Tim Vandenack, Standard-Examiner

HARRISVILLE — As people move in, new housing developments take shape and projections show yet more growth, city facilities in Harrisville have become increasingly cramped.

At the Harrisville city office building at 363 W. Independence Blvd., workers double up in offices. The Harrisville Public Works Department at 1385 Washington Blvd., impacted by vandalism over the winter, is also too small and needs better security.

To address the matter, ambitious plans are afoot to build new city facilities, and the efforts took a big step forward Wednesday with a ceremony to mark the start of construction of a new public works building. “Harrisville City has been waiting for something like this for a long time,” said Mayor Michelle Tait.

All told, the plans — also calling for a new city hall facility and a new police station — are expected to cost $15 million. They’re taking shape on a 15-acre city-owned parcel between 750 West and U.S. 89 in northern Harrisville, and the North View Fire District — which provides fire protection in the city — is mulling construction of a new fire station on the land.

David Wade, the chief of the fire district, attended Wednesday’s ceremony along with other leaders from around the area, including U.S. Rep. Blake Moore. Fire officials haven’t made any definitive decisions, but yes, they are considering the possibility of building a new fire station in Harrisville — the third in the district — to keep pace with the growing community.

Tim Vandenack, Standard-Examiner

“We’re at the start of the process,” Wade said. “I think it makes sense anytime two governmental entities can go together on a project.”

The fire district, an independent government unit, provides fire coverage in North Ogden, Pleasant View and Harrisville. It currently has stations in North Ogden and Pleasant View, but not Harrisville.

Harrisville’s plans come as growth surges all across the Wasatch Front. The city’s estimated population for 2022 totaled 6,876, actually a slight dip from 7,037 in 2020. But the head count has climbed nearly 24% since 2010, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures, boosting demand for city services and the need for more workers. With numerous housing developments in the works, the population is expected to go up more in the years to come, said Jennie Knight, the Harrisville city administrator.

Some 640 housing units, most of them single-family homes, are to take shape as part of a project on the grounds of the old Ben Lomond Golf Course, she noted. “We are waiting for them to break ground,” Knight said. Another project calling for 215 to 220 housing units is to take shape on a parcel in the city adjacent to the current Harrisville Public Works Department building on Washington Boulevard.

Most immediately, the new public works building is to be completed by October of next year, when it’s to be occupied. Knight is hoping the city hall and police department structures will follow close behind as well as the fire department structure, if North View Fire District officials decide to go that route.

Tim Vandenack, Standard-Examiner

Funding is to come from sales tax and franchise revenues. Moreover, officials are hoping for $3.3 million from the feds to help build an east-west street through the land, connecting 750 West and U.S. 89.

Moore has lobbied on behalf of the city to secure the federal funding, which is what brought him to Wednesday’s ceremony.

“I love working with all the mayors and city councils from across the 1st (Congressional) District,” he said. Moore, a Salt Lake City Republican, represents the 1st District, which encompasses Weber County and the rest of Northern Utah.

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