Some unopposed Weber candidates easily attract sizable donations

Summit Donates To County Commissioners

Cathy McKitrick spills the beans in this morning's Standard article

Some unopposed Weber candidates easily attract sizable donations

McKitrick details campaign donations to several candidates who are running unopposed.

From the article,

No one from any political party mounted a challenge this year to Republican incumbent Kerry Gibson, who will sail to a second term as Weber County commissioner this November. The former state lawmaker’s Oct. 28 report — the first he’s been required to file this year — showed that he started with a fund balance of $13,302 and brought in $12,650 in donations throughout 2014.
Gibson’s largest donations include $5,000 from a political action committee called Preserve Ogden Valley, two $1,500 contributions from Randall Moulding and a business called AFC Tanks, and $1,000 from Staker Parsons, a six-decades-old sand, rock and concrete company. 

Records show that the Preserve Ogden Valley PAC was launched in December 2013 by Elliott Bisnow, founder and chief executive officer for Summit, the visionary company that purchased Powder Mountain earlier that year.
Reports show that in early January, Summit Mountain Holding Group LLC — the real estate development arm for Summit — contributed $12,000 to Preserve Ogden Valley in three separate donations. And on Jan. 10, $5,000 went to Friends of Kerry Gibson, and $5,000 to Friends of Matt Bell. Matthew Bell was elected to a four-year term on the Weber County Commission in 2012, so will not appear on this year’s ballot. 

For Gibson’s part, he underscored that every election is important to him.
“I have been very busy knocking on doors, attending gatherings, listening and learning all that I can to understand the issues that voters feel are important,” Gibson said by email Wednesday afternoon. “I have found that there is solid support for the positive momentum that we see here in Weber County, and for that, I am truly grateful. I will continue to work hard to move forward in a way that the voters can be proud of.” 

Attempts to reach someone who could speak for Summit or the Preserve Ogden Valley PAC Wednesday were unsuccessful.  

In late May, Summit Mountain made another $2,500 donation to the Preserve Ogden Valley PAC, funds which went out a day later to James Ebert, the Republican candidate running unopposed for the third commission seat on this year’s ballot. 

Ebert, a Farr West resident and Riverdale police lieutenant, won his party’s nomination at the Weber County GOP convention in April, when he beat out incumbent Jan Zogmaister and challenger James Humphreys. No Democrat filed to run against him. 

Ebert reported a total of $6,230 in donations since April, with $2,500 from Summit, $1,500 from the Northern Wasatch Association of Realtors, $1,000 from the Weber County Republican Party (at Bell’s home address), and $1,000 from Randall Moulding. 

On Oct. 6, Preserve Ogden Valley PAC gave $500 each to Weber County Treasurer John Bond and Clerk/Auditor Ricky Hatch. Both are incumbents; Bond faces off against Democrat Jared Erickson, an Ogden certified public accountant; Hatch is opposed by Democrat and former state lawmaker Neil Hansen. 

“Usually people spend money on campaigns to get a return on their investment, but they don’t waste their money,” said Leah Murray, an associate professor in political science at Weber State University.
“I don’t know if you’re buying influence so much as access,” Murray added. “If you want to make sure they take your call, you give.”

We are guessing the commissioners will now take calls from the Summit folks.

Wolf Creek golf course has new local owners

Due to the importance of the issue, this article from the Salt Lake Tribune is being posted in its entirety.

Acquisitions » Lewis Homes leads group trying to revive troubled Eden resort.

By Mike Gorrell

| The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Sep 25 2014 05:10 pm • Last Updated Sep 25 2014 05:10 pm

Local owners have purchased Wolf Creek Golf Course in Eden for an undisclosed price.

John Lewis, managing partner of a group calling itself Wolf Creek Utah, said the golf course was purchased earlier this month from KRK Wolf Creek, which had acquired the Ogden Valley course in September 2012 from Zions Bank.

The renowned course was the site of the 2005 State Amateur tournament, is certified by the Audubon Society and boasts one of the state’s hardest holes, the 579-yard No. 9 with a slanting fairway and a pond that extends almost the width of the green.

The bank took title to the property in 2010 when Wolf Creek Resort filed for bankruptcy. Its holdings were divided among several creditors, with Zions Bank getting the golf course.

Wolf Creek Utah includes Lewis, owner of Lewis Homes Inc., along with Capon Capital andDestination Properties, he said.

"The resort works much better if all the pre-bankruptcy pieces are owned by one entity," said Lewis, noting that in recent years, the Wolf Creek Utah group purchased several other parts of the former resort.

