Showing posts with label Heber. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Heber. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Open Letter to HLP Faux Pay Recipients


Dear Mayor Philips (and Council),

I apologize that I forgot our anniversary on February 22. It has now been over a year since you personally promised me, and other Heber Valley residents, in a video taped HL & P meeting to refund your February in-lieu-of faux “health care” benefits from Heber Light and Power as a pittance of unacknowledged remorse. (primarily for getting caught)

It was recently discovered that, in addition to refusing to return the ratepayers money you received for a few months in 2011 and 12 AND retroactively for six months, you also did not fulfill your vow to return the February $1687 “insurance” payment. Instead you merely did not accept your regular monthly pay of $596, thereby pocketing an extra $1091 for you monthly 90 minute meetings, and 'direction'.

At this point, I would strongly suggest one of three options:
  1. With your next Mayor's Corner, offer an apology with a copy of the return check for the $12,900 in faux pay. ('If I knew people would be so upset, we wouldn't have done.' as you said on KUTV, is not an apology.)
  2. Donate $17,900 to the Half million dollar Veterans Memorial fund as a return of funds and an appropriate penalty - that might give you a tax deduction.  
  3. Join us on the Impact program to offer an apology and explanation.  If you bring a check with you, we would be happy to return the money to Heber Light for you.
I look forward to your positive response. 

For Mayor Tatton, a check for $11,600 and an apology would also be appropriate. or a donation of $16,600 to the Memorial Hill Restoration fund.  It was good to see you did forgo four months of regular pay to offset your Feb 2012 faux pay, better fulfilling Mayor Philips' vow.  You, too, are cordially invited to join us on the radio, you can even come at the same time as your cohort, if you like.

PS to the City Council(s): As two of the members of the current Council have return these questionable funds, two did not receive and one, Robert Patterson, has not, I call on you to collectively pass a resolution of censure for these actions and call for an immediate return of the ill-gotten gains.   Former Councilman Nile Horner's lack of repayment should not be forgotten.

Your fellow Heber citizens may be surprised to learn you have not already taken action to do so. As this is an election year, I would suggest not taking voter apathy as acquiescence or approval.

If a petition requesting such a censure request is needed, that might be arranged. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/heberlight/

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Area Police Salaries

A rough analysis of the comparative salaries of Law Enforcement in the local area. Data SOURCE

  • In an economic downturn, local governments need to cut back spending and have done so - right?
  • Heber City Police are underpaid - right?
  • Wasatch County pay is lower than Heber and surrounding areas - right?

Apparently NOT, but draw your own conclusions:
(Note: two averages are given for Park City as their Police Chief salary, $129,535, affects the averages far more than in other jurisdictions) Click on individual locations for full salary list.

Is it time for consolidation of law enforcement forces?












































































































































































































Aug 2008Aug 2009change
Heber City
$659,435$752,621


$47,103$53,75914.1%

Officers1414





Park City
$963,601$1,250,961


$50,716$56,86212.1%

Officers1922
Without Chief
$48,228$53,40110.7%





Wasatch County
$1,874,625$2,106,950


$41,658$45,8039.9%

Officers4546





Summit County
$4,364,769$4,570,214


$49,042$57,85118.0%

Officers8979





Duchesne County
$1,497,816$1,601,552


$36,532$39,0626.9%

Officers4141





Roosevelt
$642,357No data


$30,588


Officers21






Gross TOTAL
$10,002,603$10,282,298


$43,679$50,90216.5%

Officers229202

Thursday, August 06, 2009

Wastch County Payroll Update

THE TOP TEN (of 274)
Michael Davis COUNTY MANAGER $105,397 up $16,531 +18.6%
Phil Wright HEALTH DEPARTMENT $104,330 up $6,699 +6.9%
Dennis Hansen PREVENTION $98,334 up $11,843 +13.7%
Alfred Mickelsen PLANNING & ZONING $91,386 up $2,520 +2.8%
Kent Berg PUBLIC WORKS $90,791 up $7,732 +9.3%
Thomas Low ATTORNEY $86,586 up $5,362 +6.6%
Don Wood GIS-DATA PROCESSING $82,859 up $5,134 +6.6%
Paul Wilson ENGINEERING $80,870 up $5,002 +6.6%
Scott Hathcock SHERIFF $80,475 not top ten
Tracy Richardson HEALTH DEPARTMENT $76,252 up $4,816 +6.7%
Source    Previous Report 2007


