The Crossroads Journal Vol 17 No 3

*********ECRWSS*****EDDM******

FREE

LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER

PRST STD US POSTAGE

PAID

84003 PERMIT #21

March-April 2017 Vol.17 No.3

Lehi getting new multi-use trail Survey: Residents love A.F.

By Linda Petersen

Work will soon begin on the Lehi Historic Utah Southern Rail Trail. This project will connect the rail trail from the old train depot at 220 E. State Street with an existing pedestrian trail at 300 West and State Street.

The trail will be a 10-foot wide multi-use trail. The entire project will be funded by federal dollars obtained through the Mountainland Association of Governments. Since it is being funded by federal monies, the project is being overseen by UDOT. The entire project is budgeted at $1.76 million, with $1,069,000 of that going to contractor Van Con for construction of the almost three-quarter-mile hard-surface pavement. The remainder of the funds went to the design by JUB Engineers as well as right-of-way costs and project management costs, according to UDOT Project Manager Justin Schellenberg.

“This is part of the city’s master trail plan to connect from the Point of the Mountain through the city. We’re looking for an opportunity to complete those trails as quickly as we can,” city spokesman Cameron Boyle said.

“We’re excited to have that trail complete.”

The project is expected to take about 50 days. During that time, there may be some closures of outside travel lanes along State Street during non-rush hour times.

Boyle said that the city’s trail system has been only partially complete for a number of

By Linda Petersen

Completion of the new Lehi Historic Utah Southern Rail Trail will result in another important trail connection for Lehi City. years. Construction of this trail completes one of the final needed connections.

City officials are still trying to complete a Traverse Mountain trail connection to the Draper trail system. The city is currently work-

ing on obtaining the necessary easements in the area, Boyle said.

Call 801-616-0649 for complete details on State Street closures related to the rail trail project .

American Fork residents gave their city high marks in a recent community survey.

More than half (50.6 percent) said the overall quality of life in American Fork was good with an additional 44.1 percent terming it “excellent.”

The top reasons to live in American Fork were described by respondents as location (77 percent), feeling of safety and security (41 percent), proximity to amenities (39 percent), sense of community (28 percent), high-quality schools (26 percent), low congestion (17 percent) and outdoor opportunities (16 percent).

The city is pretty even divided between old timers and newcomers with 31 percent having lived in American Fork more than 20 years and the same percentage having moved in during the last five years. Twenty-two percent have lived in the city for 11 to 20 years and 16 percent have made it their home for five to 10 years.

Most respondents think the city should See SURVEY on page A3

The Ranches HOA loses Westlake Princess Ball millions in lawsuit

By Mike Kieffer There has been some trouble brewing between The Ranches HOA and its sub-HOAs for a while now. That contention eventually ended up in court, and a ruling was made in favor of the sub-HOAs on March 4 in Judge Derek P. Pullan’s court room.

At issue were several actions that the Master Association took against homeowners and sub-HOAs and individual homeowners. Beginning in 2004, the Master Association enacted a series of declarations that applied to all of the units within The Ranches. The sub-HOAs sued, taking issue with several aspects of the declarations.

They claimed that the 2004 declaration was not properly executed, so it did not apply to all of the homeowners within The Ranches. The court agreed that the 2004 declaration was not proper. In order for the declaration to be proper, the declaration had to be enacted before the homeowners purchased the land or those homeowners that already had purchased their homes had to agree to the declaration. The court found that the sub-HOAs or the homeowners never signed the declaration and it was not enforceable. In a previous ruling on May 10 of last year, the court found that despite not being valid, the 2004 declaration was not a wrongful lien.

The additional declarations, the Notice of Continuing Obligation and the 2010 Notice of Existence, the court ruled to be wrongful

liens. There was no legal basis for the Master HOA to issue the 2010 Notice of Continuing Obligation. Specifically, it was not “authorized by or contained in an order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction” or neither were they “signed or authorize pursuant to a document signed by the owner.” Additionally, the 2010 Notice of Existence added additional covenants that were not contained within the 2004 declaration. The additions create the need for the homeowners to agree in writing to the additional covenants in order for the Notice of Existence to be valid. Since the homeowners did not agree by signing either of these documents, they were wrongful liens on the properties.

The court rejected all of the Master Association’s defenses and awarded damages to the plaintiffs for the wrongful liens.

Drew Curley, an Eagle Mountain resident and material witness in the case stated, “Today, David beat Goliath. The judge has ruled on the Ranches HOA lawsuit, and they lost.

They need to let the three associations out of the HOA, pay attorneys fees, relinquish four years’ assessments, and pay about $14 million in damages for wrongful liens.”

Eagle Mountain City has issued the following statement: “Although Eagle Mountain City and The Ranches Master HOA are separate entities, Eagle Mountain City has been following a lawsuit filed by the Willow Springs, Rock Creek, and Cold Springs sub-HOAs against See LAWSUIT on page A3

The state-qualifying Westlake High School Drill Team held its first annual Daddy Daughter Princess Ball Fundraiser on Feb. 18 at Westlake High School. More than 700 tickets were sold. The drill team dressed as Disney characters and they had their work cut out for them. For the event, fathers, uncles, brothers and grandfathers came dressed up along with their little princesses to dance the night away. It was a night full of smiles, laughter, excitement and memories to be made. Thanks are owed to the donors: FWP Consulting, Ridley’s, Granny B’s Cookies, Walmart, Costco and everyone that participated as well that made this fundraiser such a success. Keep an eye out for information on next years Princess Ball. The Westlake Drill Team is looking forward to having this a tradition for many years to come. - By Celeste Bingham

A2 - March-April 2017 - Vol. 17 No. 3 - Online All the Time - TheCrossroadsJournal.com

GRAMA - A guide to obtaining public records

By Mike Kieffer Have you ever wondered how you can get information from the city? Let’s say you want to know how many business licenses have been issued by the city, and the contact information for those applications. Maybe you also want to know the status of a current project. There is a process in place that will allow residents to receive public records from the city for little to no cost.

One of the tasks that the city recorder has to handle is the requests made by residents for public records. These requests are called GRAMA requests, and can be submitted by anyone that wants to view city-related records, communications or information. GRAMA stands for Government Records Access and Management Act, and these requests are defined and covered in Section 63G, Chapter 2 of the Utah Code.

Fionnuala Kofoed (Finn), the Eagle Mountain city recorder, is the one responsible for fielding those requests. Finn said that Eagle Mountain processed a total of 18 GRAMA requests during 2016. The majority of them were provided free of charge to the requester. If the request takes less than 15 minutes for the city recorder to process, then there is not a charge.

One of the 2016 requests took some time to

Utah’s GRAMA law addresses requests for public records from governmental agencies. process and had a price tag of $376.

Once a request is received, Finn will first find out what city department has the record.

She then requests the record from that department. Once she receives the record, she then determines if the record is considered private or public. If the record is considered private,

Lone Peak Fire District gets mixed reviews in study

By Linda Petersen Alpine, Highland and Cedar Hills city officials recently got together at the Highland Fire Station to hear the results of a study that measured the effectiveness of the Lone Peak fire department against national and best practices standards.

Between the three stations Highland 201, Alpine 202 and Cedar Hills, there is a total of 51 staff members: three battalion chiefs, nine captains, nine engineers and nine firefighters with 18 full-time firefighter/medics or engineer/medics (three of the latter at Alpine) with nine part-time relief firefighter/medics.

Total employee salaries are: Highland (18 staff members), $1,094,724; Alpine (15 staff members), $767,281; Cedar Hills (18 staff members), $880,698. Total yearly budget: $5,129,389.

National standards require dispatch and turnout times of 60 seconds each, with four minutes or less for arrival of the first response vehicle and eight minutes or less for full deployment at a fire site. A department must also be able to provide incident command, water supply, attack line, backup lines, search and rescue teams, ventilation teams and rapid intervention crews with a total of 15 to 17 people.

An analysis of Lone Peak’s dispatch is currently underway.

The report gave the department high marks for being operationally advantageous to each city, having stations strategically positioned for optimal response time, and for having apparatus compliant with state and national best practices standards.

However, the report said dispatch needed better reporting of its answering processing and dispatch times “for quality and management improvement purposes.” It indicated that the department’s fire prevention/inspection efforts fall short of best practices as do the staffing and deployment, fixed responsibility of company officers and chief officers.

“Given the current management and organizational chart, significant degradation of safety, responsiveness and morale will occur,” it said.

The report recommended that the LPFD governing board formally adopt policies regarding the level and type of service desired to respond to and mitigate emergencies within its jurisdiction. Another suggestion was that the board and department administration develop a comprehensive strategic plan to obtain the level of service outlined in those policies.

It also recommended that the department’s administration create an organizational and management structure consistent with best practices and develop “robust aide agreement with neighboring jurisdictions.”

