By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent

A lengthy public hearing held to discuss a development agreement between Mona City and Riley Park, LLC, drew approximately 70 people and brought several aside comments that the council room needed to be enlarged.
In the end, city council members voted unanimously to approve paying $160,000 for the city's full share of costs to engineer and construct an 8-inch sewer line and an 8-inch culinary water line from the city's existing infrastructure to the project area.
"The real property that is going to be annexed," said Jeff Hearty, council member, "is located near the Interstate 15 exchange as accessed by State Road 54 just outside of the existing city limits."
Many of those attending ended up standing in the adjacent business office.
Emotions also ran high with council person, Molli Graham, defending the council's stand, Tyler Painter leaving the room, and a shouting match erupting just outside the building.
At the last public hearing on this subject, said Mayor Greg Newton, he recused himself because of a possible conflict of interest. That was no longer necessary.
"I am not going to pursue my project (to build a service station)," said Newton. "Therefore, there is no longer a conflict of interest."
Ernie Ferran, resident, wanted to know where the money was coming from to pay the city's share of construction of the infrastructure to the gas station.
He asked if city residents would be required to pay for the addition to the city's water and sewer lines since they are already paying high sewer bills.
"Over the years, the city has put away monies in the capital project fund and the water capital project fund," said Everd Squire, city finance director. "There is enough in those two funds to pay the city's share."
Capital projects funds are used to account for financial resources that are restricted, committed, or assigned to expenditures for the acquisition and construction of major capital facilities.
He said that $100,000 of the $160,000 needed would come from the capital improvement projects fund and $60,000 would come from the water capital projects fund.
Money will still be left in both of those accounts after the needed funds are subtracted.
"The city is in great financial shape," said Squire.
Newton said no more comments about the sewer system would be allowed.
"The sewer system is off the table," said Newton.
"Besides," called out someone in the audience, "the sewer system was built with interest free money. Leave it alone."
Celia Newell pointed out that the city plans to annex the gas station/convenience store. That would bring money to the city and, over time, residents would benefit from the resulting taxes.
"We need a culinary water loop," said Mike Stringer, a former council member.
Currently the city has just one line which comes down Cemetery Lane. The new project will loop the lines so that, if there is a line break, the city will not be without water.
JaNae Kay said she thought it would be great to have a station near the freeway. It would provide a safe place for students on buses coming from events north of Mona to wait for parents to pick them up at night and thought it was good that the city had a developer to help pay for growth.
Frankie Newton, who could not be present, asked that her comment be read because she wondered if the new development would have curb and gutter so there would be a safe place for walkers at roadside.
Gordon Anderson, who once served on the council, said that the state requires the city to expend money set aside for capital projects and a city cannot continue to accumulate those funds.
A city follows budget guidelines set by the state and sets money aside in a fund for capital projects but must also use them.
The new business, he said, would be an asset and would be a financial bonus.
"The best revenue source for the city is retail sales," he said. "This is a win/win situation."
In addition, having a water loop was something the city needed.
Dan Woodland, said that the city wanted slow, controlled growth and a gas station was one way to bring slow and controlled grow to the city.
Craig Weight asked about a city plan for growth.
"We do have areas zoned for commercial growth," said Lynn Ingram, city planning commission chairman. "We are trying to encourage growth at the freeway interchange."
The city was also interested in attracting good, clean businesses that would not pollute the environment. One of those was Barnes Bullets, located across the freeway east of the town. The service station/convenience business would be another.
Tyler Painter expressed his concerns with the city giving Park encouragement by helping pay infrastructure costs, when other developments in the city in the past had not received such consideration. He said he thought city involvement was unfair to taxpayers.
"Why should the city have to pay $160,000?" he asked.
In the past, developers had been required to put in all infrastructure. He additionally was concerned that the annexation being proposed to allow Park to bring his business inside city limits was not in keeping with annexation laws. He thought it was creating an island.
Graham said that the city had been working with their legal counsel and with the Utah League of Cities and Towns and had the approval of both.
"I have an email from Jodi Hoffman (ULCT) that I would be happy to share," said Graham. "She has okayed it."
However, Painter left before he could see her correspondence.
Cody Adams, a former council member, said he was on the council when Barnes Bullets came to the county. He reminded the council of that event.
"Times have changed," said Adams. "Money has changed."
He said that the city had always known that the water line needed to loop and now was a good time to undertake that project while a developer was willing to pay for more than half the costs.
The city will make money from property tax, as well, he said.
Lindsey Eakin is in favor of the project as outlined. If the city did not bring the station into the city, she asked, would the county allow it to build in the county?
Ingram said that would be the case. However, the county was encouraging Mona to work with Park.
Further comments were made by Nathan Neil, Terry Williams, Shane Maler, Wes Dudley, Susan Kay, Eif Hansen, and Blair Kay.
The comments ranged from concerns about gas pump pollution, inspections of the lines, annexation, reasons the county would give up potential tax revenue, and maintaining the grid system.
When asked if the council would favor giving future businesses the same sort of incentive that Park was given, Hearty said that would depend.
If the project would improve the city's infrastructure, increase public safety, give the city sufficient return on their investment and provide residents with a benefit, he would encourage the business developer to come forward and make a proposal.