New School Budget and Public Hearing

Addendum 6/13  Board member responses added - My thanks for the prompt answers 

Since the passage in 2007 of a near 50% local property tax increase, the Wasatch School District has been flush with cash.

Budgets have increased FAR more than student enrollment for over ten years.  FY 2015 is no exception, with enrollment projected up by 3%, expenditures are proposed up by 5.5% over the original FY 2014 budget.

Last year (2013) WSD collected nearly 7% more than budgeted.   The solution - amend the 2014 budget to spend it.   Proposed increase almost 9%  (resulting in a $9 Million increase from FY 2013 to 2014.)

The money is still there - no tax decrease even remotely considered.  Some may remember the REQUESTED TAX CUT by the Taxpayers' Association because of excessive reserves.

There will be a Public Hearing on the budget next Tuesday.  A "complete" budget, highlighted for anomalies and inconsistencies, with percentage changes,  is available here.

Raise some questions and comments for the hearing.  In the past, very few answers are ever given to public budget queries, here are a few that might be proposed:

District officials indicate wage and benefits are 95% of the general fund and 65 % of the entire budget, a closer look raises some questions, a few random observations:

In this FY 2015 Budget, it appears all of the state retirement budget items have increased by about 24%.    Is that a requirement due to the recent study on the optimistic growth factor that had been assumed?   If so, is this a one-time correction or a continuing cost factor?  Can anything locally be done to ameliorate this extra expense?    Any time the state retirement increases, we are by state statute required to pay that increase for all eligible employees in the district.  The state used to fund that program, but hasn't funded the increase for several years.

Under the category "District Administration," the total salary has remained about the same, but retirement, Social Security and group insurance DROPPED drastically 2014 to 2014 (amended) and for 2015.    The district administrative decrease was a result in the new reporting procedures because of the new software by the Utah Public Education FInancial System.

Benefits for " Elementary PE Specialists" seem to be twice as high as other positions.  We only apply the benefits toward the Elementary PE Specialists wages, but that section also includes the wages paid for stipends. . .  .

"Group insurance" seem to be somewhat inconsistent in

Wasatch Schools' GRADING

Heber City, Wasatch County:   The just released Utah School report grade indicates that Wasatch schools are, well,  . . . .  . . . average.

One news report indicates that "Eleven percent of Utah’s 855 public schools earned an A, 45 percent a B, 30 percent a C, 10 percent a D and 4 percent an F. Grades are based on a combination of student growth and student performance on criterion-referenced tests in language arts, math and science given in the spring of each year."

Another report states "School grades are calculated on a "bell curve," which means most Utah schools fall somewhere in the middle, "     This means a grade of 80% can earn a "A"  (JR Smith) and a 79% drops you to a "B"  (Old Mill).   That difference is accounted for by a grand total of FIVE points out of 600. 

The full graded report can be found here  ( the grades MAY be based on Utah Comprehensive Accountability System (UCAS) 2013 data, which does not seem to be available yet)  and here for the 2012 UCAS report .    For (apparently) the legislators' view of grading click here.  (Provides a spreadsheet download for ALL schools)

As "curve" grading is often seen as unfair (an A for 80% and a  C for 60% ??? )  and analyses based on more data generally provide more accurate results, this table gives an overview of both sets of data, with an Adjusted Grade (Adj) based on both ratings:

	Points	Percent	Grade	UCAS	Avg	Adj
HVE	368/600	61%	C	56%	59%	D
Midway	378/600	63%	C	65%	64%	D+
JR Smith	480/600	80%	A	86%	83%	B
Old Mill	475/600	79%	B	92%	86%	B+
Timp Inter	418/600	70%	B	69%	70%	C
Rocky Mtn Middle	446/600	74%	B	87%	81%	B
Wasatch High	508/750	68%	C	66%	67%	C-

It appears an $80 million High School may not have attained its suggested academic results, but, that may be OK to many because the primary purpose (sports) seems to be thriving.

As everyone likes to compare to "neighbors," here are some neighborly ratings:

Park City High	594/750	79%	B	86%	83%	B
No Summit High	556/750	74%	B	77%	76%	B-
So Summit High	485/750	65%	C	67%	66%	C-
Duchesne High	581/750	77%	B	88%	83%	B
Union High	431/750	57%	D	81%	69%	C-
No Summit Elem	414/600	69%	C	79%	74%	C+
So Summit Elem	439/600	73%	B	71%	72%	C
Duchesne Elem	383/600	64%	C	67%	66%	C-
Jeremy Ranch Elem	475/600	79%	B	78%	79%	B-

The idea of ratings on GROWTH and PROFICIENCY seems to be be valid - time will tell if it provides valuable information for system USERS. 

Year-Round School Websites

The Wasatch School District apparently will not be providing any information of Year-Round Education - but merely "threatens" its use - if the $62 Million school bond fails      Here are just a few of the multitude of sites discussing Year-Round Schools, in no particular order.

WCSD Promotional Website 'Citizens for Better School' - (but buried deeply in a July 9th post.)

WCSD Social Media Manager, Melissa Campbell's July 9 report on the school board presentation by Rosemarie Smith, Provo principal with ten years of experience with year-round schools.

“The interview with Rosemarie Smith is one data point out of others that will be studied as the board seriously studies year round schools.”    Comment: That serious study apparently was postponed as soon as she finished her presentation and answering questions so the Board could get down to the more serious of getting the $62 Million bond passed. Listen to the complete hearing here.
 

“Provo School District switched half of their elementary schools over to year round schools back in the 1990s for two primary reasons (1) to improve scores and enhance learning and (2) for the cost of one school, three school buildings are saved.”

Utah Schools 2012   

Granite:     "The district began year-round schools about 20 years ago during a high growth period and it is estimated that over the years the decision saved the district $25 million in administrative costs and another $80 million in schools that weren't built, district spokesman Ben Horsley said.

