Saturday, May 30, 2009

Eagle Mtn. Debuts its Free Bike Park

"Utah County's first free bike park—designed and built completely by volunteer—held its grand opening Saturday afternoon.

The Mountain Ranch Bike Park at Eagle Mountain features three downhill trails, a jump line, a pump track and a skills area where riders of all levels of experience can hone their skills."-KSL.com

Click here for the story.

Friday, May 29, 2009

An Extra Life for Eagle Mtn. Resident

"An Eagle Mountain resident, Johnson is a self-described geek -- an award-winning cartoonist of Web comics, illustrator, designer and a radio show host. He is a hero to his children, and pretty much to his fans." -Daily Herald

Click here for more.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Eagle Mtn. Hopes for Another Road

"To understand the city's transportation problems, all one needs to do is take a drive on State Route 73.

"When you get on the road from here to Saratoga Springs, it is obvious we need a second route," Councilman Eric Cieslak said at a recent council meeting.

But Mayor Heather Jackson said help may be coming soon".-Salt Lake Tribune

Click here for more.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Property Owner says Eagle Mtn. Took His Land

"Brent Johnson purchased land in a tax sale to develop homes. And he wanted to set aside lots for his children's future homes.

But with a handful of wires, Johnson said, the city has turned his land into an undevelopable tract.

And, he said, the city told him to accept $3,000 for the property or be sued for the city's attorney's fees it incurred over taking the property." -Salt Lake Tribune

Monday, May 18, 2009

Eagle Mtn. Organizes Volunteer Project

EAGLE MOUNTAIN CITY ORGANIZES BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT FOR

UTAH VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK

Volunteer Work Day Scheduled for May 20 is Part of City’s Military Appreciation Week

Eagle Mountain, UT, May 18 – Eagle Mountain City has organized a volunteer work day on Wednesday, May 20 from 4 PM to 7 PM at the Utah Veterans Memorial Park to help beautify and maintain the grounds.

The effort is in response to a letter sent to cities in the region by Representative Ken Sumsion, asking for support for the cemetery, which has struggled in the wake of recent budget cuts.

“We felt it was important, as a city, to do our part to help make this final resting place for many of our veterans a beautiful spot,” Mayor Heather Jackson said.

The City has collected donations of trees, plants, and flowers and recruited volunteers from the community, including Boy Scout troops and church organizations. The work will include planting, weeding, and trimming around headstones. Free food and beverages will be provided for volunteers.

Brigadier General Jefferson Burton, Assistant Adjutant General of the Utah National Guard, is expected to attend.

The Utah Veterans Memorial Park is located at 17111 Camp Williams Road in Riverton. It spans 30 acres and includes the cemetery, a chapel, a wall of honor, and a museum featuring military memorabilia.

Eagle Mountain City’s volunteer work day at the Utah Veterans Memorial Park is part of the city’s annual Military Appreciation Week, which starts today, May 18, and runs through Friday, May 22.

Other plans for Military Appreciation Week include an annual military care package drive and a patriotic program featuring the combined third grade choirs of the Eagle Valley and Pony Express elementary schools. The program, titled “This is America”, will be held on May 22 at 7 PM at the SilverLake Amphitheater. Admission is free.

What: Eagle Mountain City’s Volunteer Work Day at Utah Veterans Memorial Park

When: Wednesday, May 20 from 4 PM to 7 PM

Where: Utah Veterans Memorial Park, 17111 Camp Williams Road, Riverton (Between Bangerter Hwy and SR-73 on Redwood Road)

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Swine Flu Eeks Closer to Eagle Mtn.

"Three Lehi schools have confirmed cases of the swine flu. School officials at Lehi High, Fox Hollow and Lehi Elementary schools are informing parents of the cases.

According to the Daily Herald, district maintenance staff was sent to each school to sanitize and clean the schools.

Parents are being asked to keep their children at home if they show any signs of the flu." -KSL.com

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Former Eagle Mtn. Owner Saves Mare

"When Tracie Greco of Eagle Mountain, Utah, sold her first brood mare, a 15-year-old registered American quarter horse named Mesa in 2005, she immediately had seller's remorse." - The Herald in Monterey, California

Click here for the full story.

Salt Lake Trib Public Forum Letter

"I have sympathy for the woman in Eagle Mountain who lost her children to the state for neglect ("Kids found in dirty home, Mom arrested," Tribune , May 9). From all that was reported, there was definite neglect on her part.

However, it appears that she was a victim herself. Her husband was in prison and she was trying to cope with responsibilities for the family. She needed help long before the state Department of Child and Family Services was called.

