid, a key is given out for use on the gate at the gun range.” Garbage service would be provided in order to cut down on the amount of litter found at the range. “The gun range is what it is because of hard work by volunteers,” said Glade Nielson, mayor. “We have had volunteer groups and Boy Scouts who have worked to improve the range.” Now it was attracting users from out of the county and that use was becoming so heavy that some locals were kept out. Since it was a city range, he thought people from Nephi, her surrounding neighbor communities and residents of the county should have a break when it came to paying fees. Atkinson said the staff was recommending fees and those collections and those fees would help in capital projects, garbage service and general maintenance. “We recommend $20 per year for residents, those who pay taxes in Nephi City, and $30 per year for Juab County residents,” he said. “We recommend that the fee be $500 per year for non-residents.” “These fees are recommended to be effective July 1 in order to spread the word about the change,” said Atkinson. The range will be locked and the only way to gain access will be to pay the fee and get a key. “Golf fees have not changed since 2017,” said Atkinson. “Since that time, wages and materials costs have increased. In addition, the golf course is now paying for their water usage and those rates have increased over the last four years as well.” The following golf rates are proposed to be increased: green fees for adults for nine holes should be $14 and for 18 Holes, $28. Seniors will pay $12 for nine holes and $24 for 18 holes. For Juniors, green fees, will be nine holes for $7 and 18 Holes for $14. Green fees for a weekend will be nine holes for $14 and 18 holes for $28. The driving range for the small will be $4, driving range for the medium will be $6 for the large $8. Passes for adult for seven days will be $600; passes for seniors for seven days will be $500 and for couples for seven days will be $850. “Solid waste rates have also undergone a review and the rate for additional cans are recommended to be made the same rate as the original can,” said Atkinson. The county landfill will be moving toward a fee based on weight. This would mean that whether the solid waste generates in an original or an additional can, the costs will be the same. “In addition, the city will need to look at a four-year replacement of the garbage truck instead of a five-year replacement schedule due to the number of additional customers being added,” said Atkinson. He said that the fifth year of service, a lot of repairs were being made which would make purchase of a truck more often a better bargain. “The increased fee for additional cans will help to work toward this reduced replacement schedule,” Atkinson said. “This would put the cost of additional cans from $11.60 to $15.10.” The company who provides recycling services for residents, Recyclops, is also raising their rates to $12 per month but will begin to provide services every other week. “They have been coming on the first and third Tuesdays but will now come every other week,” he said. “This is an increase from 24 pickups per year to 26 pickups.” The city also charges an engineering fee on each building permit for surveying services. The charge is $525 on the permit but the costs for these services have increased to $550. “This means that each permit is being subsidized by $25,” said Atkinson. “The staff is recommending that the fee be set administratively based on the cost of the service.” Kent Jones, council member, wondered about putting off adoption of the master fee resolution until the first meeting in March to give people time to hear about it, especially those who did not take the newspaper. “It has been posted on social media,” said Atkinson. “The golfers already know,” said Lisa Brough, city recorder/finance director. Larry Ostler, council member, made the motion to adopt Resolution 02-16-2021, the Master Fee Resolution. Jones made the second and all voted in favor. A second motion, to accept the recycling agreement, was made by Skip Worwood, council member, and was seconded by Ostler. All voted in favor.
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