Weber County Commission Meeting Tuesday - Summit @ Ski Lake up for Approval

Zogmaister campaign donor/ tax evader Ron Catanzero doesn't waste any time in requesting approval of another phase at Ski Lake

We noticed some interesting items on the Pre Christmas Weber county commission meeting agenda.  The important meeting will be:

Commission Chambers of the Weber Center,
2380 Washington Boulevard, Ogden, Utah,
commencing at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, the 21st day of December 2010.

Here is an excerpt from the agenda:

 E. Action Items

2. Request for approval of Phase 11 Summit at Ski Lake.
Presenter: Ron Cantanzaro
3. Request for consideration and/or action on an agreement between Ski Lake Corporation, Mountain Sewer Corporation, and Weber County regarding a time extension for the Chalets at Ski Lake and The Summit at Ski Lake.
Presenter: Sean Wilkinson

Of particular interest is the fact that Mr. Catanzero has a long history of leaving the citizen's of Weber County holding the bag for his financial difficulties.  More interesting is the fact that the County continues to entertain Mr. Catanzero's requests.

Click here to view the delinquent history of one subject parcel - there are many more delinquent properties.  
Ultimately, these delinquent taxes were apparently paid by Celtic Bank following foreclosure of the subject property.

For more, click here to view the 2009 delinquent tax list.  They are listed alphabetically so scroll down to see the many listings for "Catanzero" and "Ski Lake corporation."

It would appear that Ron is anxious to get on the agenda before Commissioner Bischoff retires.  Many will remember the large "Bischoff for County commission" signs plastered on several of Catanzero's properties during Bischoff's last campaign.

Perhaps there are some unpaid favors in store for Mr. Catanzero?

Some Possible Insight On The Green Valley Acadamy

Here is some excellent insight surrounding the proposed Green Valley Academy.  It was posted as a comment, but we feel it important enough for the front page.

By Greg Anderson

Keep an eye on the property at about 9000 E on Highway 39 (South side of the road). Somebody recently made some big holes in the ground, likely doing tests for a septic system. I'm told the property is about 8 acres. Is this the new, proposed site for a "Green Valley Academy" (or whatever it's going to be called next)? Perhaps.

A lot of folks feel that the Green Valley Academy team will try again soon and, this time, they'll simply call it a "school." Since schools are part of the conditional uses allowed already, they'll claim they're already allowed to do what they want to do. (Remember that, back in June, they were trying to convince their proposed neighbors that their intentions were simply a combination of already-approved conditional uses.)

It's too bad that telling the whole truth didn't work before so, now, they're apparently going to diminish "the whole story" in an attempt to be approved. So I ask whether we can trust them going into the future when they are, apparently, engaging in a pattern of being less up-front as time goes on. And who believed that they were telling "the whole story" before anyway? We still don't know why they withdrew their petition at the end of the summer.

But at least if the zoning isn't modified then maybe it'll put a stop to the GEM Committee's apparent desire to dot the Ogden Valley landscape with care centers.

Rock Wall Brings In Questions on Other Topics

Things have been a little quiet as far as developments lately with the downturn in the economy, and we have admittedly taken a quiet break as well.

However, the rock wall has prompted some questions from readers on other key topics, so we will open those topics up for input and discussion from our expert readers.

Here are some questions we have received from loyal readers:

Green Valley Academy

Have you heard anything recently about the status of the green valley academy....locations, petitions, etc.  Would love to know if you have any current status on the academy's attempt to locate in the residential areas of Huntsville.

 Liquor Agency

What happened to the liquor store?  I have never heard a word about it.

After looking through our archives, this is the last we have heard about the liquor agency.

What about it Ogden Valley Faithful?  Can you help our readers in answering their questions?

Faux rock wall in Ogden Canyon

"Driving Along" asked an important question that we will throw out to our humble readers:

Whats up with that simulated rock wall going up about a mile up the canyon?....can you say...UGLY?

What say ye Ogden Valley?

Happy Thanksgiving!

We at the Ogden Valley Forum are wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Drive safe and stay warm!

