Midday Update
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No Comments [ Add Comment ]The Midday Update offers a quick glance at breaking news. It runs Monday-Friday on StandardNET.
At a Glance
Ogden Valley residents speak out against tax increase
EDEN -- Angry residents from the Ogden Valley didn't want to listen to the Weber County assessor talk about her job description. They wanted answers explaining the tax valuation process and why some properties have seen eye-popping hikes this year.
"We didn't come here to listen to you bramble on about what you do," said Dennis Olson. "You're running the people out of here because you're increasing our taxes. No one will be able to afford to live here. People have lived here for years and you are taxing us right out of the valley."
Residents packed Snowcrest Junior High School Wednesday night to express their concerns about sky-rocketing taxes in their neighborhoods to Weber County Commissioner Craig Dearden, county Assessor Cheryl Madson, real estate manager Joel Olsen, chief deputy Doug Larsen and state Rep. Gage Froerer, R-Huntsville.
During the two hour hearing, residents alternately threatened to pay their taxes with pennies, nickels and dimes. Some threatened a Proposition 13-style tax revolt, a few threatened not to pay the tax at all while others said they were going to appeal the assessment.
"It's obvious you people sitting down there ... what you're doing is wrong. We want a commitment from you to go back to what you were charging us in 2005," said Richard Evans.
Evans said last year he saw an increase of 50 percent and 100 percent this year.
West Hill Field road extension ahead of schedule, may open by Labor Day
LAYTON -- The $3 million West Hill Field Road extension, to ease traffic and provide a viable alternative when road work resumes on the western half of Gentile Street next spring, could open as early as Labor Day.
Layton city officials have reported the one-mile road extension from 2200 West to 3200 West is a few weeks ahead of schedule and should remain that way pending any weather delays.
"Its right on track, maybe a little bit ahead," Layton city assistant public works director Paul Appolonie said of the project that remains within budget.
"If everything stays on track, right about Labor Day we should be done with that road," he said.
Appolonie said he initially had hoped to have the project, which begin in May, complete by the end of September before the cold weather set in.
Because of where West Hill Field Road is located, Appolonie said, the new east-west corridor will provide an alternate route for motorist who travel Gordon Avenue or Gentile Street.
Golf clubs mistaken for corpse
OGDEN -- A 911 caller may have wanted a mulligan Thursday morning after she reported seeing a body in a car.
Investigating police officers responded to the car on the 1400 block of Darling Street and, rather than a corpse, found a set of golf clubs wrapped in a blanket, said Lt. Scott Sangberg.
Rather than being teed off about the false alarm, Sangberg said he understands some people are almost afraid take a second look at something before calling police.
"It was something she obviously thought was suspicious, but it really wasn't all that suspicious," he said.
Such mistakes are rare, Sangberg said.
"Usually it really is a body," he said.
-- Standard-Examiner staff and wire services
Read complete coverage of these stories and all the day's news in the Standard-Examiner, or check back later on StandardNET.
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