PLEASANT VIEW -- Some council members and Mayor Doug Clifford would like to see one acre of land in Wadman Nature Park go to the North View Fire District.
The council recently discussed plans to work out a sale for $1 or a possible trade for a road the fire district would be responsible for installing that would run from east to west.
The acre of property and the rest of Wadman Nature Park was donated to the city by the Wadman family. Councilman Todd Walker, whose term ends Jan. 1, voiced strong opposition to the plan.
Walker said when the fire agency proposed to become a district, officials promised no tax increases but then quickly raised taxes after getting voter approval.
"I endorsed it, we put it on the ballet," Walker said. "Then, very quickly, they raised taxes, so I'm opposed to it (a sale or trade of the one acre). I don't trust them."
"It wasn't the fire district that raised taxes, it was the cities, mainly North Ogden," said Councilwoman Mae Ferguson.
She also said the property was donated by the Wadmans with the understanding that the one acre would eventually go to the fire district for a substation.
"Can't we have our lawyers look at it? Couldn't we sell it?" Walker said.
"The city would get a double-wide road out of it," said Councilman Scott Boehme.
"You are basically giving them a piece of land for $45,000 to $50,000 in consideration for a road," Walker said.
"Putting in the road will be that or a lot more," said Mayor Doug Clifford. He said the property was gifted to the city.
"In that regard we have the ability to accept the contract. It wasn't given directly to the fire district, it was given to the city," Clifford said. "It was left for us to make the decision to give it to the fire district."
"I don't know if the Wadmans had that intent or it was the city's idea," said Councilman Michael Humphreys. "The city has wanted to have that piece of property on the hill for the fire department for a long, long time."
Humphreys suggested V.J. Wadman be asked his intent for the property. He also said he agreed with Walker that the fire district had not done things exactly as officials had assured that they would.
"I feel that the gifting was done as a park, we since made the decision to take that part of that and use it for the fire district," Clifford said. "Look at the value of the road."
He also reminded the council of the prior discussion and said the issue is about public safety.
Clifford said an agreement with the fire district would be put together and brought back before the council in January for its approval or disapproval.
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