Lakeview Water and Mountain Sewer owner bugs out under investigation pressure.

It was learned recently from Melvin Smith, Ron Catanzaro’s attorney

in the Ogden area, that Catanzaro has left the State of Utah for Nevada.

As reported in this blog, Mountain Sewer Company has been the subject of a Formal Complaint and investigation by the Utah Public Service Commission (PSC) regarding operating problems and billing questions regarding both Mountain Sewer and Lakeview Water Corporations.

Our information is that Catanzaro turned over most or all of his assets to the owner of A-1 pumping pending approval of the Public Service Commission. These assets include both Mountain Sewer and Lakeview Water Corporations. Word on the street is that Mountain Sewer owed A-1 pumping and other vendors substantial unpaid bills for services.

At the pre hearing conference on July 19th the Public Service Commission law judge indicated that a complete audit of Mountain Sewer as requested by the complainants would be one of the first orders of business, and the parties would reconvene in about a month to to discuss the audit results and set the date for the Formal Hearing. It appears that Mr. Catanzaro did not want to face the PSC audit results and examination of his operating procedures detailed in the formal complaint, so he decided to sell out and leave the area.

An initial meeting between the prospective new owner of Mountain Sewer and Lakeview Water corporations and the Ad hoc committee of utility users that filed the formal complaint against Mountain Sewer was held on July 28th. The purpose was to air out some particulars about the sale and transfer of assets and responsibilities and to have some utility customers meet the new owner so they could get to know each other. The new owner committed to working with the users to resolve current outstanding issues and he promised to stay in communication with the utility users on the operations and plans for the future for both corporations. A check with the PSC staff indicated the normal timeframe for approval of an uncontested sale of a PSC regulated company is from 45 to 60 days.

It is not clear as of this writing how this transfer of assets will affect the pending PSC formal complaint or what the reaction of the possible sale is from the Weber County Commissioners who have been the body politic for oversight for Mountain Sewer for many years.

Update on Lakeview Water and Mountain Sewer

A correction to the initial post: The new owner of Mountain Sewer and Lakeview Water is the father of the owner of A-1 Pumping.

WOLF CREEK CANYON TRAIL SATURDAY

WOLF CREEK CANYON TRAIL SATURDAY JULY 30 8 AM - Noon

Please come and help keep

our Weber Pathways Trails clear of Dyers Woad.

Bonus!!: Daypass to Powder Mountain !!! (1 / person)

Meet at the trailhead on Powder Mountain Road (State Route 158), some early birds are starting at 7:30 am so come earlier if you prefer) The trail is in bad "woad shape" and yes it is late in the year, but if we cut and bag it, it will prevent thousands of seeds from washing down into the forest. Some kind of group has don the first 200 yards, but the woad continues up the trail into the Canyon.

Please come and help beat the Woad. Questions: Miranda Menzies

Cell 513-368-4356 Home (Thurs pm onwards 801-745-2793.)

Pre Hearing Conference - Mountain Sewer Formal Complaint

On Tuesday, July 19, 2011, the Public Service Commission Administrative Law Judge, David Clark, conducted a pre hearing conference to lay out the  procedures regarding the Formal PSC Complaint filed by a group of Ogden Valley residents served by Mountain Sewer Corporation.

Judge Clark stated that since there would soon be a request from Mountain Sewer for a rate increase, and a possible sale of Mr. Catanzaro’s water and sewer properties, the complainants request for a complete, independent audit of the utility's accounting books and operating systems by the PSC staff will be one of the first items to be addressed.

When the audit of Mountain Sewer is completed, all parties will again meet to discuss the results of the audit and determine the next step in the complaint process.

The Weber County Commission, who is the designated body politic for Mountain Sewer, chose not to send a representative to the conference today, but sent a letter to the Administrative Law Judge stating their position regarding their responsibilities for oversight of Mountain Sewer.

