Huntsville Ice Rink Open

By Richard Sorensen

Huntsville Town Council

I failed to get this info into the latest issue of the Ogden Valley News but want to spread the word that the Huntsville Ice Rink is up and running.

Please spread the word to your Ogden Valley friends and family.

Happy New Year.

The Ice Rink Is Open   

Conditions are improving daily as more layers of ice are added.  We will try to update the town website every couple of days with the latest ice conditions.

Visit www.HuntsvilleTown.com

Ice Skate Rentals:

This year we will be offering  rentals thanks to the Weber Ice Sheet generously donating their old rental skates...

• Skates are available at Texas Pride Barbecue during their normal business hours.  The price will be $2 to help cover Texas Prides costs.  To speed things up, visit www.HuntsvilleTown.com, print out and complete a release of liability and take it to Texas Pride.  Be sure to take a deposit in the form of a Drivers license, credit card or lots of cash.
• Not all sizes are available but we have supplied Texas Pride with at least one pair of each available size.  We have skates in most kids sizes, but have fewer choices above about a size 9 figure skate.  However, we do have hockey skates in the larger sizes.
• Thanks to Texas Pride Barbecue for helping to make the skates available.
  

Group Skating

We will also try to accommodate groups with skate rentals.  Let us know if you would like to have a skate night or day for your youth, family or school group and we will arrange to have skates available for a night of fun.  Contact Richard@HuntsvilleTown.com if you would like to arrange a skate night or day for your group.

Merry Christmas To All

The Season is upon us and we ran across a truly unique and inspiring story that involves annual Christmas traditions in our Valley.

Click here to read about one young family who makes the annual trip to the Huntsville Monastery to visit a lifelong friend.

Merry Christmas to All!

Powder Mountain Ski Resort Boycott - Now is the time!!

With Prime time of the ski season rapidly approaching, the week or so from Christmas through New Years, the time is right for Utah residents (and the rest of the world) to show their displeasure of the numerous antics of the Powder Mountain owners and management team.   A dent in their pocket book may be the only way to show the greedy developers our displeasure.

A boycott is certainly not a new idea as we promoted one in July when season ticket sales were kicked off.  Our intel informs us that season ticket sales are substantially down over last year.  In February 2008, a boycott was also kicked off garnering significant support and media attention.

More recently, a lower key, word of mouth boycott has been initiated and we feel it is time to get the word out to the masses.

Our once family and locals friendly Powder Mountain has gone the way of bottom line corporate greed.  Every step of the way, Powder Mountain continues to snub their nose at residents, neighbors and even employees.  They have lost dozens of long term veterans on their employee and volunteer staff, some with over 30 years of service.  Some were fired while others resigned in protest.

The snubbing of Ogden Valley began in 2007 when the new owners/developers (more affectionately known as the "PERPS") made extensive rezone and density requests from the Ogden Valley Planning Commission.  Ultimately, the request was approved with several contingencies, but that was not good enough for the PERPS.

The PERPS objected to the contingencies and filed for Incorporation in early 2008 under the flawed HB466 - a law that was only on the books of the State of Utah for one year.

They have continued down the road of forcing residents into their company town and the case has now been appealed to the Utah State Supreme Court.  The overwhelming majority of the "forced" residents of Powder Mountain Town (Powderville) oppose the incorporation and feel their Constitutional rights are being violated.

In January 2009, the PERPS vigorously and successfully lobbied against a proposed bill that would have allowed residents of a town incorporated under HB466 the ability to file for immediate disincorporation.  A similar bill is being proposed for the upcoming legislative session and the PERPS will certainly vigorously fight the bill once again.

More recently, Powder Mountain requested that a public access trail be closed during the winter months so Powder Mountain could offer high dollar back county tours while keeping the non paying riff raff out.  They made the request AFTER bull dozing the once narrow trail and without requesting or receiving the necessary permits.  It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission seems to be Powder Mountain's motto.


Ogden Valley has a lot to offer winter skiing enthusiasts and we highly recommend SnowBasin and Wolf Creek Utah.

Supporting Powder Mountain at the ticket window helps fund the PERPS Corpo-Fascist regime. 

We say THE BOYCOTT OF POWDER MOUNTAIN IS ON!

