City Council approves fire substation
The Logan City Council unanimously approved the resolution to build a fire substation on Utah State University campus.
A public hearing was held at Wednesday’s meeting, when the council heard several resident opinions on the fire substation that will be located at 1250 E. 1100 North.
Several residents have stated their concerns, in the past several weeks of planning, at having a fire station in a neighborhood setting, which would cause elevated noise levels and disruption. At last night’s meeting, however, the other side of the story was heard, when person after person spoke in favor of the station, grateful for the added security it would bring to both students and Logan residents.
Former Mayor Newel Daines, who served the city 18 years ago, said he is in favor of the fire substation and the added protection it will bring to the northeast area of Logan, which happens to have both the highest population density and highest property-value density in the city.
“It is my opinion that the designated location is the right one,” he said. “I believe that the Utah State University students should be treated equally and have adequate protection nearby. I would plead: Let’s build it up there right now.”
Just before the council’s approval of the fire substation, Councilman Alan Allred said, “This makes logical sense.”
During other council business, USU student Tom Robins made his case to the council about utility bills.
The City of Logan Department of Utilities bills everyone an $11.65 fee for garbage removal, by default. Households with 60 gallons or less of waste each week can qualify for a garbage fee reduction to $6.55 each month.
Robins, a junior history major, addressed the council last night because this fee reduction information is not “made readily available” to anyone. The $5 difference adds up, he said, especially to university students and new families.
Robins prepared a list of solutions and presented them to the council, proposing this fee information could be printed in monthly bills, made available to new residents in the area, as well as begin a citywide recycling program, which would also reduce the amount of garbage waste.
“Utah State University students could be a positive, proactive environment” in helping the recycling program and reduction of landfill waste, he said.
-mdinger@cc.usu.edu