"With the acquisition of the golf course, we can now integrate resident and commercial development with semi-private golf and other community-based activities," he said. "We now have a way to bring back the resort, a sense of community that essentially vanished with the recession and bankruptcy."

Lewis said the new ownership team intends to invest resources into upgrading the golf course. He also wants to build a community center that will be open to everyone in the Ogden Valley. "We also plan to add a gym and other exercise and health amenities in the near future," he added.

The purchase does not include Pineview Lodge or what’s known as the Harley and Bucks building, Lewis said. Those structures were bought recently by Summit Holding Co., which owns Powder Mountain ski area above the Ogden Valley.

Run for Jodi Bailey October 4th @ 8:00 am, Huntsville Town Park

Huntsville Native Jodi Bailey has been diagnosed with adrenal failure.  Her medical bills are mounting and the Police Wives of Utah is having a fund raiser to support Jodi. Here are the details:

RUN FOR JODI BAILEY 1st Annual Run/Walk/Crawl October 4th at 8:00 am at the Huntsville Town Park.  The Police Wives of Utah will be hosting a fund raising event to help Jodi Bailey with her medical bills. If you feel inclined to run, walk, crawl, or simply make a donation to this great cause, it will be greatly appreciated. Huntsville loves its local people and hope we can all support the Bailey's as they go through this difficult time. Click here for more details and to register. If you cannot attend but would like to make a donation, click here and mention Jodi Bailey in the special instructions section of the donation form. If you have questions email: PWOUwives@gmail.com

Important Weber County Planning Commission Meeting Tonight

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.

Following the regularly scheduled meeting, there will be a work session to discuss the General plan that is currently being updated.

1. Minutes:

1.1. Approval of the August 26, 2014 and September 2, 2014 meeting minutes.

2. Consent Agenda:

2.1. UVS081214: Consideration and action on a request for preliminary approval of the Satterthwaite Southfork Ranches Subdivision consisting of 5 Lots at 1050 South 7900 East within the Forest Valley-3 (FV-3) Zone

(Dale Satterthwaite, Applicant)

3. Petitions, Applications and Public Hearings:

3.1. Administrative Items

a. New Business:

1. CUP 2014-11 Consideration and action on a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application for the placement of temporary sheds and temporary storage units, removal of maintenance building and ski shack, reconfiguration of the parking area to allow for a stage platform extension and minor “glading” to identify future walking/biking trails and ski run areas at approximately 3567 Nordic Valley Way in the Commercial Valley Resort -1 (CVR-1) Zone (Skyline Mountain Base, Applicant)

2. CUP 2014-23 Consideration and action on a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application for Digis Internet Wireless Transmission Site located on a vacant property identified as Parcel # 20-036-0042 in the Forest Valley-3 (FV-3) Zone

(Dennis Watt, Applicant)

4. Public Comment for Items not on the Agenda:

5. Remarks from Planning Commissioners:

6. Report of the Planning Director:

7. Remarks from Legal Counsel:

8. Adjourn to Convene a Work Session:

The Weber County Commission and Ogden Valley Township Planning Commission Joint Work Session

5:00 P.M.

WS1. Introduction: Ogden Valley General Plan Update Work Plan and Process

Presented by Logan Simpson Design

Download a full copy of the Ogden Valley September 30, 2014 packet, in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), here. Packets are available only for the current agenda and approximately thirty days after that date.

Canyon Closures today.

Tuesday, Aug. 19:  Crews will make preparations for the barrier removal Tuesday morning.  One-way traffic will be directed by flaggers from 8 a.m. to noon and motorists should expect up to 15-minute delays.   The canyon will then be fully closed (mouth of the canyon in Ogden to Pineview Dam) from noon to approximately 4 p.m. for barrier removal from the river.  This work will be coordinated with striping operations for the chip seal project so tentatively, they will both be done simultaneously.

As an alternate route, motorists may use SR-167, the Trappers Loop Highway via Interstate 84 through Weber Canyon.  The North Ogden Divide is open as well.

Ogden Canyon Construction Update

The following are planned activities for the UDOT chip seal project on SR-39 through Ogden Canyon between Harrison Blvd. in Ogden and Pineview Dam. Please note that due to weather conditions, emergency situations or equipment/supply issues, schedules are subject to change.

Due to equipment problems today, chip sealing operations on SR-39 have been extended intoSunday, Aug. 3 in the mid- to upper part of Ogden Canyon.

