Public invited to open house -- Highland City has invited the public to an open house for the new Highland fire station and Lone Peak Fire District headquarters. It will be Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 5585 W. Parkway West St. (5600 West and 10850 North).

Motorized vehicles on trails to be stopped -- Highland has spent considerable time and money to establish trail systems throughout the city. Unfortunately, they have also received a number of complaints about motorized vehicles being on the trails. That is not allowed. These are mostly kids on four wheelers who make it a problem of safety for other users.

The barriers or bollards will be placed in the center of the trails and at each entrance. The center bollard is designed to have a lock and can be removed to allow city workers to maintain the trail. The openings between the bollards will be wide enough for strollers, bicycles and walkers to pass through without having to stop or maneuver through. The fencing will be placed wherever the entrance is wide enough for a four wheeler to go around the bollards.

Dry Creek Bench Park improvements approved -- A residents' committee recommended extensive improvements to the Dry Creek Park including a basketball court, pavilion, larger playground equipment and a rest room. This would utilize the majority of the park. However, the Highland City Council approved just the pavilion and basketball court.

The playground will be replaced and the basketball court placed in the west end instead of in the middle of the lawn area as the committee suggested. It was determined the park was for the use of the entire city so should remain open to serve more people.

Plans for a rest room will come later. The improvements will be paid by $200,000 in the park impact fee fund slated for this park. The vote to approve the plan was unanimous.

Cemetery prices to increase -- Cemetery prices for the Highland City Cemetery will increase on July 1. Prior to that day, residents may purchase lots at the current price of $500; non-residents may purchase them at $800. Those prices will end at 6 p.m. on June 30. Highland residents may finance the lots on their utility bill with a 10 percent down payment. More information is available by calling 756-5751. Those who wish to purchase the lots must come into the office of the City Recorder at 5378 W. 10400 North, Highland.

Alpine medical building moves through Planning Commission -- The Alpine Medical Building which is scheduled to be built at 147 W. Canyon Crest Road received final site plan approval from the Alpine Planning Commission on June 17. There was once again debate on the city's ordinances in relation to parking stalls. The language is unclear whether or not to use the building's entire square footage as a reference point, or use the amount of leaseable space, which would exclude storage, bathrooms, entry ways, elevators, and a host of other items.

The commission instructed city worker April Riley to come up with some language to discuss in regard to clarifying the code at a later meeting. The motion to send the site plan to the Alpine City Council for final approval was made by Steve Cosper. Commission member Steve McArthur voted yes as well as City Council Member Tracy Wallace who was allowed to vote due to absence of other commission members. Commission member Jason Thelin, who is a co-owner of the Alpine Medical Building was absent from the meeting and therefore did not vote.

Alpine Creek Inn almost ready to begin construction -- Builders of the proposed Alpine Creek Inn, formerly known as the Kodiak Bed and Breakfast, went before the Alpine Planning Commission on June 17 to obtain site plan approval for the building. Red Deer Construction plans to erect the building on the lot located at 235 S. Main. The parking for the facility is set to have 52 stalls which are over and above the city regulation.

One stipulation put forth for the project by city employee Shane Sorenson concerned the lighting. "See the lights that are along Main Street be the same as our city standard," he said. The commission also required that the lighting at the back of the lot have shields on them so they do not shine on the homes in the area. Red Deer Construction is working with Questar Gas to get approval for the building as well as settling a dispute over where a retaining wall should be erected in relation to the property line. The motion to send this proposal to Alpine City Council for final approval passed unanimously.