We agree with Pleasant View Mayor Doug Clifford and other area leaders that three cities, Pleasant View, North Ogden and Ogden, should get together and reach an agreement for cleaning and maintenance of the canals that run through the three cities.
All of the cities use the canal. They carry stormwater and irrigation for agriculture. Silt that gathers at the dirt canals is an expensive problem, as is the growth and needed trimming of trees and other natural hazards to the canals. Property owners no longer have the responsibility to maintain canals on their property.
As a result, a lot of needed maintenance just doesn't occur, said Pleasant View Councilman Michael Humphreys, who is also a member of the North Ogden Canal Company board.
Pleasant View just allocated $2,600 for North Ogden to clean part of the canal. But it's not just Pleasant View's responsibility in today's world. Humphreys, along with Clifford, are making a reasonable request that the costs be shared. Cities that use canals are already required to submit a plan to the canal company that describes pipes that go into the canal.
With that information, we don't think it would be too difficult for Pleasant View, Ogden and North Ogden to hammer out an agreement on sharing the maintenance responsibilities and costs for the canals, which still have a useful and needed purpose.
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