By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
A proposed septic system at Journey Youth Home, being
planned for an area west of Mona and south of Mona
Reservoir, might be a possibility.
Madolyn Liebing, Ph.D., manager, and David Starling,
business manager, told Mona City Council members they
thought the biggest concern of the council in meeting two
weeks ago was the septic system of the existing
dwelling.
"A development proposal needs to be made," said Phil
Lowry, city attorney. "It behooves you to be as forward
looking as possible."
The development proposal will need to include a
schematic drawing of all being proposed. The plan must be
submitted to both the city planning commission and to
Lowry.
A concept plan must also be submitted.
The way the use of the current home, both inside and
outside, will change should also be included in the
proposal.
Following the submission of the plan, the meeting of
concerns of the council and planning commission, and the
approval of the council, the property may be used for the
home.
There are still quite a few hurdles to overcome.
The council's apprehensions from a previous meeting
had been addressed, said Liebing. The greatest concern, she
said, had been how seasonal water levels would affect such a
system.
"We dug up the septic system of the existing dwelling
to do an evaluation, and it is inadequate for very many
people to live in the house," she said. "It was actually a
cess pool."
However, it would be possible to replace the system
and have it be adequate. She said a soil analysis and
percolation test were done last week to establish the level
of ground water.
"We dug a 10-foot hole and, although the bottom layer
was clay and showed signs of some past water, there was no
water in the hole and several feet of soil showed no signs
of seasonal ground water," said Liebing.
The area was large enough to accommodate a chamber
system septic drain field.
In addition, she said, Bruce Hall, Central Utah Public
Health, inspected the site on Monday and would present his
final report by the end of the week.
Another of the council concerns she had tried to
address, she said, was that of fire suppression,
The closest fire hydrant is one-half mile away. For
that reason, Liebing is proposing to follow the county
guidelines for fire suppression which would be to install
and internal sprinkler system in the house and in the
proposed addition to the house.
In addition, she said, Current Creek runs through the
property and may be an option in an emergency.
"I have talked to John Sutherland (fire chief) and he
feels we can work out the details which would not vary
greatly from the other property we have north of town except
we would be closer to the fire station and the city fire
hydrants," said Liebing.
It was also possible to get water for outside
watering, said Liebing.
"Jay Garlick, the resent owner, would deed to us
10-acre inches of surface irrigation water coming primarily
from Swasey Pond, which in owns one-fourth of," she
said.
Only two to three acres would need irrigation water to
grow a truck farm to teach the youth at the home about
growing vegetables and the work which needs to be done to do
so.
The water from the pond could be used as surface
irrigation or, in the future, could be transferred to well
rights and an irrigation well could then be drilled on the
property.
Liebing said she thought location of the youth home
west of the tracks would actually discourage growth in that
direction.
"If we buy the property," she said, "It will reduce
the number of potential homes which could be constructed in
the area from seven potential building lots to just our
business."
One rumor she wanted to put to rest, she said, is that
Mona was being picked on by having two youth homes for
law-breakers.
"I am not picking on Mona but this is where we found
the property that best met our needs," said Liebing. "I
looked at properties in Utah County."
In fact, she said, in Utah County there were 40 or so
youth homes.
Liebing has several items to address before receiving
approval from Mona City Council.
|
