Land use was the main discussion in Murray City Council on May 16, with the council approving amendments to the city Zoning Map in regards to two areas in Murray.

Property at 820 and 830 East 5600 South was changed from Commercial Development (C-D) to Medium Density Multiple Family Residential (R-M-15) zoning, and property at 257 West 4800 South was changed from Mixed Use Development District (M-U) zoning to Manufacturing General District (M-G).

Hamlet Homes plans to build a complex of townhomes and single-family homes at the property on 820 and 830 East 5600 South, and the developers and city believe the complex will fit in well to the Murray City Plan, said Michael Brodsky, the applicant sponsor for Hamlet Homes.

 The only concern residents in the area expressed is that of potential traffic if there was not a public road added to the property connecting a cul-de-sac, that would alleviate traffic by leading it out to 5600 South, Brodsky said.

Chris Smith, who lives on the street where the residential zoning change took place, shared support for the change, besides a desire for the possible traffic problem to be taken into consideration.

“Everyone seems to feel good about having homes rather than businesses, other than the one access street,” Smith said.

Hamlet Homes is similar in structure and function to Glenmore Villages, which is located at about 1300 West and Winchester Street in Murray, and is a complex of townhomes and single-family detached homes. It is currently being built and has been looked upon positively, Brodsky said.

“The Winchester development he mentioned is in my district, and it really is a first-rate thing to see,” said councilman Dave Nicponski.

The Planning Commission recommended the changes be made for the property at 257 West 4800 South to go from Mixed Use Development District (M-U) zoning to Manufacturing General District (M-G), and the change is supported by the general plan, said Tim Tingey, director of the Administrative and Development Services Department.

“Based on the information that was provided, there are some similarities in the uses, but with the mixed use there is allowance for more residential uses, there’s limitation on the size of storage facilities as well, and also the existing land use is non-conforming where it’s at now. This zone change would allow for the use to be conforming and meet the standards of the code,” Tingey said.

The Budget and Finance Council met and made some grammatical and mathematical changes to the tentative budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018, and recommended the budget be adopted by the city council. The council unanimously adopted the tentative budget and a public hearing was scheduled for June 6 for public discussion before the final budget is adopted.

The city approved a resolution to set a public hearing for discussion of a potential transfer of enterprise funds to the General Fund, and will be kept to Murray’s requirements, which is 8 percent of the previous year’s operating revenues.

The transfer will be officially discussed in a public hearing and brought before the council to decide on at the June 6 council meeting. Notices about the discussion for the transfer have been posted on all city websites, and put in utility bill notices.

“This transfer sometimes seems to get villainized … Every resident of this city owns this power department, and this is an opportunity for the city to receive a dividend from this enterprise that we own and it benefits everyone in the city, whether or not they use Murray Power,” said councilman Blair Camp.

There was an accident at the Murray Park Amphitheater, and some fire damage was caused in May, Mayor Eyre announced. However, remodeling construction was still under way, and will now be extended to the damage. They hope it is finished by July 8 for a new show that opens that night, said Mary Ann Kirk, the city’s Cultural Arts Director.

All shows in the Arts in the Park season up until that date will be held at Murray High School. The new facility will include a green room, dressing rooms, additional cast and public restrooms, permanent concession, a tech booth, ticket space, a roof over the stage, improved handicapped seating and a “beautiful plaza entrance,” Kirk said.

Greg Hill, the Murray City Water Tech III, was honored as the Murray City Council Employee of the Month by Doug Hill, Public Services Director, and councilwoman Diane Turner.

“Greg would say he is doing his job, however, we all know he is one non-assuming guy who is always doing a little more and going the extra mile,” Doug said, quoting one of Greg’s coworkers.

Because annual passes at the Murray City Pool were recently discontinued, they city felt it was necessary to amend the municipal code to allow those below the poverty level to apply for all recreations passes the city provides, to be involved in city recreation.