Spanish Fork, Mapleton to vote on boundary change intent this week

MAPLETON — Both Spanish Fork and Mapleton city councils are scheduled to vote on resolutions of intent this week to change a common boundary bringing controversial land into Mapleton where explosives manufacturing took place for more than 60 years.

Cleanup of the Ensign-Bickford Corp., site for development near the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon, south of Mapleton is ongoing, but the final report from the state Division of Hazardous Waste hasn't yet been issued, Mapleton Mayor Laurel Brady said.

"This just starts the 60-day comment period," she said of the vote.

Spanish Fork is planning a Dec. 15 public hearing preceding the final vote and expects Mapleton to also hold a hearing about that time before taking a final tally of the City Council, Spanish Fork City Attorney Junior Baker said.

The change involves just one property owner, explosives manufacturer Ensign-Bickford, which is one of the applicants, along with developer Jack Evans, to build on the more than 500 acres bordering U.S. 6.

Moving the property into Mapleton would give the city an opportunity to develop a business strip, adding to its tax base, which city leaders have long desired, Brady said. If it's approved, Evans could then bring his sewer lines through Mapleton, which Spanish Fork officials say would be far less expensive.

Mapleton buys sewer capacity from Spanish Fork and would need to buy more to accommodate the boundary change, Baker said.

"It would be a lost opportunity if Spanish Fork got the benefit instead of us," Brady said.

The boundary change would also give the developer the opportunity to create a series of residential neighborhoods with potentially hundreds of homes where Ensign-Bickford and previous owners manufactured explosives for decades.

Some of the contaminated soil was hauled off for disposal or burning, while some is to be capped away from development and forever banned from construction. The rules to manage development of the property haven't yet been written, Mapleton resident and former state legislator David Nemelka said.

"The council isn't keeping its word. They said they wouldn't vote on an intent until they got the final report," he said.

Spanish Fork's vote is expected Tuesday, while Mapleton's is expected Wednesday.