In an attempt to better balance the interests of rural landowners and neighboring cities, the Box Elder County Commission on Wednesday voted to loosen some requirements that forced landowners to request annexation into a neighboring city under certain circumstances. The new rules clarify when properties near city boundaries can be annexed, requiring that cities provide utility services immediately for annexed land. Additionally, some small developments, like one-lot subdivisions without city utilities, are exempt from annexation requirements. Tem- porary structures approved under conditional use permits are also excluded. Scott Lyons, the county’s community development director, explained the updates during the meeting,...

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In an effort to at least temporarily stop the growth of townhome developments along U.S. Highway 89, on Jan. 9 the Perry City Council voted to remove multi-family housing as an approved use in the city’s NC (neighborhood commercial) zone, as well as place height restrictions on all new townhome developments in the city. The proposal was made in response to a planning commission recommendation that mutli-family housing along U.S. 89 was beginning to change the character and feel of the community, and it should be at least temporarily restricted until the city could assess the impacts of townhomes along...

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The Box Elder High School boys basketball team extended its winning streak to four games last Wednesday night with a 58-52 victory over Roy in Brigham City. That streak ended Friday night when the Bees visited Bountiful and fell 74-44. Box Elder came out hot from the 3-point line Wednesday night, as junior guard Gunner Gunderson found his stroke early and led the team with 18 points. Sophomore wing Ryan Jenson also connected from deep, hitting four 3-pointers and scoring 14 points. The Bees jumped out to a 22-11 lead after the first quarter, but Roy clawed back with strong...

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Following a complaint from a renter that their AirBnB rental in Perry turned out to be a trailer parked in someone’s driveway, as well as complaints from neighbors that certain properties are renting out multiple units on the same property, causing traffic and noise issues, the Perry City Council addressed the issue at the Jan. 9 meeting. Moving forward, short-term rentals in Perry are now required to be in an “approved residence,” rather than a mobile or temporary structure. Owners of short-term rental properties are now limited to a single rental unit per property. Short-term rentals were defined as any...

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The Brigham City Council has approved an updated water conservation plan designed to ensure sustainable water use through 2060. The plan, which by state regulation must be updated every four years, outlines a comprehensive strategy to manage the city’s water resources effectively, including aiming to meet future demands while preserving water supplies. A central feature of the plan is completing the implementation of a pressurized irrigation system. The city has already started converting certain areas to secondary water, with a long-term vision to extend this system citywide. Other initiatives include the installation of smart meters that can monitor for leaks...

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Aiming to expand fowl-keeping opportunities for residents while implementing rules for responsible ownership, the Brigham City Council has approved changes to its fowl ordinance. The revisions were prompted by a resident’s application to keep chickens at their single family home located in the central business district (CBD), an area previously not included in fowl-keeping regulations. Brigham City Planner Mark Bradley said the issue was discovered when the resident filed an application. “We… found out their location in a central business district, even though it’s a single-family lot, did not allow for the keeping of chickens,” said Bradley. Under the proposed...

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Over the last six months, Box Elder County’s victim advocates have supported more than 600 victims of crime, according to a report presented by Cheryl Bergan, director of the Victim Services Program to the county commission earlier this month. The program, which operates as part of the Box Elder County Attorney’s Office, provides critical services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and other personal crimes. Bergan emphasized the team’s wide range of responsibilities during her presentation. “We help victims of all crime, but these numbers are for victims of crime against a person,” she said, explaining that...

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The three members of the Box Elder County Commission have chosen which boards and committees upon which each will sit this year. Commissioner Boyd Bingham, holding Commission Seat A, will sit on the Brag Governing Board, the Emergency Service Board, and the Community Development/Planning Committee. Bingham also serves on the Weed Department, USU Extension, IT Department, Mosquito Abatement, and participates in the Boundary Commission. Bingham’s responsibilities extend to the Bear River Water Conservancy District, Public Lands, Natural Resources, and several flood management and conservation initiatives, including the Utah Defense Alliance and the Brigham City Corp Mantua Reservoir Advisory Committee. Bingham...

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Box Elder County commissioners conditionally approved a ,240 annual contract with Ninth Brain, a platform designed to streamline operations and compliance for emergency medical services (EMS), during their Jan. 8 meeting. The Ninth Brain system combines multiple functions into a single platform, including a learning management system that provides required continuing education for EMS personnel. It also tracks certifications, such as EMT licenses and CPR training, sending automated reminders to ensure credentials remain current. The platform also manages vehicle and equipment checks, ensuring all resources meet state standards for EMS operations. Ninth Brain replaces a previous vendor while offering additional...

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After waiting a long time to find their first win of the year, the Box Elder High School boys basketball team extended its current streak to three with region wins over Bonneville, 62-52, on Wednesday, and Clearfield, 51-46, on Friday. On Wednesday in Washington Terrace, the Bees raced out to an early lead behind a 19-7 first-quarter run. From there, the two battled fairly close, but Bonneville was never able to mount a comeback to threaten the lead. Box Elder senior forward Mason Jeppsen dominated the game on the inside and led all scorers with 28 points. Jeppsen also notched...

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