Classified ads are only $12 for one month including online.

Printed and delivered monthly

by US Mail and is distributed at newsstands.

Publisher: Wendy Visser Lojik Business Manager: Taras Lojik Copy Editor: Jo Wilson Graphic Director: James Crandall, Layout Designer: Christi Babbitt Website: Clint Decker Marketing & Ad Sales: James Crandall, 801-362-9968 Staff Writers: Erika Douglas, Linda Petersen, Matthew Gary Milam, Kimberly Bennett, Michael D. Young, Sterling Parker, Christy Jepson, Andrew Young Photographers: Andrea Crandall, Clint Decker, Shanda Decker

Prices for Service Directory ads: $40 a month for 3 months $120 $35 a month for 6 months $180 $30 a month for 12 months $360

Writers needed - visit www.thecrossroadsjournal.com/ Contact-The-Journal.html The entire content of this newspaper is Copyright *2016 The Crossroads Journal LLC. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher.

The opinions expressed herein are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the position of the publisher.

Contact us at: The Crossroads Journal 801-787-9502 P.O. Box 290 Cedar Valley, UT 84013 This is the community paper.

We want to hear from you. Please send us a story or a suggestion.

Submit news at www.thecrossroadsjournal.com

Now offering announcement services for FREE! Graduations, Weddings, Missions, Scouting, Anniversaries, Obituaries, etc.

Upload your info to the submit news on the website: www.thecrossroadsjournal.com/Submit-News.html

then the request is denied. If it is considered public, then the GRAMA request is granted, and the records are given to the requester once the fee is paid if one is required.

If you would like to do a GRAMA request for something from the city, you can go to the city’s website to get the form and more details.

They have the information on who and how here: http://eaglemountaincity.org/departments/city-recorder/request-a-record.

Some people would ask, why do you want to do a GRAMA request from the city? As a reporter and resident, I find that GRAMA requests shed a lot of light on the inner workings of the city government. If you have a question about what conversations were made between individuals on specific topics or if you would like copies of permits and other documents filed with the city, making an official GRAMA request is the way to go. I have personally filed several GRAMA requests over the years and have found the information to be very helpful. For example, every election year, after the deadline to declare you are running for office, I will do a GRAMA request to ask for a copy of all of the declaration forms that were filed. I can then contact each of the individuals that are running for office to have them answer surveys and get to know them better.

There are also a lot of other entities that use GRAMA requests. One example is United Fire Authority, the entity that Eagle Mountain uses for fire and medical emergency services. If you want a copy of an incident report, statistics on calls or other data from them, you will be required to fill out a GRAMA request for the records.

Follow this checklist when having a home inspection done

By Danielle’ Dimond So you’ve found your dream home and you’ve inspected every nook for aesthetics, every cranny for functionality and every crevice for value, and yet you still need a professional to come in and “inspect” it for you further?

Yep! It’s required for a loan and it’s the smart thing to do! So here’s a list of things that your hired home inspector should go over with you - and if they don’t, ask them to.

All Rooms Ceilings, Walls, Windows, Light Switches, Floors, Electrical Outlets, Doors Kitchen Appliances, Countertops, Cabinet Doors, Sink Plumbing, Stove Exhaust, Drains, Island Secured, Waterlines to Fridge, HVAC Vents, Radiators, Countertop Security Bathrooms HVAC Vents, Radiators, Exhaust Fans, All Drains, Plumbing, Water Flow to Toilet, Toilet Flush, Faucets Basement Sump-Pump, Stairs/Railings, Access to Yard, Laundry, Machine Hookups, Dryer Vent, HVAC Vent, Radiators Crawlspace/Attic Ceiling/Roof, Insulation, Water Damage, Vapor Barrier, HVAC Vent, Radiators, Fan Venting Electrical CO Detectors, Underground Breakers, Main Breaker, Voltage Amounts, Breaker Types, Service Types, Circuit Types, Electrical Boxes, Radon Mitigation, Alarm System, Grounded Breakers, Ampage Amounts Smoke

Detectors

Garage/Carport Garage Door Material, Garage Door Operation, Garage Door Opener, HVAC Vent, Radiators Fireplace/Wood Stove Flue, Construction Material, Construction Type, Damper Plumbing Service Line Type, Water Heater Capacity, Vent Pipe Type, Water Heater Type, Water Main Shutoff-Location, Age of Unit Roof Material, Flashing, Roof Age, Gutters, Chimney, Skylights, Downspouts, ChimneyFlashing/Caps Exterior Surfaces Doorbells, Siding Type, Siding Condition, Outdoor Lighting, Soffits Type, Ex. Doors, Ex.Electrical Outlets, Trim Type, Ex. Doors, Trim Condition, Faucets, Foundation Cracks Yard Porch Condition, Trees/Shrubs, Sprinkler System, Deck Condition, Walkways, Driveway, Gates, Masonry Condition

Vol. 17 No. 3 - Online All the Time - TheCrossroadsJournal.com - March-April 2017 - A3

Students enjoy presenting ‘The Lion King, Jr.’

By Christy Jepson For the past four months, 125 students in third through sixth grades at Harvest Elementary School in Saratoga Springs have learned African chants, songs and dances and memorized speaking parts for their school musical, “The Lion King, Jr.” The production was performed March 7 through 11.

Every year, the drama club at Harvest keeps getting bigger and bigger, and because of the large number of students who were interested in being part of this year’s show, the students were divided into two different casts. Andrew Willis and Natalia Thornton were the directors for the first cast and Wendy Smith and Barbara Dolman were the directors for the second cast.

Although this was the biggest turnout that they’ve had in previous years, with that comes challenges and benefits. “The good thing is that more kids are involved,” said Wendy Smith, a director. “The challenging things are rehearsal time with that many kids, more costumes, and more time for the more detailed makeup is needed.”

After auditions in October, both casts joined together during November and December to learn just the songs and the African chant pronunciations. “This whole play has been quite a process,” said Natalia Thornton, a director. “At the beginning, we would just hold rehearsals in the kiva and just practiced the songs. I wrote the songs on big pieces of butcher paper and hung them on the board.

We also made CDs with all the songs for each cast member, and they did a great job listening to them and learning the words at home.”

January through March is when each cast started to learn their lines, stage each scene and learn the choreography for each song.

Wendy Smith was the choreographer for the songs and taught it to both casts. Mr. Willis designed and made the sets and props, while all the directors helped with staging and speaking parts.

Even with four directors constantly working with the kids, the production couldn’t

have happened without the help from parent volunteers. “We had two incredibly talented moms that volunteered to do our costumes, Cassie Anderson and Hazel Hoather. They spent countless hours designing, making and perfecting our wardrobe. All the details in each piece was really amazing. Our costumes gave the play the perfect touch,” says Thornton.

Parker Blair, who played Mufasa in one of the casts, enjoyed being part of the drama club. His favorite part of the experience was that “the people were really nice and the costumes were pretty cool.” For weeks, Blair would practice and practice his lines with his older siblings. “It was a little frustrating at first,” he said, “I would memorize some lines, then I would leave out some words so I had to go back and memorize them.”

According to the directors, lots of good lessons come from being in drama. “I see how drama helps kids develop confidence, nurture creativity, learn new skills and have fun accomplishing a huge task,” says Barbara Dolman, a director.

Students like McKenna and Chloe Worthington, who had never been in drama club before, each learned something different. “I learned how to dance and I learned that I enjoy singing and dancing,” recalls McKenna. For her, the hardest part was learning the sign language for the song “Can you Feel the Love Tonight.” For Chloe, it was overcoming stage fright. “At first I was scared to be on stage in front of people,” Chloe said, “but it isn’t that scary anymore!” Adam Jepson who also had never been in a play before loved finally being in a show and not just watching it. He also learned a lot about how real stage fright is. “I was really scared up until the time I started singing the “Grasslands Chant,” but after that I felt fine, and I wasn’t scared anymore.”

When asked what has been the most rewarding thing about directing this play Smith explains, “Seeing it all come together and seeing kids from ages 8 to 12 doing such an excellent job putting it together and seeing so many parents come and get involved too.”

Brandon Park Estates gains approval from city

By Mike Kieffer On March 7, the Eagle Mountain City Council approved the Brandon Park Preliminary Plat Plan as well as the Brandon Park Master Development Agreement. This is not the first time that the city council has discussed this project and parcel of land. This parcel was at one point know as Equestrian Estates and was discussed before the city in 2007. The plan for Equestrian Estates never came to fruition and was changed to Brandon Park. The plan for Brandon Park was reviewed in January 2016 and then again in October 2016.

Brandon Park Estates is located on 215 acres south of Eagle Mountain Blvd. and west of the city cemetery and Pony Express Park.