The Ogden Valley Forum feels the non-participation by Weber County is a disservice to Mountain Sewer customers, especially those in the Lakeside Village Town homes, and is a continuation of Weber County’s inconsistent oversight record regarding Mountain Sewer operational problems. Many of the Lakeside Village town home owners have suffered multiple sewage flooding incidents (the latest March 16, 2011) due to the functional problems of Mountain Sewer’s lift pumps. These town home owners have found a mixture of storm water with raw sewage in their homes during numerous flooding incidents dating back several years.

The Forum urges the Weber County Commissioners to step up and fulfill their responsibilities regarding Mountain Sewer instead of pushing the problems off for future meetings of the Special Service District  board.

Dyers Woad Eradication Event Saturday

Representative Gage Froerer is hosting a Dyers Woad Eradication event Saturday, July 16, 2011.  We just received this reminder and thought it was important enough to pass on.

The event starts at 8:30 am at Snowcrest Junior High.

Representative Froerer and his office will generously provide lunch afterwards.

Click here for details.

The Community is Invited to a Celebration Paying Tribute to Tommy Lee - Outgoing Principal of Valley Elementary

On Sunday, July 10th from 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm, the  community is invited to a family celebration being held in honor of Tommy Lee. After eight years as Principal of Valley Elementary, Tommy is heading off to another school.

  

The celebration will be held on the patio of Harley & Buck’s at 3900 North Wolf Creek Drive.  There will be live music by Dizzy DeSoto, playing fun 50’s and 60’s cover music.

Please join faculty, friends and students for this special event. For more information, please call (801) 745-2060.

OVPC Makes Good Progress on the Issue of Heliports in the Ogden Valley

Guest post by Lee Schussman, Eden

On Tuesday evening, June 28, 2011, in a marathon-length session that lasted the full three and one half hours allotted for such meetings, the Ogden Valley Planning Commission (OVPC) tackled the problems associated with commercial helicopter landing and takeoff sites (“landing zones” or LZs) in the Ogden Valley.

Newly elected Commission Chairman Kevin Parsons and Commissioners Graves, Howell, Montgomery, and Warburton fully upheld their previous commitments to accept public input and to devote time and effort to the heliport issue.

At the meeting, Sean Wilkinson of the Weber County Planning Division reviewed the last 18 months. During that time, commercial helicopters have operated out of the Ogden Valley without the necessary Conditional Use Permit (CUP), there has been much public concern and discussion on the issue, an emergency CUP has been issued, a subsequent heliport CUP application has been denied, an appeal to that denial has been filed, and an application to remove heliport from CV-2 zoning has been filed. (For more detailed history, please see previous postings on the Ogden Valley Forum under “heliport.”) Mr. Wilkinson stated that the use of helicopters in the Ogden Valley is believed to be desirable in appropriate locations. Given that assumption, he went on to recommend that the OVPC needed to define “heliport” and “helistop”, and he outlined four possible options for the OVPC to consider regarding helicopter LZs:

1. Remove heliport as a designation in CV-2 zoned areas (all of which are currently on the valley floor.)
2. Allow heliports only above 6200 feet in elevation.
3. Allow heliports only above 6200 feet in elevation and only in DRR-1 zoned areas (the zoning for some ski resorts).
4. Allow heliports in any ski resorts (regardless of the resorts current zoning) above a certain elevation.

Ogden Valley residents David Holmstrom (who had started the process and financed the applications to change the text of the Weber County CV-2 zoning ordinances), Steve Clarke (who is head of the Ogden Valley Gem Committee), Ron Tymcio, and Lee Schussman had all variously presented at OVPC meetings, met with County Commissioners, obtained input from many dozens of Ogden Valley residents, and met with many business people from the Ogden Valley. At Tuesday’s meeting, their input was repeatedly welcomed by the OVPC, and vigorous discussions ensued.

Among the many issues discussed were:

1. Definitions need to be established. Likely the OVPC definition of “Heliport” would include permanent infrastructure facilities for such things as fueling, maintenance, parking, and other customer services at the site; and “helistop” would simply be a landing pad with no other permanent facilities.

