By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News correspondent
Mona Town Council, by polling, agreed to grant George
Smith a final plat approval for Plat A of the subdivision he
is planning to construct without requiring that sidewalks be
part of the plan.
Council members Glenda Buchanan and Doran Kay favored
having sidewalks be required of all subdivisions.
The two lost the hope of having Smith's subdivision
meet that requirement when Mayor Bryce Lynn asked each
member how they wanted to handle the issue and council
members Darlene Fowkes and Rick Schnurr voted with Lynn to
not make sidewalks a requirement for Smith.
"I think we've kept him from beginning construction
long enough," said Fowkes.
Since Smith is a developer who plans to develop the
property by putting in roads, fire hydrants, and utility
lines and who will then will sell the lots.
"Steve Ludlow, our engineer, has signed off on all the
requirements. Everything is in order for phase one, Plat A,
lots one through 18," said Schnurr. "He should be allowed to
begin construction before the cold weather sets in."
Lynn said, as a builder and developer, he had been
through enough home and subdivision planning and
construction that he knew all of the paperwork was in order.
"Everything is now in order."
A member of the town council will take the final plat
map to the county recorder's office to be recorded. Smith
has paid all the fees to finalize and record the plat.
Buchanan also had some concern about what constituted
a legal final plat document but Smith assured her that the
plat was both the legal description and the legal document
and when the plat was signed it was recorded.
"I worked in the county recorder's office for 14
years," said Fowkes, "so I understand how it works and I
know that when the plat is recorded it is legal."
Tom Felt and Smith, partners in the Country Estates
Subdivision planned for Mona, met to discuss the final
approval for the subdivision on Tuesday.
Schnurr said further delay was unneeded because Smith
had completed all the items on the subdivision development
list. "We should just let him get his project underway."
Felt agreed and said that the company was anxious to
get as much of the project completed as possible before the
winter freeze.
Another issue was the bond Smith and Felt were
obtaining to meet town subdivision funding requirements.
"You can require us to bond 10 percent of the
project," said Felt. "The bond is $100,000 and the
engineering fee, which we are paying, was $93,000."
Schnurr said that if the percentage set aside was used
as the benchmark designated in the subdivision ordinance, it
would mean that the bond would actually be $110,000.
Felt said he and Smith would be happy to write a check
for the money in order to expedite the matter so
construction could now begin. The money could be held in
lieu of a bond until the paper work could catch up.
The check could be deposited immediately, said Smith.
The bond would then be finalized.
"I'm surprised you don't have the bond, you have known
for two weeks this was a forthcoming agenda item," said
Buchanan.
The bonds, said Felt, could not be applied for until
the final plat was awarded.
"At the end of the project, you (the town) retain
$20,000 so if we mess up you have money so you can afford to
fix the problems," said Felt.
The bonds must be renewed every year.
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