Heber City Salary Update -2009

The Top Ten 
Mark Anderson  **City Manager**    $97,737 up $2,224 +2.3% 
Edward Rhoades **Chief Of Police** $79,568 up $2,245 +2.9%
Bart Mumford ***Engineer*** $78,363 dn $ 614
Steve Tozier *Director Public Works* $72,378 up $5,732 +8.6%
Jason Bradley **Police Sergeant** $68,099 up $2,425 +3.7%
Wesley Greenhalgh *Building Official* $67,481 up $921 +1.4%
J.m. Smedley ***City Attorney*** $66,310 up $1,952 +3.0%
Mike Clegg ***Sergeant Police*** $66,145 up $6,092 +10.1%
Donald Blackburn *Building Inspector* $60,044 not top 10
Anthony Kohler Senior Planner $58,318 not top 10
Source   Previous Report 2008 

Friday, June 06, 2008

HUB Intersection - Gridlock Coming Soon???

Let's talk TRAFFIC - Most Wasatch County residents have, I'm sure, noticed a massive increase in traffic in recent years to the residential growth. A new study has been released showing the effect of the Boyer Development (Valley Station, formerly Crossings at Heber, aka Walmart, Big Box, etc.) on the most crowded intersection in the Valley. US 40 and SR 189 or the Hub Intersection.

The DMJM Harris summarized results of the study can be downloaded here. This summary is based on the Boyer traffic analysis on the Heber City website. While that analysis contained a lot of numbers, it was short on conclusions. A private citizen hired a firm for an interpretation of the numbers.

The Conclusion: "The addition of project (Boyer development) traffic significantly increases the delay at the two intersections that operate poorly, and also cause the 910 South/100 West and US-40 and/1000 South intersection to change from an acceptable LOS (level of service) to LOS F."

Here's UDOT's definition of LOS F: "LOS F represents the breakdown of traffic flow – “failure” of the system.The condition exists wherever the amount of traffic approaching a point exceeds its capacity. Queues form behind such locations and vehicles may progress in a stop-and-go fashion. It can take two or more cycles to wait through a signal operating at LOS F."

The Harris study also reports that "Based on the Heber City criteria all intersection should be improved to LOS C or better." (Does this mean Heber City did not understand the numbers - or were ignoring them?)

As a result of this report another enterprising citizen has started a Petition to "
request that the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) WITHHOLD APPROVAL of the Boyer/Heber City access agreement for the US-40/US-189 intersection in Heber City, UT until a safer plan is in place."

The petition is available at various local businesses and online for signatures.

UDOT held a meeting in Heber in 2007 where the intersection was discussed a report of the meeting is available here. The complete official minutes are here.


Friday, July 20, 2007

Bypass, Big Box

Wasatch County (via MAG RPO) gave a good presentation (large file) to the Transportation Commission this morning about Heber Main Street traffic, the West Bypass road, the River Road intersection and "the Hub" US40/189 intersection. Included were resolutions from Wasatch and Heber supporting the bypass.

The reported traffic study (2005) showed 25,000 vehicles per day on Main Street, they estimate it is probably up to 28,000 now, which should be no surprise to those in the valley. That appears to be the third highest traffic numbers in Wasatch and Summit counties; compared to 44,000 on I-15 at Parley's Canyon and 33,000 on the road by the Canyons Resort and about the fourth highest in all of northern Utah outside of the metropolitan areas of Utah and Salt Lake Counties.