But in recent years, the number of students in the district has stabilized at around 67,000 students, Horsley said. If the district had elected to build more facilities and keep the traditional schedule, students today would be attending half-empty schools."

Jordan:    "In Jordan, 19 year-round elementaries have saved the district from building 13 additional schools, spokeswoman Sandra Riesgraf said. At an average construction cost of $16 million per school, the year-round format has saved taxpayers more than $200 million."

Hanover Research costs and benefits of year round calendar systen

The California Department of Education’s Year-Round Education Program Guide, for instance, highlights some cost savings of year-round education:

• Avoided Costs: capital outlay for additional facilities; avoided extra‐site operation and staffing, including classified, certificated, and administrative personnel, furniture, supplies and
  

WOW, what did they miss?

After unsuccessfully asking for more detailed information plans about the new High School, they've been found.

For those interested the new proposed $60 million High School, more detailed school plans are available at the Wasatch School website. Click on the various "levels" for PDF files (large, allow a few minutes to download). The plans can then be enlarged for greater detail, to see what the individual rooms are being used for.

Would you believe? (all estimated areas at 1" =16 ft at 200% magnification):

• Indoor baseball practice about 25 x 80 = 2000 sq.ft. @$150+/sq.ft. = $300,000+

"Little Theater/Drama" 2000 sq.ft. (in addition to the auditorium)

Varsity Weight room 3200 sq.ft. = $480,000+

Three Basketball courts

4,000 sq.ft. of "news set & production studio"

Racquetball court

8+ offices in the athletic area

A "Student Government" room

5 "team room locker"

Ever cognizant of gender equality, there's also a 2000 sq.ft. "cheer/dance" area

There are 50 + classrooms, too
What ever happened to the swimming pool?

Look for yourself and decide - WANTS or Needs?

Building vs. Salary

Some people have commented that education would be far better served by focusing on the educators (and students, of course) rather than the BUILDING.

I heartlily agree with that sentiment. By focusing on a extravagant oversized school/community center, we, necessarily, place our money where our collective mouth is. Apparently, we value the bricks more than the educators. Again, why not put less money in a new building and more in enticing and rewarding more quality teachers. Expending excessive taxpayer money on buildings will make it even more difficult to garner support for better salaries. It all emanates from the same taxpayers' pockets.

But some say a new school will draw "better" educators.

Granted teachers (and students) might love a NEW school as we all might like NEW cars, clothes, houses, etc. Fiscal conservative (private and public) try to follow the philosophy of "Use it up, wear it out; make it do, or do without." Rational financial advisors recommend avoiding debt. That, IMO, includes private AND PUBLIC debt. $60 million is a substantial debt - $3,000 (plus interest - about $37 million over 21 years) for every man, woman and child in the county.

Please do not be swayed by the "It's only a hamburger a day" type of argument. That's car salesmanship - "This car is only $299/month" (not $35,000) Don't fall for that appeal of the need to sacrifice: "in 1964, our people made a greater sacrifice" relative to property value. I think they may be comparing apples to oranges (see the next entry).

There is a well organized group promoting the "selling" of the bond (apparently, teachers and parents of students, who certainly have every right to do so) See "Vote Yes for a new High School" or the Wasatch School District, which even has a fancy presentation called "sellfolio" but regrettably little information about the new school.

These epistles are merely attempting to present a modicum of balance to the discussion. The school district and "Citizens for Better Education" do seem to have blinders on, IMO, and are simple selling the "car" by any gimmick possible and prefer to sell by emotion.

Most regurgitated poll responses follow the same emotional litany:

It's too old (Old is not bad, I'm considered old by some)
The roof leaks (Fix the roof - didn't we do that?)
crowded (not statistically, or that I could see)
no space (Why is a classroom being used for storage?)
outdated (Is Harvard outdated, Oxford is hundreds of years old - is it outdated? . . .)
need more computers (How many do they need, how many do they have?)
more science labs (that may be valid)
Costs too much to remodel (how does anyone know, no analysis was done?)
need "State of the art" (that changes daily, it seems)

$60 Million & 308,000 Sq. Ft.

Is this reasonable for Wasatch High School?

Total Sq.Ft. - - - 308,000
# Students - - - 1,500 capacity
Cost - - - - - - - -$59,500,000

$/Sq.Ft. - - - - - - $193.18
$/Student -- - - - $39,667 at capacity, $59,500 at start up
Sq.Ft./Student - - 205.3 at capacity, 308.0 at start up

The 2006 School Construction Report (page 6) reports the following National Medians for High Schools:

Total Sq.Ft.- - - 120,000

# Students - - - -1,200

Cost - - - - - - - - $30,000,000

$/Sq.Ft. - - - - -- - $150.00

$/Student - - - - - $25,333

Sq.Ft./Student - - - 162.5

The proposed Wasatch High is above the Medians by:

Total Sq.Ft.- - - 156%
# Students - - - -25%
Cost - - - - - - - - 98%
$/Sq.Ft. - - - - -- - 31%
$/Student - - - - - 56% at capacity, 135% at start up
Sq.Ft./Student - - - 26% at capacity, 90% at start up

How does the proposal compare to other Utah High Schools?

The Utah State Office of Education reports on school construction. Since 1999 they report the building of 15 High Schools, in Utah, as follows:

Location---area------cost-------comp---enrollment---cost/sqft--cost/stud-ft/std
Logan-------9,700----$900,000--mar 99------? - - - - -$92.78-------?----------?
Parowan---17,964----$1,500,000--jun 99----366-------$83.50-----$4,098-----49
Cedar City-233,199--$20,000,000-Aug 00---896------$85.76-----$22,321---260
Tooele-----239,470--$16,736,000--aug 02---1824------$69.89-----$9,175---131
StGeorge---27,382----$2,300,000-jun 00------?--------$84.00-------?----------?

