June 2004 Each month brings new ideas, problems, and the continuing need to plan for the future to the administrative staff and the city council. At the June 17, 2004, City Council Meeting, Gary Jenkins, County Fire Marshall, and Fire Chief Dave Austin presented a proposal to add another ambulance to northeastern Weber County, including Marriott-Slaterville, Farr West, Plain City, and unincorporated parts of the county. This additional ambulance, reserved for emergencies only, would improve response time. They suggest a coalition be formed to represent all the entities which would be affected, to provide input on services provided and how to implement them. Rob Smout was appointed by Mayor Keith Butler to serve in this capacity. Concerns and possible solutions involving the sewer district as investigated by an ad hoc committee continue. The issues are ongoing, but having the mayor now on the sewer board, although with no vote, has improved matters. It would be much better if the mayor could be a full voting member. The work of the ad hoc committee is complete and greatly appreciated by the council. Other matters which have been under discussion includes the possibility or necessity of creating special service districts to handles services in developed areas of the city which can include a plethora of activities-water, sewer, drainage, garbage, transportation, fire protection, recreation, and on and on, singularly or combined. President Dennis Ilium feels a development should stand on its own and not need to be subsidized. Further work to initiate such a process will be undertaken. A pressurized irrigation system is required for a recently approved subdivision, but no ordinance to govern a system exists. An ordinance modeled after Lindon City, whose ordinance was upheld by the state Supreme Court, was discussed and approved. The Neighborhood Watch meeting held on June 1, 2004, gave residents some important pointers on crime prevention. We 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. 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. The annual Fourth of July events were announced in the June Pioneer Post. Activities begin on July 2 and continue through July 5. Summer tennis lessons are available, beginning June 14, with USPTA Certified Tennis Instructor Steven Ito teaching at the tennis courts at BDO. The first Evening of Music at the Park for this summer was held on June 28, at 7:00 p.m. at the Marriott Park, with all families invited to attend. Kaitlyn and Dallin Holley were featured on their violins, as they played a variety of numbers for the enjoyment of those who came. Their mother, Erin Holley, joined Kaitlyn for a vocal number. Several dance numbers were presented by Criss Wheeler's Plain City dance group. Those residents who didn't avail themselves of this opportunity missed an entertaining evening. Don't miss the evening scheduled for August 23, featuring Japanese music. Fortunately, to date, no cases of West Nile Virus have been reported in Weber County. With our plentiful mosquito population we all need to take proper precautions to guard against bites. Utah Power has been trimming trees away from the power lines along all roadways west of I-15 to protect the transmission lines. The resulting shapes are interesting to say the least-definitely not the way Mother Nature intended them to look. Warning "Stop" and "Four Way Stop" signs have been installed on the 1200 West and 400 North intersection.