By Sandra Mangelson
Times-News Correspondent
Council member Craig Worwood gave an overview of the
proposed ATV trail in Levan. He said that there were a lot
of kids riding ATV's and they had come up with an ATV trail
to route them out of town. The route would be along 2nd
West, Canyon Lane (1st South), and 5th East. Also designated
would be a route from 1st South to the rear of the store, so
riders could get gas and goodies.
A question was asked if that meant the riders could go
from their house to one of these routes. Mayor Robinson
explained that they must be in route from their house to the
ATV route.
ATV route signs and 15 MPH speed limit signs will be
posted along the route. Anyone under 18 will be required to
wear a helmet. The route would be to the side of the
road.
Bob Shepherd asked if he had to follow that route to
get to his farm. Mayor Robinson stated that Shepherd was
under a different stipulation, "because he was farm travel
and he could travel anywhere to and from his farm from his
residence."
Sheriff David Carter was on the legislative committee
and it was decided they had to have a farm sticker on their
ATV and be in route to their farm, riding on the side of the
road where possible.
Council member Worwood said the main purpose of this
route was to get the kids who "buzz around town all the time
outside of town to ride."
Mayor Robinson asked for comments concerning the
route. The comment was made that in town meetings since
April there have been concerns raised about traffic problems
on 2nd West, the Canyon lane, and 5th East. Is that the best
route to turn eight year old kids loose on a four
wheeler?
The concern was raised about enforcement. Who was
going to enforce the 15 MPH speed limit? Calls had been made
to other communities in the area and most communities who
had ATV routes also had their own police departments, with
the exception of Oak City and their law enforcement came
from the Millard County Sheriffs Department. In Nephi, the
ATV route turns out to be kids riding daddy's ATV to ball
practice.
Council member Worwood said that is what Levan had
now. Kids have always been on motorcycles, ATV's in Levan.
This is a farming community and we want to establish
something to filter the kids out of town so they know we are
watching. "We can't shut them down."
Mayor Robinson said that since last month's meeting,
he had reports that kids on ATV's had considerably slowed
down. Sheriff Carter said that after the report came out in
the paper, his deputies had sat on 2nd West eight days in a
row for one hour and there was only one day when there were
ATV's on that road. Deputies have also been watching trucks
traveling on the canyon lane and there hasn't been a
problem.
Bob Shepherd stated that he has young kids moving
sprinklers for him and he doesn't want them to have to go
all around town to get from one field to the other. Mayor
Robinson said this would not force him on to a route.
It was suggested that Levan not have an ATV route.
Catina Nichols agreed with that and said that because of the
publicity and the increased parental concern that as a
community we were taking care of the problem.
Mayor Robinson said that it is a law that you cannot
ride an ATV on any road unless it is designated as an ATV
route. "So you're saying we pretty much have to have an ATV
route," said Nichols.
Jason Worwood stated that it was his understanding
"that reason you guys tried to establish this ATV route is
because you had certain few citizens at council meeting
complaining about the kids around town. Certainly the
majority of the people haven't been here, but just a certain
few and you have tried to smooth things over to try and make
it work with them. It was my understanding that you put this
ATV route together to try and get these few people to back
off a little bit."
Mayor Robinson summarized by saying that three or four
people had voiced opinions that the ATV route would not be
beneficial.
Sheriff Carter spoke in favor of an ATV route. He said
it would be a legal route, a posted speed limit, the
deputies could cite people if they are driving too fast on
the route, it would provide a legal route to the store. It
would be a lot easier to enforce.
Carter stated, "90% of the people aren't the problem
and 90% of the kids aren't the problem. The ones that are
get several people in an uproar. We could shut it completely
down and write a ticket to everybody that is riding a four
wheeler and then we are dirty sons of guns to everybody
that's got a four wheeler. Or we could let everybody go,
then we are dirty sons of guns to ones that don't want them
on the road.
"I'm getting tired of every month getting wapped in
the paper about this enforcement. In the first place, Levan
don't have a problem. Compared to any place else in the
county or any place else in the state, Levan isn't a
problem. We have a few traffic problems just like anyone
else. They're always talking about it in this meeting. I
checked the logs at the Sheriff's office, not one of the
people who have complained in this meeting about the ATV's,
I checked every log, and I couldn't find one complaint. I
checked with every dispatcher. Not one of the people who
complained in this meeting have called the Sheriff's office
to complain. They just like to come to this meeting and
complain.
"What I'm saying is, do it one way or another. We just
don't want to leave it open so that somebody's always got a
reason to complain."
Jason Worwood stated that he was in favor of the route
if it will satisfy those who come here every month and
complain about the kids, and that it's not legal.
Mayor Robinson also spoke in favor of the route.
Some voiced concerns that riding off the road will
tear up the grass and lawns that go up to the roadway.
•The next topic for the public hearing was
building setbacks. Council member Rod Wankier stated that
Levan's setback rules are confusing. Now it is 30 feet for
houses and 20 feet for garages. The Planning and Zoning
Committee would like to have one footage for all buildings.
The Committee leans towards 30 feet to get things back
further from the street.
If you think the ordinances are confusing, the
discussion that followed was lengthy and even more
confusing. Levan has three different widths of roads. It was
suggested to have the setback from the center of the road or
center of the right-of-way.
The corner setback would remain the same. It is now 45
feet in two directions and draw a diagonal line. Nothing can
be built or planted in that triangular area that is over
three feet tall.
Mayor Robinson suggested to have all setbacks at 70
feet from center of right-of-way. If that is the case, then
Mayor Robinson would be able to build a wrap around porch on
his house.
Golden Mangelson stated that all the old streets in
Levan were surveyed at 99 feet, including 5th East. First
West was surveyed at 130 feet. The streets have been
encroached upon so bad that you can't tell where the roads
should be.
The suggestion from the public hearing will be sent
back to the Planning and Zoning Committee. Mayor Robinson
stated the suggestion was, "from the center line of the
right-of-way would be a preferred distance and 70 feet would
be a good option." If the Committee goes with that, it will
be put on the agenda for Town Council Meeting next
month.
Other Levan Items
•The first item of business was the approval of
the ATV route. Rod Wankier moved that the route be accepted,
the second was by Craig Worwood. The motion passed. The
route should be in place in Spring 2001.
•Dale and Ellen Rosquist approached the Council
for a variance to build a home on .39 of an acre and keep an
existing trailer on .21 of an acre. If the lots were
combined, there would be enough to satisfy the ordinance
requiring one half acre to build on. The Rosquist's want to
keep the trailer in place and rent it out to family
members.
The Planning and Zoning said they could live in the
trailer until the home was built, then the trailer would
have to be removed.
The Council did not feel comfortable with two
residences on .60 acre.
After a lengthy discussion, the Rosquists were advised
to check and see when the property was deeded and to check
with Bruce Hall about septic systems. Mayor Robinson will
check with the League of Cities and Towns to make sure
everything is legal.
•Planning and Zoning Committee granted approval
to a building permit for a 36X42 barn for Ryan and Catina
Nichols.
•Craig Worwood said he needed to add $10,000 to
application to Safe Sidewalks. Mayor Robinson told him to
make the application for $100,000.
•Ryan Aagard said that Helen Schneider had
resigned as dog catcher effective Dec. 10.
•There will be a mobile dog and cat neutering
clinic in Levan on Dec. 7, 2000.
•The council went into executive session. Two
statements were made after the executive session. Alden
Shurtz will oversee office activity. He will not be an
office manager. Jason and Shawn are specifically responsible
to see that bills are collected on work they do. They are to
check with the office.
•The December Council meeting will be moved up to
Dec. 13, 2000.
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