Murray----255,000--$24,000,000-jun 03 --1527------$94.12-----$15,717------167
Granite -----58,000---$6,000,000-sep 02----?--------$103.45--------?---------?
Duchesne----51,666---$4,300,000-sep 03----299------$83.23-----$14,381-----173
Kaysville----321,344--$32,000,000-dec 04--2230-----$99.58----$14,350-----144
Kearns------119,456----Donated---spring 03---?----------$0.00---------?----------?
SLC----------71,273----$7,000,000-dec 03-----?--------$98.21--------?----------?

StG----------61,000---$5,800,000-aug 06-----?--------$95.08--------?----------?
Springville---30,805----$2,900,000-dec 04---1411------$94.14-----$2,055-----22
Syracuse ----383,000--$38,000,000-apr 07----?--------$99.22--------?----------?

How Large should a High School be?

In addition to other information on School construction, the Utah State Office of Education provides a chart of Per Student Space Criteria.

The recommendation for Senior High Schools with a 1500 student enrollment is 145 sq.ft./student or a total school area of 217,500 sq.ft.

For 1,000 students they allow 155 sq.ft./student or a total school area of 155,000 sq.ft.

Wasatch School is proposing 308,000 total area or beween 205 and 308 sq.ft./student.

To further clarify, a note is added:
For purposes of this table, Gross Square Feet is defined as the sum of the area on each floor level, measured in square feet from the exterior walls. It includes all rooms, corridors and storage areas, etc.

50 % too large is 50% too expensive

The SURVEY says . . .

The Survey on the $60 million Wasatch High School was posted to try to gauge the pulse of the community and gather comments about the bond and the proposed High School. The proponents of the bond decided to use (abuse) the survey and turn it into propaganda promoting the YES vote.

They were successful! 78% now report being strongly in favor of the bond.

As promised, the results are now being made public . Reading thorough the comments will show the researcher the intent of the bias group. See the previous comments on the "packing issue below.

Enjoy the comments, some are quite good and could be helpful to those interested in EDUCATION at a conservative cost.

Wasatch FERPA and Common Core

The School Board approved a 30 day comment period on the FERPA changes approved in April, without any review or public comment period.   As this reconsideration was done last week, the comment period ends about 15 June.    Residents may want to weigh in on the subject of releasing private student information.  From the School website:   "For comments on policies contact Vicci Gappmayer here.  Last Modified on Friday at 3:36 PM"     (For comparison the Kitchen Use Policy is also up for review; one might ask which is more important, but we won't.)  
 
An Open Letter to the Wasatch School Board  (sent via , and sent to as LTE to the Wave)

It is my understanding that Wasatch Schools are in the process of reviewing the modifications made to the local FERPA policy.    (Anyone of you is invited to join on the Impact program to provide the answers to these question and discuss the issue. It has been a item of discussion already and, thus far, no one has heeded the request to represent the school.)

1    I also understand that some people are saying it is necessary to make the changes because it is required by law.  If so, could you please provide a reference to that law?  Who gave the information to the school board?

2    If it is NOT required, what is the reason for the change?

3    While the DoE implementation of the Federal FERPA law was changed last year to allow (not require) more dissemination of personal student information, why is it beneficial to the student or parent?

4    If the information is to "prove" the value, or measure the success, of some 2020 goal (see below), how does that justify releasing private information to a database?

5    Do Wasatch County students really need or, benefit from, having K-12 information in some computer database that may only be as secure as the Utah medical records that were breached recently?

6    If it wasn't allowed before the change of rules by DoE; did, or does, the federal FERPA law allow it now?  Have your attorneys checked that?

7    I would also suggest that #8 "To certain designated government or educational authorities;"  is rather vague.   Designated by whom, designated where and for what purpose?

From the DoE for the proposed NPRM to allow release of more personal student info.

Concerning testing, FERPA and private student info dissemination, the DoE modified their regulations governing privacy.

"As States develop their longitudinal data systems, the Department has been informed of significant confusion in the education field surrounding what are permissible disclosures of personally identifiable student information from education records. . . "

"the NPRM proposes requiring a State or local educational authority or an agency headed by an official listed in 99.31(a)(3) to use a written agreement that designates any authorized representative to whom it will redisclose personally identifiable information from education records without consent."

Why is this change needed - according to the proposal? 

"High quality data and robust data systems will help us measure our progress towards President Obama's goal for us to be first in the world in college completion by the year 2020 and better meet the needs of parents, teachers, and students."


Apparently to prove this new program, whether federal or by a consortia, we need to allow the release and collection of MORE private information to "better meet the needs of " the education establishment, federal government and for propaganda and justification.

For more on the NEW Common Core see What is Common Core?  and Utahns against Common Core

More July tidbits

7/23
UVSC taps community input at forumProvo Daily Herald - Provo,UT,USA... some input.". Washburn outlined the purpose of the forum, another of which UVSC held at its Wasatch Campus in Heber City. "We're ...

All eyes on Sanderson at Heelan clinicSioux City Journal - Sioux City,IA,USA... The personable Sanderson won three Utah state prep titles at Wasatch High in Heber City then captured his four NCAA crowns in 1999-2002. ...

Fire danger heads north for the holiday weekendSalt Lake Tribune - United States... In September 2003, the Forest Service's 600-acre controlled burn at Cascade Springs spiraled out of control and scorched 8,000 acres southwest of Heber City.

7/21
Recreation RoundupSalt Lake Tribune - United States... Ice Center in Murray, call Joe, 801-270-7293; for Salt Lake City Sports Complex ... July 30 - Heber Valley Fair Days 10K is at 8 am Visit http://www.sportsnuts.com ...

7/20
From campsite barrier to a feeding pump, Utahns issues patentsSalt Lake Tribune - Salt Lake City,UT,USA... patent No. 6,920,223, invented by James W. Fosgate of Heber City, assigned to Dolby Laboratories Licensing of San Francisco, Calif. ...

7/19
County appeals for control of senior programsProvo Daily Herald - Provo,UT,USA... He told the county the initial application lacked input from senior centers, Wasatch and Summit counties and minutes from meetings in which the proposal was ...

