AMERICAN FORK
The city plans to spend up to $75,000 to design a new city hall and public safety building and is seeking proposals from architects and designers.In the November 1997 election, voters approved funds to purchase land from the Alpine School District for its former warehouse, four adjacent homes and a portion of the parking lot of the former Harrington School for the building. The city also plans to use the building for court uses. Fourth District Court has been renting space in the city's present public safety building.
BIRDSEYE
The Utah County Commission is considering closing the Nebo Creek Road to vehicular traffic during the winter, in response to concerns registered by the Department of Natural Resources/Division of Wildlife Resources.
Jordan C. Pederson, regional supervisor for the department, made the request which will be addressed in the Dec. 8 commission meeting. He's asking that closure begin this season. Nebo Creek Road is located west of the Birdseye community, up Spanish Fork Canyon towards Thistle, on the southern edge of the Utah County border.
HIGHLAND
Residents living along 6000 West want to bury new power lines to protect their view, one resident told the City Council. Michele Erekson is pounding the pavement asking residents in the Oak View, Quail Creek and Dry Creek subdivisions if they are willing to pay up to $1.5 million, or $680 per household per year, to bury three-quarters of a mile of line. She asked the City Council to approve an election to form a special improvement district.
Erekson said the power lines Utah Power plans to put in are not the standard height of less than 20 feet but are 138,000-volt 40-foot lines. The power they carry will not serve Highland but communities south. Mayor Jess Adamson encouraged the residents to gather signatures quickly, since Utah Power plans to put in the new lines early next year.
PROVO
The City Council has printed pamphlets to help residents communicate more effectively with municipal government. The tri-fold handout contains guidelines for speaking to the council during its twice monthly meeting. It also spells out Council powers and describes Provo's form of government and how it works.
The pamphlet suggests that complex information be submitted in writing and, in fact, says writing letters is the best way to submit comments, ideas and feedback. Calling Council members at home is also recommended, although the handout does not list Council members' names, districts or telephone numbers. It does, however, provide phone numbers for the Council office (852-6120) and the Mayor's office (852-6100). The Council's e-mail address is provo.council1@email.state.ut.us.
SPANISH FORK
A public hearing has been set for Dec. 22 at 9 a.m. by the Utah County Commission to discuss extending the airport overlay zone to include a several mile radius from the runway of the Spanish Fork-Springville airport.
The cities of Spanish Fork and Springville are concerned about protecting the airport's ability to expand, said applicant Richard Nielson for Spanish Fork.
SPRINGVILLE
Eight graduates of a "police academy" of the Springville Police Department now know what it's like to don a badge, uniform and gun. Springville residents completed a 10-week course designed to give them a better idea of what police do in the city. Officers also hope the program will prompt more residents to become more involved in maintaining the peace.
Police instructed classes on traffic stops, basic firearms safety, how to handle an accident, domestic violence situations, information on gangs and drugs and what to look for during a crime-scene investigation.
Got news? Call the Deseret News Utah County Bureau at 437-7600 or fax your information to 437-7624.