By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Three women attended Juab County Commission to request
that commissioners begin the process of developing an
industrial growth plan for the county.
Kristie McKay, Deanna Hatch, and Tanya Esplin asked
commissioners, first of all, if there was such a plan, and
secondly, if not, if they would work toward developing a
plan.
"May I implore you to identify areas where industrial
growth may be located in Juab County and to get a plan in
place?" asked McKay.
The Williams Company proposal for location of a terminal
station north east of Nephi was only the first of many such
plans county government would need to deal with in the
future, said Tanya Esplin.
Esplin, Alice Ricks, and Dana Young all met with Nephi
City Council members a week ago and were told the county
planning commission and county commissioners would be the
first to address, through their permitting process, the
terminal facility. However, McKay suggested, the county
needed to have an industrial growth plan.
"I agree with you," said Robert Steele, commissioner. "I
think development of an industrial growth plan needs to be
addressed."
The county master plan does not include an industrial
growth area, he said, although Nephi City does have such a
plan in place.
"So far," said Joseph Bernini, commissioner, "anytime
industrial growth moved into the county it has located near
Nephi. As industrial growth moved in, Nephi moved out
expanding its borders to include the new development."
McKay said, in her opinion, it would be better to cluster
industry together away from the primary residential areas of
the county.
"We have had a citizen request that an industrial growth
zone be established," said Robert Steele, commissioner. "The
next step is to take the request to the planning commission
and see if they are willing to do it.
If the planning commission is willing, then an area would
need to be identified and the proposal would then be open
for public hearings.
Steele sits, as commission representative, on the county
planning commission. "The need for an industrial area in the
county has been brought to the commission's attention and
now the proposal will be taken to the planning
commission."
The decision of where to locate such an industrial area
is dependent on many factors, said Steele. Industry is
dependent on quick access to transportation, likes to locate
near a railroad, and prefers services such as water, sewer,
natural gas, electricity and telephone service.
Some ideas which the planning commission may need to
consider, such as railway access, may not be popular with
local residents. For example, said Steele, if the railroad
corridor west of highway U.S. 91 were to be considered as an
area for industrial growth that may not be popular with
residents of East Juab County.
"It is a good idea to have a place to steer some company
if they came in seeking to develop an industry," said
Steele.
"Has the Williams Company identified any alternate sites
for their proposed terminal station?" asked Esplin.
"We do know that there will be alternate sites," said
Steele. "The person who was ultimately in charge indicated
that he was disgusted with his staff for the site selection
they had made."
"I think the Williams Company will try to work with the
county economic development commission and will also give
us, county commissioners, some opportunities to comment," he
said.
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