7/18
Search Resumes For Missing Boater On Utah LakeKUTV - Salt Lake City,UT,USA... sonar that helps scan the depths of the water for foreign objects. Wasatch County Sheriff's Office is also helping in the search.

7/17
Deal broker promoting Utah behind the scenesSalt Lake Tribune - Salt Lake City,UT,USA... Checketts spends much of his time in the northeast, commuting between his home in Connecticut and his offices in New York. He also has a home in Heber City. ...
DNC chairman Dean rallies Utah DemocratsWyoming News - WY,USA... ''It wasn't as high-key as I would have expected,'' said Rudi Kohler of Heber City, vice chairman for Wasatch County Democrats. ...
Power goes out in three citiesStandard-Examiner (subscription) - Ogden,UT,USA... Leslie Alan Wilson, 36, of Heber City was killed Thursday by a piece of steel that fell from a construction project on a Mississippi River bridge connecting ...
Utah team set for national rodeo championshipStandard-Examiner (subscription) - Ogden,UT,USA... tie-down roping) and Raechel Wade (girls cutting) swept state saddles during last month's Utah High School Rodeo Association State Finals in Heber City. ...

7/16
Utah Man Killed Building A Bridge In ArkansasKTVX - Salt Lake City,UT,USALeslie Alan Wilson, 36, of Heber City, was helping the crew build a bridge over the Mississippi River to connect two towns when the accident happened. ...

7/15
Dead man's family sues drunken driverSalt Lake Tribune - Salt Lake City,UT,USA... when the company-owned truck he was driving collided with Lott's vehicle on Nov. 5, 2004, east of Soldier Summit in Wasatch County. ...

Education in Digitized Schools

Wasatch is now a few years into Digitized Education.  Are the new school plans taking that into consideration?

$5.7 million spent - so far. Details HERE     Before more 'bricks and mortar' these question needs to be answered:

• If digital learning is the future of education, is there a possibility of a need for different type of physical facility? Or do we simply replicate the past?
• Will more students be capable of learning at home, or on their on time? Is it possible lecture time is on its way out?
• Are we analyzing digitized learning to find the most efficient way to use it? Do we have results of how it is succeeding? Should we WAIT before spending $62 Million? Review this article "As districts design and remodel school buildings, they are working on a belief that classrooms should mirror the workplaces of today and the future"

New Jersey Education Department
Districts across the nation are implementing and evaluating a variety of approaches that allow students ubiquitous access to computing resources for teaching and learning. These approaches have been referred to as anywhere, anytime learning, one-to-one computing, laptop learning, or 24/7 access. In as much as the names differ, so do the possible approaches to achieving ubiquitous computing for the range of pre-K through high school students. The purchasing, funding, and dissemination strategies differ as do the computing devices, software alternatives, and network access.

******

The traditional classroom with rows of desks, a schedule of 50-minute classes, and curriculum consisting of memorization of discrete facts no longer aligns well with this vision of the emerging learning landscape. Instead, public education needs to embrace spaces that are flexible and promote group and collaborative efforts; schedules that allow for engaged, project-based learning; and curriculum that encourages interdisciplinary and cross-curricular research and exploration.

Digitization of Classrooms

Classes will be self paced and conclude with interactive assessments that measure students’ ability to find and use online resources to answer probing questions.

Before then we, as teachers, need to remember that the best way to educate students today is not the same way that we learned when we were students.

Proposed School Buildings - Cost Comparisons

     Recent Utah code has required more transparency in school construction costs this year.  Each School District must submit an Annual Capital Outlay Report.  This year  data from 2004-14 has also been submitted - click here.

      Below are some cost comparisons for 'contemporary projects' to Wasatch's proposals.  Wasatch schools do NOT include LAND costs, the remainder generally do.  School site says "*Costs for all projects include architectural fees, construction, contingency, and furniture, fixtures, and equipment."
  (Land for WSD middle was $2 Million, for Daniel Elementary about $1 Million.)

       Draw your own conclusion but, generally, the only school near the suggested per sq.ft cost being proposed was the 2009 Wasatch High!

			cost	sqft		per sqft	per student
Wasatch	2009	Wasatch HS	$69,532,638	320,000	2,000	$217	$34,766
Proposed	2016	Middle	$33,000,000	142,000	1,200	$232	$27,500
	2016	Elementary	$18,500,000	79,040	800	$234	$23,125
Alpine	2014	Black Ridge	$14,775,948	81,491	1,032	$181	$14,317
	2014	Dry Creek	$16,405,109	77,907	1,032	$211	$15,896
	2013	Frontier Middle	$29,936,515	174,175	1,590	$172	$18,828
Canyons	2013	Butler Middle	$30,492,495	177,000	1,781	$172	$17,121

17 Schools

Average

$19,178,735

122,489

1,004

$157

$19,106

For schools considered, to obtain the above figures, see below:

School Budget - Board Pay

Members of the Wasatch County School Board, find their pay on the high end of comparable sized schools according to Utahsright.com.    From the Wasatch School Budget, the only reference for FY 2011 to 2013 appears to be:

Salaries - District Board and Administration

158,374

157,339

137,500

As the total for five members would be $86,440, and the Superintendent is well over $100K, the remaining amounts must be elsewhere.  Perhaps some of their pay is in Non-Taxable benefits (health insurance??)