Five percent of the Main St. traffic are trucks. 46% of the through traffic uses 189; 32 % US 40; and 22% 189 to 40 East Councilman Mike Kohler mentioned it was important to get this done before the current plan date of 2030.

The first comment after the presentation, from UDOT (Commissioner Glen Brown) was about the Hub intersection: (paraphrased) "Putting a big development at that intersection will really cause a lot more congestion. Why are you permitting it?"


A minor discussion resulted in Heber City Councilman Terry Lange's comment (paraphrased), "There's a referendum on the issue this November." Brown responded, "Oh, it's that controversial."

A UDOT employee (?) said, "We'll be happy to give you traffic information on big developments."

UDOT Commission Chair Adams then asked, "Will there be commercial (Big Box developer) participation in the Hub intersection costs?"

Discussion ensued on the development's frontage, bypass location between 189 to 40, etc.

Kohler: "It's proposed as limited access, there's no plan for access to the development from the Bypass, we haven't decided on the final part of the road to US 40."

Adams: "I think we need to get working on that intersection now, why wait."

On the subject of the interchange at River Road, the UDOT Committee indicated that they thought the plan was already in process and had been delayed by needed funding for Provo Canyon. Corridor preservation funds should be available to the required property.

Committee members were very impressed with the current work being done for the project and seemed quite encouraging about the entire project, but no motion was made for action.

Minutes of the meeting
should be available in a month or so.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Heber City Council Candidates

In reverse alphabetical order:

Michael Thurber - 1162 W Countryside Cir; 654-1926; Midway Postmaster; former Planning Commissioner; member Big Box study committee; Wife is Heber City recorder;

Eric Straddeck - 446 N 1300 E; 657-0891; Effective Business Solutions, Inc.; Owner (?) TigerLight, Inc

Kieth Rawlings - 126 W 500N; 657 1999; Planning Commission ; Voted for Big Box on PC

Perry Rose - Former Heber City Police Sergeant; Checker Auto

Robert Patterson - school teacher; wife also

Sandy Mahoney - 418 S 200 W; 654 3244; Board of adjustment; KTMP owner

Shari Lazenby
- 809 E 220 N; 654-2964; incumbent; Voted for Big Box

Terry Lange
- 1030 N. Willow Way; 654-3568; incumbent; Big Box?

Nile Horner
- 777 E 600 S; 6541804; wife on school board

Daniel Drew
- 602 E 550 S; 657 9642; teacher; ran against Snow for UT Rep


10 total Primary Sep 11 to narrow to six for November election

Issues: Big Box, Growth, Annexations


2005 Election
For Mayor

David R. Phillips 959 58.12%
Shari K. Lazenby 691 41.88%

For Councilmember Vote for 2

Jeffery M. Bradshaw 921 29.44%
Elizabeth Hokanson 817 26.12%
John Hayes Burns 707 22.60%
Michael Thurber 683 21.84%

2003 Election City Council

Shari Lazenby 547
Vaun A. Shelton 504
Terry Wm. Lange 491
- - - - - - - - -
Michael Thurber 416
Julie Hardman 395
Sherman Christen 352



Big Box comments by candidates June 6, 2005 when the CAP was set at 60,000 sq.ft. on retail business:

Councilmember Terry Wm. Lange – “We came to listen. We have learned from all of you the general way people feel.” He said it was important to him to know how the general pubic felt. He suggested this might be a very long-term ordinance change or it might be very short ordinance change. He indicated he would vote the way most of the public wanted. “I hope, as a City Council, we can take the advice and make the best decision we can.” He thanked those that attended and participated in the Hearing.
In 2006, he voted against the MURCZA ordinance allowing Big Box ???

