- Nephi City administrator gives updates on current and recently-completed projects
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By Rebecca Dopp
Times-News Correspondent
Randy McKnight, Nephi City administrator, updated the council on current and recently-completed projects within the community.
In the Parks and Cemeteries department, the city is continuing the expansion of Vine Bluff Cemetery on the northeast side of town. The city crews are developing the northwest corner of the cemetery, where it had not been improved or separated into burial lots. McKnight said that new roads have been constructed, the irrigation system and controls have been installed, and two of the three areas of grass have been planted along with trees.
“We have not done the last section of grass and the on-the-ground survey and layout of the lots in that new section,” he said.
In the southeast corner and southside of the cemetery, a new boundary fence was installed. The street department prepared the pad for the fence. A small section behind Heritage Hills was previously obtained and is now included in the boundary of the cemetery. A survey has been done of that area, but no lots have been laid out and no physical improvements have been made, yet.
An automated irrigation control system for all the cemeteries and parks within the community is about 85% complete. It is a computer-based, radio-controlled system that monitors weather conditions and can automatically adjust watering schedules. They are troubleshooting the control system and should soon finalize that system. This program was paid for with help from a grant from the Central Utah Water Conservancy District on the basis of their ability to more accurately manage the irrigation systems and conserve water.
The downtown tennis court area, East of the county building, has been cleaned up. All the old concrete and debris have been removed and crews are maintaining the weeds until development of the area can take place.
Staff have been working on a renovation design for Canyon View Baseball Park on 100 North. Preliminary versions have been reviewed by the council and once a final design is accepted, funds will be acquired. Depending on the flow of funds for this project, McKnight stated that the ballpark may need to be closed for two seasons.
“You’ll be seeing a near-final design that you will be able to give some approval to and then in the budget process decide how quickly we can get started on that renovation,” he said.
Council member Brent Bowles asked about the hole around the water main at the ball field. McKnight said that after Memorial Day, that would be taken care of.
At the Nebo View Baseball Park, north of Nebo View Elementary, the city has acquired handheld controllers that will allow the scoreboard to be controlled from the field. They have had some technical problems with one of the scoreboards that should be resolved quickly.
Also, the Pony League field will finally have lights. They have been ordered, but will not arrive in time for this season.
In the water department, the city is currently restoring the interior of the silver water tank. McKnight said they are on schedule and should be done by the first week of June. One of the issues that arose was whether the original paint was lead-based. Tests showed that it was not. They also did a thickness test on the floor of the tank to check for corrosion, and there is apparently no problems.
The Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) at the airport has now been completed and is now online. The FFA did an inspection and tested and calibrated the system to make sure it was accurate. The way the information is made available is either by a telephone number where pilots can hear a computer message with current information or tune their radios to a frequency that broadcasts the same information. Information includes date, time, temperature, dew point, barometric pressure, visibility, density altitude, wind direction and speed, and cloud conditions. City Hall has a receiver and a display that verifies that the system is working and the information is correct.
The city is updating the airport master plan as well. They have also completed painting the city-owned hangar to match the other ones. Other people are in the process of painting their own privately-owned hangars.
The city has copies of the final drainage master plan. Copies have been given to Juab County and all suggestions will be given to the principal consultant, Bowen Collins, and the adjustments will be made and a final plan will be brought before the council.
The cover over the golf course patio has been installed. The city purchased the materials and friends of the golf course installed it. There are some parts of that still to be completed including the wiring underneath and a ceiling.
Nephi City had considerable work to do on all the utilities to service the FiberTek plant south of town.
“Work on the electric service to that facility, on Nephi City’s end, has been completed,” said McKnight. “We’re still working with UMPA and Rocky Mountain Power on the supply lines that come to Nephi over which the electrical power for the plant will be generated.”
FiberTek has a start-up date sometime in July or in early August, McKnight stated. The electrical work that has been done is sufficient to power up the part of the project FiberTek wants to start up with in July or August. As their needs increase, Nephi City will make progress on the lines that come into town to meet their needs.
Renovations at the Old Gym have been completed including new tile in the downstairs and upstairs hallways, remodeling of the upstairs and downstairs restrooms, and in the recreation director’s office. City crews did most of the work with the city budget providing for the materials. Funds also came from the Juab County Special Service District #2.
The Nephi City Swimming Pool will open on Friday, May 29th. The sand filters have been repaired and are holding up. The main circulating pump was replaced so more water is moving through the filters resulting in better quality of the water in the pool. The chlorination equipment has been upgraded and several key drains have been repaired. City crews have been busy painting and fixing the facility.
City recreation has several programs up and running which include girl’s softball, men’s softball, and women’s softball. Sign-ups are now available for men’s baseball, youth soccer, and youth tennis. Fall programs will include co-ed softball, biathlon, youth flag football, and youth volleyball.
City crews still have some water meters to install for the automated meter reading system. Approximately 90% of all the meters have been changed out and the city is optimistic that 98% will be installed by June 30th.
“The equipment that is installed is quite expensive,” said McKnight. “The water meter equipment is located on top of the water meter lid and care should be taken when yard work is being done. If they are damaged by the property owner or by their agents then they will have to be replaced by the property owner.”
Mayor Mark Jones extended his thanks to the city employees for their efforts with these projects.
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