By Myrna Trauntvein
|Times-News Correspondent
Contrary to the opinion of some residents of the
community, the new sprinkling system at the city-run golf
course is not to make it greener, but to make it more
water-use efficient.
In addition, said Chad Brough, mayor, the council has
made other decisions to benefit the community such as
relocating the police department, expanding the city
library, building a ball-playing complex, and looking to
improve the place council meetings are held.
As for the money being expended on the golf course
sprinkling system, said Brough, it will conserve water.
"We determined that we could save 300,000 to 400,000
gallons of water per night if we installed a new sprinkler
system," Brough.
It is taking approximately 700,050 gallons of water to
irrigate the turf at the course. That is water that could be
used elsewhere and the new sprinkling system will allow that
to happen, he said.
Eighteen-hole golf courses make money, said Brough. That
is why most of the communities neighbors to the north are
building 18-hole golf courses. When Nephi adds another nine
holes to the course, the course will begin to pay for
itself.
"It would be nice if recreation programs made money, but
they don't," he said. "The library, ball fields and swimming
pool are some that don't make money."
They are services provided by communities for the
residents of that community, but they are not money-making
projects.
The golf course fits into this recreation area as does
the Old Gym.
"The library has always had a good listening ear on the
council," said Brough.
For example, a recent decision to move the police
department to the former school board office building, has
resulted in a benefit to the library.
"We were able to work a trade with the school district
and Central Valley Medical Center so that the city could
obtain the school district office building so the police
department could relocate."
The council is also seeking to make an arrangement with
the county commission to allow them the use of the county
commission chambers for meetings.
"We can knock these walls (between the library, the city
court/council chambers) down and expand the library," said
Brough.
That will not answer the need on a long-term basis, but
it will provide the library more room to grow for a number
of years.
"The commission chambers would be the ideal place to hold
meetings," he said. "There is a microphone system there so
that those addressing the council can be heard by those in
the audience."
That is not the case at the city council meetings held in
the city building.
At present, said Brough, if a person moves up front to
stand at the foot of the council table, the person has his
back to the audience and that makes it difficult for the
audience to hear.
"This is not a comfortable situation for those coming to
address the council and we are aware of that."
"Maybe we are lacking in communication," said Brough.
"But any of the council members would be happy to talk to
any member of the community about any issue. The council has
been good about making themselves accessible to the
public."
The council holds a work session on the alternate council
nights. The meetings are held for discussion of items that
face the council but are not meetings where votes are taken
and decisions made.
The public is welcome at these meetings, but they are to
understand that the meetings are held for interaction and
education of council members.
The public is always welcome at city council
meetings.
Those who wish to address the council, and have a
decision made concerning what they want to discuss, must
call city hall and have their name placed on the agenda.
That way, any decision is legally made.
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