Business Depot Ogden Thrives, Even in The Current Bad Economy

Unfortunately, substantial BDO revenues continue to be squandered

Encouraging Standard-Examiner story this morning, reporting boom times at Business Depot Ogden, the former Defense Depot Ogden, (the U.S. Army logistical supply and administrative support facility closed down by the Army in 1997, and transferred to Ogden City for use as a commercial business park in 2003.) We incorporate Jeff Demoss's lead paragraphs below:

OGDEN — The conversion of the city’s former Army depot into a top-notch industrial park has been so successful that managers at Business Depot Ogden say it’s time for a new traffic light at its main entrance. “We’re just seeing a lot more traffic these days, and it’s only going to grow,” said Steve Waldrip, project manager for The Boyer Co., which manages the park and splits leasing revenue evenly with the city. New traffic lights are likely not coming anytime soon, transportation officials say, but it’s hard not to notice all the new buildings and activity that continue to transform the 1,120-acre park into one of Northern Utah’s largest centers of employment. Since its conversion to private, commercial use began in 2000, BDO has become a thriving center of industry. It now has 80 tenants employing a combined 3,400 workers, who build everything from nutritional supplements to jet engines to kitchen sinks.
“It’s amazing to think we have tripled the number of employees since the Army depot closed,” Waldrip said.
Much like the trees planted along its major roads, growth at the park has been steady and noticeable, and progress continues despite a general slowing in the overall economy. With 1 million new square feet of space scheduled for completion this year, “this will be our best year ever,” Waldrip said.

Former Mayor Glen Mecham showed great foresight in commencing the process of obtaining this sprawling property for the benefit of the taxpayers of Ogden City; and in the interim since its acquisition, and under the competent management of the Boyer Company, the BDO project has prospered, as this morning's Std-Ex story reports.

Unfortunately, competence isn't a trait universal to all players involved with the BDO project. As our regular readers are aware, our current mayor, Boss Godfrey, couldn't keep his mitts off BDO revenue, and pledged it as collateral for Ogden's Junction Project in 2005.

As a result, BDO revenues, which had been originally earmarked for projects such as Ogden City water infrastructure, have been frittered away (and will continue to be squandered) as Boss Godfrey scrambles to cover revenue shortages involving his "brainchild," the ill-conceived and financially-floundering Junction project.

For news about the latest insult to the taxpayers of Ogden City, be sure to read this morning's Kristen Moulton story, which reports the most recent administration plan to tap the ever-deepening BDO revenue till. We incorporate the "money quote" below:

On Tuesday, the City Council will be asked to tap into the flush coffers of Business Depot Ogden to help cover $819,000 more of The Junction's debt payments.
Already, the city was using $750,000 in BDO funds to pay mall debt
this year.

Ogden City political wonks will recall Godfrey's 2005 promise, respecting the Junction Project: "The taxpayers will never be on the hook."

Food for thought as Godfrey advances ideas for new "can't miss" projects, wethinks.

And what thinks our gentle readers about all this?