WEST LOGAN - Two major problems were addressed by the West Logan town council on Wednesday.

According to Mayor Darren Akers and Clerk Kristi Adkins, West Logan is facing a problem familiar with other municipalities - businesses who owe the town unpaid Business and Occupation taxes.

Mayor Akers said it was not fair to the businesses that did pay the city what they owed to let others slide and asked what could be done about the problem. Councilmembers Adkins and Mark Mareske said the city could go after debtors in court.

Kristi Adkins said a lot of the businesses who are delinquent on their B&O taxes owe the city in other ways.

"A lot of them have not paid their business license either," Adkins said, adding the city will contact those who are delinquent in paying up via letter so they can contact the city and make arrangements for payment.

The other topic revolved around complaints about streets that were torn up around city hall and First and Second Avenues in West Logan for recent sewer upgrades. Some of the streets were paved very roughly and poorly while others weren't paved at all and the "Quickcrete" put down is breaking up. A similar problem exists in Aracoma and the Cherry Tree area.

"They were supposed to have that fixed by August or September," Mayor Akers noted. "August is here and September is around the corner and it's not been done. The construction company has not paid their B&O taxes on that project either."

The Mayor informed the council that not much could be done about another growing problem because it's on private property. The council also discussed complaints from the community about a local motel that residents have called "a flophouse" filled with rowdy transients carrying on with wild parties and other undesirable elements including people with police records for theft, drug possession and prostitution.

Mayor Akers noted that the town's police chief had spoken with management at the business about problems and complaints in regards to some of the problematic residents staying there.

"We have done what we can do," Akers said, noting his own concerns about the business.

In other law enforcement news:

* Councilmember Mark Mareske complained about garbage pickup on the back streets and asked about replacing a stop sign on First Ave. that has been struck many times by vehicles and can barely stay up. Mareske asked about painting the word "Stop" on the road itself. Mayor Akers said it might not be allowable as it is a state road. "I will have to ask them," Akers said.

* Minutes and financial statements from July were approved. Mareske asked about the financial statement for the fiscal year noting it had come out $10,000 ahead. Kristi Adkins asked about using funds from a $10,000 County Commission grant for police expenses.