Councilmember Lazenby indicated she had no opinion for it or against it. “Its not about me, its not about my store.” She indicated she would go with the majority. She reviewed the breakdown of the survey of individual responses. She concluded that the majority was for a cap on retail size buildings. Councilmember Lazenby reviewed her summary of the survey. She commented on page 25 and 38 of the General Plan. She indicated her vote would be for the CAP but because it was not perfect, there needed to be further study. In 2006, she voted FOR the MURCZA ordinance allowing Big Box

2005 election comments

• (Mayoral candidate) Lazenby, 34, wants city government to start treating constituents like customers. Lazenby, who owns a shoe store, said Heber officials should respond better to residents and business owners through "a mission-driven work environment that gives them the authority to perform their jobs more effectively." That approach would help the city "be better prepared to serve and find obtainable solutions" to its problems.

• Kieth Rawlings, 50, wants to make city government "more open through accessible, honest and accountable city officials." Rawlings, who owns a property management company, thinks that "through communication we can develop a better relationship with our business community."


• Mike Thurber, 59, said that projects residents want can't be funded with existing tax revenue. "Without commercial opportunity in the city, seniors and young families on limited incomes are most negatively impacted by rising property taxes to fund special projects." Thurber, a postmaster, wants Heber "to plan ahead for new areas for industry and other commercial growth and then actively pursue new business."



Friday, April 13, 2007

Wal-Mart Gears Up for Campaign in Heber

Apr 11, 2007 by Julie Rose (KCPW News)

Anti-big box organizers in Heber collected enough signatures to get the city's big-box zoning ordinance on this November's ballot. But now they'll have to campaign against one of the world's wealthiest corporate giants for enough votes to quash "big box" stores in Heber.

Wal-Mart spokesman Gray McGinnis thinks a "silent majority" of voters will welcome his store with open arms: "A well-organized minority can very effectively drive the agenda, regardless of the needs and wants of a silent majority," says McGinnis. "So in the past we have run campaigns to bring out our supporters and ensure the city council knows that Wal-Mart is very welcome in the community."

Heber City has an estimated population of nine-thousand people, of whom some 14-hundred registered voters signed the petition to put big-box zoning on the ballot. Citizens group "Put Heber Valley First" is trying reverse a recent Heber City Council decision to allow retail outlets larger than 60-thousand square feet. The group worries big retailers like Wal-Mart will force locally-owned shops out of business.

McGinnis says Heber will benefit by keeping more shoppers in town:
"Currently the majority of the Heber shoppers are driving to Provo to fulfill their everyday shopping needs," says McGinnis. "And these sales tax dollars directly benefit the community - to funding parks, police, fire and other municipal services in Summit County."

Don't expect to see Wal-Mart's name splashed on campaign signs and pamphlets leading into the November election. McGinnis says The Boyer Company, which is proposing the development, will lead the campaign with funding from Wal-Mart.


SL TRIB EDITORIAL!!!
Big-box on ballot: Heber voters score a chance to vote on Wal-MartSalt Lake Tribune, UT - 19 hours agoAnd they found more than 1400 fellow citizens who want a chance to tell the big-box retail giant to peddle its cheap wares elsewhere. Put Heber Valley First ...

Friday, July 29, 2005

Heber City Public Works Study

The U of U Center for Public Policy and Administration recently completed a study of Heber's Public Works future needs due to growth:

"The study concludes that Heber City is on a track for continuous rapid growth.
It is becoming a resort area on its own, as many homebuyers and retirees are being priced
out of Park City and other relatively close resort areas in the West such as Jackson Hole
and Sun Valley. With the increase in home and commercial development, new burdens
will be placed on the Public Works department to provide services to the new and
secondary residents. Unfettered growth in the surrounding unincorporated areas of
Wasatch County will also place large burdens on the city and its public works in terms of
infrastructure demands.
The scenarios provided in the study will show where Heber City will likely be in two
years, five years, ten years and beyond. The following recommendations address
changes that can help the city cope with its demands over the short run – a few years at
best. It is very likely that more strategic, long run plans are needed to deal with expected
growth. "


This report gives an informative comparison with other Western small "cities." It's a sobering analysis for those who are hoping to maintain a "rural" small-town atmosphere.