By Julie Johansen
The Castle Dale City Council tackled a full agenda during its recent meeting.
The city adopted the state code for regulation of times fireworks can be lit in the city. These times are July 2 through 5 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., extended to midnight on July 4. Castle Dale City will have music and snow cones for the public at Cheddar Park on July 4 from 8 to 11 p.m. Citizens are invited to bring their own Utah-legal fireworks to the parking lot for ignition. A fire truck will be available there during this time for safety.
Also at the meeting, councilman Bradley Giles requested word changes to the new lawn watering permit issued by Castle Dale City. The permit will now read that only the recently seeded spot can be hand watered for five minutes every two hours for two weeks. The whole lawn should be kept damp. He also requested that Utah League of Cities and Town’s attorney be contacted to determine if volunteer firefighters, Land Use Committee Members and Code Enforcement Officer are considered employees. It was determined that they are employees, consequently, FICA will now be deducted from their stipends.
No comments were received during a public hearing to determine if the city should apply for a CIB grant to install the salt shed Rocky Mountain Power donated to the city. Castle Dale City will prepare to make a grant application to the Community Impact Board (CIB).
Gordon Bennett, Castle Valley Pageant President, requested a fire truck to help with water at the pageant site the summer. They will need water a handful of times, which will be about $250 to $350. This was approved by the council.
Ryan and Nikki Hayward approached the city about the parking of a semi-truck in the residential area of their neighborhood. Mayor Danny Van Wagoner advised that it is against city ordinances to leave it parked there but it can be parked in driveway if the entire vehicle fits and does not block the sidewalk.
During the meeting, business owner Brett White requested assistance from Castle Dale City to fence the backyard of his mechanic business. This is adjacent to the food court lawn of the city park and would enhance the area if a privacy fence was installed. Discussion included the asset it would be to the city and the need to help in this matter. However, comments were that it would set a president and then would become cumbersome to the city. No motion was received.
Councilperson Julie Johansen tried to present information that she had received on an RPP lease from the Bureau of Land Management on property south of the county jail on Des-Bee Dove road. This property is in the city limits and could be eventually used to make ball parks. However, the council did not entertain the idea. Discussion continued that negotiations with the BLM had failed before, it would be too costly and the need for more ball parks was questioned.
Approval was given for updating the GPS mapping of the cemetery headstones. This will cost approximately $1,800 and will be done by Johansen & Tuttle Engineering.
City fire chief Arrien reported on a regional fire school training in Castle Dale on Aug. 24 and 25. He also said that on June 23, they will be burning a home at 710 West SR29 for training and demolition.
Arrien continued by sharing that State, Federal and BLM will be billed for fire suppression. Private property owners will not if they are in compliance. When questioned why Castle Dale had sent out a fire truck to help with the Trail Mountain Fire, he replied that Castle Dale is the only city here qualified to do this and when called for back up, they responded. He said that the county is requesting part of the payment. In the past seven years, the county has given the Castle Dale City Fire Department $130,000, including a fire truck. The city has paid the county $250,000 over the same period of time. He said Emery County Commissioner Kent Wilson is requesting a MOU between the county and the city. Fire chief Arrien will work on these matters with the county.
Mayor Van Wagoner reported on a meeting with Commissioner Wilson about the Emery County Fair. He stated that the county will pay for whatever preparation time and cleanup time is need from the city. Castle Dale City maintenance will keep a record of these times.
