The Alpine City Council voted to spend $22,000 to run power to the rodeo grounds in time for Alpine Days in August. This new power source will mean no generators putting out loud noise limiting the hearing during the rodeo.

Alpine City employee Dana Beck went before the council and presented a quote from Rocky Mountain Power, that they would run single phase power to the restrooms at the grounds for $15,000. The city would then pay for the six-inch and two-inch conduit and to dig the trenches which after the purchase of the electrical box the power runs into, will reach the approved total amount of the project.

"It concerns me that we didn't budget for it," Whitchurch said during the discussion which involved possibly approving up to $60,000 based on an estimate for light fixtures and all-weather speakers to be installed on poles around the rodeo grounds.

"Vandalism of the fixtures is an issue," councilman Jim Tracy said about fears that the money spent on the things to make Alpine Days more efficient might be wasted by random acts of destruction.

Mayor Hunt Willoughby said that he was already under fire for the cell phone tower put up near the grounds and anticipated more uproar if permanent lighting was put up in the area.

"The lights I worry about in a tight budget year," Willoughby said. When the council decides to approve funds for an unplanned project like this, they have to decide where the money will come from. The council members said that Alpine Days is important and with the cost of renting items to bring power to the grounds being a significant amount, having power up there permanently was better for the City of Alpine in the long run.

COMMUNITY NOTES

Highland

Road found to have no base -- In a special meeting held on June 24 the Highland City Council approved an additional $120,000 for Staker Paving to completely redo Cemetery Road or 10930 N. 6000 West. The original bid was for $80,000 to resurface the road which has been in disrepair for some time. However, when the company began the repair they found the road which was built in 1976 had no road base at all.

"If we do not start over and do it right it will not last a year," city engineer Matt Shipp said. The vote to approve the funds was unanimous with Brian Braithwaite absent.

Planning Commission makes recommendations -- On June 24 the Highland Planning Commission voted to recommend to the City Council the inclusion of outside car, ATV and motorcycle sales as part of the conditional uses in Highland's commercial retail zone. The businesses have been prohibited.

City administrator Barry Edwards said, "Automobile sales are the number one generator of sales tax revenue." He added, "We probably only have room for one car lot."

The amendments were brought before the commission in an effort to allow businesses to come into Highland without having to go through the conditional use process with the Planning Commission if a similar business had already received a permit.

Commissioner Roger Dixon said Highland has made it hard for businesses. "Highland is a tough sell," he said. "Unless there is a reason to keep them out I think we should allow all permitted uses without requiring conditional use permits."

Commissioner Don Blohm disagreed.

"It doesn't seem unreasonable for them (a new type of business) to explain what they want to do," he said.

The amended ordinance also included allowing outdoor sales with some conditions. They are not to exceed two consecutive days or five separate events per year. Outdoor sales for businesses will not include items which are not already sold on the premises or legally grown within Highland's boundaries.

The commission also added sporting goods stores and computer software development to the businesses which require conditional uses. This would mean those businesses would have to come before the Planning Commission for a recommendation before getting final approval from the City Council.

They added tattoo and body piercing parlors to the list of prohibited business in all zones. Other prohibited uses include slaughtering animals, sexually oriented businesses, call centers, alcohol sales, and thrift stores to which they added pawn shops. Commissioner Elizabeth Macfarlane proposed prohibiting payday loan stores but the panel could not come up with a way to differentiate them from banks. "Can't we call them predatory lending businesses?" she said. That was determined hard to define.

The recommendations all passed unanimously and will go to the City Council for approval.