Sunday, Aug. 3:  One-way traffic will be directed by pilot car and motorists should expect up to 15-20 minute delays from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.  Crews plan to broom the mid-section of the canyon between approximately 5 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. and then chip seal operations will resume in the upper part of the canyon through approximately 6 p.m. for the final one to one and a half miles to Pineview Dam.

Motorists are encouraged to reduce driving speeds to help protect against vehicle damage from “fly rock,” which occurs when newly laid chips are driven over by vehicles at high speeds.  The roadway will be swept periodically over the next few days to remove loose rocks, but vehicles traveling at high speeds may cause new chips to dislodge and damage vehicles.

Aug. 4-5:  Once the new chip surface has been placed, an asphalt-based seal coat will be applied.  Weather permitting, one-way traffic will be directed by pilot car through the length of Ogden Canyon and motorists should expect up to 15-20 minute delays from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday (Aug. 4) and Tuesday (Aug. 5).

Motorists with time sensitive travel should plan accordingly and consider alternate routes, such as SR-167, the Trappers Loop Highway via Interstate 84 through Weber Canyon, to expedite their trip.  Stakeholders with questions about this project can contact the project hotline at 801-419-9554.

Important Planning Commission Meeting July 22, 2014 @ 5 PM

The Ogden Valley Planning Commission will be holding an important meeting Tuesday, June 22 @ 5 PM and the Weber County Commission chambers.

Among other items, the Ogden Valley Maximum Density Study will be presented along with the Powder Mountain Master Plan.

Here is the agenda:

1. Minutes:

1.1. Approval of the June 24, 2014 meeting minutes

2. Petitions, Application and Public Hearings:

2.1. Administrative Items:

a. New Business:

1. CUP 2014-16: Consideration and action on a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application for a dog kennel at approximately 5784 E 2300 N in the Agricultural Valley-3 (AV-3) Zone (Stacey Bowman, Applicant)

2. CUP 2014-14: Consideration and action on a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application to amend an existing site plan on a cellular wireless facility located at 3925 Snowbasin Road in the Ogden Valley Destination Resort (DRR-1) Zone (Verizon, Applicant; Pete Simmons, Agent)

3. Presentation:

3.1. Ogden Valley Maximum Zoning Density Study

4. Presentation:

4.1. Powder Mountain Master Plan

5. Presentation:

5.1. North Fork Park Master Plan - Jennifer Graham

6. Public Comment for Items not on the Agenda:

7. Remarks from Planning Commissioners:

8. Report of the Planning Director:

9. Remarks from Legal Counsel:

Adjournment

Download a full copy of the Ogden Valley July 22, 2014 packet, in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), here. Packets are available only for the current agenda and approximately thirty days after that date.

Music In The Mountains July 26th

Ogden Canyon and Highway 39 construction update.

UDOT will be performing work in Ogden Canyon tonight (7/17 – 7/18).  There will not be any closures. There will be lane restrictions and flagging crews will be directing traffic from 7:00 pm to 5:30 am each night between the mouth of the Canyon and Pineview dam. This work is preparatory to the chip seal project scheduled to begin at the end of July. More information on the chip seal project is provide below. 

Chip Seal Coming for SR-39 through Ogden Canyon July 28 – August 6

Project includes guardrail repairs and installation of new roadway signage and rumble strips

Ogden -- The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) advises motorists of a roadway improvement project beginning July 28, on state Road 39 through Ogden Canyon between Harrison Boulevard in Ogden, and SR-158 at Pineview Dam. 

The project includes guardrail repair, installation of new roadway signage and median and shoulder rumble strips, and application of a chip seal surface.  The work will be conducted according to the following *tentative schedule:

• Monday, July 28 and Tuesday, July 29 - Guardrail repairs, rumble strip and signage installation
• Wednesday, July 30- Guardrail repairs, gravel chip placement
• Thursday, July 31 – Gravel chip placement
• Friday, August 1- Surface sweeping of loose gravel chips from the roadway
• Tuesday, August 5 and Wednesday, August 6 – Sealing and paint striping of chip seal surface

For all phases of work, motorists should expect pilot car operations and up to 15-minute travel delays where work is occurring on weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.  On Friday, lane restrictions will end by 4 p.m. to facilitate area recreational travel. 

Stakeholders with questions about this project can contact the project hotline at 801-419-8786.

-- UDOT –

*Construction activities, dates and times are subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen delays. For the latest information, download the free UDOT Traffic app on any iPhone or Android device or visit udottraffic.utah.gov.

