Wellsville
gathers information for possible lawsuit over group
home
By Liz Lawyer
February 6, 2006 | WELLSVILLE -- City Council opened
with an executive session Wednesday to discuss potential
litigation over a group home for juvenile delinquents
that is trying to come to the city. The home would be
established in already existing facilities in the north
end of Wellsville. The facilities currently house a
similar home, said Don Hartle, town recorder.
Hartle said the council met with the city lawyer to
begin compiling information about the home for a potential
day in court. He said the council and its representation
also met with the juvenile home's attorney.
There will be further discussion of the home on Mar.
22 in the Wellsville Planning and Zoning Committee,
and a public hearing will be held Apr. 5 to discuss
the home.
The council also discussed the possibility of requiring
sidewalks in certain parts of town. Two options were
selecting specific areas and requiring sidewalks to
be put in, or designating a "sidewalk district" in which
all streets would have to have sidewalks on both sides.
"Up til now we've put a piece of sidewalk here and
there," said Mayor Ruth P. Maughan. "We decided that's
not what we wanted to do."
Since the residents themselves would have to foot
the bill to have the sidewalks constructed in front
of their homes, one problem brought up in the discussion
was whether it would be fair to require them on only
one side of the street. Councilman Ron Case said it
would not be fair.
"It would be unfair if one side has to pay for sidewalks
and the other not," he said.
If the council chooses to create a sidewalk district,
everyone living within it would have to contribute to
the sidewalk construction fund.
The council rejected the sale of land by a Wellsville
land developer to Utah State University's American West
Heritage Center located north of Wellsville on U.S.
Highway 89-91. The land was originally designated as
open space in a housing development. Without it, the
subdivision would not reach the quota of open space
required by law.
The developer would be allowed to lease the land,
but the papers drawn up by the developer sounded like
a sale, said Mayor Maughan, and that was not acceptable.
The city of Wellsville has first right of refusal, so
they tabled the discussion until the next meeting.
"I think he's trying to pull a quick one on us," said
Councilman Lynn Cooper, smiling.
The council also discussed buying more water rights,
but made no decision. Millville, Hyrum and Smithfield
are also planning to buy rights. "Can't go wrong by
buying water," Hartle said.
Plans for the Founders' Day parade, held on Labor
Day weekend, were also discussed. The council extended
invitations to Congressman Rob Bishop and Governor Huntsman
to march in the parade.
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