Thursday, October 30. 2008 SPRINGVILLE HERALD Comments Do not approve a blank check! Editor This is written in response re-sponse to a letter written to the editor by a Springville Councilman encouraging citizens of Springville to approve ap-prove of bonding in order to finance a new library. A library is, by definition, a "repository for books, records, prints, etc." These items are stored and kept for the purpose of reference, refer-ence, reading, research writing and study. It is a place of peace and quiet conductive to meditation medita-tion and writing. It was not intended to be a pre-school or a day care center! While' a new library is the desire of many citizens (they want their grandchildren grand-children and great-grandchildren to have a better facility than they had), the councilman included. A, new library is NOT a need but a want. Approving bonding of the city at this time, with no plans, no approved site, no agreed size or what the building is to encompass, no estimate as to the cost, is asking the citizens to buy a pig in a poke. To ask citizens to make a decision without the facts is ludicrous. The fact sheet in the letter says, "PRELIMINARY "PRELIMI-NARY LIBRARY CONCEPT." CON-CEPT." HOW BIG WILL IT BE FOR A $9.8 MILLION CONSTRUCTION CON-STRUCTION BUDGET? NO PERSON IN HIS Springville Herald 269 E. 400 South Springville, UT 84663 An edition of The Daily Herald a Lee Enterprises, Inc. ..." Newspaper , -Subscriptions S OedVery Service ... J75-5I03 News & Advertising ..489-5651 Fax . .489-7021 E-mail . .artcityavpfo.com . Springville Herald, Daily Herald edition (USPS 513-060) a weekly newspaper published at 269 E. 400 S. Springville, Utah 84663. Periodicals Postage Paid at Springville, Utah 84663 and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER; Send address changes to the Springville Herald, 269 E. 400 S. Springville, Utah 84663 Member Audit Bureau of Circulations News We welcome news tips. Call 489-5651 to report a news tip or if you have a comment or a questions. We welcome letters to the editor. All letters must include the author's name ( printed and signed) and a telephone number. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, punctuation, taste and length. Letters are welcome on any topic The Springville Herald Customer Service 375-5103 489-5651 Fax 489-7021 269 E. 400 S. Springville, Utah 84663 PutWier RonaRohlf rrQhtfheroldextra.com Manger Crdg Cooover aawverddextrtuorn Ector PatConover arfrJyavpro.com Page designad layout MarrJaKarm Typesetter Sherri Harris Office Manager JanedDuffii Send Nevfihems to us at arldlyavpro.com 1 UVJS 1 ort RIGHT MIND WILL APPROVE A BLANK CHECK! The council and the mayor may-or are to be commended for attacking the needed projects proj-ects of the infrastructure, such as the 400 South street improvement, water distribution distri-bution system, sewage disposal dis-posal upgrade, building of the administration, justice and police complex; and fire station, all of which were needs - not wants. The city should finish these projects before initiating initiat-ing another expensive project. proj-ect. The present projects will need additional funds, such as cost overrides and construction changes that were not planned. If my memory serves me right, the Electric Bonds that financed the diesel motors mo-tors at the Whitehead Plant will be paid off in 2009. When all of the projects in progress are finished is soon enough to start talking talk-ing about a media center what the proponents would like. The world economic outlook out-look does not indicate a prosperous financial market mar-ket for the near term. Fi Ubmrj provides a refuge Editor: I am surprised to see so many letters in your newspaper news-paper protesting the Springville Spring-ville Library Bond. It also surprises me that there is such vehemence over five dollars a month. I am a single sin-gle mother of three children and a business owner who is really feeling the economic crunch, as my orders have taken a downturn. I am struggling financially, and as a business owner, I pay a lot of taxes and other government gov-ernment fees, yet I would gladly pay "three times" the five dollars a month, until the bond is payed off, for a refuge such that the new library li-brary will provide. Many years ago, I found myself in a very unstable and abusive relationship. The library was my haven. I would gather up my children chil-dren and we would go to the library and sit for hours, reading, because the building build-ing was our safe place and the stories, our escape. Even now, years later, when I need some quiet time, I often choose the library li-brary because it's a place of peace, a place of community, communi-ty, and an' educational oasis for those eager to learn. My children and I often joke that we "live" at the library li-brary and that the fines on our sometimes-late-books : Pro Mortgage of Springville will Donate 1 0 of its profits to Springville High School Sports Program. John Paystrup a Native of Springville, Owner of Pro Mortgage, wants to give back to the community that has been such a big part of his success. With mortgage rates ; . at a 4 year low, John can help you