More Paving of Ogden Canyon

Like Déjà Vu all over again, the canyon will be paved again this week.

Here are the details:

Change to Ogden Canyon Paving Scheduled for June 19-23

Scheduled total closure will now be from 8 p.m. on Saturday night through 8 p.m. on Sunday

Ogden -- The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) advises motorists that a short duration paving project will begin on state Road 39 in Ogden Canyon beginning June 19.

From Thursday night, June 19 through Tuesday morning, June 24, crews will be paving a section of SR-39, the Ogden Canyon Highway, from the Indian Trail near the mouth of the canyon to the Alaskan Inn. This paving is a part of the final phase of work related to last summer’s Ogden City Water Line project through Ogden Canyon.

This work will be conducted according to the following schedule:

·         Thursday June 19, to Friday June 20, one lane will be closed in the canyon with alternating traffic directed by flaggers from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., as crew’s lower utility accesses and make preparations for the paving work.

·         From 8 p.m. on Saturday night June 21, to 8 p.m. on Sunday night June 22, pavement removal and paving operations will be accomplished, with a complete closure of SR-39 in the canyon.  During this closures traffic must detour over alternate routes, such as SR-167, the Trappers Loop Highway via Interstate 84 through Weber Canyon, or via North Ogden Canyon Road, the so-called “North Ogden Divide.”  Access will be maintained for canyon residents during this complete closure. 

·         Finally, on Monday night, June 23, one lane will be closed with alternating traffic directed by flaggers from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., as crews restore utility accesses to their pre-project levels. 

Once this project is complete, a chip seal project will be conducted in late July to seal the roadway surface.  Stakeholders with questions about this project can contact the project hotline at 801-419-9554.

Construction activities, dates and times are subject to change because of weather or other unforeseen delays. For the latest information, download the free UDOT Traffic app on any iPhone or Android device or visit udottraffic.utah.gov.

Important Planning Commission Meeting Tonight at 5 PM

We were just forwarded an important email thread with regard to tonight's Ogden Valley Planning Commission meeting at 5 PM.

While we realize it is late notice, we are hopeful some will be able to attend this important meeting.



From: Jan Fullmer
Date: Fri, May 30, 2014 at 4:38 PM
Subject: Additional Information for the 6/3/2014 Ogden Valley Planning Commission Meeting

Hi to All:

 

I just received some updates for the Ogden Valley Planning Commission meeting scheduled for June 3, 2014 at 5:00 pm in the Weber Center.  This information was submitted to Weber County on May 16, 2014, and there was no auto notification provided to those individuals who are trying to track the Wolf Creek Information project.  This request was added to the Weber County IT system (called Miradi) as a totally separate project named Wolf Creek Zoning Development Agreement.

 

The link to all the documents submitted to Weber County on May 16, 2014 is provided below.  Simply click on the Files tab and you will find links to all the documents.  The very first document link is a letter from the WCS (Wolf Creek Stakeholders - J. Lewis, H. Schmidt, R. Watts, America First CU, KRK - new owners of the golf course) which summarizes the WCS' request.

 

https://miradi.co.weber.ut.us/projects/view/1210

 

Granted that there is a lot of information to sift through, but it is best that there be as much community representation at the Ogden Valley Planning Commission meeting on June 3 to ensure all are aware of the community interest in any future development plans within and around the existing Wolf Creek communities.

 

Please feel free to pass on this information.

 

Thank you,

Jan Fullmer

 

Below is the note from Eric:

 As you are aware, the Wolf Creek Zoning Development Agreement is going before the Ogden Valley Planning Commission next Tuesday evening.  It has come to my attention that some folks are looking at information that was submitted prior to May 16th and not directly related to the upcoming meeting.  Here is the Miradi link with the complete submittal https://miradi.co.weber.ut.us/projects/view/1210  

For your convenience, the letter outlining the Wolf Creek Stakeholder’s request is attached.  Discussions between Weber County and the Stakeholders began in January of 2012 and this "two step process" has been determined by the county.  First, update and make the 2002 agreement current; second, follow up by submitting a new/revised master plan for the resort. 