2. The desirability of keeping LZs off the valley floor.

3. The need to continue to address safety and noise considerations.

4. The possibility of placing a limit on the minimum elevation for helicopter LZs—likely 6200 feet.

5. A need to decide on the CV-2 zoning issue: “Heliport” can be continued as a conditional use in CV-2 until other plans for helicopter LZs can be made, since no CUPs would be granted now until the issue is resolved. (If a minimal elevation is established as 6200 feet for LZ’s, it may be a moot point to remove heliport from CV-2, as all current CV-2 sites are on the Valley floor.)

6. The desire to accommodate and promote legitimate business interests in Ogden Valley.

7. The need to include possible future roles of helicopters for uses other than heli-skiing. Activities such as sight seeing, hunting, cross country skiing, and access to back country areas were all discussed.

8. The need to decide in which zoning areas heliports and helistops should be allowed so as to not discriminate in granting CUPs to one business over another.

9. The possibilities of having zoning in some areas for helistops (e.g. F-40, Forest Zones) and in others for heliports (e.g. DRR, resort) zones.

10. The fact that “airports” are already in the F-40 zoning ordinance could make it logical to also include “helistop” there.

11. The potential for any legitimate business to plan and place helipads in F-40 zones should help create a development-friendly accommodation for such future LZ areas.

12. The possibilities (or lack there of) of placing conditions (such as altitudes and flight paths) on helicopters.

13. The desirability of establishing fair, enforceable policies now to avoid repetition of the last 18 months and future problems.

The OVPC concluded the planning session by requesting that the staff:

1. Create formal definitions of heliport and helistop.
2. Report back with a process that would keep heliports and helistops off the Ogden Valley floor by establishing a minimum elevation of 6200 feet for LZs.
3. Report back with a process that could place “heliport” in the DRR zone and place “helistop” in the F-40 zone.

These are HUGE steps in the right direction. Proper siting of heliports is a complex and specialized issue, and the OVPC deserves MUCH appreciation and thanks from all Ogden Valley residents and businesses as it continues with the very difficult tasks necessary to protect the interests of both Valley residents and potential Ogden Valley businesses.

URGENT -- Green Valley Academy Files for Well Permit - Protests must be submitted by June 22, 2011

Green Valley Academy has filed for a well permit under Jared Balmer.  Protests need to be filed before June 22, 2011.  Click this link for instructions on protest filing  Anyone concerned about their water must file a protest.   

To date, only 4 neighbors have filed a complaint, but this request for 13 ac./ft. of water could have far reaching effects to those both near the property and beyond.

Don't sit back and assume someone else is going to do this for you. If you have a a concern, file a protest on your behalf. 

Click this link and select the county "Weber" and it will pull up the current petitioned wells. Instructions on how to file are at the top of the web page.

Here's the pertinent info from the link.

35-12590	E5204	Jared Balmer	Pineview Reservoir	IO	Weber	13 acft	Apr 27, 2011
		1166 Sunset Dr.	Sec 16 T 6N R 2E SLB&M				May 26, 2011
		Kaysville, UT 84037	Huntsville			YES	Jun 22, 2011

APPLICATIONS IN CURRENT ADVERTISING CYCLE

Persons objecting to an application must file a CLEARLY READABLE protest stating FILING NUMBER, REASONS FOR OBJECTION, PROTESTANT'S NAME AND RETURN ADDRESS and any request for a hearing. Protests must be filed with the State Engineer, Box 146300, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6300 on or before the 'Protest End Date' associated with each application found below.

NOTE: Please be aware that effective, July 1, 2009, there will be a $15.00 fee for each protest filed.

STRINGS FOR STRINGS

A Free Bluegrass Concert for Tennis

Friday, June 3, 6:30 pm 

Snowcrest Jr. High

Featuring Kort McCumber

                A talented, multi-instrumentalist, McCumber plays everything from guitar, banjo, mandolin, harmonica and piano in his brand of Americana that is one part rock and blues, two parts country-bluegrass and all parts McCumber.  His songwriting abilities have made him a Colorado favorite and garnered him national and international recognition.  Accompanying him on the bass will be Jim Gillmore.

Come enjoy a delightful evening with your community.  Wear your bluejeans.  Bring a comfortable camp chair if you wish and a snack to share.  (Snowcrest has folding chairs).

