Happy Thursday, Eagle Mountain. Colten here.

Halloween is just around the corner! So crazy that we’re already at the end of October. It’ll be Thanksgiving before you know it. I really hope that everyone has a wonderful Halloween this weekend. Stay safe and have fun!

The Planning Commission met Tuesday, October 27 at City Hall. Three of its five commissioners were present, enough to hold the meeting. Here's what happened.

The Planning Commission recommended that the City Council approve the city’s proposal to allow high-voltage power lines on farm-zoned land. The proposal would also allow buildings for water, sewer, power and other utilities on farm-zoned land, as long as they meet the city's standards.

Brandon Larsen, the city's Community Development Director, said the last stretch of a planned power line from Spanish Fork Canyon to the Mercer Substation runs through farm-zoned land in Eagle Mountain. The substation is near Meta's data center. Larsen said that, as he remembers it, a 2024 change to city code was meant to keep power lines off farm-zoned land. But the change ended up blocking nearly every kind of utility line, "from culinary water lines to just regular electrical lines."

The City Council had asked city staff to write rules that would give the city a say in where power lines go. But under state law, if a city adds requirements for a power line, the city has to pay any extra costs those requirements create for the power company. According to the staff report, Spanish Fork wrote rules like these and then dropped them. After city staff explained the state law to the City Council, the Council dropped its request.

One resident emailed the Commission with concerns about the voltage, how close the lines will be to homes, fire risk and health risk. Another resident spoke in favor, saying power lines are "compatible in agricultural areas" and "provide for necessary infrastructure."

The City Council will decide whether to approve the proposal at a future meeting. You can see the line's planned route on PacifiCorp's project page.

The Commission recommended letting you sell eggs and honey from home. Under the proposal, you could get a home business license to sell fruits, vegetables, herbs, eggs, honey and flowers that you grow or raise on your own property. Steven Lehmitz, the city's Planning Manager, said lot size will limit what many households can do. "They're not going to be able to have animals, or they're just not going to have enough room to have a greenhouse," he said. The city's rules for keeping animals would stay the same. The City Council will decide whether to approve the proposal at a future meeting.

The city wants water rights in hand before approving new neighborhoods. The Commission discussed the proposed water rights rules Tuesday and didn't vote. City Attorney Marcus Draper said the city has "20,000 plus units that are vested," meaning developers already have the right to build more than 20,000 homes and apartments. He said "the majority of them have no water associated with them and no way to develop." Under the proposal, developers would have to give the city water rights when the city approves the overall plan for a large new neighborhood. Businesses would have to give the city water rights, or buy water from the city, before they get a building permit. The Commission holds a public hearing on the rules Tuesday, November 10 at 6:30 p.m., and anyone can speak. (Hearing notice)

You can read the full agenda and packet on the meeting page.

A storage project wants new zoning on Pole Canyon Blvd. The Planning Commission holds a public hearing Tuesday, November 10 at 6:30 p.m. on a proposal called Ranch House Storage. The proposal covers about 10 acres on Pole Canyon Blvd. between N. 0 St. and N. Virtual Dr. The proposal would change what can legally be built on the land and includes a contract with the city. Anyone can speak at the hearing. (Hearing notice)

The city is studying a hub for drone and aircraft makers. The city announced October 28 that it's working on plans for an aviation hub, "a place where companies that build drones and new kinds of aircraft could test their equipment, set up shop and hire local workers." "Right now, the City is in the study phase," according to the city's post. The city says Eagle Mountain sits outside the controlled airspace of the Salt Lake City and Provo airports. "Eagle Mountain has the airspace, the land and the partnerships to support this industry as it matures," Mayor Jared Gray said. The city says it will share updates as the study moves along. (City post)

The City Council's next meeting is Wednesday, November 4. The afternoon meeting starts at 4:00 p.m. and the evening meeting at 7:00 p.m. The evening meeting includes public hearings on the artificial turf rules and the Oak Hollow and Parkway Crossroads zoning. The special meeting on the speed study results is Tuesday, November 10 at 5:00 p.m. at the Public Works Building.

