Council Member Jolley - no report
Council Member Rusick complemented those who worked on the Veteran’s groundbreaking ceremony that was held today.
Council Member Roberts reported it today was a great day for Ivins City, Veterans in Southern Utah and all those who have sacrificed.
Council Member McDonald reported there will be a presentation at the first of the year by the Washington County Solid Waste District for money collected from the binnies for the recycling program.
Council Member Elwell - no report
Mayor Hart referred to the Veteran’s groundbreaking ceremony that was held today and stated a lot of credit goes to individuals who led their Veterans groups in the area and put a lot of work into this, two of which were Bill Stay and Bill Toole. He also acknowledged and thanked the Snow Canyon High School band and the Lava Ridge Intermediate School band for attending and performing at the ceremony in the inclement weather and doing a great job.
Mayor Hart provided an update on the request of an Ivins citizen regarding the options for electrical service. He has had lengthy discussions with a number of individuals including Engineers, power providers and others. It would be an extremely difficult and expensive thing for the City to become a municipal power provider and entity, primarily because of the cost of purchasing the infrastructure which is estimated to be $21 million dollars. The costs include servicing that debt, wholesale power, charges to run the power down the various lines to the City and staff time for maintenance and installation of transformers. The City would be looking at a cost of between .12 to .13 cents a kilowatt hour, which is substantially higher than what Ivins residents are paying now. The only feasible option, which is an extremely difficult option in a different way, would be to involve Dixie REA (Rural Electric Association), but there are some real complications there. One of the individuals that has been extremely helpful to the Mayor is an Engineer in Salt Lake City, Utah that works with municipalities and power companies in determining rate structures and so forth. The Engineer gave the Mayor a chronology and history of how the City of St. George and Santa Clara City became municipal power companies, which occurred fifteen (15) or twenty (20) years ago. At that time there was a major change that was taking place and the opportunity was there for those cities. Ivins was given the same opportunity at that time but the population of Ivins was so small then that it was not feasible from a cost standpoint so the idea was rejected. A lot of things were cemented at the point in time with the intent that that would be the way that it would be from that time going forward. Rocky Mountain Power would not be agreeable to some kind of amicable disposition of their infrastructure in Ivins. To have another company come in to Ivins is very complicated politically as well as economically. The Mayor continues to explore options with Dixie REA and he will provide a report to the Council after a few more discussions with them. Council Member Rusick inquired if the City were to pursue this if it would go before the general public to decide. Mayor Hart stated "yes".
Council Member Jolley indicated there are a lot of people in the community that are interested in options and suggested that once the Mayor has had his discussions with the different individuals and entities that a summary of this issue be included in the newsletter so the rest of the community knows the City has investigated the options.
Judy Gubler provided follow-up notes from the last City Council meeting, a copy of which are available by request through Ivins City Hall. She indicated that the neighborhood meetings start in January and will be held on January 12, 2012, January 26, 2012, February 9, 2012 and February 23, 2012. Regarding other municipalities requiring mandatory spaying and neutering of animals, twenty-four (24) requests for information were sent out and twenty-four (24) responses were received. None of those municipalities require mandatory spaying and neutering of animals. There are a number of programs that support and recommend education and reward citizens who spay and neuter their animals. She will provide that information to the Council and indicated the City may want to look at the current fee structure. Regarding the Historic Township notices, those are expected to go out this month and will include the actual assessment, information on the Good Samaritan Fund and how they qualify for that, points of contact, and how to acquire the property for the easement. A resident inquired about the City having a Veteran’s Cemetery as part of the City’s focus on Veterans. The City was notified of a .30 cent increase for solid waste. At this point the City has absorbed that increase and at some point increases will need to be paid by the residents. The "What’s Up Down South" economic summit will be held on Wednesday, January 11, 2012.
Dale Coulam indicated Tami Moody City Treasurer is moving to Salt Lake City. The position is part-time and the City has advertised the position. The position is an appointed position so the Council will see the appointment on a future agenda.
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Items to be placed on future agendas |