Thanks From T.R. Morgan

From T.R. Morgan

Thank you to all the Ogden Valley residents that supported my campaign.  I wish the results have been different, but I sincerely appreciated the time spent on the campaign meeting new people and finding individuals that have similar values and concerns as myself.

Heaven or Hell

Some Election Day Tongue-in-Cheek Humor (sadly with a lot of truth)
 
While walking down the street one day a corrupt Senator was hit by a  
car and died.
 
His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
 
"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems  
there is a problem.  We seldom see a high official around these parts,  
you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."
 
"No problem, just let me in," says the Senator.
 
"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from the higher ups.  What we'll  
do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven.  Then you can  
choose where to spend eternity."
 
"Really?, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the Senator.
 
"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."
 
And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down,  
down, down to hell.
 
The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf  
course.  In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it  
are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.
 
Everyone is very happy and in evening dress.  They run to greet him,  
shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while  
getting rich at the expense of the people.  They played a friendly  
game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and the finest champagne.
 
Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who is  
having a good time dancing and telling jokes.
 
They are all having such a good time that before the Senator realizes  
it, it is time to go.
 
Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...
 
The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St.  
Peter is waiting for him, "Now it's time to visit heaven..."
 
So, 24 hours passed with the Senator joining a group of contented  
souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They  
have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by  
and St. Peter returns.
 
"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now  
choose your eternity."
 
The Senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would  
never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I  
think I would be better off in hell."
 
So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down  
to hell...
 
Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren  
land covered with waste and garbage.  He sees all his friends, dressed  
in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more  
trash falls from above.
 
The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulders.
 
"I don't understand," stammers the Senator. "Yesterday I was here and  
there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar,  
drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a  
wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"
 
The devil smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning... Today,  
you voted..."
 
Vote wisely Today!

County Commission Candidate Drew Johnson Speaks Out

Drew and State Representative Candidate Alan Wheelwright to host a "meet and greet" Monday - Don't miss the free pizza!

 
By Drew Johnson

We are coming down the home stretch in the election and I just want to reiterate my pledge to you.

I am here for you. I will be accessible and responsive to your needs.
I am nonpartisan and do not have agendas other than serving you, my employers.

Several things that I have talked about during my campaign that I think are important to focus on as Commissioner.

The first is balancing out property taxes. That will immediately save all of us money.
This will be achieved through creating ordinances which require property owners to be paid up to date on their property taxes in order to go through planning and zoning.
There are over 14 million dollars in Weber County alone in uncollected property taxes, which are owed by large corporations.

Another focus I will have is better communication and process at the County.
I want to see the County departments work together and work more efficiently. The departments and the commission need to act in the best interest of the people they serve. I will bring a teamwork approach to the County.

I also believe it's important to protect Weber County's watershed. This is one our greatest resources. It should be a priority to protect it for our long-term sustainability and health and also to save us money. According to the most recent Nature Conservancy Research, it is a proven fact that if you protect the sources of the water, you will save money spent on treatment facilities, which cost far more in the long run.

This Monday November 1st from 5-7 pm, Alan Wheelwright and I will be giving a "meet & greet" at the Alpine Pizza in Eden. We will be serving free pizza and talking with people. Everyone is welcome and feel free to invite a friend who may not have had a chance to talk with either of us yet.

Again, I look forward to serving you.

Please vote for me. Together we can all make a difference.

Drew Johnson
Vote 4 Drew

Zogmaister abandoned the citizens of Ogden Valley

An important comment promoted to the front page

By Laura

When you hear Zogmaister bragging about bringing growth to Ogden Valley, think of the financial collapse of Wolf Creek.

During the tour of Powder Mountain properties early in the game, all voters should have heard the shrill voice of Zogmaister telling everyone what a plus this "Mega Resort" was going to be. You can be sure that if the single access road went past her home, she would have had a different response.

Zogmaister abandoned the citizens of Ogden Valley when push came to shove on the Powder Mountain question. When asked why she did not vote against the incorporation of the town when some of her constituents would lose their civil rights, she refused to answer.