School District	Students	Board Member Salary	per student
Park City	4400	$18,385	$4.18
Wasatch	5253	$17,228	$3.28
Iron	8508	$15,982	$1.88
Sevier	4546	$8,515	$1.87
So. Sanpete	3124	$3,000	$0.96
Carbon	3423	$3,000	$0.88
Logan	6120	$4,392	$0.72
Duchesne	4574	$3,230	$0.71
Murray	6417	$3,900	$0.61
Uintah	6993	$3,230	$0.46

Comments - Problems with developments

7. What problems do you foresee with new developments?
pollution, increased txes, urban sprawl, loss of smal town feel, traffic congestion, noise, loss of public safety.
Destruction of a once beautiful valley
Added drain on infrastructure resources if they don't pay for it fully in taxes.
tax increase/more traffic
congestion ,crowded schools and increased traffic. Valley would lose its charm and pollution would be increased. Increased garbage in landfills which might make it necessry for mandatory recycling.
crowds traffic higher taxes air pollution noise pollution light pollution
Congestion, loss of rural environment, polution, tax increases.
Large numbers of people in concentrated geographical areas tend toward crime and failure to know your neighbors. Los Angeles was my last location. Please have enough foresight to avoid creating their problems. "More money for the county" is an extremely high price to pay for all of the big city problems which suck that money away from more vital needs.
Devlopers don't fund them properly and should be forced to landscape them before they are sold. Some homes go ten years before they are landscaped leaving dust bowls throughout the county.
more demands for a City-like business base
Water. Sewer and the lack of a careful process by our government. They seem more interested in pleasing the developer at the expense of common sense.
Crime, Infrastucture impact (sewer, water, roads), traffic. Are we really wanting to become another Park City?
Increased infrastructure and support service costs. Danger of losing the thing that makes everyone want to come here in the first place.
crowding, traffic, pollution, loss of community, crime, increased taxes, rising costs, crime, graffitti, gangs, citification,etc.
In the past, the County has maintained a fast track of growth, without regards to the consequences of their actions. They are supposed to represent the interests of the population instead of a few people and developers who will profit at the populations expense. New developments are not problems, too many develoments are going to be the problem.
More taxes
The cost of land and housing is outrageous. Our children can not afford to get into a small place let alone purchase 5 acres. Then all of the charges on top of that before they can even begin to build a home. Then there are the $ hungry land owners who are holding out to sell their property as one big chunk to a developer.
More traffic, sidewalks, lights,more schools-which we are already paying alot for the ones we have now,more demand on county services. The county seems to discourage many big businesses in, and they are needed with more people. Many residents already leave the county to shop.
Having them pay for themselves. The developer just forwards the costs to the buyer. Then people complain about their children affording a home here. Aspen, Vail, Telluride, Jackson Hole, Sun Valley etc, have not been able to fight it either. Roads need to be widened, and more stop lights on Main Street! More kids in school- we can't just build more schools, we have to pay teachers more to attract QUALITY teachers. That's what the new arrivals are expecting from our education system.
To many to fast, not enough infrastructure to maintain so many new people, main street is a death trap for our children, you can't cross main street unless you are at a light anymore.
The cost is out of control! New developments need to provide funds for truly affordable housing.
Increased traffic in rural areas with drivers not obeying speed limits. It was nice to go for a leisure drive in rural areas, now becoming not an option. Law enforcement rarely enforces speed limits, probably too busy with other issues brought on by increased population density. Developers expect water to be supplied to them, just because they want to develope.
Crowded streets, crime, pollution, greed.
Increase taxes,traffic congestion, pollution, over crowding,loss of rural feel
too much traffic, pollution, and overload on fire protection, and schools...I am old and I am sick of bonds
over running of water, sewer. pollution in the valley that we can not control. traffic, school impacts that are not now paid for by the developer. destroying of open space. destroying the watershed. And new developments seem to bring the need for more services that we neither need or want. New developments allow for our government to get larger and larger with no controls but plenty of spending. We need some wisdom from those involved and not deal making.
If poorly controlled and planned, the only benefit to would be increase retail options, but the quality and quantity of services available would decrease due to an overtaxed governmental system, crime rates would increase, damage to the environment would be greatly increased, and the quality of life would generally be degraded.
Higher taxes to cover increased needs like sewer, water, roads, law enforcement. Housing prices are too high for regular incomes. Restrictions in associations are expensive, limiting and unconstitutional.
too much density and not enough open space, trails, overall planning that is not changed by whims of those whose friends want to sell their property to developers for high density housing. Housing follow the guidelines of a plan that is secure.
1. What appears to be wide spread, haphazard development without sensible planning. 2. Spread of noxious weeds throughout the county with no enforcement of weed control required by developers and land owners. 3. Absentee landowners who take no interest at all in maintaining desirable vegetation such as range grass species to compete with undesirable vegetation. 4. Transportation of noxious weed seeds along with fill dirt and top soil from one site to another. 5. Loss of quality rural life style in Heber Valley. 6. Influx of drugs, gangs, and other undesirable elements into the Valley.
Too much growth for Heber City as it is now built. Overcrowded streets. Downtown Heber has too many cars/trucks/semis as it is.
Totally crowding out the farmland so that the area becomes too "metropolitan".
1. traffic congestion 2. conflicts between gricultural and residential users 3. increased demand for public services 4. increased air pollution
School crowding, rising property taxes, traffic congestion, noise and light polution, increases in crime and stress on county services.
Increased population. Increase demand for services. Increased taxes.
infrastructure not keeping up
More crime.
We have issues to face in the future with the ability to service all the homes. Where will all the trash go? The costs to haul and fill other counties landfill will one day leave us holding our own trash in a place we have not planned to do so! We will then charge the residents more for the services we can not provide as we did not prepare! The same is true of sewer. And with all the deveoplment that is under way let along upon the tables more trash and waste are coming! It appears as if one thought this area was going to be like timberlakes an area where people would build, pay taxes and leave for the rest of the year. People love it here and are willing to llive here no matter the cost. Ten years from now you will look in the phone book and names of the founders will no longer dominate the book it will be new people as the third generation after the founders sold out.
As the growsth accures in the unincorporated areas of Wasatch County there is a burden placed upon the Citizens in the cities in Wasatch County. Everyone shares for expences for say snow removal, Sheriff Dept., road repair, etc. Even though YOU pay for the expences incurred, you don't received the the same treatment if you live in the cities. Midway residents are charged for the Sheriff patroling the streets of Midway. When the snowplows reach the city limits the blades go up. I hope the citizens in the cities wake up soon before they are taxed to death subsidising the the people the live in the unicorporated ares of the county.
Taxes shouldn't go up but they will. We will have more employees and we already are heavy on that end of the scale. We are lacking the infrastructures talked about for years and yet nothing has been done about the talk. We need traffic off Main Street so it is a town rather than a freeway. This means the county and the city have to work as a team rather than two separate cities as they have done for years. We need to work with Daniel, Charleston and Midway. The plan needs to be for the betterment of all of the area rather than benefiting those in office with land or those in office working on borads for a pay check rather than serving. It has been like that for years. The number of new people hopefully won't put up with the networkings that have controlled things from schools to cops it will be a change but one for the better.
Development needs to include low lighting and planned areas for open space. The open space should have a purpose ratehr than just being left as weeds or liability to land owners and County as fire hazard.
The biggest problems will be those of transportation and services to the new developments. We will need more postal delivery people, water and sewer containment and treatment pants. Schools, parks, shopping and churches will be added to the mix. More people living here will demmand more areas for businesses. A palce should be planned for this. Get the city of Heber and Midway together with the County and plan where the shops will be and where the roads will be. Plan the traffic flow and build accordingly. Don't do what happened down at the new area where the two schools are in an industrial park - that was planning without a plan! Kids and trucks are not a good mix.
We see things that were traditions change because size changes the atmosphere of being small. Celebrations become events and the crowds get bigger with fewer faces that you recognize.
No water! Urban sprawl. Muirfield,Timpmeadows etc...........Cottage Homes.........Zermot......
No water, more crime.
Water issues, health issues, safety issues.
Force infrastructural changes. Increase our property taxes, and decrease the rural way of life we have i this valley
More traffic. No more small town atmosphere. More crime.
rising taxes and over crowded schools.
loss of farmland/
Traffic, loss of character of the valley, profits going to people from outside this valley and outside the state, pollution, noise, light pollution.
The lots sizes larger and more expensive. It will allow only higher income people moving here to be able to afford the cost.
They cost existing homeowners, higher values, higher taxes, etc. There must be an impact fee for preserving open space and paying for impacts.
Forcing small family owned businesses out,Too much traffic,not enough WATER!
Crowding,Schools, Water, Power, Road Use
Sewer, Water, Ifrastructure, grabage, crime, and schools finding the balance wil be the hardest part. once a grain it all comes to planing and vision.
Loss of open space; traffic; rising property taxes; need for other businesses and services that again drive further growth. Limited but growing pollution due to traffic and construction industries. Increased crime both in terms of population demographics and new "targets." Effects of economic disparity on community relations.
Too much growth, large beautiful fields being turned into housing developments
Brings in so many people and raises the prices of the homes already here.
cost of infrastructure, policing, water and sewer
No more a nice place to live. Just take a look at Salt Lake.
smog, traffic, noise
drug lord competition
over burden of schools
More governmental services, necessary educational infrastructure, increased traffic demanding expanded roads, traffic lights, drive times; decreased air quality, WATER PROBLEMS, and more.
More traffic, smog. Less open space, privacy

