Mendon
council votes to back Proposition 1
By Chari
Ingraham
October 20, 2008 | MENDON -- In a unanimous vote, the
City Council has agreed to stand in favor of the plan
to preserve Cache Valley, known as Proposition One.
The city of Mendon will not be campaigning for this
proposition, but is simply letting residents know that
they are in favor of it. However, there are some people
who might become actively involved in campaigning for
it, said Mayor Michael Morgan.
The idea behind Proposition One is to preserve the
air and water quality, wildlife habitat, farms, ranches,
and scenic views that make up Cache Valley. To do this,
the proposition will include a tax increase to raise
$10 million. The money will then be used to preserve
wildlife and buy development rights from land owners.
This means that a farmer who sells his or her development
rights will still own the land, but cannot sell it for
purposes other than farming. That way, the land will
be maintained for farming.
"I know there are a number of people in Mendon who
are also in favor [of Proposition One] who own farmland,"
said Morgan. "But there are also people who would oppose
it. What it comes down to is how they feel about paying
extra taxes."
The taxes will average out to about $17 per year for
homeowners, $12 per year for land that is in Greenbelt,
and $30 per year for businesses, said Councilman Jon
Hardman.
However, the council won't exercise the option to
tax until the country's economic situation improves,
which might not be until five or ten years from now.
The average age of farmers in Cache Valley is 54,
said Hardman. When this generation of farmers retires
or dies, their families have the option of preventing
the land from being used for purposes other than farming.
Proposition 1, which was nearly cast from the Nov.
4 ballot, is still an issue of debate for the Cache
County Council. Many members feel that now is not the
time to address the issue, while others point out that
county residents for the most part seem to support the
proposition.
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