The project will include 542 single-family lots. There are three different lot sizes ranging from 8,000 square feet to lots that are a half acre or larger.

The site includes a school and a church site with the possibility of including more church-

es and schools if needed. The site also includes two larger parks as well as green space corridors throughout the project to allow residents to easily walk to the provided parks. The open space is approximately 14 acres, of which the majority is located towards the center of the project. The city uses a point system to determine the amount of improved green and opens space that is required. This project meets the requirements with a total of 1,244 points.

The development is classified as a Tier II residential project and is divided in to several different phases. The city council approved the plan with several provisions included.

The council adopted a resolution approving the Brandon Park Estates Master Development Agreement with the following conditions: It is paved to the west access during Phase 8 with a crushed gravel trail continuing around the rest of the project; that the developer work with staff on trail connectivity in the northeast quadrant including semi-privacy fencing along all of the internal trails; and working with staff on trail landscaping and appropriate lighting.

Creative costuming was part of Harvest Elementary’s production of “The Lion King , Jr.”

SURVEY Continued from Page A1 allocate more funding for road maintenance and repair, with 31 percent favoring public safety, 30 percent the fitness center, 22 percent parks and trails, 20 percent the city library, 15 percent the pool and 9 percent city events and programs.

Responses on what the top issues the city should focus on over the next five years were very similar to the residents’ ideas about priorities. Seventy-six percent think the city should focus on improving and repairing roads, 34 percent, public safety; 33 percent, debt reduction; 28 percent, updating the fitness center; 23 percent, developing new parks and trails; 20 percent, economic development; 19 percent, increasing street lighting; 13 percent, managing growth south of I-15; 11 percent,

LAWSUIT Continued from Page A1 The Ranches Master HOA. A Ruling and Order has now been issued against The Ranches Master HOA in the lawsuit, including in part, damages of approximately $14,000,000, approximately $400,000 in dues placed in escrow to be returned to the sub-HOAs, and release of obligation for lots or units within the Willow Springs, Rock Creek, and Cold Springs sub-HOAs to pay dues to The Ranches Master HOA from this point forward.

“Eagle Mountain City is currently reviewing the findings of the Ruling and Order, as the City has agreements with The Ranches Master HOA related to the maintenance of open space and trails within The Ranches. The City is prepared to deal with any contingency moving

communication with residents; 9 percent, increasing city events and programs; and 7 percent, improving the boat harbor.

The largest percentage of respondents was 35 to 44 years old, with 20 percent 25 to 34, 19 percent 45-54, 17 percent 55 to 64 and 11 percent 65 or older.

City staff’s customer service and professionalism were mostly rated as good with administration, the fitness center, planning and building inspections rated as fair. No city service received a poor rating.

A strong majority (68 percent) want the city to communicate with them by email, followed by the city newsletter (51 percent), the website (30 percent), social media (29 percent), text (11 percent) and attendance at city council meetings (3 percent).

The city received 1,091 responses to the survey, which was primarily available on the city’s website from Jan. 17 to Feb. 10.

forward.

“Residents who live within The Ranches Master HOA area should direct any questions related to this lawsuit to The Ranches Master HOA office.”

The effects this ruling will have on The Ranches HOA is unknown at this point. They have several options available to them, including appealing the ruling, bankruptcy or trying to continue operations as they currently are.

The Ranches HOA is the largest of the HOAs in Eagle Mountain, and this ruling and order has the ability to affect a large percentage of the residents in Eagle Mountain. The Master HOA is also responsible for maintaining some of the green space in The Ranches area in Eagle Mountain. The status of that green space and who will be responsible for its upkeep will be dependent on the future actions of The Ranches HOA.

A4 - March-April 2017 - Vol. 17 No. 3 - Online All the Time - TheCrossroadsJournal.com

Cedar Hills council Easter events planned receives audit report in northern Utah County

By Linda Petersen Auditor Steven Rowley of Keddington & Christensen, LLC, recently reported to the Cedar Hills City Council that his firm had not encountered any significant difficulties or uncorrected misstatements with the city’s annual audit.

As part of the audit process, the auditing firm is required by law to check the city’s compliance with state statutes. They found one instance where city council minutes were not uploaded to the Utah PMN website within three days of approval, a requirement of the

Open and Public Meetings Act. Mid-Year Budget Adjustments Finance Director Chari Louw reported to the city council that $200,000 is being transferred from the general fund to cover anticipated increased litigation costs.

Sale of capital assets has increased by $400,000 due to the recent sale of Cottonwood lots. A $200,000 transfer to the general fund was made to cover the increased litigation costs.

Passport revenues have increased by $20,000 but labor costs related to its administration have increased by $14,500.

American Fork leaders work on strategic goals

By Linda Petersen

In February, the American Fork City Council worked with staff on the city’s Strategic Goals Work Plan. That plan included five “statements” or goals: 1: Street management. City leaders have decided to prioritize a road project for every quadrant within the city. 200 South will be the priority project for the southwest quadrant.

2: Reduce debt. The city council hopes to find some opportunities to pay down debt or refinance its bonds. Currently, the Broadband Fund Balance has a negative fund balance.

City staff is putting together a plan to bring that fund back to a positive balance.

3: Secure culinary water. Culinary water projects being considered include a 600 East water main replacement, a Spring Line replacement and a new water tank assessment.

4: Improve communications. City leaders

plan to improve communications through five “creative pathways”: Improve Internal City Communication, External City Communication, Emergency Plan, Legislators and Branding.

5: Facilities and fleet management. In this area, city leaders also identified five creative pathways: Development of a Facilities Master Plan, Inventory Department Facility Needs, Development of a Fleet Management Plan, Art Dye Master Plan and Fiber Conduit. City Manager David Bunker told the mayor and council that the city would be researching the feasibility of doing a project to provide a fiber conduit to certain locations in the city or requiring those conduits to go in where new development takes place. The council also passed a resolution declaring several items, including nine police department vehicles and two ambulances, as surplus.

By Linda Petersen

There are Easter activities planned in several eastside cities in April.

Highland The city’s annual Easter egg hunt, which is co-sponsored by the youth council and arts council, will be held April 15 at 9:30 a.m. at Heritage Park, 10400 Alpine Highway.

More than 5,000 eggs, filled with candy and gift certificates and coupons, which can be redeemed for toys, will await local kids, who will be divided into four age categories: 1-3, 4-6, 7-10 and 11-13. Afterwards, there will be free cookie decorating sponsored by Ridleys.

Alpine A symbolic remembrance walk, “Always Remember Him,” is being offered at the Watkins farm, located at approximately 1232 Eastview Lane, April 14 through 17 from noon to 7 p.m. each day. The self-guided walk is a symbolic path of the Savior’s love, sacrifice and resurrection. This is not a city-sponsored event.

Lehi Lehi City is sponsoring its first-ever Teen Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt on Friday, April 7, at 9 p.m. at Vets Park, 850 W. Main, Lehi.

Teens ages 13-18 should show up at 9 p.m. sharp with their flashlights ready to hunt for

cash and candy-filled eggs.

The city’s official annual Easter Egg Hunt will take place Saturday, April 8, at 11 a.m. at Sports Park, 2000 W. 700 S. There will be designated areas by age group for infant-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12 as well as an area for children with special needs. Each area will contain a special egg. The child who finds the special egg will receive a prize.

Cedar Hills Plans have not been finalized for a city-sponsored Easter egg hunt this year. Contact the city for updated information.

American Fork There are no city-sponsored Easter events planned in American Fork this year.

A semi was found engulfed in flames on Lake Mountain Road in Eagle Mountain.

Vehicle fire causes $125,000 in damage

By Mike Kieffer At 4:30 a.m. on Feb. 12, the Eagle Mountain Fire Department was called to a road freight/transport vehicle file at 4084 Lake Mountain Road in Eagle Mountain. Fire crews

arrived on scene at 4:39 a.m. to find a semi tractor that was engulfed in flames. When they arrived, the engine area, running gear and wheel area were on fire.

The incident report states: “At 430 hours on Sunday, February 12, 2017, we were dispatched to a road freight or transport vehicle fire. Two units were assigned to this incident. Two personnel responded.

We arrive on scene at 0439 hours and cleared at 0554 hours. The incident occurred at 4084 N Lake Mountain Road, Eagle Mountain in District EMF01. The local station is EMF0.

The general description of this property is street, no mutual/automatic aid was given or received.

Engine area, running gear, wheel area best describes the primary use of the room or space where the fire originated. The cause of ignition is undetermined after investigation.

The estimated property loss on this incident was $125,000. The estimated property value was $125,000.

Alarm number 0900103 has been assigned to this incident.

ME251 responded as the closest station.

