By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
It has been said that all public hearings have proponents
and opponents and at least two guys who want to settle the
disagreement outside.
Well there were no fist-fights but there were a few
concerns about Santaquin annexing part of Juab County. In
the end, the consensus of public opinion was to approve the
annexation request.
In attendance, in addition to 62 county citizens, and
expected county officers were: Bret Rich, counsel for
Santaquin; LaDue Scovill, mayor of Santaquin; Robert Lynds,
project manager; Troy Kunz, assistant project manager;
George Wallace, partner in the proposed Summit Ridge
Development; and Blaine VanPletzen, city planner.
Before voting on the motion, made by commissioner
Robert Steele, commissioner Joseph Bernini asked that all
those who were in favor of allowing the annexation stand. It
was clear that the majority of the 62 residents attending
the meeting approved the action so Bernini voted
affirmatively as did Steele and Wm. Boyd Howarth, commission
chair.
The roll-call vote, moved the approximately 127 acres
of land inside Juab County one step closer to becoming part
of the city of Santaquin. The city is located in Utah County
just across the border from Rocky Ridge, the newest
community in Juab County.
If Juab School District signs off on the proposal, the
annexation will go forward as planned.
"I think we have a solution which will allow you, as
county commissioners, to agree to sign a waiver of protest
to the annexation of county property tonight," said David
Leavitt, county attorney. He said he and Leon Pexton, Juab
School District Board President, had reviewed the law during
the explanation period of the public hearing and had a
clarification.
"The school district has the same right to protest,"
said Leavitt. "If you, as county commissioners, act tonight
it will not affect the school district because they still
have the right to protest."
Darrell Allred, a member of the Rocky Ridge City
Council, said the mayor of Santaquin, Scovill, had met with
the Rocky Ridge council and explained the project to them.
The council then voted to sign the same waiver of protest to
annexation the county agreed to sign.
"Just because we don't protest the annexation, doesn't
mean we don't have some concerns," said Allred. However,
those concerns were that the town of Rocky Ridge did not
want to become a problem for the residents who might build
homes close to the community.
The main industry of Rocky Ridge, a newly incorporated
community made up mostly of family and close friends, is
cabinet building and woodworking. The shop, where the
majority of the work is done, is located close to the edge
of the proposed annexation.
Old U.S. 91, now a freeway frontage roadway, borders
both Rocky Ridge and the annexation. Both are on the west
side of the property and are situated north of Mona and
south of Santaquin.
"The concern might be that, in 20 years, the owner of
a $250,000 house might not like the noise generated by our
industry," said Allred.
Pexton said the concern of school board members was
that, ultimately, the Juab School District would have the
liability of providing the education for the residents of
the annexation in spite of any agreement which might be made
with the Nebo School District to provide school access. "No
matter what happens, the Juab School District is liable for
the education of a student," he said."
"The law states that when a community crosses
boundaries, a resident cannot be denied the right to attend
school in that district," said Pexton. Even though an
agreement might exist between the two school districts, the
problem is that an agreement can only be signed for a year
at a time."
In addition, there may be other cases where the
district would have to assume liability for education and if
those students became part of the school district their
tax-paying parents might vote as a block to prevent
important financial bonds.
"If there were 300 plus potential voters, with no ties
to Juab County except for the taxes they pay, important
financial needs could be blocked," said Pexton. "There would
be a block of voting stock which may or may not vote for a
bond, for example."
Bret Rich, with Nielsen & Sr., legal counsel for
Santaquin City, said there was a broad indemnification
clause which would be part of the agreement. "Since the
school district will receive tax money from the annexation,
the district would get their share of that increase in tax
money."
Presently, the money paid on the land is low because
of its valuation. However, if the land becomes the site of
homes the valuation will be increased. The county would lose
the $85 annual in-lieu of taxes money but would have made
much more from the property tax of valuable property.
Scovill said the city of Santaquin, as part of their
annexation agreement with developers, will provide water for
the development. That development, he said, will be for a
total of 2,000 acres of land.
"There will be a subdivision, a golf course, some
age-restriction units for seniors, and a commercial
development area," said Scovill. The commercial development
property is the big draw for the Santaquin City Council in
that it will provide tax income for the community and will
provide jobs for residents.
As for the gravel pit, located near the proposed golf
course, a berm will be made which will allow the gravel pit
and the golf course to be kept from interfering one with the
other.
It was the considered opinion of several attendees
that gravel pits and housing don't mix. Nevertheless, the
buffer zone should provide the needed relief from dust and
other particles which might result from the gravel crushing
process. The life of that gravel pit is estimated at 22
years so it will be in place for many years to come.
The fairways of the golf course will be the nearest to
the gravel pit," said Wallace, a partner in the proposed
development. "This should offer enough protection, because
it is high enough, that the gravel pit will not be a
concern."
"Growth from that direction will come," said David
Carter, county sheriff. "At least, under this proposal, law
enforcement services will be provided by Santaquin City. We
still have obligations but they are a lot less than they
would be if the proposal created a separate subdivision in
Juab County which the county would be responsible for."
Doran Kay, Mona City Council member, was concerned
about where the water for the development was coming from
and was told that it would come from wells which should not
have any bearing on the supply of Mona.
"Santaquin has no industrial/commercial tax base,"
said Scovill. "This 400 acre piece in the development will
give us that. That is our interest." Scovill said the
council and developers had worked with, and would continue
to work with, all concerned parties.
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