find I the best rate to fit your refinance, or I l f purchase needs. Give us a call today; L.ji&j i 801-830-3400 or email us at John Paystrup joliiifgpromortgageinc.com l 4 nancial companies or private pri-vate capitol sources look at all debt with a jaundice eye. The leadership of the state and church has advised us to get out of debt andstay out. We, as citizens, should listen and adhere to the leadership. The paramount question is, uan we as citizens or Springville afford an in crease in taxes At the present time on the Daily Herald Editorial page of Oct. 22 it states, "In balancing its budget, Utah must avoid harming the business environment, which would only make things worse." The article is talking about Utah County Coun-ty in the third paragraph. Springville City has for years had the highest rates for electricity in Utah Valley. Val-ley. Recently other cities have raised their rates, but still haven't matched Springville's. The water rate has increased, an energy en-ergy use tax, and sales tax applied, to what I do not know, plus property tax. Can we as citizens afford another tax? Kent Palfreyman Springville aren't all that bad because we're "helping to buy new books." We've "waited" in the long lines, we shuffled through the DVD's and This means we have more books that are "crammed" than 80 people in an 8000 on the limited shelf space, square foot library each we've been amidst the whis- hour. Considering the fact pers that sound louder be- that the library is packed cause of the "number of peo- with books and computers, pie" congregating in such a this does not leave much small space. space for patrons. Have those people, who The author suggested that are bantering about dollars, the library could add more been in the library? Do they programs to accommodate use the space? If not, how do the demand. I want to point they know what we're talk- out that we have 14 story-ing story-ing about? And if not being times each week. We have a user of the library is the argument for not wanting to participate in the bond, I wonder: do they care about the people in their community; commu-nity; the children and teenagers teen-agers especially? Do they care that there is a safe, free place for people to go that isn't the mall or the arcade, but that represents the ideas of great thinkers, writers, musicians and artists? The new library bond is about our "future," not "today's" "to-day's" bad economy. It's about education and people. And most of all, it's about coming together as a com- munity and "supporting one another" by agreeing to do 1 A 1 . t a gooa rning ior our great city. Melissa Poole Springville T 5 tt. ( Great twes at Senior Citizen Center Editor I feel there are many senior se-nior citizens who don't appreciate ap-preciate the benefits at the Senior Citizens Center at 65 E. 200 South in Springville. 1. You don't have to be a pro voucher Republican. 2. You can be a loner or a joiner, as you wish, 3. Meals ($2.00 if over age 65) served most weekdays by friendly, responsible serv- ers. 4. A pot of very good ulcer cure is brewing in the corner. cor-ner. ($25 requested) 5. A bus picks up riders in Springville and Mapleton - 50 cents each way with careful expert driver Diane Gillies. 6. You might even find "Romance." I almost did! It has enriched my life. Come on down-check it out. Eugene Cotter Springville library needs more room for programs Editor: I work part time at the Springville Public Library and I am writing this letter let-ter to respond to a letter published in this paper last week. The author felt that now was not a good time to build a new library. She had recently been to the library and did not find it crowded. This does happen occasionally. occasion-ally. But the library records how many people walk through its doors. Last year we had 900 visitors a day. Earn money for new library Editor: BORROWED MONEY ALWAYS SPENDS EASIER EAS-IER THAN MONEY YOU HAVE EARNED. In very general figures I present the following. In the recent past, the LDS Church has built a new chapel per day at costs of well over ONE MILLION DOLLARS each. As a member of that church I have never received a request re-quest for my help with a bond. You may ask why. The answer is they do not . oorrow money. 1 If an organization as large as this can operate with no debt then why can't our government attempt the same? It could not happen hap-pen overnight but if we really re-ally want or need improvements improve-ments in our life we should be willing to work and save to get them. Let us take a look at our tax system. Here again I use general figures but the principles are true. If I remember correctly, the bond for the new library will cost about $30.00 for each 100,000.00 of property value. This is every year for the next 20 years. The medium price of a house in Springville is said to be $233,000.00 so you can do the math. Looking a little deeper, a house is only taxed at 55 of value. All other private pri-vate property is taxed at 100 of value. This means that all other property will pay over $100.00 for each t .i YTTft) EQ)flTlM. Need temporary traffic liglit Trying to exit from the area of Kelvin Grove