Keeping trail open right call

By Pistol Pete,

The editorial page in today's Standard Examiner hits it right on the button. There appears to be no end to the recklessness that Powder Mountain will employ to take away the freedom of other citizens. They also have violated Weber County permit rules along the way.

These clowns belong in the Circus, not in Weber County.

Bargaining For Powder Mountain

Humble reader "Kyle" recently requested that we post Bruce Grandin's December 1, 2009 letter to the Ogden Valley News.

Here is an excerpt of Kyle's email request:

Did anyone see the comment by Bruce Grandin in the "Letters to the Editor" in the latest Ogden Valley News(paper)? He advocates reading a book that talks about the Snowbasin/2002 Olympics development. I think Bruce has an excellent point. Learn from what has happened (in Ogden Valley) in the past, take advantage of the lessons learned, and use the current "fight" to our advantage. I have not read the book but I personally know Bruce (and I suspect many of you do to). He is not an idiot (or a Zealot). He didn't come right out and say it but I'm thinking one of the points of the letter is something along the lines of instead of fighting and name calling (gee, heard this lately), talk, listen and understand each others needs (kinda like relationships eh?). Use cooperation (and mutual respect) to benefit everyone who lives here.


I'm heading to the Huntsville library to see of they have it. Thanks for the opinion Bruce.


Kyle

Thanks for the input Kyle. 

The following is a letter to the editor published in the December 1, 2009 issue of the Ogden Valley News.

Anyone who cares about Ogden Valley should read "Bargaining for Eden" by Stephen Trimble.  It's a fantastic story on how Snowbasin was developed just in time for the 2002 Winter Olympics.

After 12 years of extreme opposition and controversy, the mountain was changed forever.  The Olympics have come and gone.  Skiing in Utah is no longer a secret and the Beehive state was left with the crown jewel of a ski resort.  Earl Holding really did a nice job with the mountain and many people think of Snowbasin as a local treasure.  Only time will tell if it is sustainable.

Now we have another battle going on with Powder Mountain.  Were any lesson(s) learned from Snowbasin?  Steve Trimble sums it up best in the final paragraph of his book.

"We call it a paradise, this land of ours.  We call it home.  Like our nation, the West is in the middle of its arc.  We must remain both vigilant and tender if we wish to preserve its authenticity.  We can do this.  We are not yet too old, too greedy, or too cynical to take wise action together."

Wouldn't it be great if the owners of Powder Mountain, the Weber County Planning Commission, and the local community understood each other's needs and Ogden Valley ended up with another crown jewel?

Please read the book.

Bruce Grandin
Eden

We also believe "Bargaining For Eden" is a fantastic read and tout it in our left column.

What say ye Ogden Valley?

It is your turn to opine. 

DENIED!!! County Commissioners send Powder Mountain Down the Trail

UPDATE BELOW


The County Commission sent Powder Mountain packin' today and we have promoted this Ron Gleason comment to the front page.


I will try to write a more complete report later but the County Commissioners took the correct action without even breaking a sweat or blinking twice! They denied this request, offered some good ideas on how PM, pathways, citizens, and the county can work make the situation work for everyone and IMO the best part of today they got PM to admit that they did not get a required permit and they have to work with county engineering on restoration and other actions to correct, if possible, damage done.

More later,

Ron Gleason
Huntsville, UT

UPDATE 12/16/09 @ 0700 AM

The Standard weighs in this morning with more details on yesterday's meeting.

 Wolf Canyon Trail to stay open all year / Ski resort's request to restrict access denied

And don't miss last night's report from the Weber County Forum.

Powder Mountain Wants To Restrict The Wolf Creek Trail - Weber County Commission Public Hearing Tuesday

Powder Mountain is at it again and is now requesting that the infamous Wolf Creek Trail be closed during the winter for "Avalanche control" and maybe a "ski tour."  Supposedly there is a public hearing scheduled for Tuesday morning.

From the Standard,

“They are requesting that, during the wintertime, they rescind the public rights because there is some avalanche control that needs to take place there. Plus, it may interfere with other uses, such as a ski tour,” he said (Curtis Christensen, Weber County Engineer).

At 10:30 am this morning (Monday), less than 24 hours prior to the scheduled Weber County Commission meeting, the agenda is still not posted on the County's web site.  By state law, open meetings are required to be posted at least 24 hours in advance and the County's web site states that the agenda will be posted the Friday before the Tuesday meeting.  Late posting is a continual occurrence it seems.


