• BEST IN STATE—Senior Courtney Schoen Lewis was named Best PR Student in Utah. Story

Millville residents concerned about new school’s impacts

March 4th, 2013 Posted in Opinion

Story and photo by Tanner Simmons

MILLVILLE – Worried residents are expressing concern with the announcement of a new high school. When the family of deceased landowner Oscar Monson sold property to the Cache County School District for a new high school, residents and city officials were shocked at how quickly the school board decided to approve the new facilities.

Millville is home to beautiful scenery and soon a new high school. But not everyone is happy about it. Photo by Tanner Simmons.

Millville is home to beautiful scenery and soon a new high school. But not everyone is happy about it. Photo by Tanner Simmons.

“From the time we were notified from the school district that we were in consideration for a new high school we only had six days before it became official,” said Mayor Mike Johnson. “It’s pretty overwhelming and the way it was communicated really left a bad taste in the community’s mouth. This is not something a little city like Millville planned for.”

It’s not all bad. Aside from the short notice, Johnson said he remains hopeful that the school can be an asset to the community and is determined to work with the school district the best he can.

The school’s proposed site is located near both residential and agricultural parcels of land which calls for new infrastructure of roads in order to accommodate travel for students. City officials and school district members will work together to design access points from the freeway entering the high school as well as connecting roads throughout the city.

Although the school is not expected to be built until closer to 2015-2016, the presence of change can be felt creeping up on the community. According to the most recent U.S. census, Millville is home to just over 1,800 people. The new high school could potentially bring in well over 1,000 students, dramatically increasing activity in Millville. With overpopulation of students in the valley compensation must be made regardless if that change is favorable or not.

“It’s definitely necessary because of the growth,” Cameron Webb, a USU student from Millville said. “It will actually help a lot with students not having to drive so far. That will cut costs down for kids commuting to school.”

Other residents are more concerned about cultural change to their quaint little city. For some the high school is a little too close for comfort.

“I don’t want to take the brunt of the access of traffic,” Millville homeowner Frank Smith said. “And students will drive around these new rural roads making it busier, and that kind of takes away from the character of our quiet town.”

All of this renovation does come with a cost however. Bonds proposed for approximately $100 million need to be passed either early this summer or at the latest during elections this fall before the commencement of construction.

In other business:

  • The Cache County School District has simultaneously proposed another high school be built I North Logan. For more information about the proposal click here.
  • The public is welcome to attend Millville City Council meetings where more information will be discussed. Meetings are held the second and fourth Thursdays of every month at 7 p.m. at the city offices, 510 E. 300 South, Millville.

NW

Tags: , , , ,

Sorry, comments for this entry are closed at this time.