Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, August 25-28, 2018 The Park Record UTA ordered to reinstate whistleblower, pay wages Federal judge: agency illegally fired employee Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Transit Authority illegally fired a transit planner for warning the agency that it was violating safety rules, according to a new federal ruling. U.S. Department of Labor Administrative Law Judge Lee Romero Jr. issued the order Aug. 13, requiring the agency to reinstate J. Michael Clara to his former position and pay him back wages, as well as $10,000 in compensatory damages. Clara said he believes that adds up to some $300,000. The Utah Transit Authority “unlawfully discriminated against Mr. Clara,” wrote Romero, contending his actions made him a protected whis- tleblower. Authority spokesman Carl Arky said the decision could be appealed. “UTA is disappointed with the judge’s decision, as it’s UTA’s position Mr. Clara was appropriately terminated for cause,” Arky said. “UTA is currently reviewing the decision in its entirety and evaluating appeal options. UTA has no further comment at this time.” Clara said he raised concerns about several bus stops being built before the November 2015 vote on whether to raise taxes for transit. “They said they had to put them in before Prop 1,” Clara said, despite problems including using federal funds for stops he believed were not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Clara said the agency cut corners to speed work on bus stop amenities as it tried to generate positive publicity just before the 2015 Proposition 1 vote on whether to raise transit taxes. The agency has denied that, and the judge said there wasn’t enough evidence to sustain the claimed connection to the election. Clara also alleges UTA bosses were upset with him for saying its TRAX crossings do not meet federal standards. Voters in Salt Lake, Utah and Box Elder counties rejected the tax increase. Clara, now a community organizer for Crossroads Urban Center, said he’s not sure he wants to return to the transit authority, after being fired for “job abandonment” because he returned to work after a vacation later than originally scheduled. “The question for me is whom am I working for — because I am not going to go back and work for the same unethical people,” he added. “They fabricated stuff in order to get rid of me. It’s concerning to me that kind of culture is there.” A-15 – NEW LISTING! – 2 91 5 A M ERI CA N SA D D LER D RIV E 4 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms | 4,086 Square Feet | $1,659,000 Charges in officer’s death Man allegedly killed worker over yard dispute LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah man called a city worker to his house, shot her in the head and set her body on fire after she mailed him notice to clean up his yard in suburban Salt Lake City, prosecutors said in charges filed Tuesday. Kevin W. Billings, 64, killed code enforcement officer Jill Robinson with a single gunshot to the head, then doused her and her work truck with gasoline and set both on fire, authorities said in court documents. Billings was charged with 13 counts, including aggravated murder, which carries the possibility of the death penalty, arson and desecration of a human body. No attorney was immediately listed for him in court records. Billings claimed Robinson, 52, “got what she deserved” after “years of harassment,” police said. A neighbor saw him leaning on his walker in his driveway with a “smirk” after the shooting, the charges say. He also “meticulously” cut a large hole in a fence and burned his neighbors’ house down, apparently believing they had reported his yard to officials in West Valley City, the charges say. He had been clearing thick vegetation from around the fence for days before setting the fire, prosecutors said. It killed five dogs and a cat, but his neighbors were not hurt. INTERMOUNTAIN MORTGAGE COMPANY 2018 Billings also was charged with animal cruelty. The violence started after Billings made an appointment for Robinson to come to his house the morning of Aug. 9, about two weeks after Robinson first mailed him a notice that his messy yard and unregistered vehicles violated city rules. If he didn’t clean it up, the notice said the city could levy a $50-a-day fine. The appointment would have been a routine follow-up inspection for the unarmed, civilian worker who had worked for the city for 10 years. Court records show Billings had faced weed-control and waste-accumulation charges decades ago, before Robinson started working for the city. Police also found illegal blasting caps and a detonation cord at his house, prosecutors said. Open House Wednesday, August 29th from Noon to Three O’clock. Fabulous family home in desirable location in Park Meadows. For a private showing of this or any other Park City property, please call Scott. Scott Maizlish REALTOR® 435.901.4309 scott.maizlish@sothebysrealty.com scottmaizlish.com This material is based upon information that we consider reliable, but because it has been supplied by third parties, we cannot represent that it is accurate or complete, including price, or withdrawal without notice; square footage is an estimate only. ©MMXVIII Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a licensed trademark to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. An Equal Opportunity Company. Each office is independently owned and operated. Copyright© Summit Sotheby’s International Realty 2018. BIKE BACK TO FALL EVENTS SHOW YOUR PEDAL PRIDE AT EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 5:00-8:00 P.M. Thank you PC for voting us “Best Mortgage Company” This is the second time we’ve used Intermountain Mortgage to buy a home. We were on a tight deadline and they worked all angles to find the best loan for us. In such a complicated process they made it easy, quick and stress free. We had a great experience with Intermountain Mortgage Co! Everyone we dealt with was very professional and helpful. We were moving from the East Coast to Utah which created some challenges but the staff here handled everything very efficiently. I would highly recommend doing business with them! Locally Owned and Operated with National Lending Sources Since 1992 TRAILSIDE BIKE PARK SHRED-N-BBQ Join Basin Recreation to celebrate Trailside Bike Park. The Shred-n-BBQ offers tasty BBQ, music, giveaways and bike laps in the park. Stay for the movie in the park showing of the mountain biking documentary unReal. Free at Trailside Bike Park: Basinrecreation.org/event FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 8:00-9:30 A.M. BIKE BACK TO SCHOOL, WORK & PLAY DAY Join us for breakfast and to celebrate all things bicycle safety at the Park City High School visitor parking lot from 8:00-9:30 a.m. Students and riders biking to the Kearns Campus should meet at one of the following locations by 7:50 a.m. • PC MARC • Aspen Villas • Arches Park (south side of Comstock Drive) • Park City Heights (*meet at 7:30 a.m. at 4021 Temper Lane) For more information visit: Parkcity.org FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, ALL DAY SUMMIT BIKE SHARE FARE-FREE DAYS Take a free e-bike share ride from any of the nine bike share stations throughout the greater Park City area. Register for a free “go pass” by entering code bikeback and receive one free 45-minute trip. Download the Summit Bike Share App at: Summitbikeshare.com MAKE SURE TO WEAR YOUR HELMET AND PRACTICE SAFE RIDING AT ALL EVENTS Intermountain Mortgage Company NMLS# 74889 • 2029 Sidewinder Drive, Suite 200 435.649.6660 • greatlender.com