Most Commission meetings are held Tuesday mornings (unless otherwise publicly noticed) at 10:00 a.m. in the County Commission Chambers, 2380 Washington Boulevard, Ogden.

If you'd like to verify the exact time of Tuesday's meeting, call the Weber County Commission office at (801) 399-8406.  While you are at it ask why this important meeting is not posted.

We will refer you to an excellent overview complete with links to yesterday's Standard article at the Weber County Forum.

The Powder Mountain Debate Rages On

The Powder Mountain issue rages on this morning with a new article in the Standard. 

Time is running short this Black Friday, so we will link you to a rundown on the topic By Curmudgeon over at the Weber County Forum. 

Don't miss it and Happy Black Friday!!

Fund Raiser hits Bulls eye!

Packed House!

Photo by Bill Singleton

The Citizen’s Rights Fund Raiser on November 13, 2009 was a resounding success and acheived all of the intended goals. The legal fund chest is full and the Citizen’s Rights Group is prepared for the next step in the legal process.

The success of the fund raiser was due to both the diligent work by all involved in the project and the generosity of our Northern Utah neighbors. Brisk ticket sales along with a silent auction and generous donations, made this effort worthwhile.

We wish to remind you to add your name to the online Petition that will be sent to the Utah State Legislature after the legislative session begins. It is important that we show the support we have from our residents. Any resident in Utah can sign the petition, so reach out to family and friends throughout the state and ask them to sign.

On this page of the blog, find the Peitition counter and click on it. Make sure to add your zip code as well.

The Petition In Support of Powderville Victims: An Update

It is a busy news day in Ogden Valley so don't miss our three new postings.

In three short days, Ogden Valley residents have spoken loud and clear as nearly 100 residents have already signed the petition drafted to the Utah Legislature.

This morning's Weber County Forum has an excellent post about the issue and we expect the numbers to go up significantly today.

Be sure to check out:

Powder Mountain Update: A New Citizen Petition

Power outage scheduled for Ogden Valley on Saturday

Ogden Valley residents likely received a postcard from Rocky Mountain Power informing them of a Valley wide power outage scheduled for this Saturday Morning.

Today's Standard provides us with even more details:

Power outage scheduled for Ogden Valley on Saturday

David Eskelsen, a Rocky Mountain Power spokesman, said the blackout is scheduled to last from around 7 a.m. until about 1 p.m. while crews replace a transmission pole just west of The Oaks restaurant at 750 Ogden Canyon Road (S.R. 39). The road will be closed beginning at 5 a.m. while a crane is assembled for the job, and should reopen by 3 p.m.

Utah Highway Patrol troopers and the Utah Department of Transportation will assist in the road closure. Electronic message boards will be stationed at Mile Markers 8.6 and 13.8 to alert motorists and canyon residents of the impending closure.

During the closure, Ogden Valley destinations will be accessible from S.R. 167 and the Trappers Loop Highway, via Interstate 84 at Exit 92 in Weber Canyon, according to UDOT spokesman Vic Saunders.

The power outage and road closure are subject to the weather, Eskelsen said.

With the current chilly temperatures, keeping your perishables cool should not be an issue.

This morning's Standard has a cover story about Huntsville's new recycling program.

Click the link below to read the article in its entirety:

Huntsville a pioneer in Ogden Valley Recycling

From the article:

Recycling has come to Ogden Valley, with Huntsville leading the way.
The town began its mandatory recycling program with the first pickup Nov. 2.
Huntsville joins most other incorporated Weber County cities in bringing recycling to residents.

For the most part, the idea of recycling was welcomed by residents, said Councilman Richard Sorensen.

"The biggest objection was that it had to be mandatory," he said. "Our provider required that it had to be mandatory to be cost-effective for him. That was a big hurdle, because we don't like to put mandates on anyone."

The extra $4 a month to those on fixed incomes was also a concern, Sorensen said, but the majority of town residents supported recycling, and it was passed Sept. 3.

Sorensen said no one spoke in opposition to a recycling program at a public hearing. More than 50 percent of residents returned a survey about the program, with 85 percent of respondents supporting the program.

Town officials hope to save money in landfill tipping fees, Sorensen said. If enough money is saved, he said, those savings would be passed on to the residents and the fee would be reduced.