Smithfield's Wintery Streets

            Smithfield City Facilities Department had its first snow removal experience of the season last weekend. The storm was a quick reminder to the community of how dangerous the roads can be after having months of snowless roads.

            There were several vehicles that slid off of the road but no serious injuries according to Smithfield Police Department.  

Smithfield has winter parking restrictions that began on Nov. 15 and will end Mar. 15. There is no parking on the roads from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. including vehicle and trailers.

“It always takes a few weeks after the parking restriction begins to get the construction trailers off the road by all the new subdivisions,” Public Works Coordinator Doug Petersen said.

It makes it difficult to plow when the trucks have to maneuver around vehicles and trailers, Petersen said. It makes obstructions in the road with snow when the vehicle is moved.

The Smithfield Street Department is responsible to plow just over 30 miles of roads, nine city parking lots and those buildings sidewalks.

With all 10 Facility Department employees, they can clear all the areas of snow in about eight hours, Petersen said.

There is about two full days of preparation for the next storm though. They had to fix broken equipment and refill the sand trucks among numerous other things, Petersen said. 

“They do a pretty good job with such limited resources to do it,” Smithfield resident Steve Edwards said.

Other residents disagree.

“They are always really slow to start and don’t salt the hills so they are so slick to go down,” Lisa Castillo said.

Smithfield City budgets 15,000 dollars for salt each year, City Recorder Dean Clegg said. “This gets us 350 tons of salt.”

“This may sound like a whole lot of salt, but to last all season, we can only do hills, the busier subdivisions and the highway,” Petersen said. 

Petersen recommends that vehicles stay back when following the snow plows, especially when on a hill. “People get right up behind us and if our brakes lock up, we slide backwards,” Petersen said.

Residents also have a responsibility for snow removal. The city clause requires residents to remove snow on their sidewalks in a timely manner.

“It is frustrating when people don’t shovel their sidewalks. I have a little girl in leg braces and uses crutches that has to try to get through them when going to friends’ houses,” Mandy Waite said.

There seems to be no enforcement of the clause, other residents said.

Petersen and the other employees also have concerns with how residents plow their sidewalks and driveways.

“Residents will plow their snow right into the road thinking the plow will get to it. The problem is, by the time we do the snow is packed onto the road and we can’t get it. This just makes ruts,” Petersen said.

             

A Thrifty Service

            A thrift store that makes a community difference is one business in Smithfield that makes itself different from the rest. Somebody’s Attic, a non-profit organization, generates funds for abuse prevention and intervention programs for the Cache Valley area.

            The first store opened in 1985 in Logan, UT. They later opened a second location in Smithfield, UT. Since 1987, Somebody’s Attic has donated $1 million to the community for abuse prevention programs, Store Manager Suzette Prom said.

            Somebody’s Attic is not just a thrift store offering bargains on second hand items, but the store also offers voucher programs, community service opportunities and work experience for interns from Utah State University.

            “We have people from the interior design program at the university that will come and do our window displays and different seasonal displays in the store,” Prom said.

            The two main organizations that Somebody’s Attic contributes to are the Community Abuse Prevention Services Agency, known as CAPSA, and the Child and Family Support Center.

            CAPSA’ is an organization that provides advocacy, shelter and support for domestic violence and sexual abuse victims. They also offer different forms of abuse prevention education.

            The Child and Family Support Center offers several programs supporting the safety and well-being of children in the community. Their programs are anywhere from behavioral counseling, family counseling and teaching the “Good Touch, Bad Touch” program to the local elementary school children.

            Somebody’s Attic offers services and good that are donated to the local stores by community members. “This year donations have slowed a little but the quality of the items that we are receiving have dropped dramatically,” Prom said.

            “Compared to last year, we just don’t have the items to offer for our customers that they want especially for the holiday season,” Prom said.

             Some of the items lacking in this year’s inventory are electronics, kitchen items, and space heaters. Both store location accept donation during their store hours from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

           

Smithfield Election Brings in Two New Councilmen

The recent election brought two new members to the city council, Dennis Watkins and Jeffrey Barnes. Incumbent Brent Buttars was also re-elected to serve on the council for another four year term beginning in January.

            Watkins previously held a position on the Smithfield City Council from 2006 to 2009. He hopes to add some additional balance to the council since he owns two businesses, Watkins said. “I think a council needs a good mix of backgrounds and skills.”

            One of the most important duties of a council member is planning the city budget, Watkins said, and he “hopes to add some additional thoughts as we plan ahead.”

            Barnes will also add diversity to the upcoming city council. He currently serves on the Smithfield City Tree Committee. He has also served on the Boy Scouts of America Trapper Trails Council and the Utah Envirothon.

            Barnes currently works for the United States Department of Agriculture and said that his vast knowledge of agricultural can contribute to the current issues facing Smithfield.  Specifically, Barnes could contribute to the Logan, Hyde Park and Smithfield Canal water rights issue.

            “I feel that it is my job to balance the desires of my constituencies with the components that are best for the entire city and its future,” Buttars said. He will be serving his second term.

(S. O'Sullivan)

Upcoming Election will fill Three Open City Council Seats

            At least two of the three individuals who will be elected to Smithfield’s City Council on Nov. 8 will be newcomers to city government. The elected candidates will serve a four year term that begins on Jan. 1, 2012.           

            There are six candidates running for the positions. Incumbent Brent Buttars is running again along with Jeffrey Barnes, Brooks Hansen, Paul Prendergast, Sara Scott and Dennis Watkins.

            Voting for the seven precincts will be held from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Residents can vote at the polling offices held at the Fire Station and the Civic Center during these times. Early voting is now closed.  

            Voters must have valid voter identification. A photograph identification with the voter’s name is permitted.  If the voter does not have this, he or she may use two forms of identification that both have the name of the individual and provides evidence of their residence.

            There are currently 5,306 registered voters in Smithfield.

“Smithfield population is approximately 10,300 people so half of them are registered to vote,” Smithfield City Recorder O. Dean Clegg said.

            In the 2009 Smithfield City election, less than one-third of registered voters participated.

            It is important that the citizens come out to vote, Clegg said.

“Our elected officials determine much concerning our quality of life: taxes, economic regulation, and the educational system. Don’t let someone else choose your elected officials for you,” according to the Utah state run website vote.utah.gov. “The only way democracy works is if citizens, young and old, are active participants.”

(R.Wabel)