Over the years Elmer Magee, who lives on Paper Mill Road near the entrance to the rodeo grounds, has attended meetings of the Taylor Town Council to express his views on the entrance to the rodeo grounds, the dust and the noise related to use of the site, and the town’s sewer rates.
Magee attended the July 9 council meeting to complain about those issues and to request help in putting a fence on the west side of his property.
This is not his first complaint about dust and a request that the town water the road after each event. It is likely that the town will be able to get millings when Interstate 40 is resurfaced, and Town Manager Eric Duthie noted they would be used near Magee’s home. Duthie said he will speak to the Special Events/Special Days Committee regarding this if they do get the millings.
Magee encouraged the town to make the rodeo grounds safer, and to close the gate that is open throughout the summer.
Councilman Shawn Palmer responded, “The rodeo grounds are used by thousands of people in a year. Those rodeo grounds are used by good people, taxpaying people every day. I see all kinds of groups there. I would never want to cause concern by locking good people out.” He also noted that when he drives large equipment, he likes to use that entrance.
“We’re a noise making people, we have loud explosives. That type of noise you’re talking about has always been a concern, but I’m not sure how to get around that,” said Palmer referring to the noise of the announcement stand for the rodeo and Little League games.
Councilman Gary Solomon will work with Magee to put up the fence.
Magee said he feels the sewer charges are not fair, and asked that sewer service be metered.
Town Engineer Stu Spaulding explained that they researched this several years ago and can find no other city that meters sewer, but noted that it could be done at a cost of approximately $5,000 per house.
Duthie provided a graph that shows that Taylor’s sewer cost is the lowest in the area.
Councilman Jared Hatch encouraged Magee to attend a meeting when raising sewer rates in order to cover the expenses will be discussed.
