Just like expectant parents hoping for a tax deduction, backers of Utah County's newest town wanted Saratoga Springs to be born before midnight Dec. 31.
They got their wish when the Utah County Commission approved creation of the county's 23rd municipality Tuesday. Town officials planned to file articles of incorporation with the state lieutenant governor's office the same day."We have a new member of the family," said Commissioner Gary Herbert. "This is a birthday."
The motive behind hurrying the town's "birth" along was the same as that of parents who hope for a newborn before the New Year: taxes. By incorporating before Jan. 1, Saratoga Springs can begin collecting tax revenues right away instead of waiting another year.
After all, growing towns need money as much as growing babies need food.
"I think this area is probably the finest in the state of Utah to build a city in," said new Town Councilman Reid L. Wayman. He cited proximity to Utah Lake and beautiful views of the Wasatch Mountains as the town's strong points.
Beachfront property may be rare in a state known for its desert landscape. But Saratoga Springs provides residents direct access to Utah Lake. The town's 7,000 acres are situated on the northwest shores of the lake, and developers plan to build docks and launching ramps for boats.
Wayman and three other town council members, along with new Mayor Larry Johnson, were sworn into office Tuesday by Utah County Justice Court Judge Scott Cullimore. Minutes later, the council held its first "meeting" in the lobby of the Utah County administration building.
Actually, council members only met for about a minute, just enough time to vote to approve the articles of incorporation. Quick action was needed in order to make sure the town beat the Dec. 31 deadline, they said.
Johnson, 58, a retired Salt Lake firefighter, moved to Saratoga Springs in August. He said one of the town's first priorities will be to create a development plan.
"We want to have a community that people will be proud to be a part of," he said.
Johnson also said he hopes the town will have good relations with its neighbors. Already, developers of Saratoga Springs and Lehi officials have had a tug-of-war over property between the two.
Just before Saratoga Springs filed its petition to incorporate in July, several property owners secretly organized a petition drive to be annexed by Lehi. The bitterness and intrigue left some property owners miffed.
But, Johnson believes, town officials and residents should come together to meet the challenges of providing municipal services such as sewer, water, garbage removal and police and fire protection. He plans to seek help from existing resources such as neighboring cities, the county and the League of Cities and Towns.
"We need to get our planning and zoning department together, we need to get our legal department and building departments going also," Johnson said.
Saratoga Springs developers have been working to build a community on the site of a former water recreation complex for about six years. Throughout the process, Utah County officials encouraged them to seek annexation by Lehi or work to incorporate. After the former option fell through, developers proceeded with the latter.
"We're thrilled," said Mike Dortch, project manager of the development formerly called Saratoga Springs. The development will now have to change its name so it doesn't conflict with the name of the town.
When Dortch filed incorporation papers in July, the town's population was 127.
"We've probably more than doubled that by now," he said. "We've got people moving in there every day."
Besides Wayman, members of the Town Council include Sheri Chadwick, Jim Franc and Robert Kramer. The new mayor and council will serve until Dec. 31, 1999. Elections are scheduled for November 1999.
Commissioners warned the new council that some residents who were included in the incorporation may want out. The council should oblige their wishes, they said.
"If there are those citizens who would like to get out of the town, we certainly hope that those who are appointed mayor and council would work with those people and consider their request to remove themselves," Commissioner David Gardner said.
The last new town to be created in Utah County was Eagle Mountain, located in Cedar Valley, one year ago. Before that, there hadn't been any towns formed since Vineyard a decade ago.