AGENCY: Paragonah (Utah)
SERIES: 23626
TITLE: Town board minutes
DATES: 1916-
ARRANGEMENT: Chronological.
DESCRIPTION: The Paragonah town clerk summarized the proceedings of the Paragonah town board meetings in minutes which were read and approved at each board meeting. The town board consists of a president (mayor) and four trustees, who are responsible to exercise the community's legislative and executive powers (see Utah Code, Unannotated, 1991, 10-3-101, also Compiled Ordinances of Paragonah, 1916, chapters 7-8). The town board is responsible for all aspects of town government, such as appointing community officials, levying taxes, establishing a budget, maintaining public services and utilities, and regulating activity within the city. From 1916-1959 the minutes provide complete detail on every expenditure authorized by the board. The minutes discuss the appointment of city officers, problem issues, and progress on community development projects. In 1921 Paragonah constructed an electrical power plant on Paragonah Creek and installed 'artificial lighting' in the community. Thereafter, issues relating to municipal electricity dominated town board discussions for the rest of the century. Problems included maintaining poles, meters, transformers and other equipment; addressing chronic complains about poor service; responding to requests for reduced rates or extended service (annexation requests from residents outside city limits); and especially collecting delinquent electric utility bills. After 1960 Paragonah began purchasing supplementary power from other companies. In the late 1940s and again in the early 1970s the board discussed selling the Paragonah plant, but each time opted to keep and upgrade it. In 1968 the city installed a new culinary water system, and from that point water maintenance shared the table with electricity as a topic for town board discussion. The town board addressed other issues such as controlling animals, maintaining streets, ditches and the cemetery, providing a trash service and fire protection. After 1980 the board discussed zoning issues regulations and the development of a master plan for Paragonah. The town board also sponsored holiday celebrations and parties.
RETENTION
Permanent. Retain until administrative need ends
DISPOSITION
Transfer to Archives.
RETENTION AND DISPOSITION AUTHORIZATION
Retention and disposition for this series is authorized by Archives general schedule Open meeting minutes & supplementary materials, GRS-1709
AUTHORIZED: 03/07/2001
FORMAT MANAGEMENT
Paper: Retain in Office permanently.
Microfilm master: Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.
Microfilm duplicate: Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.
Microfilm duplicate: Retain in State Records Center permanently.
APPRAISAL
Administrative Fiscal Historical Legal
Paragonah town board minutes document the history of Paragonah municipal government by summarizing the discussion at town board meetings. In particular these minutes provide information about municipal electricity.
PRIMARY DESIGNATION
Public