ON arrival ME251 used tank water to extinguish the fire. The truck was a total loss. The loss of $125,000 was an estimate as the truck was burned beyond recognition. It was an unidentified brand of truck and unidentified age during fire operations. There was not trailer attached to the tractor at any time during the fire. ML252 arrived to assist and were canceled upon arrival. “ Another alarm was raised at 7:57 a.m. the same day. Crews arrived at 8:03 a.m. and found that there was smoke coming from the front right tire of the same burned out vehicle. The crew used a shovel and water can to extinguish the tire.

The vehicle has been a focus of some speculation, and has even been seen a few times on Instagram. Currently there is not a record of investigation related to this fire.

Vol. 17 No. 3 - Online All the Time - TheCrossroadsJournal.com - March-April 2017 - A5

School presents ‘James and the Giant Peach’

By Christy Jepson Ronald Dahl’s first children’s book, “James and the Giant Peach,” will be performed at Vista Heights Middle School in Saratoga Springs with a very unique twist to it on March 16-18 and 20.

The middle school stage will be home to Dahl’s memorable characters of James Henry Trotter and his aunts, Spiker and Sponge, and all the interesting insect and bugs he meets inside the peach with a bold theme and twist of Mexico’s Day of the Dead or Dia de los Muertos.

According to Garr Van Orden, the drama teacher, the theme of the Day of the Dead and the storyline fit together perfectly. James is trying to survive as a young orphan boy who is dealing with the loss of his parents, who were trampled by a rhinoceros.

“Ever since Mr. Van Orden told us that

the concept of this year’s musical was going to be centered around the Day of the Dead celebration, I was so excited. I’ve been taking Spanish classes ever since second grade and I have grown up learning to appreciate the many Spanish communities and cultures,” said Kolton Nielsen who plays Ladahlord, the magical narrator character.

With the musical being double-casted, there are 10 main characters that can be seen on March 16 and 18 and the other cast can be seen on the 17 and 20, along with the 28 members of the ensemble that can be seen all four nights.

“Double casting the show is a lot more work. But the kids are so talented. That’s why I have to double-cast the show. In fact, there’s so much talent that I could have triple-cast the show,” says Van Orden.

When Isaac Webb, who plays Ladahlord also, was asked to explain what he thought

Alpine City to construct two new buildings

By Linda Petersen The Alpine City Council has approved the site plan for a parks maintenance building to be constructed at 545 E. 300 North. The city held a charette (a planning session where residents and staff work together on a concept) on Dec. 6 to receive input from the neighboring residents. Just one resident attended. Another sent an email.

City staff incorporated the residents’ suggestions into their proposal, which includes recessing the building into the natural grade to minimize building height, providing a sloped roof to fit in with adjacent residential homes, and erecting an 8-foot-high masonry fence around the structure and adjacent area.

The approval included a recommendation

by the planning commission that street access will be widened to two lanes from the road to the parking lot.

Since then the council has reviewed four design options for the building and on Feb. 14 approved a concept that includes a hip roof with concrete masonry unit facing. The city is currently reviewing plans with local architects.

The council has also approved construction of a 30-foot by 30-foot steel salt shed to be constructed on the southwest corner of the public works lot. The structure, which will be designed for the possibility of future addition of doors, will be constructed with a 6-inchthick floor reinforced with rebar. It will have a 10-foot setback from the property line. The cost for the structure is $9,582.

Eagle Mountain growth brings benefits, challenges

By Mike Kieffer One of the best indicators of city growth is development. Eagle Mountain has seen an increase in growth over the last six years.

Since 2006, the city has issued a total of 6,618 building permits. The Eagle Mountain building department has also been busy doing more than 27,000 inspections since 2010.

Stephanie Gricius, a member of the Eagle Mountain City Council, said, “We’ve been running as fast as our feet will carry us for years, but now we’re to the point of re-evaluating our options as our infrastructure, mainly transportation, is approaching capacity.”

The issuing of permits for building and the development itself helps the city in several ways. Development requires workers, and those workers need to travel to the construction site and spend time in Eagle Mountain to complete the development. These workers then see what Eagle Mountain has to offer them as well as have the opportunity to partake of the services the city offers. Development also increases the city’s population. Those new residents pay property tax and sales tax, which in turn help the city provide infrastructure and amenities.

Eagle Mountain has seen a huge increase in growth from 2015 to 2016. In 2016, the number of building permits increased by half the number issued the previous year,and commercial permits experienced a 100 percent increase.

The city has also seen a large amount of growth during the last few years in the number of inspections the building department has completed.

But growth can also cause growing pains for the city. If the infrastructure cannot keep up with the growth, it can cause friction between the residents, developers and the city.

The city is constantly performing a balancing act to keep the infrastructure in step with the residential and commercial growth.

Colby Curtis, a member of Eagle Mountains City Council, said, “If you`re going to have difficult issues to deal with in a city, I can’t think of a better one than growth. We are thriving and that’s wonderful. It means Eagle Mountain is a great place to live and on a good path. That path also creates unique issues that have to be addressed. Working to keep up on roads, staffing and quality of service all come into play. Currently, Eagle Mountain has a handle on this, though as we move into the fu-

ture, I perceive one of two things must happen: we either have to scale up government operations to meet this demand and ride the growth or make specific policy decisions designed to soften the boom. While either option has its downsides, both must be considered.” *** If you want to conquer fear, don’t sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy. - Dale Carnegie *** The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence. - Confucius *** The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. - Walt Disney

Vista Heights is presenting the show “James and the Giant Peach” with a unique twist. was the message of this musical, he said: “Even when life seems down, you can still go on to be successful and you are always loved.”

Eli Boyden, who plays James in one cast, believes the message is, “Even when you can’t be with someone, they are still with you.”

Ammon Geisler, who also plays James, recalls his favorite part of the musical. “I love the scene with the song “Plump and Juicy.”

It is a fun number to perform; it is funny and very jazzy.”

Van Orden’s drama philosophy of adding to and changing the plays or musicals to have a new twist or theme to it was true last year when he created a Beatles version of “Alice in Wonderland.” The last year he taught in Wyoming, he did a steampunk version of the musical “Oklahoma!”

“I’m very passionate about the importance of a concept,” said Van Orden. “And of course I couldn’t be interested in doing the show if I couldn’t come up with a fascinating concept that helps keep the creative energy running through everything. And this year is no different.”

With the help of many parents who help organize, build, sew, create and help make things for this production, the adventurous story of James Henry Trottter, the giant peach and his friends will be flying into the Vista Height’s auditorium.

The musical will be performed March 16, 17, 18 and 20 at 7 p.m. in the Vista Heights Middle School auditorium, 484 Pony Express Pkwy, Saratoga Springs. Ticket prices at the door are $5 for adults and $3 for children.

A6 - March-April 2017 - Vol. 17 No. 3 - Online All the Time - TheCrossroadsJournal.com

Lehi Senior Center seeking volunteer to teach Tai Chi classes Saratoga Springs fire department

Saratoga Springs fire crew’s excellent service recognized by ER director

By Danielle Palmer At the Saratoga Springs City Council meeting held at the end of January, Mark Sanderson, emergency room director at Mountain Point Medical Center, recognized the city’s fire crew. He shared a story of a seriously injured 2-year-old. The child’s survival was largely due to the quick response of the Saratoga Springs paramedics and fire crew as it only took 37 minutes from the time of the injury to hospital treatment and a helicopter flight to Primary Children’s Hospital. Sanderson presented the Excellence in Care Award to Saratoga Springs Fire and Rescue because of their skilled services.

Also during the January meeting, Public Relations Manager Owen Jackson discussed incorporating the city’s 20-year anniversary into a new city logo design. Council Member Michael McOmber will be helping in its new design, which is to be completed this year. A public hearing was also held on a transportation impact fee facilities plan and the impact fee analysis and enactment, but the council voted to continue the hearing item in a future council meeting after further concerns could be addressed.

A bid was awarded to Landmark Escavating for the Foothill Water Pipeline Project in the amount of $1,920,182. This takes the

water line from Grandview Boulevard to Fox Hollow. The council then voted unanimously to appoint Bryan Chapman to the planning commission. More information can be found on this new appointment in another article in this issue of the Crossroads Journal.

Also during the Jan. 17 meeting, Saratoga Springs approved a Real Estate Purchase Agreement with Brigham and Jennifer Morgan to purchase a one-acre piece of property in Lehi where Saratoga Springs has a well and also approved an agreement for irrigation water between the city and Suburban Land Reserve Inc., Corporation of the Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and D.R. Horton Inc. It amended a previously agreed-upon arrangement because of insufficient water to meet requirements.

During its February meeting, the Saratoga Springs City Council discussed plans for pickleball courts at the Sports Park. They awarded a website design contract to CivicPlus and also discussed 2017 Municipal Election voting options, including the pros and cons for mailin voting. An interlocal agreement for culinary water systems was made, and there was discussion on the renaming of Lehi-Fairfield Road. The council agreed the best choices were Antelope Way or Desert Hare Road, but staff was going to check for any redundancy before action was taken on the change.

