Ark Valley News - Policy regulating work in Park City rights-of-way approved

Policy regulating work in Park City rights-of-way approved
By David Dinell
Last Updated: August 13, 2015

Members of the Park City City Council agreed with the assessment of city attorney Douglas Moshier that the city needs more control with its rights-of-way. With that in mind, they approved a new ordinance doing just that at the Aug. 11 meeting.

While it may seem like an obscure topic to many citizens, as it stands now, a private company can come into the city and use a right-of-way without permission to profit its business.

Moshier said the measure is not designed to discourage enterprise, but give the city a grasp of what's going on.

"It's good for the city and for the community; we want to allow people to use the rights-of-way," he said.

Spurring on the ordinance is the work of a business putting in fiber optic cable along Hydraulic.

Moshier said the company wants to work with the city and he said the new ordinance spells out a franchise agreement that does that.

The agreement details what the company is doing, at what depth and other facts. That helps control the situation if, for example, it's running too close to a sewer line.

The ordinance calls for the company to pay a fee of $50 along with applying for the permit. Moshier said an increasing number of smaller cities are passing the ordinances because they're more attractive to work in than cities such as Wichita, where the rights-of-way are more "crowded." The permit also will make the process the same for all parties involved.

"We have to be fair and equal to everyone," he said.

In other action, the council:

•Approved the 2016 budget and an amendment that called for a funding transfer of $918,613. Other than that paperwork move, the budget remains unchanged from its earlier form, said Jack Whitson, city administrator. There is no mill levy or tax increase.

•Approved transferring $1,344 received for damages to a police vehicle from the general fund to the Police Reimbursements Account.

•Approved a resolution certifying delinquent recycle accounts to the county clerk for inclusion on real estate taxes.

•Authorized two expenditures recommended by the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board. They are: $700 for an ice cream social on Aug. 15 and $1,150 for the installation of two windows on the Community Building's south wall.

•Heard a report from director of public works Rick Norman. Seasonal mowing and trimming is continuing, he said, along with street patching. Year to date patching total is 2,269 square feet, he said.

Rain has taken its toll on his department's work schedule, he said. "We've had eight rain days since July 20, but we're catching up," he said.

Norman also reported that the crosswalk lights would be back in operation Aug. 17 for the new school year. "Please be aware of the kids crossing," he said.

•Heard Whitson report that there's a contract on a lot in the Bear Hill subdivision. The city had taken over that development on the north side of town and is hoping to sell off as many lots as possible

•Heard council member Tom Jones comment on Park City companies, including an entity that does business with the city, on the delinquent property tax rolls. "I'm a little disappointed with the names on that list," he said.

•Gave verbal permission to Mayor Ray Mann for his idea of putting up a 4-foot by 8-foot "future home" sign at the site of the planned new city hall building on 61st Street. "I'd like to get something out there," Mann said. Some citizens have asked him about the project. He didn't need a motion for the $400 expense as it's in his discretionary budget, but he wanted to get the backing of the council, which he did.

•Received a code enforcement report stating that there were 182 department actions taken in July. It also got a building inspection report showing that there were 104 inspections in July. Year-to-date there have been 586 inspections.

•Approved appropriations of $275,701 for July 29 through Aug. 7. There also were $299,597 in open purchase orders.

Seven of the eight members and the mayor were present. Melvin Kerr was absent. There was no executive session. The next meeting is 7 p.m. Aug. 25 at City Hall.