Six public hearings at council meeting; no speakers

By STEVE CHRISTENSEN
Sun Advocate Contributor

The Price City Council meeting of June 27 was filled with public hearings.
Public hearings were held on the 2017-18 year-end budget revision (ends June 30), a transfer of funds from the electric fund to the general fund for the upcoming year, to receive comments on the proposed 2018-19 budget, and to receive input on the 2018 updates to the Price City housing plan.
The Price City Community Development and Urban Renewal Agency also convened and held two public hearings, to hear public comments on changes to the current year budget and to hear comments on the budget set for the coming fiscal year.
During the six public hearings, no one spoke.
Synopsis of action taken after each public hearing:
• Revisions to the 2017-18 budget were approved. Lisa Richens, city financial director, explained the budget and how it was balanced. However, Richens said, there may still be changes, since final figures won’t be available until September. A few housing matters were addressed and the final budget of $28,062,552 was approved, including $433,252 in the Price City Community Development and Urban Renewal Agency (CRDA).
• A transfer of funds from the electric fund to the general fund was approved in the amount of $2,283,675. The total electric fund was $7,439,400.
• The 2018-19 fiscal year budget was approved in the amount of $29,452,232. This includes all funds, as well as the CRDA fund for 2018-19.
• Action on the Moderate Income Housing Plan was postponed for further review.
During the CRDA meeting two public hearings were held. The Community Development and Urban Renewal Agency is was established to help specific areas of the city.
After the public hearings, during which no one spoke, the following action was taken:
• The 2017-18 budget was revised in the amount of $433,252.
• The 2018-19 budget was set in the amount of $429,430.
In addition to the public hearings, City Recorder Sherrie Gordon sas presented with a plaque honoring her for completion of the requirements to become a Certified Municipal Clerk.
In other business, the city council:
• Approved minutes of the June 13, 2018 city council meeting.
• A 3-year contract was approval with Thomas Sitterud for city attorney services.
As part of the contract, Mayor Michael Kourianos, on behalf of Price City, signed a Waiver of Conflict. This became necessary once Sitterud’s partner, Robert Oliver, was named as the county’s public defender, representing indigent criminal defendants prosecuted in the name of Price City. Sitterud will have no part in criminal matters.
• The final 2017-18 budget was approved including fund transfers. Lisa Richens, city finance director, explained the transfers were all small, made to balance the final budget.
• Approval was given for annual water overage credits. Approval was also given for employees to handle late requests in the same manner. This affects only a handful of residents each year.
Bret Cammans, customer service director, explains the city does not read meters during the winter. If a person’s water line breaks during this time a credit is given for a portion of the water charges a homeowner may incur.
• A contract was approved with Straight Stripe, Inc. for annual paint striping. Cost of services is $25,055 and is budgeted from Class C Road Funds.
• A contract was approved with Bonneville Asphalt and Repair Inc. for road crack sealing. The contract is for $36,500 and is budgeted from Class C Road Funds.
• After lengthy discussion, ground at Cliffview Cemetery was donated for the Angel of Hope, pending approval of the final plan and formal agreement of the project. The Angel of Hope will erect a monument at the cemetery honoring children who have been died prematurely. The discussion involved maintenance of the monument once it is erected and if the city would have the right to reclaim the property if adequate maintenance is not done. The vote was 3-2 to move forward with the land donation, with council members Rick Davis and Terri Willis voting in favor of the donation and Leif Nelson and Amy Knott-Vesperson voting against. Council member Layne Miller was excused from the meeting and not present. Mayor Mike Kourianos voted in favor of the donation to break the tie vote.
• Business licenses were approved for: DK Mcombes Clinical Services, Inc., DBA Restorative Neurology, at 590 E 100 N; American Promotional Events, DBA TNT Fireworks, at 406 S HWY 55; American Promotional Events, DBA TNT Fireworks, at 760 W Price River Dr.; Phantom Fireworks Eastern Region, LLC, DBA Phantom Fireworks, at 123 S HWY 55, Phantom Fireworks Eastern Region, LLC, DBA Phantom Fireworks, at Creekview Plaza, 770 W Price River Drive; Street Treats Ice Cream at 597 Dover Circle; R&R Designz, LLC at 20 E Main; Cod Red Concrete Lifting Solutions Inc. at 380 Madison Ave; and Fern-ished at 256 S 700 E.
{{tncms-inline content=”<p>Leif Nelson is moving to unincorporated Carbon County and must give up his position on the Price City Council. He will leave office on August 1, 2018.</p> <p>The search for a new council member is underway. Applications must be received by August 9, 2018 at 3 p.m.</p> <p>Qualifications are as follows: Must be a United States Citizen, a registered voter in Price and a resident of Price for 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the date of appointment. Interested persons meeting this criteria are invited to submit an application. Qualification forms may be obtained at the office of the city recorder, room 202 in the Price City Building at 185 East Main Street in Price.</p> <p>Interviews will be conducted immediately after the deadline and it is anticipated an appointment will be made at the regular meeting of the Price City Council on August 22, 2018.</p> <p>The successful candidate will fill the remainder of Nelson’s term which will expire in January 2020.</p>” id=”6152ec9f-8f6b-4687-ba92-471399a5fbde” style-type=”info” title=”More Information” type=”relcontent”}}