Airport EXPANSION is Back??

*** Updated 2 Dec '15:  The agenda item proposed for the land purchase was removed from the agenda and postponed to a budget modification hearing (to fund the project, it was 'thought' -but apparently, someone thought better of the idea and merely proposed $30K for a study of the issue and an appraisal - stay tuned.) 

Many years ago when we moved to this lovely rural valley, there was an airport that seemed mainly a glider and small airplane operation. Of course that was back in the time that Deer Creek reservoir was covered with sailboats and the valley was filled with alfalfa fields, dairy farms and low density housing.

But, times change. It seems only a decade or so ago that the last proposal to expand the airport was soundly trounced by local residents in public meetings. Well, apparently that expansion plan never really died and appears to be back. 

An interesting scenario is developing.  A few weeks ago the Heber City Council, KPCW report, in a work meeting“discussion,” found a “consensus” to “Acquire Land on Heber Parkway for the Heber City Airport Runway Protection Zone (RPZ).”    Current RPZ map 

Audio of complete meeting          (Meeting Video WTPA)

BUT, that property is under contract, or has been sold, to Maverik for a new gas station and last week, the Heber Planning Commission (Agenda) found that all of the requisite rules had been met and gave “Final Approval” to build and operate the facility.   This location may not be within the current Runway Protection Zone (apparently it IS, after further research, however. . . ) and the Planning Commission has the authority for 'commercial' approval.

However, this Thursday, 19 Nov, Heber City Council's regular meeting has this agenda item: “#11. Approve the Purchase of a Parcel of Land Located on Heber Parkway for the Heber City Airport Runway Protection Zone (RPZ).”    

If the gas station did go into operation, there is a possibility that it would be within the RPZ, IF THE AIRPORT WERE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE LARGER AIRCRAFT.

The price of the property is, reportedly, $1.5 million, and Heber has a vague Email “promise” that the FAA will refund the purchase price under the “Uniform Relocatíon Act appraisal,or reappraisal,” if the money is available, next year.

Before Heber City puts the purchase price upon its taxpayers for the benefit of “The Premier Airport In Utah Serving Park City and Deer Valley,” many questions should be answered:

As the Maverik proposal has received FINAL Approval from the Planning Commission meeting, does Heber City have the authority to override that decision?(click the link below to continue)

October News Bits

10/1 Tabby Mountain roads open to ATVsSalt Lake Tribune - United States... ATV use of that road and the newly improved Coleman Basin Road, on the west side of the block in Wasatch County, is permitted. No ...

10/4 Preparation is important before heading to the huntSalt Lake Tribune - United StatesTim Clark is preparing for the emergency calls that will flood his Wasatch County office this month, with the opening of the rifle elk and deer hunts. ...