Help enrich the lives of the senior community by leading the seniors at the Lehi Senior Center in Tai Chi class - a low-impact, relaxing, meditative form of exercise. No official certifications are required. The class will be held at least once per week on a consistent day for one hour or more. We can be flexible on the date and time to fit the schedule of the volunteer.

Tai Chi currently is held on Thursdays from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and it is one of our most popular programs. We have an average of 25 seniors attending the class weekly. We will be losing our current teacher in April and

are seeking a new volunteer or volunteers to take his place starting the first week of April.

We would love to keep this program going.

Volunteers will receive a free lunch every day they teach.

Tai Chi can easily be learned by watching YouTube, purchasing Tai Chi videos and reading information online. The Senior Center will reimburse volunteers for any fees they encounter during training (e.g. purchasing Tai Chi video).

Contact Jessie Jones for more information or to volunteer for this position by calling 385201-2349.

Living the Good Life: Accept your quirks

By Sterling Parker Do you ever wonder? I really mean that you ponder about all the different quirks there are. The definition of quirk: A peculiar behavior or action or personality or mannerism. Everyone has different mannerisms. I have, you have, we all do. Maybe I am just the only person that is crazy! It is true, I have had brain surgery and have had some matter removed from the old noggin. I have a couple of quirks that I will convey. So hold on and enjoy the “good life.”

I always wonder why my nose drips and my feet smell. I have never figured that one out.

Oh yes, the washing machine quirk. Everybody has experienced this quirk. You put your socks in the washing machine. You have them all matched and when you take them out you are missing one. It happens every time, that you are one sock short. Really, this one really irks me.

Why does everybody enjoy eating breakfast for supper? I know this one: everybody is too tired to fix breakfast in the morning - just a glass of juice and you are off to work or school. Instead, you will take the time in the evening and scramble some eggs and hash browns with a side of toast and bacon. I do this once a week.

The next one I have watched through the years: being 10 minutes late for church service. No matter if your service is at 9 or 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. The same people are late. In contrast, the same folks that are always first to church want to sit in the same seats. They are there 30 minutes early every week.

We all have our quirks or peculiar mannerisms. Some of us have superstitious that overcome us. But I won’t go there for this edition. Just enjoy the “good life” and realize we all have quirks. Oh yes, I’m the one that is there a half hour early every week enjoying the “good life.”

High winds cause damage in Eagle Mountain area

By Mike Kieffer As a storm rolled in on Sunday, March 5, Eagle Mountain had high winds reported. The high winds caused some minor and major issues for residents in Eagle Mountain. Quail Run Farm reported winds of up to 38 mph at 2:15 p.m. with an average high wind speed of 32 mph.

A section of Eagle Mountain Blvd. was closed due to the high winds. Eagle Mountain has several high voltage power lines that run through the city and at one point, the road was closed due to fear of the power lines falling.

The road was closed for about two hours as crews monitored the situation.

Crews could be seen working late into the night on Lake Mountain Road repairing lines and making sure the residents remained safe.

They were also seen working Monday morning in the area as well.

Power lines were not the only problem caused by the high winds. On the Eagle Mountain Citizens Facebook page, residents reported a number of issues including fences being blown down, patio furniture being blow through fences, trampolines landing on cars, flag poles being blown down, mailbox poles broken, garbage cans being blow around,

High winds in Eagle Mountain on March 5 caused damage to some homes. shingles being removed from houses and basketball standards being blown over. Some residents reported the siding of their houses being blown off.

s

Vol. 17 No. 3 - Online All the Time - TheCrossroadsJournal.com - March-April 2017 - A7

Eagle Mountain City plans road chip seal project

By Mike Kieffer

Miss Eagle Mountain hosted young princesses during the 12th annual Princess Tea Party held Feb. 18.

Miss Eagle Mountain Princess Tea Party held

By Celeste Bingham The 12th annual Princess Tea Party was held Feb. 18 at the Eagle Mountain city hall. This tradition started with Miss Eagle Mountain reading storybooks to the local children.

It has now blossomed into a two-hour event that includes pictures, crafts, activities, lunch and, of course, the continued tradition of story time with Miss Eagle Mountain.

This event is a fundraiser for the current queen to help her when she competes at the Miss Utah pageant. On average, 50 girls come every year to participate in this tradition that has become an event looked

forward to all year. Miss Eagle Mountain Kaylie Blacka said, “My favorite part is watching each of the princesses face light up when they enter and how excited they are just taking a picture with me. I am truly lucky to be a part of this program and event.”

The current contestants competing in the Miss Eagle Mountain pageant volunteer along with the Miss Eagle Mountain board. Jessica Bodily, director of the program, said, “This event is one that not only the community looks forward to, but also the queens and board members. It is an honor to be a part of such a long-standing tradition that has continued to grow and expand.”

On Jan. 16, Eagle Mountain City put out a bid from the roads department to do a chip seal on three of the major roads in Eagle Mountain.

The bid closed on Feb. 1. The details of the bid stated that the project should start after May 1 and be completed no later than June 30. The roads included will be Pony Express Parkway, Ranches Parkway and Eagle Mountain Blvd.

The bid states that the chip seal aggregate will be supplied by the city.

“Construction work, in general, consists of the following: A light weight chip seal will be placed on the following roads Ranches Parkway (north bound from Pony Express Parkway to SR-73), Eagle Mountain Blvd. (Pony Express Parkway to SR-73), and Pony Express Parkway (through the roundabout at Eagle Mountain Blvd. heading south two miles).

Light weight chips will be stored and provided by Eagle Mountain City in two locations.

Contractor responsible for installation of light weight chip seal, fog seal, restriping traffic paint, and traffic control. Beginning no earlier

than Monday, May 1, 2017, and completion date of Friday, June 30, 2017.”

Chip seal is a process of putting down a thin base of hot bitumen or asphalt and then embedding a finely graded aggregate into it.

The aggregate can be any material or combination of materials. In 2014, the city used chip seal on Pony Express from Eagle Mountain Boulevard to Sandpiper Road. The city council approved a bid for $209,809 for the 2014 Pony Express Chip Seal Project. The city council documents contained the following information about the process: “The 2014 Pony Express Chip Seal Project includes the placement of a lightweight chip seal on Pony Express Parkway from Eagle Mountain Boulevard to Sandpiper Road. The lightweight chips are a product that the City has not used in the past, but which has the benefit of not being likely to crack windshields after placement. A fog coat will be placed over the chip seal to help seal the chips. City crews have been crack sealing and placing patches in preparation for this work.”

Alpine looking at annexing Alpine Cove subdivision

By Linda Petersen The Alpine City Council has approved an annexation petition for the Alpine Cove subdivision, which is located west of the Lambert Park rodeo grounds. It has also added the Schoolhouse Springs watershed area into the city’s annexation plan into the city.

Lehi City owns the watershed property, which it does not intend to develop, but city leaders there are supportive of the area being annexed into Alpine.

Last year, the city received an annexation petition from residents in the 76.21-acre subdivision that contains 62 lots. City Planner Jason Bond told the city council that the subdivision had previously been excluded from the city’s annexation plan because not enough residents were supportive of being annexed into the city.

Since that time, the number of residents in favor of annexation had increased.

On Feb. 14, the city council approved changes to the city’s annexation plan which allows the annexation petition to move forward.

THE SERVICE DIRECTORY Nails

Computer Repair

Cleaning Service

Nails

Health

Preschool

Speech Clinic

Cash

Mobile Garage

Professional Services

l UV Gels l Pedicures l Manicures

Call for more details and services available

Appliance Repair

Aaron’s Appliance Repair Same Day Service

801-566-3617 Realtor

A8 - March-April 2017 - Vol. 17 No. 3 - Online All the Time - TheCrossroadsJournal.com

Vol. 17 No. 3 - Online All the Time - TheCrossroadsJournal.com - March-April 2017 - A9

Cities plan various events, concerts

By Linda Petersen

This year’s Spring Cleanup in Cedar Hills is scheduled for Saturday, April 15.

Cedar Hills residents to clean up the community

By Linda Petersen

Cedar Hills residents will have the opportunity to participate in two Days of Service this year on April 8 and 22. Sponsored by the Beautification Committee, the Days of Service will have residents tackling the cleanup of the roundabout on Cedar Hills Drive.

Residents age 14 and older are asked to meet at Heritage Park, 4425 W. Cedar Hills Dr., at 10 a.m. on each of the two days with gloves, shovels, rakes and hand trowels. They will be removing plants and shrubs on April 8 and planting trees, shrubs, flowers and perennials on April 22. Pizza will be served to participants each day after the work is complete.

