City council plan ahead
An Olympic torch celebration, voting district realignments and a sewer rate adjustment along with a recently-completed audit of Logan’s finances were all topics addressed in Wednesday’s city council meeting at City Hall.
Olympic Torch Debbie Harvey, producer of the Olympic torch celebration invited city council members and Mayor Doug Thompson to help welcome the Olympic torch to Logan. The celebration will take place in the Spectrum Feb. 6 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Doors open at 3:30 p.m.
Harvey said Utah State University, local businesses, individuals and schools have all helped to sponsor the celebration. She said the celebration will include speakers, a film and a dance. After the celebration, admission will be free to a USU gymnastics meet against BYU, she said.
The route the Olympic torch will follow through Logan will be announced Jan. 28 at 6:30 p.m.
“We hope everyone lines the streets,” Harvey said.
Voting Voting districts with more than 1,000 voters must be divided, according to law, said Lois Price, Logan City recorder. Price said the division will be administered by the Cache County Council Tuesday. Price said five districts in Logan have more than 1,500 registered voters. An increase in the number of voting districts may mean an increase on spending during elections, she said.
“The city may have to spend more money on election judges [for new districts],” Price said.
Curtis Roberts and Mike Kidman, auditors from Jones Wright Simkins and Associates, a Logan-based firm, were present Wednesday to summarize their independent audit report, which reflects the financial position of the city as of June 30, 2001.
Roberts said Logan City’s total assets are $155 million. They receive $26 million in revenues from the justice court, police and taxes and receive $37 million in business activities like the sale of utilities and services.
“This is a huge entity by any comparison,” Roberts said. “A lot of corporations on NASDAQ don’t even have $5 million.”
The police and fire departments provided approximately $19 million in services to citizens and emergency medical services and justice courts provided $8.7 million.
Roberts said he has no bones to pick with the city’s finances.
“Funds seem to be spent in an appropriate manner,” he said.
The audit was accepted unanimously by the council.
Sewer and Water Rates Kevin Hansen, public works manager for the city, said an increase in sewer and water rates is in Logan’s future because of a tightening in government standards in the level of what is safe in the water.
The increase will be in the amount of approximately $2 per household.
“I feel it’s fair and equitable for all of our customers,” Hansen said.
The new regulations will require the city to build onto its current sewer and water management facilities to co-operate with the new government standards.
Thompson said because of Hansen and the public works department’s ingenuity, the increase is lower than expected.
“If we had gone with the recommendations of the state, the cost would be five to 10 times higher,” Thompson said.
Building a new facility will only cost $9 million and $250,000 in operating costs annually as opposed to the state-recommended $45 million facility and $11 million in annual operating costs.
The council voted unanimously for the increase.
The next city council meeting will be held Feb. 6 at 7:15 p.m. City Hall is located at 255 N. Main St.