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Show V UHtl econ HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH .... . v SOpents SINCE 1915 2004 September 29. :&?.&'$&' Monticello approves funding for water meter project ATVs gather at Pritchard Arch in Arch Canyon during the 2004 San Juan ATV Safari. ATV Safari Courtesy photo deemed a home run by Anna Thayn from far and wide came They to ride the trails of San Juan County in the Second Annual San Juan Safari. Nearly 100 ATV riders from across the country spent this past weekend touring the area and falling in love with its beauty and grandeur. Some were locals from throughout the Four Corners region, and others from further north in Utah. The list goes on to include Vermont, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, California, and Kansas. The Safari was hosted out of Blanding this year, with the help of volunteers from throughout the county. Organizers were thrilled with the event and couldnt say enough great things about the 70 volunteers who helped to pull off the event. The volunteer guides took the riders on 18 trails around the county, including a new ride this year on La Sal Mountain. unique feature about the San Juan Safari is in the startA ing location of the rides. Local businesses who sponsor trails get to have the ride start from their business. Organizers think this is a great opportunity for local businesses to get involved, and have the opportunity to bring in the business of the riders during the three day event. Safari organizers also started a new trend this year with patches. Each participant was given a large patch at registration. Then, they were given the opportunity to purchase smaller patches from each of the rides they participated in. Organizers hope this will be a good promotion when riders put them on their jackets and other see them. They also hope it keeps the San Juan Safari on their minds. Doug Harkey, a member of the organizing committee, stated that they saw the same enthusiasm this year as they did last year. He reported that nearly half of the people from last year came back and several brought friends with them. He pointed out that a few changes were made to improve the program, including refreshments at registration and an opening social to help riders and volunteers get by Anna Thayn The City of Monticello has successfully secured funding for its culinary metering project, but trouble with scheduling a public hearing may cause an additional $85,000 in grant funding for other projects to slip through their fingers. At the September 22 City Council meeting, the council voted unanimously to approve a resolution providing for the issuance of water revenue bonds in the amount of $100,000. This money will be used in conjunction with $250,000 received from the Community Impact Board for the culinary water metering project. City Manager Trent Schafer reports that the city expects to begin installation of the meters within a month. Part of the installations will be done by the city crew to keeps costs down as much as possible. The City will have 25 years to pay back the 0 percent interest revenue bond. The annual cost will be $4,000 and will come from revenues from the water department. The project will not directly increase water rates. In a separate discussion, Councilman Doug Allen made a motion to the council to schedule a public hearing to discuss the use of a Community Development Block Grant to build a skateboard park in Monticello. Allen motioned, and Councilman Blen Freestone seconded, that the required public hearing be held with the October 13 council meeting. However the motion met resistance from Councilmen Young, Steele and Palmer and the motion did not vote. pass by a quired survey to be conducted which will take up a great deal of time. It is estimated that the City will need to survey between 250 and 300 households before the December 3 deadline. Allen also pointed out that a representative from the South- 2-- 3 Museum is Indian vision carved in limestone - See page Governments is scheduled to come to Monticello on October 26 for training on the survey. According to City Manager Trent Schafer, with the public hearing being pushed back to October 27, the training would have to be rescheduled. Young stated that he wants to study it more before making a decision on the money. He suggested that the 2005 funds could be used to build a tractor barn in conjunction with the new visitors center complex that will be 3 FDNY in Bluff - See page 4 New exhibits open at Edge of the Cedars - See page eastern Utah Association of built near the barn museum, rather than a skate park. Young felt it might be a better idea to use the 2005 disbursement to to know each other. aid in the development of the Harkey also reported that visitors center block because it there were no apparent environwill be a greater benefit to the mental problems. He stated that there were no protests and the community as far as economic federal land agencies, including development is concerned. He the BLM and Forest Service, pointed out that a skate park could not be completed with one came on the rides and were a Sato years funding, but the tractor very positive addition the barn could. He suggested that fari. Organizers were grateful to lothe second disbursement in the agencies and especially 2006 could be used for a recrecal law enforcement, San Juan ation project. County, and the cities of Allen countered by telling the Monticello and Blanding for how council that it did not matter if well they all worked together to make the event run smoothly. you do the tractor barn or the skate park. It pushes it back Harkey said, It wouldnt work further and could make us miss without all of them and they the December deadline. He were excellent. asked the council why it was so The initial economic impact on controversial to have the public San Juan County businesses over the weekend is estimated hearing, to which Young reto have been between $20,000 sponded that he doesnt think it is would adminisCDBG hurt to wait. The and $30,000. In a post survey money Allen told the council that he conducted by organizers, riders tered through the Southeastern were asked to estimate the Utah Association of Govern- has been attending the Association of Governments meetings amount of money per ATV they ments. The 2005 CDBG disspent in San Juan County dur- bursement for San Juan County for four years. Im trying to tell ing the weekend. The average will be $85,000. The City of the City how to facilitate this was between $250 and $500 per Monticello is scheduled to re- thing so it will work. Im not tryATV. Riders stayed primarily in ceive the 2005 monies, as well ing to ramrod this down your motels and RV Parks, and were as the 2006 allotment for San throat. Im just saying we need disspread fairly evenly between Juan County, as the City of to have a public hearing to Monticello and Blanding. Blanding received the previous cuss it, said Allen According to City Manager Other questions from the post two years of funding. Trent said Councilman Steve Young Schafer, if the application survey show that most riders came to the Safari early and that he wanted to wait to sched- is not made by the City of 3 stayed late. Organizers are ex- ule a public hearing until the Monticello by the December cited that 40 percent of the rid- next council meeting, and hold deadline, the funding could go ers say they will be back next it with the October 27 meeting. to another entity in San Juan Allen told the group it was imCounty and Monticello could year and will bring friends. Overall, Harkey says, Its a perative to schedule it for the lose it completely. The next meeting of the next council meeting in order to hit! A home run for the county. Monticello City Council is He and the rest of the San Juan follow the CDBG recommended Safari committee will meet later time line for funding. He stated Wednesday, October 13, beginthis week to start planning for that the need to stay on the time ning at 7 p.m. at the Monticello line is crucial as there is a re City Office, 17 North 100 East. the 2005 event. in-hou- se 1 9 Homecoming activities will fill the week at Monticello High School, including the Homecoming Queen pageant on Wednesday, volleyball game against San Juan on Thursday, and the homecoming parade and football game on Friday. The San Juan Junior Livestock Association will be having its annual public meeting onOctober 7, 2004. The meeting will begin at 7:00 pm in the commission room of the San Juan County Administration Building. This meeting is an opportunity for youth and adult participants to express their feelings and concerns about the junior livestock program. Officers will for the coming year will also be elected at this time. For further information contact the USU Extension Office at 587-323- Monticello News Roundup Letters to Editor Society Sports Community news Legals Classified Real Estate 9. Blanding 2 6 8 10 12 17 18 19 |