HomeMy WebLinkAbout000194 TESTIMONY FROM JOHN PORTER
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TESTIMONY FROM JOHN PORTER
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I hesatate testifying at this hearing--not because I do not have definite views
on what should be dine, I do. But bee_use I feel the mayor and council are doing a
good job running tpe city and need no advice from me.
However I have heard some disturbing rumors and I would like to set the record
straight on a number of things regarding Ricks College and the City of Rexburg.
I"ve been involved in city governmant for over 2mlyears. I was on the council
when the campus expan~on started. During the expanSion period and continuing until
now Ricks College has contributed to the growth and well being of the City of
Rexburg, paying a full share for all city services.
When I was elected mayor 20 years ago the voters also approved a water system
improvement bond for $400,000. Ricks College contributed another $300,000 so that
the total project amounted to $700,000. With this money the city built the large
concrete reservoir at the top of the hill. We also enlarged water mains throughout
the city, increasing pressure and providing improved fire safety. We are still
benefiting from this project. Rexburg has an agreement with the college that they
maintain all water and sewer lines that serve the college campus. They still do
this and they also pay a fair price for water delivered to the campus. Whenever
there is an increase in city water or sewer rates the rate increase is also given to
Ricks College. They get no free rides.
Rexburg has a policy that all new streets are improved and paid for by the
developer or the people who are served along the street. This is usually done by
a Specil Improvement District with costs being assessed to property owers. This
was done during the campus expantion and Ricks College paid the Improvement District
assessment levied on Fourth South construction within the campus. This, along with
other street improvements amounted to over $200,000.
When the city constructed a storm drain system fOllowing the Teton Dam break we
received a direst grant to do this work. Ricks College paid for the costs to have
the system serve the campus. This helped the college and it wlso helped the city
by stopping a lot of the runoff from the campus flowing to the downtown str'eets.
There have been other projects over the years as both Rexburg and Ricks College
has grown and expanded. The college has always paid a fair share to those projects
that would benefit the campus and in all cases the city also benefited.
Let me touch now on street closings, a subject we all are interested in tonight.
Every platted city, because of growth or changing traffic patterns, 1iRaa is
confronted with the problem of clOSing or abandoning streets. That's why there is
a state statue that provides rules and regulations for closing streets and abandoning
right-of-ways. I recall hearing the request from the college to abandon 3rd South
right-of-way through the campus. I was on the council when Pres. John L. Clarke,
Dan Hess, and Sam Brewester, a campus planner hired by the LDS Church, showed us
the campus master plan XRmx that called for several new buildings including ~he
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000194
Hart Building. They pointed out that the HaEt w~lld extend over the 3rd South
right-of-way and asked that it be abandoned. We granted the request and as a
result we have this usefU11 and beautifUl sports complex in Rexburg. It is used by
the college and also the community. You can visit this building every morning
and find many Rexburg citizens walking or jogging the outside or inside traok~
using the swimming pool or the exersise equipment. We'd not have the International
Folk Dance Festival if the Hart Building was not in our community.
I was mayor when the request to close Center Street was made. The space was
needed for the oonstruction of the Snow Building. We granted the request. The
college ~d already purchased all property on the west side of Center. I think we
made the right decision. Imagine what a problem there would be if Center St. went
through the campus separating Snow Building and Hart Building, eliminating the
landscapping and parking lots.
The closing of First East also had controvery but it has greatly improved
campus and pedestrian traffic is safer moving from the dorms to classrooms.
also improved the beauty of the campus, something every person in Rexburg is
very proud of--Ricks' s beautifUl and well kept campus.
For the past two '~I've spent the winter months
the
It has
in St. George, Utah. They
have a 2-year comaunity college with a student population of 3200. They have road
closure problems and have closed two streets even though their campus is much
smaller them the Ricks campus. They made accommodation for the construction of
the Dixie Canter, a complex that is used for sports and cultural events. It is
a combination of Ricks's Snow and Hart Buildings.
To build the Dixie Center permission had to be given by the state. The college
\ rbudget provided some fUnding. The balance was raised by private donations and by
~tax money given by the city of St. George and the county of Washington. There was
.;~a1so a Revenue Bond issue voted on by the people of St. George and Washington Co.
~ It is a fine building and many great events are held in it including athletic
events of the college. The problem they have is that the revenue brought in is
l not enough to payoff the bonds. As a result the city and county has to pay the
~ shortfall from tax revenues.
In Rexburg we abandoned two streets and we have the Snow and the Hart. We
enjoy many special events in these buildings but we do not have to maintain~hem
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nor do we have to payoff the bonds. I think we are getting a gre~t deal for the
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a block of Viking Drive./~It will provide pedestrian safety.
$20 million in new construction. It should not be closed until
two blocks we closed.
I'm for closing
There will be over
7th South can be constructed ~ tron 2nd East to 2nd West but the college
should know it will be closed so that the p~n~~he new buHding>and campus
landscaping Can begin. The college will ~e special improvements such as
curb, gutter and drainage that is within the campas. They will also donate the
ground. Thanks for giving me time to express my views. Rexhurg'~ a gr~at place to live,
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