Residents are asked to sign up online at cedarhills.org/service.

Spring Cleanup Spring Cleanup this year for Cedar Hills residents will be Saturday, April 15, and Saturday, April 22, from 7 a.m. to noon. Large roll-off dumpsters will be available during

those hours at the following locations: Sunset Park, 9814 N. Dorchester Drive; Heritage Park, 4450 W. Cedar Hills Drive; Hayes Circle, The Cedars; Timpanogos Cove Park, 9508 N. Timpanogos Cove; and Morgan Blvd/Sage Vista Drive.

Certain items cannot be placed in the dumpsters. These include car tires, car batteries, motor oil, appliances, electronic devices, concrete, construction materials or liquids.

Tree limbs should not exceed six inches in diameter and 12 feet in length. If the dumpster is full, please take the load to another location.

To coordinate group projects, contact Beautification Committee Chair Boyd Wilkins by text or phone at 801-822-7601.

Free Dump Passes The city is also offering two free dump passes a year to residents, each for loads that are 500 pounds or less. (Both passes may be used for one load). Passes are available at the city office.

35 things to do instead of sitting and Netflixing

By Danielle’ Dimond Are you swiftly breezing through all the Netflix shows ever made? Did you watch three seasons in one week and suddenly realize you need to re-evaluate your life goals?

Not to worry - I’m here for you, my friend, with a list of things to do instead of watching TV. 1. Go to a concert.

2. Learn a skill or hobby.

3. Geocaching is still cool!

4. Look at the stars, learn some constellations and the stories that go with them.

5. Go for a walk or bike ride.

6. Have a bonfire.

7. Organize: Paperwork, drawers, attic, basement, garage, etc.

8. Clean out your pantry.

9. Do a DIY project.

10. Fix something!

11. Send a handwritten note to someone.

With old-school pen and paper and maybe even postage!

12. Call someone for a chat.

13. Volunteer!

14. Grab a trash bag and pick up trash in your community.

15. Plan a trip.

16. Wash your car the old-fashioned way.

You know, with hose and sponge!

17. Play a board game.

18. Organize your photos.

19. Do a puzzle.

20. Back up your computer.

21. Paint a room in your house.

22. Do a crossword puzzle. Or Sudoku or word search!

23. Just listen to music. When was the last time you did that?

24. Play with your pet … or your kids.

25. Bake cookies and give them away all warm and fresh and delicious.

Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do. Pope John XXIII *** When you encourage others, you in the process are encouraged because you’re making a difference in that person’s life. Encouragement really does make a difference. - Zig Ziglar

26. Fill an online shopping cart but don’t actually buy anything. It’s surprisingly therapeutic, not as soul bruising as you may think.

27. Get ahead on work or schoolwork.

28. Research some of your family’s history.

29. Learn a new language.

30. Create a budget.

31. Plan all your meals for the week.

32. Rearrange your furniture.

33. Make a fort. With or without kids.

34. Learn to play an instrument.

35. Clip coupons.

Hazardous Waste Collection Day • The annual Utah County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day will be Saturday, April 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Provo Towne Center Mall west parking lot.

Household hazardous waste items, such as old gasoline, paint, fluorescent light bulbs, batteries and unused medications will be accepted.

Visit utahcountyonline.org/dept/Health/HHW for more details.

American Fork Library • Saturday, March 25, 1 p.m.: A Proper Tea with author Rachael Anderson. Registration required.

• Tuesday, April 11, 6 to 8 p.m.: Fathering with Love and Logic. This free five-session course uses the Fathering with Love and Logic approach in teaching dads how to raise responsible kids and enjoy parenting. Registration is required. Must be 18 or older to attend.

Presented by Healthy Relationships Utah.

• Monday, April 10: Family Night at the Library - Sign Language Celebration Highland • Enjoy the Utah Valley Chamber Players in Concert on Monday, March 20, at 6 p.m. at the community center, 378 W. 10400 North.

Admission is free.

• Lone Peak High School Choirs will host male a cappella group Vocal Point on Wednesday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. in the Lone Peak Auditorium. Tickets are $13. If you have a

North County Notes large group (10 or more), contact Travis Lloyd at 801-518-0493 to learn about a discount.

• The Youth Shakespeare Workshop will present “Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” on Friday, March 24, and Monday, March 27, at 7 p.m. at the Highland City Community Center, 5378 W. 10400 North. Admission is free. The show is family friendly.

Cedar Hills • Cedar Hills is holding a citywide photo contest to celebrate Arbor Day on April 28. The first 25 people who send a photo of themselves planting a tree on or before Arbor Day this year will receive two free admission tickets to Thanksgiving Point Gardens. Send photos to lpetersen@cedarhills.org. One photo per household.

• The city has increased the rental rate for the Vista Room for large private events on Mondays and Tuesdays to $450 for six hours.

Lehi • Lehi City Arts will host performances of “Sister Act, The Musical,” directed by Katie Allen and Jake Porter, on April 6-15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Glen M. Smith Family Theater in the Lehi City Arts Center, 684 N. Center. (No performances April 9 or 12). Tickets are $12 for adults; senior citizens and students are $10.

Tickets are available at www.showtix4u.com.

Take decluttering in steps

By Celeste Bingham We have had a crazy winter that seems to not be going away. Having spent the last few months mostly inside with my kids, everything we own has me ready to live the minimalist lifestyle. I wish I could just get rid of it all and start over. But, since that’s not actually an option, I’ll stick with decluttering.

I don’t often have a lot of time to spend on deep cleaning because my kids are young enough that they are still pretty needy and I work full-time. In any case, I have my work cut out for me. I have chosen to cut things down and pick one or two areas to focus on at a time. Sure, the sink is full of dishes and the laundry is all washed - it’s just in a large pile waiting to be folded. For me, if I can get even just one little area crossed off my list each day, that is a major accomplishment.

Do you ever get overwhelmed with the cleaning to-do list? I definitely do. I hate leaving a cleaning/decluttering task half-finished because you usually have to make a bigger mess before it starts to be clean. This is my simple two-step process for successfully

decluttering my house.

First, I split my house by rooms: kitchen, bedrooms, laundry room, office/den, linen closet, garage and finally the yard. To be honest, the yard won’t be touched until it has officially warmed up and is staying warm, but I wanted to make sure it was on my list. I then split each of those rooms into smaller areas.

This helps me feel accomplished as I check something off my list even if it’s just picking up the toys in the kids’ bedrooms. Since only you know your house, there is no better person to put a list together. You will know what each room needs and the small tasks that will help you feel accomplished and motivated. Make that list visible for you. This will help you also stay on track and prioritize the cleaning. If you are having trouble coming up with a list of duties, check out Pinterest for ideas and for a printable list. I’m sure that by the time I get to the bottom of the list, I’ll need to start all over again, and my house will probably never be completely clean at a single time. However, that’s all right, because there is more to my life than cleaning, and sometimes it’s the small victories that count.

A10 - March-April 2017 - Vol. 17 No. 3 - Online All the Time - TheCrossroadsJournal.com

Crossing guards brave Finance expert gives snow, careless drivers Alpine a thumbs up to protect children

By Linda Petersen

By Mike Kieffer

Most people are familiar with the United States Post Office creed, “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” But this creed can also apply to the 17 Eagle Mountain employees that act as the crossing guards that keep our children safe as they travel to and from school.

The city employs 17 crossing guards that cover 44 shifts per day. They cover 10 different locations in the city, helping to support six different local schools. Some of the schools have two locations that are covered by the crossing guards. The crossing guards are paid $9.50. But they will tell you that it is not all about the money.

Rick Pearson, a crossing guard by Hidden Hollow Elementary School, explains, “The rewards for this job are far from financial.

They are the hugs, high fives, dandelions they pick for me, pretty rocks that they find and thank you’s I get. I say you’re welcome to every thank you I hear. Sometimes I get multiple thank you’s from the same person and they get multiple you’re welcomes from me.

It`s a game we play.” Rick has been working for Eagle Mountain for the last nine years as a crossing guard. He moved from South Jordan 10 years ago were he was also a crossing guard. Rick has been married for almost 47 years and is the father of three adopted special needs children and a grandfather.

Rick, aka Bobby Wah Sabi, “the lollipop man,” first cousin to the Lone Ranger, as the kids know him, discusses some of the pitfalls of being a crossing guard.

“I could write a book about bad drivers.

Number one is not paying attention to me.

Not stopping at stop signs is second. Most people treat them as a yield sign. As they drive past me I can see them saying “I’m sorry” or they will wave at me. The law says while the school lights are flashing, the crosswalk becomes a school crosswalk. This is different

than a regular crosswalk. All traffic in both directions must stop until there is no one in the crosswalk. Talking on cellphones or texting is number three. I have five lanes of traffic to watch, so when there is some sort of break in traffic, I try to stop traffic so I can get the kids across the road.