If she had gotten some help earlier would things have been different? In most of our neighborhoods we claim to be Christians, who have an obligation to help the poor and downtrodden. Did this woman have no friends? No neighbors who had been in her home and seen the circumstances? No priest or bishop? No one to talk to? No one to teach her, to bless her, to pray for her? This woman had no one to trust and ask for the help she needed.

Where was the real neglect in the first place?

Lynn Roe

South Jordan"

***AS PRINTED IN THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE***

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Eagle Mtn. Girl Awarded for Saving Brother's Life

"An Eagle Mountain girl received a special award Wednesday night for saving her brother's life.

Nine-year-old Katiana Heath escaped from her aunt's home last October and told neighbors her little brother was locked in a bathroom without food. When officers arrived, they found the little boy beaten, unconscious and malnourished.

On Wednesday night, the Utah County Sheriff's Office hailed Katiana as a hero.

"I saved my brother's life, and at least he's not dead because my mom would be crying a lot," Katiana said.

The children's aunt and boyfriend are both serving prison time for the abuse." -KSL.com

Friday, May 8, 2009

Child Abuse: Here We Go Again in Eagle Mtn.

"Jennifer Empey faces four counts of child abuse, as well as abusing a disabled child.

Deputies were alerted after they found Empey's 6-year-old son, who is autistic, wandering in the neighborhood wearing nothing but a dirty diaper.

Empey was later found passed out in a bedroom of the home. The house was full of garbage and covered with both animal and human feces.

All of the children were either only in underwear or diapers and were described to be very dirty and thin.

The children are ages 12 to 4 and told investigators they didn't remember the last time they had something to eat." -KSL.com

The story from the Deseret News

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Eagle Mtn. City Council Seals Documents

"The City Council has approved a settlement with a property owner for a power-line right of way and land for a power substation.

But don't expect to find out how much it's costing taxpayers anytime soon.

The council, without public discussion, unanimously voted on May 5 to seal the settlement documents, saying the paperwork was protected under the state Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA).

City Attorney Jerry Kinghorn said the settlement had to be sealed because the city is still in talks with other property owners.

The settlement was worked out with the help of the state's property rights ombudsman, and the city is in talks with five other land owners, said Administrator John Hendrickson.

Said Kinghorn, "We are allowed to protect [the settlement agreement] while we are acquiring similar properties."

In a memo to the council, Kinghorn said each property needs to be handled independently, and the other property owners shouldn't be able to use the settlement as evidence in their negotiations.

But that doesn't sit well with Joel Campbell, a Brigham Young University journalism professor and open-government advocate.

While the law allows property appraisals to be kept out of public view during real-estate negotiations, Campbell said they should be public once the deal is done.

"The city has a right to know how much the city settled for," Campbell said. "Under GRAMA, out-of-court settlements are public documents."

Kinghorn said the record will be disclosed -- eventually. When the rest of the property disputes are settled, all the information will be released." -Salt Lake Tribune

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Pioneer Crossing Project Could be Delayed

"State transportation officials have temporarily halted a road construction project after discovering a pair of red-tailed hawks have built a nest in its path.

The Pioneer Crossing project is a new east-west, multi-lane corridor from Saratoga Springs to south Lehi in Utah County. It's scheduled to open in late 2009.

Last week environmental monitors detected the hawk's nest in the construction area. The Utah Department of Transporation has installed a rope barricade that preserves an 800-foot perimeter around the nest site.

If eggs are present, UDOT expects to delay construction in the area until mid-July or early August." -ksl.com

Former Eagle Mtn. Mayor Hits City with Lawsuit

Unfortunately this is a lawsuit that Eagle Mountain City is probably going to lose.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Former Eagle Mtn. Mayor Looking for Money from the City

"Acquitted by a jury on Sept. 25, 2008, of seven counts of misuse of public money, former Eagle Mountain Mayor Brian Olsen has now filed a civil suit against the city he once ran, seeking $120,000 in legal fees.
Olsen filed the suit in February in 4th District Court, according to legal papers obtained by the Daily Herald. Eagle Mountain has asked for a 60-day extension to answer the suit, and that request was granted by Judge Gary D. Stott. The city has until mid-May to respond.

According to the suit, Olsen has incurred $119,834.90 in attorney's fees and feels he is entitled to be reimbursed that money according to a provision in Utah law." -Daily Herald

Age-specific Research Helps Kids Stay Safe

"For the first time, new research has identified the top injury risks for children based on their age. We took those specific safety tips to a mom in Eagle Mountain to see how it would change what she does to help her family Stay Safe." -KSL.com

Video Courtesy of KSL.com