Public comment to the Summit County Council Wednesday supported the proposed open space bond, for up to $50 million, that will appear on November’s ballot.
At the same time, speakers from the Kamas area asked the council for reassurances that spending from the bond won’t be siphoned off mostly to the west side of the county.
To comply with an official state timeline, the council held a public hearing for the proposal, the first county-wide open space bond it has put forward.
Five people spoke out in favor of the bond including David Darcey and his wife, Terina Atkinson Darcey.
David said both of them grew up in the Kamas area, and moved back to retire. He said he was astounded by the development he’s seen there.
He said he’s joined a new group called Friends of the Kamas Valley and added the valley, also called the meadow, is critical not just for locals but for the whole county.
“Kamas Valley meadows are not only nice to look at, but are needed for the acquifer. The Kamas Valley meadows acquifer is critical for the Beaver Creek and Weber River water quantity and quality. West Side Summit residents really need to know that they depend on the Kamas Valley acquifer for their water. The county needs to be very clear and transparent as to the process of land acquisition before it goes to a vote. If people even start to think that there’s going to be forced condemnation, or a farmer’s not going to be able to farm their land, this bond will go down in defeat in Kamas Valley. As to the projected increase in property taxes, this is a definite con. But the county needs to really drive home the point that the $50 increase is only a 1-2 percent increase in total property taxes on that same residence.”
Cheryl Fox, Executive Director of the Summit Land Conservancy, said the success of the bond will affect their efforts to reach preservation agreements with landowners.
Property owner Steve Luczak wondered if the county might neglect the east side, in favor of some big-ticket land purchases in the Park City area.
“And if something comes up like Bonanza Flats or one of these more expensive properties again, and they use the majority of money for one of those projects, kinda leaves the east side out in the cold. And I think that’s what people on the east side are asking. How do we get a little bit of guarantee or confidence that it will be pushed to the east side a little bit.”
County Council Chair Glenn Wright responded.
“I’m not sure I can answer that one, Steve, other then telling you that the east side has been a real primary target for the council in our discussions. I hope you can trust us.”
Council Member Roger Armstrong also said they were focused on the Kamas meadow when they came up with the bond proposal.
“I think if you look at development pressures in the county, much of the Snyderville Basin is built out. And I’m not sure what those opportunities would look like there anymore. There are probably a few, but I think that in terms of, as has been mentioned, the Kamas meadow is something that we have a very high degree of concern about in terms of development and in terms of properties that are selling.”
Council Member Chris Robinson said it is possible they will use the bond proceeds to preserve land that would otherwise go for development. But the county cannot use eminent domain under the bond. Robinson said a deal will take a willing seller and a willing buyer.
“The highest and best use for much of land is development. We say pavement’s the last crop. And so by providing a funding mechanism so that there is an alternative, in order for landowners who have their retirement or their inheritance tied up in their land, and the only way to realize the value is to sell it for development, this provides another mechanism. And we’ve done that many places.”
The council has another hearing set next week in Snyderville to allow west-side residents a chance to speak.
Some of the speakers from South Summit also suggested a hearing in Kamas. The council members said they’re receptive to that.
Wednesday was also the scheduled time to hear any statement submitted in favor of the bond, as well as an opposition statement.
County Clerk Eve Furse reported that by the Sept. 3rd deadline, a statement for the bond had been submitted by Charley Sturgis and Wes Siddoway. the county didn’t hear from any opponent, so an Against statement will not appear on the county website or in the voter information pamphlet.