Do you have hard water build-up and want to know how to get rid of hard water? Then Colton Halladay of Element Water and Air is your guy.

A water softener reduces the calcium and magnesium in hard water, the minerals that leave white crust on faucets and scale inside water heaters. Here is Colton’s cost guide, which puts water softeners at $1,800 to $5,000, usually with standard installation.

If your home already has a softener, Element will service it even if they didn’t install it.

If you want to know how hard your water is, Element’s free in-home water test takes 30 to 45 minutes, and there’s no obligation to buy. You can call them at (801) 383-0880 or book a free water test on their website. For Eagle Mountain Value readers, Element is offering up to $500 off a system when you mention the newsletter.

Over Fivemile Pass from Cedar Fort, in the southern Oquirrh Mountains, is a cemetery the Deseret News calls "one of the most haunted cemeteries in Utah."

It belonged to Mercur, a gold-mining town that once had about 5,000 residents, including a large Italian immigrant community. A fire burned almost the entire town in 1902, and by 1930 the town was gone.

A Tooele ghost-hunting group began checking on the cemetery in 2007. The group told the Tooele Transcript Bulletin it has "several sound-only recordings of a little girl at play in the cemetery." Visitors leave dolls on her grave. Ghost hunters also describe an Italian immigrant miner who "enjoys a nice graveside conversation" through their equipment, and a recording that says "You don't belong here."

Others tell of "a phantom horseman who reportedly gallops through the cemetery at night."

Not everyone hears them. When a Transcript Bulletin writer visited in 2010 with his two boys, he found "No voices, cold spots or other disturbances— only a solemn calm, punctuated at times by a slight unease."

Your child’s middle school could change in a few years. Lake Mountain School District, the new district taking over Eagle Mountain schools from Alpine School District, proposed new middle and high school boundaries that would start in the 2028–29 school year. To balance enrollment, the proposal would split parts of Juniper Basin and Pony Express between Frontier and Sage Canyon middle schools. Cedar Valley High would stay grades 10 to 12, with its middle schools at 7 to 9. The district holds an open house Thursday, October 29, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Westlake High School. The district takes feedback only through its online survey, not at the open house. (Proposal, maps and survey)

Registration for Junior Jazz, the city’s youth basketball program, closes Sunday, November 1 at 11:59 p.m. Junior Jazz is open to kindergarten through 8th grade. Registration costs $72 for kindergarten through 2nd grade and $75 for 3rd through 8th grade. Both prices include a jersey. Late registration runs November 2 to 9 and adds a $5 late fee. Register on the city’s recreation site under “Youth Sports / Programs Registration.”

The city’s winter street parking rule starts Sunday, November 1. From November 1 to March 15, you can’t park on city streets whenever snow accumulates, so plows can get through. Cars left on the street can be fined and towed. (City code · City reminder)

Clocks fall back one hour at 2:00 a.m. Sunday, November 1.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. If you still have your ballot, use the drop box on the north end of City Hall, since the city listed October 27 as the last day to mail ballots. The drop box is open around the clock until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. You can also vote in person at the Overland Barn (1713 Erickson Knoll Lane) from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Under state law, ballots have to be received by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. (City post · Track your ballot)

The library is collecting new toys for local kids and teens. Drop off new, unwrapped toys at the library, 1650 E. Stagecoach Run, through Friday, December 11. Questions: 801-789-6623. (City post)

A veterans group needs a local business to host a monthly coffee hour. Warrior Revival, a nonprofit for veterans and their families, is looking for space for a free veterans coffee hour on the first Saturday morning of each month. The group brings the coffee and supplies and handles setup and cleanup. If you have the space, email [email protected]. (Warrior Revival)

The city wants your feedback on city services. Its community survey is still open. (Take the survey)

Have a Happy Halloween!

See you around,

— Colten

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