Richmond
city sees no advantages in joining a countywide library
system
By Jami
Elzinga
November 19, 2008 | RICHMOND -- A topic of heated discussion
in Cache Valley is the proposed countywide library system.
It would link all the city libraries together. Unfortunately
it is a great cost to everyone involved, not to mention
all the training it would take for employees to learn
and time it would take to install all the new software
and telecommunication equipment.
Councilwoman Terri Wierenga said she is all for the
concept, but against the proposal put forward by Jay
Monson.
Mayor Mike Hall said, "We didn't see the benefit to
us. It didn't offer anything above and beyond what we
already have."
As far as business goes for the Richmond library,
things are looking great. They passed a detailed inspection
and exceeded expectations. Attendance and use of the
facility is up as well from last year. Visitors went
from 2,006 last year to 2,409, but they were down five
volunteers. The total volunteer hours went up from 246
hours to 323 hours. Mayor Hall extended his thanks to
all of them for a fantastic job.
The council discussed a new appointment for the Cache
Mosquito Abatement District. The term for Leslie Erickson
has expired, and they are now looking to fill the position
again. Richmond is one of the districts that has the
two types of mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus.
The Cache Mosquito Abatement District meets once a month,
and the appointed member needs to be committed in attending
those meetings.
Due to the changes in the economy, the city of Richmond
is seeing more bad checks. Within the last month they
have had a total of $751.95 in returned checks. They
have done well in the past in collecting the money,
but as councilmember Jeff Young said "it's only going
to get worse." Though the economy has been bad for awhile,
in all of last year combined the total has never been
as high as it was for this past month. This is a trend
they are hoping will not continue.
The city has been able to collect on two water and
sewer impact fees, and the new NBR plant construction
is coming along nicely. They are only one week behind
due to a leak in the east wall that has been fixed.
The next step is to pour the footings for the four corners.
All steel and insulation has been brought to a storage
facility, and they should be ready to start this last
part in the next four weeks.
"I'm impressed," Mayor Hall commented.
Other topics of discussion were:
-- Cleaning up the leaves in the park, and getting volunteers
to help with that.
-- Finding a new Justice of the Peace since Judge
Beth Skidmore is retiring. She has been the justice
of the peace for about twenty years, and they are sad
to see her go.
-- Hiring a technician for the new NBR plant by February,
but the council is planning on approving someone by
the end of next month.
-- The removal of snow on the sidewalks of Richmond,
and enforcing the current ordinance they have for the
city that deals with it.
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