Learn how you can help build your community tennis complex

                                “brick by brick”.

Architectural drawings for the Ogden Valley Community Tennis Complex, donated by Van Zeben Architecture will be on display, as well as samples of the commemorative bricks and stones that will be used in the entry plaza to the courts.

*Kort will also be featured at the Ogden Music Festival on Sunday, June 5^th.  Location for the festival has been changed to North Fork Park.

Closure of North Ogden Divide

Guest Post by Sally Lindsay   Resident Huntsville

I am concerned about the planned closure of the North Ogden Divide (NOD) beginning June 1^st.

We have three roads in and out of the Ogden Valley. 

1. Ogden Canyon

2. Trapper’s Loop

3. North Ogden Divide 

Avon and Monte Cristo are snow covered and not useful at this time.

Causey reservoir has been full and pouring over the top of the spill way since the 14^th of May.

The real melt has not begun.

The water from Causey Reservoir crosses SR – 39 shortly before the Trapper’s Loop Road.

Pineview Reservoir is 83% full according to KSL May 26^th with over double its entire capacity still in the mountains.

If Causey were to break, a fair section of SR -39 between Huntsville and Trappers Loop would likely be washed out.

This would move all of the Ogden Valley traffic over the Dam, if the NOD were closed.

If water were flowing over Pineview Dam, this road could close  --  and with 200% of capacity yet to fill an 83% full reservoir, and the potential of Causey Dam water crashing into Pineview, this seems like a possibility..

Can the NOD please stay open until later in the summer when we can better access the flood situation?

Happy Memorial Day!

We are wishing all a Happy Memorial day.  Be sure to participate in some of the celebrations honoring our vets Monday at our local cemeteries.


American Legion Post 129 will be hosting ceremonies at each cemetery.  Additionally, the new Huntsville Veteran's Monument will be dedicated.  The monument is in honor of ALL Vets of ALL services and ALL wars. 

9 AM - Liberty Cemetery

9:30 AM - Lower Eden Cemetery

10 AM - Upper Eden Cemetery

11 AM - Huntsville Veteran's Monument Dedication - Huntsville Cemetery

12 PM - Huntsville cemetery - American Legion Ceremony

Planning Commission Meeting Summary

By Fred

As expected, the Planning Commission voted to move the Therapeutic School item to a working meeting June 7. Everyone is invited to come and participate.

It is unfortunate that all who attended and ready to comment were not allowed to comment. I thought they could have handled it better. Even Ben Hatfield got cut off in the middle of is Staff summary.

Another Important Ogden Valley Planning Commission Tonight @ 5 PM

Therapeutic School Zoning Amendment on Agenda

The meeting will be held in the:
Weber County Commission Chambers,
Weber Center (2380 Washington Blvd).
The meeting will begin at 5:00 p.m.
 
Huntsville resident Fred Smullin has spent many hours drafting new language for an amendment to the Weber County Zoning Ordinance that addresses the definition of a school.   Be sure to attend to support Fred's efforts (or dispute them if you feel so inclined).

From the agenda:

3-3. ZO 2011-1 Consideration and/or action on a text amendment to the Weber County Zoning Ordinance by amending the definition of “school,” and adding the definition of “Therapeutic School,” establishing facility requirements and to include “Therapeutic School” as a conditional use in the F-5, F-10, F-40, AV-3, FR-3, and CV-2 Zones (Fred Smullin, Applicant) 

Two more important items are on the agenda:

3-1. UVR 030209 Consideration and action on a request for a variance to the Weber County Subdivision Ordinance to allow an additional time extension of final approval for The Retreat at Wolf Creek Utah Subdivision Phase 1, in the RE-20 Zone, located at approximately 5334 East Elkhorn Drive (Rob Thomas for Wolf Creek Properties LC, Applicant)

3-2. Deferrals Consideration and action on a recommendation to the County Commission regarding options for deferrals of public improvements (curb, gutter, sidewalk, asphalt)

We will note the importance of item 3-1 as the proposed land in zoned RE-20, which is among the most dense zoning in Ogden Valley.