The city received letters from both sides of the question of opening meetings with prayer, with the atheists asking that prayers at city meetings cease. A Utah atheists group, concerned about prayers at public meetings, has asked that local government conform to the Utah Supreme Court decision on such prayers. After discussion, the proposed resolution was tabled for 90 days. After that time, it was decided to forego opening prayers for the present. Boards Concerns involving the sewer district as investigated by an ad hoc committee have been ongoing, particularly as our community had no representation on the board. The sewer district agreed in 2003 that Mayor Butler could sit on the sewer board but would have no vote. Interestingly, a Letter to the Editors which appeared in the July 20, 2004, edition of the Standard Examiner, from a non-resident, stated that Mayor Keith Butler should have a voting voice on the sewer district board, inasmuch as the sewer plant is located in our city. In October, after several years of asking for voting representation on the sewer district board, the request was granted. At the December 16, 2004, City Council meeting, the council approved the appointment of Mayor Keith Butler to the Central Weber Sewer District Board. A voting seat on the sewer board will allow the city to address issues with that board. Mayor Keith Butler serves as the city's representative on several boards. He served a rotating one year term on the advisory board for the county fair this year. In addition to the above boards, he also represents the city on the Bona Vista Water Board, on the Fire District Board and on WACOG. Crime and Safety The Neighborhood Watch and Sheriff's Advisory Committee meet quarterly concerning safety in our community. Dan Dirr is the head of the committee. At the January meeting, Deputy Gary Worthen, resource officer at Fremont High School, spoke about gang awareness and school safety. He advised that parents should (1) know the friends of your child, (2) be active in the life of your child by attending parent-teacher conferences and school activities, (3) know your child's grades and assist with homework when possible, (4) be aware of the types of gang clothing sometimes worn by young people, and (5) watch for sudden changes in your child's demeanor and lingo. Additional meetings were held during the year. Crime statistics reported since October 2003 were provided by Deputy Mark Lowther at the January meeting. A basic overview is: theft/larceny, 7; vehicle burglaries, 19; traffic citations, 247; burglaries, 3, and traffic accidents 44. (And we thought we lived in a quiet, safe neighborhood!) A Neighborhood Watch Program meeting was held on June 1, 2004, at 7:30 p.m. at the City Office, 1140 West 400 North. Do we need this program? In the first quarter of this year, there were 20 thefts, four burglaries, and three assaults within our city. At the meeting residents were advised to recognize suspicious activities, keep doors and windows locked, have sturdy deadbolts on outside doors, prune shrubbery and trees to prevent hiding places, use light timers when you travel from home, and don't let mail or newspapers pile up during absences. A list of serial numbers, photographs or other descriptions of important valuables, kept in a secure place, can help in identifying stolen items. Your name engraved on such items makes better identification. Awareness can be a valuable deterrent for neighborhood crimes. Administrator Bill Morris has created a map showing the location of various crimes and accidents that occur in the city. The map is updated monthly and is displayed in the City Offices. It is available, along with the monthly sheriff reports, for review by interested residents. An interesting event occurred in our city at 700 South and I-15 on January 6, 2004, when a fugitive, Brian Wood, wanted in an attempted homicide, was taken into custody by members of the Utah Highway Patrol and the Weber County Sheriff's Department. Clearfield police, acting on a tip, spotted him at the Flying J station in Farr West. Mr. Wood fled south on I-15, attaining speeds of 85 miles per hour with the police in pursuit. He