“I like it when drivers actually do what they are supposed to do. It is so rare that I don’t know how to react.

“This is a very dangerous job. I go invisible once the children have crossed. More than once have cars almost run over me. I mean inches between me and them. My crosswalk is not very well lit in the wintertime. Most dangerous time is morning A track between 7:45 and 8. This is when parents are running late for work and are dropping their child off at school.

They think their child is more important than anyone else’s child. I have counted about 15 school buses going to the middle school during this same time period.”

The crossing guards are a benefit to the city of Eagle Mountain. Principal Paula Tucker of Eagle Valley Elementary School had this to say about the crossing guards that help support her students: “We appreciate the time, care and concern our crossing guards give to the students at Eagle Valley every day. They are often the first friendly hello students receive as they arrive to the school. We also appreciate the patience and extra attention patrons take driving in our neighborhoods, keeping all our students safe.”

Principal Brad Davies of Hidden Hollow Elementary School agrees with Tucker. He had this to say about the crossing guards, including Rick, that support his students: “Outstanding!

Awesome! Reliable! Wonderful! We love our crossing guards. Whether it is sunny, rainy, snowy - they are there! Like a mail carrier they do their job each and every day! It is so nice to have them helping to ensure the safety of so many of our students. We are grateful to each one of them for the work they do each and every day.”

An annual city audit of Alpine City for fiscal year 2015-16 was recently completed by Greg Ogden, an independent auditor.

Ogden found that the city was in good shape. He reported to the Alpine City Council that the city was doing very well financially.

The only areas of concern are the water and storm drain funds, which are running at a deficit. The city needs to keep an eye on those, Ogden said. He said that the recent increase in water rates should remedy the problem.

The only irregularity he found was that the street impact fees had not been spent by the end of the fiscal year. Utah law requires that such fees have to be spent within six years after collection or they have to be refunded.

He noted that even with the deficit in the governmental water activity, there was enough revenue from the business activities or taxes and interest that they showed a $30,000 profit.

Most cities carry what is called an unassigned fund balance (the residual balance of the general fund) which, by law, can only between 5 and 25 percent of the general fund.

Currently, the city’s fund balance is at 19 percent, which Ogden said is very good.

Ogden praised the city’s long-term debt.

Currently the city has only one bond out: a $3.6 million water bond. The payments are $350,000 a year and the city has 10 years left on it. He said it was impressive for the city to have only one bond with the amount of growth

Alpine had had. Alpine was to be commended for keeping its debt under control, he said.

Mid-Year Budget Adjustment In January, City Treasurer Alice Winberg reported some financial facts to the city council: l Currently the city has $284,997 in the Bank of American Fork, $13,114,159 in the public treasurer’s investment fund and $1,000 in petty cash. l At half-way through the fiscal year, the city had received 90 percent of projected property tax revenue about 80 percent of the projected revenue for building permits. l Other revenue was at around 50 percent except for business license revenue, which was at 11 percent. Business licenses renew every calendar year rather than the fiscal year, so most of the revenue from licenses came in during the second half of the fiscal year. l Pending projects utilizing impact fees included 100 South improvements, a Smooth Canyon Park playground and 600 North storm drain improvements.

Winberg reported that last year’s Alpine Days ran at a deficit of $59,202, which was covered by the city. They would probably need to amend the budget for fiscal year 2016-17 to transfer funds in order to balance the budget, she said. Winberg said the city had budgeted $40,000 for expenses and anticipated revenues of $20,000 for the event. The actual expenditures for Alpine Days were $141,092, with revenues at $81,890.

Lehi leaders hear audit findings

By Linda Petersen Finance Director Dave Sanderson recently reported to the Lehi City Council that even with a recent water rate increase, the city’s water fund is operating at a loss. He said the city might have to raise water rates slightly on July 1 but is hopeful there might be a reduction in Timpanogos Special Service District fees.

The TSSD provides wastewater collection and treatment service to Lehi and other northern Utah County cities. He said he has

discussed the amount of funds the TSSD has in reserve with TSSD board members and has requested a reduction in sewer fees. If something isn’t done, the city may have to file a lawsuit, he said. He also told the council that he might have to move funds from the city’s rainy day fund to help the fleet fund. Auditor Ian Robbins, of Osborn, Robbins, & Buhler, reported that his firm didn’t have any findings in the financial or compliance audit. He stated that they had some internal control findings due to the change in the treasurer position.

Vol. 17 No. 3 - Online All the Time - TheCrossroadsJournal.com - March-April 2017 - A11

Bryan Chapman appointed to SS Planning Commission

By Danielle Palmer In January, the City of Saratoga Springs appointed Bryan Chapman to fill a seat on the planning commission.

Bryan Chapman said he and his family have lived in Saratoga Springs for four years and they love it. The good schools, friendly neighborhoods and accessible parks made it easy to decide never to leave.

Chapman has lived the American dream in his career at Above Training, Inc., an online training company that also specializes in state food safety. But Chapman said the timing was right for him to follow his family’s legacy now and become more involved in giving back to his community. He referenced an uncle in California who is fully involved in county politics and an admiration for his grandmother’s political involvement as well.

Chapman was raised with a belief in serving one’s community. His feeling

Bryan Chapman of responsibility as a citizen of the city is what pushed him to pursue public service, and he believes he was appointed because of his understanding of the neutral role a planning commissioner must have.

“The role of planning commissioner is to ensure the issue at hand meets with city code and ordinance,” Chapman said. “We make recommendations based on city code, and the decisions and the politics are left to the city council. It is not glamourous.” Indeed, his highest priorities as a member of the planning commission are to ensure city code is met and to remain neutral as to any political opinion on matters addressed. But what is recommended to city council by the commission surely makes a big difference in what is decided.

Bryan Chapman feels very fortunate to be selected, and he encourages others to take action in the community.

“It’s easy to complain about issues in the community,” Chapman said, “but a real difference is made when you get involved.”

He challenges all citizens to take action to help the city continue to be a great place to live as it continues its incredible growth.

Eventual property tax increase to fund roads likely in Highland

By Linda Petersen A committee formed by Highland City to examine ways to fund road reconstruction has determined that bonding is not a good option. Instead, the committee has recommended that the city fund the reconstruction by increasing property taxes.

City staff members are currently working on a five-year road plan. Current estimates indicate that an additional $1 million will be needed annually for road maintenance and construction.

Some council members favor using excess funds in the city’s budget toward road repair and reconstruction but said the city will still have to ask residents for more money to fund road reconstruction eventually.

In February, the council approved a plan for city staff to involve and educate the public about the plan and the need for funding. Options being considered included a resident survey, which would include questions asking if residents would support a property tax increase.

The mayor and city council also heard

the results of an employee pay rate and benefits study that compared Highland’s rates with 76 other cities and municipalities.

The study found that a substantial number of city jobs are below the market average. It recommended that the city implement a long-range plan to bring employee rates up to a competitive level, basing those increases on merit/performance and longevity through an ongoing performance management and evaluation process.

The first step would be to identify those positions that are significantly below market level and to increase pay rates and benefits for those positions.

City Administrator Nathan Crane told the council that it would cost approximately $51,000 per year to raise all of the positions to meet the minimum.

For the few positions that are above market averages value, the study recommended that the city put a cap at the market average maximum and implement a freeze on pay increases for those above that maximum.

The council also considered pos-

sible changes to the election process but rejected expanding early voting to include the Saturday before the election because of the cost involved. It also gave direction to City Recorder Jody Bates to pursue having one voting location at City Hall and providing a ballot box for each precinct.

Cedar Fort officials start moratorium

By Linda Petersen Cedar Fort officials have instituted a 90-day moratorium on all new building permits and subdivision applications.

The town has taken this measure to address changes and issues in the land use ordinance and building permit ordinance, said Mayor Howard Anderson. The moratorium will be effective through April 26.

THE CLASSIFIEDS Lessons PRIVATE PIANO LESSONS! Perfect for any age. Beginner to Advanced. 25 years playing experience, teaching for 14. Have fun learning- theory, technique and duet/quartets. First lesson free.

Call Andrea 801-687-1468 DRUM LESSONS Fun, certified teacher, 42 years experience, positive influence, professional drummer & band leader, all ages/levels.

Studio in Saratoga Springs, references available.

Please call Ken Culmone 801-768-0708 or 801-367-2787.

GUITAR LESSONS All ages, all levels, all styles.

Learn songs, chords, strumming, picking, notation, theory, song writing and MUCH more! Located in Meadow Ranches (by the new middle school) First lesson is FREE! Call Gill Taylor (801) 358-7148

HELP WANTED Ranches Housekeeping Service is looking for both full-time and part-time housekeepers. Please contact Traci at 801-830-4119 or Ciara at 801885-5511 for an application and interview ASAP!!

