By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Juab County Commissioners are hoping that someone
living near the Juab County Fairgrounds will sell the county
at least 1.5 acres of land.
The land is needed for a road shed, since the one in
use is not large enough, in and of itself, to meet the needs
of the various county departments who use the
facilities.
"What we are looking at and the reason we are asking
if anyone is willing to sell property near the fairgrounds
is that we need to expand the county road shed and we need
considerably more property to do that," said Robert Steele,
commissioner.
Fifteen citizens who live near the fairgrounds
attended the meeting to listen to the commission's ideas and
to discuss ideas of their own.
"The county buildings and grounds department, the weed
department, the mosquito abatement program and the road
department all use the road shed and all share assets," said
Neil Cook, commission chairman.
Equipment sharing is a consideration, said Cook. The
many departments are able to share tractors and water
tankers, for example. But even more than the sharing of
facilities and equipment is the need for less acreage if the
old facility does not need to be abandoned.
"If we keep the road shed expansion close to the
present road shed," he said, "we will need less land."
Steele said that, if the road shed must be built
elsewhere it will need even more than the estimated 1.5
acres because the entire operation will need to be moved
and, if not, then other equipment will need to be
purchased.
"What piece of property are you looking at that you
want?" asked Larry Ostler. "There is a piece that is 13.6
acres by the county jail that is for sale."
The ground may be less expensive per acre than trying
to purchase land near the fairgrounds. In addition, said
Ostler, the property has access to the natural gas line, the
power, water and sewer lines.
Ostler said he was a taxpayer and thought that the
less expensive land would be better for the county to
purchase.
Cliff Jensen asked if the county commission was
considering exercising eminent domain if no one was willing
to step forward and sell their property.
Cook said that no one at the meeting needed to be
concerned that the county would exercise eminent domain.
The fairgrounds expansion had forced the sale of some
of his contingent land, he said. "I was told that (eminent
domain would not be used)the last time, and then they took
it anyway," said Jensen.
Pearl Snow, who does have a home and business located
on the border of the fairgrounds, asked if she were willing
to sell her property, how soon she would be required to
vacate her home.
"I have a business and a family to move," said Snow.
"We have a lot of hay and it would help if we could feed it
up during the winter."
"If we had a deal, how long would it take you to
move?" asked Val Jones, commissioner.
P. Snow said she would need six months to move corrals
and outbuildings and one year to find property and have a
home built.
Commissioners agreed that Snow could be given
time.
"We would give you time if we could even afford your
property," said Steele.
Robert Snow, a brother-in-law of Pearl Snow, said his
relative was a widow and he thought having her move would be
a hardship. He also thought that the sale would have to be
for enough that she would not have to come up with payments
on a replacement home.
R. Snow said he also thought that the fairgrounds were
not utilized as they could be. The fairgrounds, he said, was
not even filled to capacity three times a year.
In one area. there is a pile of dirt that could be
moved to make way for another use.
Kevin Snow, who works for the county but is a son of
Pearl Snow, said that his family had discussed moving the
family business and home. On the other hand, he said, as a
county road employee he knew that the department needed more
room so that they could do their job properly.
"I walk a fine line," he said. "But family comes
first."
Moving his personal business, which his uncle is also
involved in, would crunch him said K. Snow.
In fact, to his way of thinking, it would almost be
easier to move his mother than to move the business.
The meeting was being held to take comment, said Cook.
The plan was that someone of the property owners might step
forward and be willing to sell. They would then write up a
proposal and would include any stipulations as to time
needed to make changes. The commission would then review
those proposals and determine whether or not they could
afford that particular property or not.
"We don't feel the need is great enough to exercise
eminent domain," said Cook.
The commission wanted to conduct this business in the
daylight and look at the options available. They commission
also wanted to listen to the public and had held the meeting
to gain that comment.
"In order to exercise eminent domain," said Steele,
"the property needed has to be the only piece that will
work. When the fairgrounds were expanded the property
belonging to Jensen was the only piece that could be
used.
When the government takes property there must be a
public purpose for its actions. People should not have to
sell their own property unless they want to or unless there
is some pressing public purpose
"We could put that road shed anywhere in the valley,"
said Steele. He said it was illegal to take property unless
it was for some pressing public need and a road department
shed was not one of those.
"We look forward to whatever proposals come in," said
Cook.
Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. on March 17 signed into law
Senate Bill 184, effectively preventing the exercise of
eminent domain authority by redevelopment agencies. Local
governments may still use eminent domain for more
traditionally defined and understood "public purposes."
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