Spanish Fork is giving residents the go-ahead on water use, eliminating excessive-use fees for the culinary and pressurized irrigation systems.

The cut comes for two reasons. Spanish Fork residents are being more water-wise, and growth in the city means that new residents have to put in lawns.

New lawns mean a lot of water, and Spanish Fork wants to encourage the growth.

Spanish Fork's goal with the Central Utah Water Conservancy District in 2000 was to reduce water usage by 12 percent by 2020 and 25 percent in 2050. Six years into the project, Spanish Fork residents have lowered water use by 21 percent.

Because July water use is charged on the September bill, residents will see the rate change in September. The rate will remove the charge of $2.50 per 1,000 gallons above the usage allotment, and the water used above the allotment will be billed at 98 cents per 1,000 gallons.

Residents who do not have pressurized irrigation and have culinary water will be charged on two tiers of water use, $1.27 for the first 9,000 gallons and then a fee of $1.72 for anything above that. There will be no charge of $3.50 for use of more than 17,000 gallons.

The suspension is indefinite, lasting until residents' use surpasses the excessive-use rate enough times to cost the city.

AMERICAN FORK

Land north of the railroad tracks following West Pacific Drive, between 460 West and 560 West may become eligible for cottage-style development.

The Planning and Zoning Commission on Aug. 16 voted to recommend the overlay zoning to the City Council for consideration. The property in question is a wide but shallow parcel and, if approved for the cottage development, could have approximately nine residences on it. Some of the land is now vacant.

If approved, the cottage zoning would permit cottage-style housing (single level above ground) on lots smaller than those in the surrounding area. Planner Rod Despain said the average lot size would be 6,000 square feet, with none smaller than 5,000 square feet.

CEDAR FORT

Cedar Fort town leaders will review applicants' resumes for the position of town clerk at the monthly planning meeting today. The town clerk is a part-time position with a monthly salary.

The clerk writes, types and publishes official minutes, performs clerical duties, prepares all non-financial reports and prepares correspondence. A complete description of the position is available from Mayor Howard Anderson, 192 W. 100 South in Cedar Fort, 768-8176. Resumes are due to P.O. Box 389 Cedar Fort, Utah 84013 by today at 5 p.m.

CEDAR HILLS

The Deerfield Elementary PTA is looking for parents to fill the following positions: president-elect, commissioner for student activities, commissioner for community involvement, music enrichment (choir), newsletter/ Web site, business partnerships, student council/grade reps and room parents.

For more information or to sign up, contact PTA President Jill Gibb at 785-7992 or at president@deerfieldpta.com.

EAGLE MOUNTAIN

Chief of Staff Mike Wren announced at the Aug. 15 council meeting that Melanie Lahman is the new deputy city recorder. She replaces Angela Cox, who has become the executive receptionist. Lahman has been with the city less than a year and worked in utility billing.

HIGHLAND

In an effort to make the Highland city building more accessible to the handicapped, the city put out a request for bids to install an electronic device that would alert the city staff when someone needed help getting into the building. However, City Administrator Barry Edwards told the City Council on Aug. 15 no bids had been received. He also said the city had filed a response to a suit filed against it to make the building more accessible.

LEHI

Sod company Roots is cutting up 120,000 square feet of sod in the outfield of the Lehi High School baseball field to prepare for leveling and future sodding. From Sept. 1-10, sod can be purchased and picked up at the school on the east side of the ball field. Do not contact the high school. Kerry Christensen, contractor, can be reached at 756-4194 or 636-0652 to secure an order. Cost is 7 cents per square foot.

PLEASANT GROVE

Ken Young has been chosen as the new community development director for Pleasant Grove. Young has been acting as a consultant for various cities over the past couple of years, with emphasis on long range planning issues. He has served in a similar capacity in Mesquite, Nev.; worked as a senior planner for Orem; and also has consulted for JUB Engineers.

Young assumed his new role last week and said he hopes to portray good customer service in the Community Development Department. Noticing a backlog in projects, Young said he will work on ways of producing a quick turnaround on development projects and procedures for the city. Young has a master's degree in public administration and lives in Cedar Hills.

SALEM

Salem youth council applications, for teenagers ages 15-17, are now being accepted at the city office.

Applications are available at the city office or the high school and must be submitted to the city by Sept. 30.

SARATOGA SPRINGS

Saratoga Springs City Council approved a zone change from agricultural to low-density residential for two separate pieces of property that are being developed by the same developer. The 10-acre parcel is north of the Reserve II, at 3000 S. Redwood Road, and will have 25 single-family homes.

The 53-acre parcel is just south of El Nautica, and will have 112 single-family homes.

SPANISH FORK

The Spanish Fork Cable Network will be adding OLN (soon to be called Versus) and The Mountain to the expanded basic lineup. These channels will be added along with the previously added CSTV, giving Mountain West Conference fans unprecedented access to Mountain West football coverage. This move will make SFCN one of the only cable providers in Utah, and perhaps the nation, that will give customers complete access to Brigham Young University and University of Utah football.

Along with incredible football access, The Mountain also will cover 75 MWC basketball games and 30 other collegiate Olympic sporting events.

The network is owned and operated by Spanish Fork. For more information, contact John Bowcut, 798-5021, ext. 11, or Seth Perrins, 798-5000 ext. 27.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D2.