10/5 Mayors of Murray, Sandy win first roundSalt Lake Tribune - United States... Roberts. Heber City: Two well-known City Council members, Shari K. Lazenby and David R. Phillips, emerged in the mayoral chase. ...
‘Jewel of the Wasatch'EastOregonian.info (subscription) - OR,USA... Jordanelle State Park is located about 40 miles east of Salt Lake City between Park City and Heber City on US 40 (exit 8). It is a full-service park with ...

10/6 Hot TicketsStandard-Examiner (subscription) - Ogden,UT,USA... ArtTix. HEBER CITY COWBOY POETRY AND MUSIC FESTIVAL, Nov. 3-5, Wasatch High School, Heber City. Multiple events, dinner included with some tickets. $15-$33. ...

Layton steamrolls past FremontStandard-Examiner (subscription) - Ogden,UT,USA... WASATCH, 25-15, 25-17, 25-17: At Heber City, BreAnne Haslam had 12 kills, six solo blocks, three block assists, two digs, eight service points and two aces in ...

10/8 Father, son charged in slaying of Catholic deaconSalt Lake Tribune - United States... On Sept. 25, Armendariz, 42, and his wife had attended a Mass in Park City and he was driving the couple's Nissan pickup to their home in Heber City. ... See all stories on this topic
Courier Dispatching Software Without Using EmailXtvworld (press release) - IndiaHeber City, UT, USA, October 7, 2005 -- DocuDirector Software, a division of MasterTrac (www.mastertrac.com) has just introduced a courier software program ...

10/8 Courier Dispatching Software Without Using EmailXtvworld (press release) - IndiaHeber City, UT, USA, October 7, 2005 -- DocuDirector Software, a division of MasterTrac (www.mastertrac.com) has just introduced a courier software program ...

10/9 Father and son charged in highway shootingNew Utah - American Fork,UT,USA... Armendariz, 42, and his wife had attended church in Park City and were driving to their home in Heber City when he was killed Sept. 25. ... See all stories on this topic
RSL: Holding on to hopeSalt Lake Tribune - United States... Only the Los Angeles Galaxy's 24,017 per game outdrew RSL's 18,600. "The atmosphere's been really good," said Real fan Thomas Stannring of Heber City. ...
New Salt Lake County arts director has a visionSalt Lake Tribune - United States... He chose the wide-open allure of the Summit County town of Wanship - though he is renting in Heber - and a chance to tackle Salt Lake City's theater scene. ...

10/11 Missing Elderly Man In Wasatch County WildernessKUTV - Salt Lake City,UT,USA(KUTV) The search is on at this hour for an elderly man missing in the wilderness of Wasatch County. John Bjarnson, a 78 year-old ...
Update: Missing Midvale man found in good conditionSalt Lake Tribune - United StatesJoel Kohler, a Wasatch County Sheriff's Office captain, said searchers in a fixed-wing airplane spotted John Bjarnson. He was taken ...

10/12 Shadow workers: Hungry, hard-working - boon or bane?Deseret News - Salt Lake City,UT,USA... documentation. Ask the houseful of undocumented workers in Heber who all work at construction or restaurant jobs in Park City. One ...

10/17 Christmas tree permits going on sale Nov. 4Provo Daily Herald - Provo,UT,USA... Midway. Any remaining permits will be sold beginning Nov. 7 at the Heber Ranger District Office, 2460 S. Highway 40, Heber City. ...

10/19 GHS HomecomingTooele Transcript-Bulletin - Tooele,UT,USA... Trudy Aagard Peterson, who now lives in Heber City, said that even though she lived in Gundersen Acres (west of Grantsville) when the school burned, "I could ...
Knights, Darts in must-winStandard-Examiner (subscription) - Ogden,UT,USA... A road victory Thursday over third-place Wasatch (2-2) in Heber City gives the Trojans a 5-0 league mark. The Wasps lead the all ...

10/20 State Names Child-care Centers With Convicts PresentKSL-TV - Salt Lake City,UT,USA... Ashlee Lake, licensed to care for eight children in her Heber City home, said she got a variance for her 27-year-old husband. He ...
Outside PicksSalt Lake Tribune - United States... 7 at the Heber Ranger District Office, 2460 S. Highway 40 in Heber City. For directions to Soldier Hollow, log on to http://www.soldierhollow.com. ...

10/21 Hard work & love of horses yeald state wins for Outbacks 4-H Horse ...Tooele Transcript-Bulletin - Tooele,UT,USA... qualified for state competition. However, Cassie and Brandi were unable to attend the Utah competition held Sept. 20-23 in Heber City,. ...

10/23 "Arkansas' Voice on the Internet"Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (subscription) - Little Rock,AR,USA... The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Beecher of Heber City, Utah. Parents of the bridegroom are Mr. and Mrs. John Bradshaw II of Glendale, Ariz. ...
A beautiful day for opening of Utah's deer huntSalt Lake Tribune - United States... For example, Keith Bates of Heber City had a northeastern region permit while his wife and grandson had central permits. "We should ...
Entrepreneurs Say Utah Is Slow To Buy Wind PowerKUTV - Salt Lake City,UT,USAHEBER CITY, Utah Six years ago, Tracy Livingston sold his $8 million medical device company and �went looking for the next big thing.� An engineer, he ...

10/24 Provo Canyon construction to improve roadwayThe BYU Newsnet - Provo,UT,USA... Also, the US Census Bureau in September named Heber City the second fastest-growing small city in the nation, and growth in the area is expected to continue. ...
Helping hands for uninsuredSalt Lake Tribune - United States... Representatives from Heber Valley Medical Center as well as LDS, St. ... Although Park City is an affluent community, she says, many nonimmigrants working in the ...

10/25 Utah lags behind neighbors in alternate energy productionBillings Gazette - MT, USAHEBER CITY, Utah - Six years ago, Tracy Livingston sold his $8 million medical device company and "went looking for the next big thing." An engineer, he ...

