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Show April 22, 1998 Study says small towns could join Marriott, Slaterville, Warren and Reese consider merging By CHARLES F. TRENTELMAN Standard-Examiner staff OGDEN -An effort by four townships in northwest Weber County to seize control of their futures got a boost Tuesday with studies showing they could survive financially as two new cities. The townships of Marriott, Slaterville, Warren and Reese asked the Weber County Commission for feasibility studies last year. Marriott and Slaterville want to join together and form one city, and Warren and Reese also want to consolidate. Both studies were given to the Weber County Commission Tuesday. The commission set public hearings in all four townships on the proposals. Representatives of both proposed cities say all they want to do is take charge of their own planning and zoning. The areas already get police, fire and other utilities from either Weber County or special service districts and residents said they have no desire to take on those duties. Duncan Murray, an attorney and member of the Warren-Reese township committee, said the feasibility studies showed that both new cities would need to raise some taxes, but he said he thinks that is an exaggeration. The studies showed the cities spending as much as $68,000 each for city administration, an expense he said probably won't be necessary. The Reese-Warren study, he said, also includes $85,000 to contract with the Weber County Sheriff's Department. "The sheriff's office has told us their charge is way less than $87,000," he said, "so this means we can incorporate with no municipal property taxes at all." The four townships were formed two years ago when the Utah Legislature passed a law allowing local autonomy in planning and zoning. When the Legislature rescinded the township law last year the township residents said they still wanted those powers. Murray said incorporation is the only way to get them. Neither Marriott-Slaterville nor Warren-Reese would be large in population, but Warren-Reese would be one of the state's largest cities in land area, with 48 square miles. Warren-Reese's population is 900. Marriott-Slaterville's is 1,350. Marriott-Slaterville would be located south of Farr West and Plain City and would have Defense Depot Ogden on its east border and the Weber River on its south and west. Warren-Reese would be west of Plain City, bordered by Salt Creek and West Haven on the East, the Box Elder County Line on the north, and 3300 South on the south. Its southern and northern borders would extend west to the Great Salt Lake. Keith Butler, a member of the Marriott-Slaterville township board, said his city intends to file for incorporation as soon as possible after the public hearings. A special election in August would decide whether to form the city, he said, and another election in November would select city officers. Murray said Warren-Reese isn't as threatened by developers as Marriott-Slaterville is and will probably wait until next year to incorporate. Public hearings__ The public will be able to discuss the proposed cities of Marriott-Slaterville and Warren-Reese at public hearings in May. Neither proposed city has a public building large enough to hold a hearing. In the case of Warren-Reese the area doesn't even have a public school or business, so organizers will hold the hearings in the public parks and hope for good weather. One hearing will be held in each of the four townships that will make up the two cities. Hearings for Warren-Reese will be held at 6:15 p.m. May 14, in the Warren Bowery and Park, 1400 N. 5900 West, Warren, and at 6:15 p.m. on May 21 at West Warren (Reese) Bowery and Park, 7100 West and 900 South, Reese. The hearings on Marriott-Slaterville will be held at 8 p.m. on May 14 at Pioneer Elementary, 250 N. 1600 West, Slaterville, and on at 8 p.m. on May 21 at Farm Bureau Insurance office, 1235 West 12th Street, Marriott. townships discuss becoming cities The first of two public hearings to discuss the proposed cities of Marriott-Slaterville and Warren-Reese will be held Thursday, One hearing will be held in each of the four townships that will make up the two cities. Thursday's hearings will be in Warren and Slaterville. The first will be at 6:15 p.m. in the Warren Bowery and Park, 1400 N. 5900 West. It will be followed by an 8 p.m. hearing at Pioneer Elementary, 250 N. 1600 West, Slaterville. Hearings in Reese and Marriott will be held May 21. Marriott-Slaterville and Warren-Reese have petitioned the Weber County Commission to become cities so they can control zoning inside their own borders without approval of the county commission. Marriott-Slaterville representatives say they intend to file incorporation papers as soon as the public hearings are held. 112a |