Paula & Simon: 09-10-2021

 

Footbridges in need of repair

Kendall Purser 
Editor 

With all the stores and restaraunts in central Ammon, it is no surprise that there is a lot of foot traffic to and from the area. To aid this there are several foot bridges in the area, and some are in need of repair.

The most notable of these bridges is the one that crosses the canal behind Target. This bridge permits those living in the Hillview and Old Ammon area to access the Town Center Shopping Mall via bike or on foot. However, a quick survey of the bridge shows the wear and tear over the years has not been kind.

The chain link mesh that is supposed to keep pedestrians safe is pulled back on both ends of the bridge and the wire ties that are meant to keep it secure along the bottom are undone or missing all together.

One of the residents who lives next to the footbridge commented that he told the city as they were building the bridge to make sure it was bicycle friendly. The hard 90 degree turns required to use the bridge seem to indicate that this suggestion fell on deaf ears. In response the concerned citizen has had to put up a fence to protect his lawn.

With some minor modifications and the afore mentioned repairs, this bridge could be brought up to par over the course of a few days. Adjusting the fence on each end of the bridge and pouring a few small cement pads to make it easier for bicyclists to use would be a huge improvement, and would make the bridge safer for all concerned. 

Another bridge in need of repair is the footbridge that connects Sandcreek Middle School to Rawson Street. In this case the wire mesh flooring has come loose and is bent back in several places. Whether this falls on the city or the school district to repair is as yet unknown.

Water Meters in Hillview Subdivision

 

Kendall Purser
Editor 

Ammon residents in the Hillview Subdivision began receiving letters last week announcing the arrival of the water meter crew.

The City of Ammon has been working on installing water meters throughout the city for several years. Now it is the Hillview subdivision's turn to get the tracking devices that many residents have been dreading.

Officials cited the need to meter water usage to help pay for updates to the city's aging utility system. Last year the city increased utility bills for unmetered households based on the average usage statistics gathered by metered houses within the water district.

In the letter sent to residents, it states that citizens can file for a 12 month trial period at the current unmetered rate, before getting billed at the metered rate. 

This latest push for meter installation was based on the large number of unmetered houses in specific neighborhoods. Crews will continue to work their way through town until all homes have a meter installed, so they can be billed more accurately for the water they actually use, instead of an estimated average.

Ammon Weather Forecast 9/6 - 9/12

 *** RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT MONDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY***

Monday 88 / 52

Areas of smoke. Mostly clear, with a high of 88 low around 52. West southwest wind 11 to 16 mph becoming light and variable. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph.

Tuesday 86 / 52

Areas of smoke. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Tuesday Night: Areas of smoke. Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Wednesday 91 / 55

Areas of smoke. Sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming west southwest 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon. Wednesday Night: Areas of smoke. Mostly clear, with a low around 55. West southwest wind 6 to 11 mph becoming southeast after midnight.

Thursday 91 / 59

Sunny, with a high near 91, with a low around 59.

Friday 86 / 55

Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.

Saturday 80 / 56

A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80, and a low around 56.

Sunday 80 / 53

A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80, and a low around 53. Mostly cloudy in the evening.