It is important to understand the following;

• The proposed updates reflect development and rezoning that has occurred since 2002
• Overall density does not increase but includes adding the Eagles Landing project (this occurred in 2006)
• Open Space does not decrease or change
• This is not a rezone request and will not change the Weber County zoning map 

The objective is to;

• Allocate the 492 unassigned units to undeveloped zoned property within the resort that can support density per the agreement
• Reclassify two zoning categories; one no longer exists, while the second does not support density in commercial areas as outlined in the agreement
• This action will give the Stakeholders a starting point to begin the rezoning/master plan process which is a requirement put in place by Weber County
• Updating the master plan will include public input through community meetings

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Jan Fullmer 

To: jfullmer1 

 Sent: Wed, May 28, 2014 3:25 pm
Subject: Your Support is Needed at a 6/3/2014 Ogden Valley Planning Commission Meeting

Hi to All:

There is a meeting of the Ogden Valley Planning Commission on

Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at 5:00 pm in the Weber Center (24th & Washington Blvd, Ogden UT).

The purpose of this meeting is to review zoning change requests for parcels that are part of the Wolf Creek Master Development plan which are now owned or represented by several developers (H. Schmidt, J. Lewis, R. Watts), American First Credit Union and the new owners of the Golf Course (KRK Wolf Creek LLC).  Collectively, this group is known as WCS (Wolf Creek Stakeholders)

We should all be concerned about any changes requested to the Wolf Creek Master Development plan, especially to any changes that may be proposed to open space, changes to increase density or even changes to the golf course.  Please, if you can attend this meeting, your support will be appreciated.  And also feel free to pass the word to other neighbors on this meeting.

There is a lot of background information, and you will find all related information in the links below.  Please note that all this information is factual -- no rumors.  And, the information came from  Weber County.

 

 

When you click on the following link, you will come to a page within a Weber County IT system which tracks projects.  There will be several file tabs, and simply click on the tab named Files.  You will then see links to several documents related to the Wolf Creek project.  Please click on the link named Exhibit H stake holder support for study.  The last page of this document has the signatures of WCS (Wolf Creek Stakeholders) who requested Weber County to verify what was actually approved in the Wolf Creek Master Development Plan submitted to Weber County in 2002.  The remaining links point to documents that are primarily the 2002 Wolf Creek Master Development Plan.

 

https://miradi.co.weber.ut.us/projects/view/1096

 

 

The second link below will also take you to another page within the Weber County IT system.  Click on the link named Ogden Valley June 3 2014 and you will see the notice and agenda from the Ogden Valley Planning Committee on the aforementioned meeting.

 

https://miradi.co.weber.ut.us/projects/view/1068

 

 

Once again, please feel free to pass on this information.

 

Thank you,

Jan Fullmer

Guest Response To Standard Examiner Article Critical of Ogden Valley Land Trust

Guest Post by Truthsayer

It is very unfortunate that Cameron Neugebauer did not present a fair and balanced account of the 
OVLT land issue in Eden.  He only presented the side of irate land ownersgiving a very integrous and responsible non-profit a black eye.  He did not do his research.

This is what he missed:

The “lots” in question are building lots, in an existing subdivision, bordering a paved street.  They do not have a conservation easement on them.  They do not even meet the criteria for nature preserve or conservation easement.

When an easement is given to a land trust, the land trust is legally bound to preserve the boundaries of saideasement.  Sometimes land is given to a land trust without an easement to allow the land trust to sell this property.  It is critical that land trusts have funds with which to defend those boundaries, in court if necessary.  This is not “revenge’, it is a legal obligation.

There are many other lots for sale in the area including one that is next to the property Neugebauer wrote about.  New homes are being built.  Residents knew they were going to be in a neighborhood.  That is why it is called a “subdivision”.

What is the Standard Examiner’s policy on getting a response so that an article has two fair sides?  The property in question is owned by a board and a response cannot always be obtained on short notice.  Unlike angry residents, a responsible board needs to make a reasoned, factual response to allegations such as his article raised.

Encroachments have gone far beyond trees and wild grasses.  They have included a concrete pad with a storage shed, covered garage, garage, swimming pool, fire pits, part of a patio, landscaping boulders, illegally changing the flow of water in a stream to create a koi pond.  In addition surrounding neighbors have dumped yard clippings and refuse and dog feces onto the trail.  Again, when easements are given to a land trust it is their legal obligation to preserve the integrity and boundaries of that easement.  If someone built a garage on your property you would not hesitate to sue them to have it removed.

His comments about the OVLT court cases are inaccurate and need to be corrected.  Go to the court records.   Read the case.  Get the facts.  The comments made in the Standard Examiner article cannot be hearsay.  They must be backed up by facts.

This was a poor piece of reporting seemingly done for its sensational value and not in the interest of responsible journalism.