Monday evening we found it impossible to turn left on 1600 South (the old Airport Road). Vehicles were bumper-toumper going east, and it was necessary to turn right and try to get to Springville via the Wal-Mart road and east on 400 South , , , That was not the decision to make either, as we found there was a slow moving train blocking the tracks on 400 South. Hence the line of traffic on 1600 South. It won't be long before we will be unable to get to the Wal-Mart area and onto the freeway by traveling 400 South west. Although the freeway exchange and 1750 West will remain open, 400 South will be closed for a year starting right after the holidays. Motorists will find the same traffic jam we found Monday Mon-day night when 400 South closes. The two-lane road on 1600 South will be very busy with people trying to get to Springville, Mapleton and other points. There have been several accidents at the intersection intersec-tion of 1600 South and SR51, the road going to Spanish Fork. Vehicles travel pretty fast along SR51, and there is a bend in the road right at that point. Turning right is easilv done, but turning left across traffic or just going go-ing straight across the highway to the single-lane road is very hard and not without risk. We suggest that the city or UDOT need to erect a temporary tem-porary traffic light at 1600 South and SR51 now and leave through the construction of 400 South to prevent more accidents and ease the traffic flow. , 9 monthly programs with at least 2 more planned to begin be-gin in January. We are running run-ning out of hours in the day in which to hold programs. We had one author visit last spring that drew over 400 people. The entire civic center cen-ter couldn't accommodate a crowd of that size, let alone the library. We must have a larger building with space to accommodate large groups of people. A library is more than a building to hold books. It is a gathering place for the community. It is a place for children to be introduced to reading, where teens should feel welcome. It is also a place where adults should be able to find a quiet spot to read or work. There should be enough computers comput-ers and meeting rooms to accommodate all who want to use them. It should be a beautiful building where people want to spend time. $100,000.00 of value. That means Wal-Mart, Reams, Allen's and every other place you shop will be paying pay-ing more property tax. Every time you purchase that can of tomatoes or that apple YOU will be paying your share of that tax. Businesses do not pay taxes; only people pay taxes. tax-es. That means you and me, and as for me, my taxes are high enough. . We who are LDS recently recent-ly received advice from our leaders to try to stay out of debt. The whole country is now struggling with economic eco-nomic hard times largely because of excessive debt. Some years back Provo rejected a bond for the renovation of the BYU Academy building for a library. li-brary. What happened was those who wanted it most formed a committee and raised most of the money for the project through private pri-vate donations. If we raise the money privately for our new library, we might find we do not need such a grandiose edifice. . ,'JJr ie In 'f 3L' ! 1 r ' "J I ! " 1 r W BOYS & GIRLS 4Ui-8Ui Grades NOVEMBER 4th - 6th 4-6th Grades: 6-7 p.m. - 7&8 Grades: 7-8 p.m. Cost $50 Includes T-Shirt Our current library is not able to be this place. Some people have expressed ex-pressed a concern about the economy. I feel that a library is especially important impor-tant when the economy is doing poorly. When people can't afford to buy books, magazines or newspapers they come to the library. If internet service is cost prohibitive, pro-hibitive, along with the cost of renting movies, they come to the library. Libraries Librar-ies all over the country are reporting increased usage that can be attributed to a slowing economy. One of my favorite quotes is by Anne Herbert, who states: "Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries." li-braries." ' Please vote "yes" lot a new library. Melissa Hatch f Springville From a builder's point of view I think nine point eight million dollars is ridiculous. ridic-ulous. If I understand correctly cor-rectly this does not include any fixtures, funrishings, books or additional staff. We have a beautiful golf course - no bond. The art museum is that same. I think a new library would be nice. Let's earn it first. Vote "NO." Don't indebt yourself, all your neighbors and even some of your children. chil-dren. We do not need to. Let's do it the old fashioned way, let's earn it first. Using Us-ing this method we will have the building we really are willing to pay for. Remember BORROWED MONEY ALWAYS SPEND EASIER THAN MONEY WE HAVE EARNED. You may ask yourself this question. ques-tion. "Would I be willing to borrow $1,000.00 on a second sec-ond mortgage and give it to the city for the library?" If your answer is no then vote AGAINST PROPOSITION PROPOSI-TION 1. Clark Palfreyman Springville Registration: Tuesday, November 4th 5-6 p.m. Camp will be held at Springville High School For Information call Coach Chris Kitchen at 1 w. 372-1456