Standard Examiner Endorses Weber County Commission Candidate Amy Wicks

The Standard-Examiner editorial board endorsed current Ogden City Council member Amy Wicks this morning for the Weber County Commission seat "B."

Our old pal Rudi has done a masterful job of compiling a couple of Standard Examiner articles along with video interviews of both candidates:   Standard All Star Amy Wicks and Kerry Gibson.

• Standard-Examiner: Our View: Wicks For Commission Seat "B"

Be sure to watch the end of Amy's interview where she discusses "openness in government."  Wouldn't openness be a refreshing change for Weber County politics?

County Commission Candidates Respond To Our Questionnaire -- UPDATED

On October 12, 2010 the Ogden Valley Forum sent out a Questionnaire via email to the five Weber County Commission Candidates.  We asked six questions of the candidates that were related to Ogden Valley issues and allowed the candidates unlimited space for additional comments.  We set a deadline for the responses of October 20th.  We sent a reminder out to the candidates on October 20th as a couple of the candidates had not yet responded.

Ultimately, we received responses from every Commission Candidate except Kerry Gibson.  Interestingly, in the November 1, 2010 issue of the Ogden Valley news, a letter to the editor from Kerry Gibson states,

First, a warm thank you to the owners of The Ogden Valley News for donating space to the many candidates to publish their biographies.  This is a public service that cannot be underestimated.

It would appear that I was one of the few candidates that didn't supply the Valley citizens with my contact information via my biography.  While slightly embarrassing, I promise it was unintentional.  Mistakes happen.  It's how we handle them that counts.  Rest assured, I am available.  My constituents can attest to this.

 Mr. Gibson goes on to tout his relationships with his constituents and fellow Legislators.

We will leave it to our humble readers to decide who best will serve the interests of not only Ogden Valley, but the entire Weber County.

Click here to read the responses to our questions

What say our Ogden Valley faithful about the upcoming Weber County Commission election?

UPDATE: 10/27/10 @ 9:30 PM

We just received a classic follow the money tip from a faithful follower.

Before you make that final decision on who to vote for, be sure to see who has supported the candidates with their pocket books.  We found some very peculiar and interesting donors.

• 2010 Campaign Finance Disclosures - Major Weber County Candidates

Of particular interest is Kerry Gibson, who raised some $48,000 in his campaign war chest (15 TIMES the amount of his competitor).  Some of his larger "donors" include The Utah Association of Realtors ($2,500), Powder Mountain Resort Managements ($1,000), Gregg & Amy Greer [CEO of Powder Mountain] ($1,000), Energy Solutions ($600) and others.

Click here to view Kerry Gibson's Campaign Financial Report 2010

Jan Zogmaister's is also interesting.  Contributors include:  Northern Wasatch Association of Realtors ($1,000), Infamous Huntsville developer Ron Catanzero ($200) and others.


Click here to view Jan Zogmaister's Campaign Financial Report 2010

We will note that when we set out to question our candidates several weeks ago, we had no intention of following the money.  Our intent was to provide an unbiased overview of the candidate's views on a variety of issues facing Weber County so our readers could more easily make an informed decision.

While we had heard rumors that certain candidates were Realtor and developer shills, we tried to look at this important race without bias.  In this "pay to play" state of Utah politics, it would appear that some candidates are being supported by interests that don't align with those of most residents.

With a war chest 15 times that of his opponent, it is no wonder Mr. Gibson feels safe in snubbing the lowly folks at the Ogden Valley News and the Ogden Valley Forum.

Follow the money!!

Early Voting Is Under Way

In an important mid-term election year, several important races are heating up in Weber County.  In coming days we will post the results of some questions we asked of the Weber County Commission candidates.

In the mean time, don't miss these recent Standard Examiner articles on the ever important subject of County leadership:

Weber County Commission Seat A

Weber County Commission Seat B

Be sure to check out Rudi's most excellent Candidate profile post to be an informed voter.

Standard-Examiner WEBER Plus 2010 Election Candidate Digest

Don't forget to vote, ye Ogden Valley Faithful.  Who will you be voting for????