10/28 Mayor hopefuls envision trails, business park in Heber's futureSalt Lake Tribune - United States... And both want to re-tailor this Wasatch County community's commercial district with a new flavor that could include re-routing tractor-trailer rigs off Main ...
Mayor hopefuls envision trails, business park in Heber's futureSalt Lake Tribune - United StatesIt's not exactly an identity crisis, but Heber City is in the throes of discovering what it wants to be. As City Council members ...

10/29 Saddle up and head on downSalt Lake Tribune - United States... He will demonstrate colt starting with Ben Quinters, Friday at 9 am at the Wasatch County Event Center as part of the 11th annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering & ...
NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series - FRI Results from THE STRIP at ...Autochannel - USA... Beach, Calif., '69 Camaro, H/SA, 11.546, -1.214 9) Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '70 GTX, B/SA, 10.632, -1.208 10) Harry Doolittle, Heber City, Mich., '02 ...

10/31 Writers in the SkyNew West - Missoula,MT,USA... as fast food workers. One of these gatherings, natch, is in our fair state, Heber City to be exact. At the Cowboy Poetry Gathering ...

JULY Wasatch News you may have missed

7/10
Plane Goes Down at Heber City Air ShowKSL-TV - Salt Lake City,UT,USAPeople who went to the Heber City air show got a more dramatic performance than they anticipated. A vintage Russian World War II plane was making a fly by... ...

For the RecordSalt Lake Tribune - Salt Lake City,UT,USA... Air Show, the plane lost power, forcing it to land, said Heber police Sgt. ... About 18,000 Utah Power customers, including the Salt Lake City International Airport ...

Man Drowned at Jordanelle ReservoirKSL-TV - Salt Lake City,UT,USA... located the body. The Wasatch County Sheriff's Department has not released the name of the man, pending the notification of relatives.

7/9
UVSC community forum briteNew Utah - American Fork,UT,USAThe university will hold a pair of Board of Trustees Community Forums -- one each in Heber City and Orem. The meetings will be held ...
Faith in actionSalt Lake Tribune - Salt Lake City,UT,USA... group featuring high school students from Provo, Orem, Midway, Heber, Lehi, American ... 11. KidsGames Salt Lake City 2005: Hosted by Holladay Baptist Church, the ...

7/7
No hearing for Hacking until 2035Salt Lake City Deseret News - Salt Lake City,UT,USA... "It just gives the public a feeling that we are more responsible in putting people away," said Heber City Police Chief Ed Rhoades. ...

7/4
Man Fires Several Rounds at Police OfficersKSL-TV - Salt Lake City,UT,USA... reading. Gunfire rattles a quiet community in Wasatch County... when a man starts a standoff with police in Heber City. Tammy Harrison ...
Wasatch County man jailed after firing at neighbors, copsSalt Lake Tribune - Salt Lake City,UT,USAInvestigators are unsure why a Wasatch County man fired several rounds from a shotgun at neighbors and police through the windows of his home Sunday afternoon. ... See all stories on this topic
Bullets Fly In Wasatch County, Suspect Arrested After StandoffKTVX - Salt Lake City,UT,USA(ABC 4 News/AP)-- Police and SWAT teams surrounded a cabin in Wasatch County Sunday evening, after a man reportedly started shooting out of his window. ...

7/2
8 days of wonderArizona Republic - Phoenix,AZ,USA... It wasn't supposed to be there. "That used to be the way to go," said Steve Sanderson, 50, a middle-school assistant principal from Heber City, Utah, who since ...

7/1
Students' creative ads smoke competitionSalt Lake Tribune - Salt Lake City,UT,USA... first radio ad. "It was pretty cool," the Heber City 12-year-old said. "I liked watching it be edited and stuff.". But the Rocky ...

Property TAXES

With the arrival in the mail of the 2006 tax notices, residents can now compute their potential individual annual payment for the new High School Bond.

The indicated rate is about $78/$100K of "Taxable Value," which can be found just above the middle of the Tax Notice. Multiply that value. divided by $100,000, (e.g. for $250,000, multiply be 2.5) by $78 to get your tax increase, should the bond be passed.

Or for a rough figure, your taxes (County resident) will increase by about 8%. For city residents, it's about 7.2%

You may also notice that your current payment for Wasatch County Schools is about 60 to 65% of your total Property Tax bill AND 100% of your STATE INCOME TAX.

Misc. Wasatch News you may have missed

6/12/05
Prep Rodeo: Christensen wins barrel riding, barely Salt Lake Tribune - Salt Lake City,UT,USABy John Coon. HEBER CITY - A drizzling rain made several difficult events harder at the State High School Rodeo Finals. But stormy ...
A home away from home Deseret News - Salt Lake City,UT,USA... After purchasing a 1.5-acre lot in Timber Lakes, a mountain subdivision east of Heber City, Nielsen started construction this year on a $175,000 log cabin. ...
County waiting for aging services decision Provo Daily Herald - Provo,UT,USA... MAG officials have said moving services from the association to Utah County could hurt senior citizens in Wasatch and Summit counties because there will be ...

6/11
Cheap power or big eyesore? Some are fighting windmillsSalt Lake Tribune - Salt Lake City,UT,USA... Heber City-based Wasatch Wind is now churning through the details of the project's first phase to get an initial turbine in the industrial area by next spring. ...

More retail - or - Big Box

Congratulations to the Heber City Council for their rational decision on the Big Box. During that Public Meeting questions were raised about the apparent inconsistent desires of More Shopping Facilities (28% "would like to see in the next five years") vs. Small town feel (28% identified it as the "best about living in Heber). A closer analysis of those wanting more shopping showed that only a third wanted Walmart, Target, etc. but 2/3 of that category want various degrees of other types of retail business (restaurants, clothing, specialties, etc.)

While 5% indicated a desire for a new High School, another 5% decried the deficiencies in the general education system. 14% wanted growth control and 14% complained of traffic and road woes - generally a resultant problem of growth. Rural community and "Small town" were the big winners in the survey.