If you're traveling through this pleasant community of some 10,000 people, don't get thirsty, hungry or run out of gasoline.
Why? Because no stores or gas stations are there. Clinton is probably Utah's only city with 5,000 or more people that lacks such essential services. However, change could be in the wind.Maverik Country Stores wants to bring gasoline, food and drink back to town. The problem is that the City Council and many residents aren't sure the location the convenience store has selected - the northwest corner of 1000 West and 1800 North - is appropriate.
At a public hearing Tuesday night, the City Council tabled the company's request to rezone the one-third acre parcel from residential to a performance zone status that could allow the construction of a store.
The problem - the proposed store would be almost directly across 1800 North from Clinton Elementary School.
"It would give the kids one more reason to cross the busy street," Clinton City Manager Dennis Cluff said, summarizing many citizen complaints over the location.
Cluff said while crossing guards could help ease the safety problems after school, the store would be there year-round and also present possible safety hazards in the summer, late evening and morning.
"It's all part of growth. This is an emotional issue," Cluff said.
When the City Council will readdress the rezone proposal isn't clear yet. The issue may or may not surface at the next council meeting on Sept. 10.
Cluff agreed it is unusual for a city of Clinton's size not to have so much as a service station. The city's last service station, at the corner of 2000 West and 1800 North, closed some months ago to make room for a new traffic signal on the corner. About the only business the city has is a bank - First Security.
He said there's probably not currently even a vending machine in town to purchase a soda pop or candy bar. Like others, Cluff believes the city is coming of age and its first-ever traffic signal - that could arrive this fall - and eventually a convenience store are part of that.
If the rezone is approved, Cluff said the specifics of the store - including potential beer sales - would be discussed in detail. Under Clinton's current ordinance, Maverik would be too close to the the elementary school to allow the sale of beer.