In north Utah County, the mountains have a story to tell.

These days, though, the meaning of this pioneer folk wisdom is beginning to fade into history as fewer and fewer people can agree on just exactly what the old-timers said the stories of the mountains meant.

The most well-known feature is the so-called Sleigh Runner, a downward expanse of snow on the face of Box Elder Peak east of Alpine that is among the last to melt from the mountaintop each year.

"I look at it all the time. It is easy to look at from home," said Tim Chadwick, a long-time resident of American Fork. "If there is snow on Sleigh Runner on the sixth of June, you will have water all summer long."

This wisdom dates back to a time when there were only 3,000 people in American Fork, compared to nearly 30,000 now, he said.

Other Alpine residents place the date at July 24. Dorothy Loveridge, a long-time resident of Alpine, remembers yet another date.

"If there is still snow in Sleigh Runner at the first of August, you don't have to worry about water," she said. "Sometimes we get people moving in from California and they say it looks like a J-shape or something and we say no, it is a sleigh runner."

Rulon McDaniel, who at 76 years old is a fifth-generation Alpiner, says that for decades he has noted in his journal each year when the last snow melts from Sleigh Runner.

"I look at it with a telescope to make sure it really is the last snow," he said. "I also write down the first snow in the fall."

McDaniel's family has a long history with Sleigh Runner.

"The snow drifts up there in winter are 30 or 40 feet deep," he said. "I am acquainted with that area because my family always had a cabin up there until 1990 when it was destroyed by fire. It was built in 1931."

The legend around Sleigh Runner and what it may have meant to the pioneers is hogwash, he said.

"Some people say that when it melts it is an indication of the water we will have, but the old-timers never referred to it like that, that is the newcomers," he said. "I never much heard that until the last 25 or 30 years. It might be some kind of indicator, but there are no farmers left here to worry about it."

COMMUNITY NOTE

Highland

Budget modifications pass -- Several big ticket items were added or increased on next year's, 2008-09, Highland City budget. The library book collection, park improvements, increased water shares assessments, streets increased fuel costs and road improvements were among the items added.

The new library will be getting $300,000, twice the amount originally proposed. The money will go toward stocking the library shelves with books. "Potential donors wanted naming rights but because this is a temporary place we decided to defer that until we have a permanent library. Instead we will take the money from the general fund so the opening day collection will have enough books," Mayor Jay Franson said.

Councilwoman Kathryn Schramm voted against the increase stating she wanted to know what the certified tax rate would be to see if the city could afford it. The amendment passed by a four-to-one vote.

The next item was to approve $50,000 for improvements in the Highland Glen Park. "Residents have been asking for improvements to the park for some time," Councilwoman Claudia Stillman who made the motion said.

"This is just the first step. The park is long overdue for improvements," Councilman Brian Brunson said. This amendment passed by unanimous vote. Some $100,000 was added to the budget for the installation and upgrades for restrooms in city parks proposed by councilman Larry Mendenhall. The money would come out of the parks fund. It passed unanimously also.

Fuel cost increases which were originally set at $64,000 were upped to $76,800, a 20 percent increase. It also proposed by Mendenhall who said, " I do not think anyone could take into consideration the way fuel has increased lately." This passed unanimously.

Streets and roads got $57,000 as costs were up. Water share assessments went from $250,000 to $310,000 which will cover the increase cost of water share purchases as well as increased assessments from irrigation companies.

One item, park equipment, was reduced from $450,000 to $375,000. This puts it in line with the amount of money available for capital improvements. Approximately $6,500 was also approved to extend the lease on the modular building until the new city building can be occupied.

The entire budget passed by unanimous vote.