Council finally approves contract for motocross

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

by Toni Sawhill

White Knuckle Racing will be operating the Motocross at Optimist Park this year.

The city council approved the final agreement with White Knuckle for the Motocross at Optimist Park and authorized Mayor Joe B. McNeal to sign the agreement. The agreement comes after many debated issues including sound levels, water usage and use of city equipment.

While the city council approved the motocross, they denied the water/sewer availability fee increase ordinance.

Under the ordinance, the water service availability fee would be increased from $1,600 to $2,450 per equivalent dwelling unit, and the sewer service availability fee would be increased from $2,500 to $4,200 per equivalent dwelling unit.

Pertaining to the water availability fee, the ordinance states:

"The owner of any property connecting to the city's water system for the first time or changing the use of the property which would result in an increase in the equivalent dwelling unit would have to pay the fee prior to the issuance of a water service connection permit.

"The water service availability fee shall be placed in a separate city fund and shall be used for the upgrade, replacement and expansion of existing water facilities. This fee does not pay for labor or parts required to install the service line or water meter."

Pertaining to the sewer availability fee, the ordinance states:

"The owner of any property connecting to the city's sewer system for the first time, or changing the use of the property which result in an increase in the equivalent dwelling unit would have to pay the fee prior to the issuance of a sewer service hook-up permit.

"The sewer service availability fee shall be placed in a separate city fund and shall be used for the upgrade, replacement and expansion of existing sewer facilities. This fee does not pay for labor or parts required to install a connection to the existing sewer collection system."

In other business, the council:

* Held a public hearing for the Water/Sewer Availability Fee increases.

* Accepted a proclamation recognizing Mountain Home Air Force Base as receiving the 2007 Commander-in-Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence.

* Approved change of Order #8 for Masco Inc.

* Approved Engineering Addendum #2 for Wastewater System Improvement Project.

* Discussion/decision on security systems for city buildings to be discussed at next meeting.

* Approved conditional use permit for McRae Beauty Salon and adopt the findings of facts and conclusions of law.

* Approved conditional use permit for Trinity Mountain Family Practice and adopt the findings of facts and conclusions of law.

* Approved Annexation and Zone R-4 and adopt the findings of facts and conclusions of law.

* Denied the Planning and Zoning recommendation for a comprehensive plan to be passed on to the City Council with a Do Pass Recommendation.

* Request to delay payment of Water Right Fee on Silverstone #2 to be discussed at next meeting.

* Approved request from Police Department to purchase a golf cart for DARE.

* Approved request from Museum to purchase a laptop computer.

* Approved request from City Hall to purchase Caselle Software.

* Approved request from City Hall to purchase desks and chairs.

* Discussion/decision on sponsoring the USAF Band of the Golden West in August removed from the agenda to be discussed at a later date.