You must have your own transportation and be a legal US resident. Background checks will be completed as well. Ranches Housekeeping Service offers great employment with flexible hours. Call if interested!

ULTIMATE DANCE Now registering for 2015-2016 Season Dance Classes. Offering Competitive and Recreational classes for ages 3+. Located on Redwood Road just north of Towne Storage in Saratoga Springs.

Ultimate Dance has been offering dance classes in Saratoga Springs since 2003. Offering Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Hip Hop. www.ultimatedanceetc. webs.com, Like us on

Facebook Ultimatedanceetc. or call us at 801718-6900 or 801-766-2286.

Office hours Mon & Wed 10:00am-11:30am, Classes start Sept 8, 2015.

VOICE LESSONS Learn to sing in the natural Voice. Ages 10 and up. 28 yrs. experience. Performing opportunities.I’m located one mile from west Lake High School in Eagle Mountain 801-472-3280 Ex 10/15

DAY CARE TODDLER PLAY HOUSE We do realize that sometimes mommy and daddy have to work. Located in Saratoga Springs. Meals and preschool activities provided. Call Kristin Egbert now for opening.

801-897-4904.

GOOD AS GRANDMA’s - Day Care & More. Warm, loving environment combine with exciting activities & crafts designed to stimulate your child’s emotional, social & intellectual growth. Full Time - 2 yrs & older. Call Debi Ring 801-822-7506

Listing is always free online in our classified section and realtors and For Sale by Owners can use the website. Use the multi-photo upload tool to show your property. Renters and Landlords are also welcome to list on the website for FREE. Visit TheCrossRoadsjournal.comfor more information.

GET YOUR BUSINESS INTO

Delivered to Homes and Businesses in Eagle Mountain, Saratoga Springs, Cedar Fort, Fairfield, Lehi, American Fork, Cedar Hills, Highland, Alpine www.thecrossroadsjournal.com/Contact-The-Journal http://www.thecrossroadsjournal.com/Media-KitSubmit-News

Do you have News for The Crossroads Journal?

If you have news or community events that you would like to share with The Crossroads Journal contact us

http://www.thecrossroadsjournal.com/Submit-News email wendy@thecrossroadsjournal.com

A12 - March-April - 2017 - Vol. 17 No. 3 - Online All the Time - TheCrossroadsJournal.com

Mud roads cause strife in Eagle Mountain

By Mike Kieffer Eagle Mountain City has policies in place that require developers to put in roads to the developments they are creating before it issues building permits for the subdivisions that are supposed to be accessed using those roads.

In general, the roads are required to be paved and meet all the city requirements. But there have been several times in the past when these requirements have not been met, were not required at the time or have been waived for various reasons. When the developer is not responsible for completion of the roads, or if building permits are issued before the road is completed, it can cause disputes between neighbors, developers and the city.

One recent example is the building of Golden Eagle. Golden Eagle currently supplies traffic for the South Pass, Liberty Farms, Kiowa Valley, and Freemont Springs developments.

The fact that the developer has not completed the road and people are now living in areas that the road services has created some heated discussion between residents, the city and the developer. Savannah Pitt, an Eagle Mountain resident, recently started a Facebook post on an Eagle Mountain-related page. In that post,

she included several pictures of the current state of the road. Eagle Mountain Mayor Chris Pengra responded to this post with the following information: “FYI, we are contributing $100,000 to the developer to complete the road. We tried to make it happen last year but couldn’t because the developer needed to complete some work before the road would be ready for paving.

By that time the weather was too cold for asphalt. In any case, the job still needs to be done by the developer, but we will work with them to make this a priority after the weather warms. . . .

“The road will cost far more than $100k to complete and it all lies within a development that is being finished in phases. We can avoid participating in the cost of the road if residents would like to wait until the development is completed in future phases? Otherwise we intend to contribute $100k which will offset the cost of the developer completing a road for a future phase which he is not required to complete at this time. In other words, we pay $100k and finish the road now instead of waiting until 1-3 years from now to complete a road which arguably should have been done many years ago.”

Crust Club providing pies for dinner and dessert

By Celeste Bingham The Crust Club was created by Valerie Kukahiko. Valerie has a passion for making food and had her own recipe blogs for many years before starting The Crust Club in February of 2016 in her house. It quickly grew, and in November 2016 it was moved to a shop located in Pleasant Grove.

The Crust Club is a “take and bake” for pies. They do dinner, dessert and mini pies.

The dinner pies come with the inside already pre-cooked, so all you have to do is pop it in the oven to warm it up and bake the crust. It is an easy three-step process: you order online the pie or pies you want, then pick the day you want them, and finally choose if you want your order delivered or if you will pick it up at the store.

For a fee of $5, they will deliver to your home if you are one of the 16 zip codes they are currently delivering in. They will be adding more zip codes as the demand grows and are hoping soon to begin shipping nationwide.

They rotate pies weekly for variety but will

Roads that have never been paved have been a problem for some Eagle Mountain residents.

Another example can be found to the east of Lake Mountain Road. In the early years of Eagle Mountain, a developer subdivided some land into lots that measured five acres and larger and did not develop road access to those lots. These lots are located east of Lake Mountain Road behind the Friends in Need Animal Rescue. The developer had deeded land to the city that would allow for a future road, but that land was never developed into a road. The lot owners now own lots without road access. There have been several attempts

to rezone areas of Lake Mountain Road, and during each attempt, these land owners were hoping that the new developments would open access to their lots.

In November 2016, Jeff Peterson, a resident of Far West, purchased one of those lots from a previous owner. In February of 2017, Peterson started to clear the city-owned land for an access road to his property. Confused by the building, residents around the new road asked the city if they knew or were in the process of building an access road in the area. The city did not know of any plans and asked Peterson to stop until he receive the proper permits before continuing. The residents were concerned that the road would create flooding issues and that the debris left from clearing the road would create future problems for the residents.

The trees and sage brush were being placed in large piles along the area; residents were concerned about fire, wildlife and trash issues.

The permit was issued and fees were paid, and Peterson was given the green light to clear an access road to his property. The permit had a price tag of $53.50. It was issued to J&J Excavating, a excavation and construction company owned by Jeff Peterson. The permit was issued with the conditions that the access road would be confined to the city-owned right of way, all materials be removed from the site, and the site cleaned up prior to completion. No completion date was specified on the permit.

As Eagle Mountain continues to grow, develop and expand, it will continue to run into situations that will cause contention between developers, residents and the city. As new things are discovered, the city code will evolve to handle the ever-changing needs of the growing city.

Eagle Mountain renews Ladder Sign agreement

By Mike Kieffer always have their signature “The Original” chicken pot pie every day. Their second most popular dinner pie is the BBQ Mac & Cheese.

Their mini pies are to die for. With a choice of two different flavors every week, you have your choice of eight of the same flavor or you can have a box of “mixed babies,” which is four of each of the two flavors.

The Crust Club is a new way for families or singles to enjoy some great home-style food that is quick and delicious and lacks the mess of cooking at home.

On March 7, the Eagle Mountain City Council voted unanimously to continue their agreement between Eagle Mountain and the Lehi Area Chamber of Commerce for the management and maintenance of the Ladder Signs that are located throughout Eagle Mountain.

There are currently 17 Ladder Signs that are spread through out the city. The majority of the signs can be found along the main roads (Ranches Parkway and Pony Express Boulevard) in The Ranches area of Eagle Mountain.

The remaining signs are found along Pony Express Boulevard in the City Center area.

The agreement stipulates that the signs are to remain the property of Eagle Mountain, but the maintenance and management is the responsibility of the Lehi Area Chamber of Commerce.

Priority for advertising on the signs is to be given to businesses that have a current license in Eagle Mountain, but if space is available, members of the chamber can lease a sign.

The signs come in two sizes: a single size and a double size. The double size is a 64″ x 32″ sign, and the single size is 64″ x 16″. The signs have a price tag of $540 for a single and $900 for a double, and a premium double position is $1,020. The lease is for a single year and also includes a Bronze Membership in the chamber, a $200 value.

The city is to be given 15 percent of the net income from the sign sales to cover enforcement and other administrative costs. The city receives approximately $2,000 per year. In the past, the funds are used for economic development.

The signs will have a company logo, and can include a phone number, address or

Eagle Mountain City decided recently to continue its Ladder Sign agreement with the Lehi Area Chamber of Commerce. website. The signs will go through a proofing process before they are sent into production.

Holly Harwood of the chamber is responsible for the program. She can be contacted via email at officeadmin@lehiareachamber.com or by phone at 801-901-6664.

The city also reserves the right to remove the signs if they remain empty or if it becomes adjacent to a retail or commercial location.

The signs have to be at least 1,000 feet apart, except if used for city facilities, and are located around major intersections.