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Show nions Wednesday, September 6, 2006 Sanpete MsSfenger-Sanpete Messenger/Gunnison Valley Edition A4 To Another EDITOR-.POLICY GO TD • WWW.SANPETEMESSENGER.CDM, CLICK By Manti City Mayor Natasha Madsen Manti has infrastructure, services for fairgrounds First, a special thanks to the Sanpete Mes- fire protection is available now and for future senger for the invitation to respond to the "In growth. A community owned and operated elecOur Opinion" column published on Aug. 23. tric power system allows electrical service to This particular piece suggested that the Sanpete the current fairgrounds at one of the lowest rates in the county and the state. A sanitary sewer sysCounty Fairgrounds and the Sanpete County Fair celebration be moved to a site at Pigeon tem is in place and operational, which supports the facility. Hollow. In addition to that level of infrastructure, As a long-term citizen of Sanpete and as Manti City provides additional trash receptacles mayor of Manti City, I welcome the opportunity to share my views regarding the fair- and frequent garbage pickup during the fair and grounds location and the future of the Sanpete other special events (at no charge to Sanpete County), and fire and ambulance departments County Fair. The Manti City Council, city employees are available and on-call close to the fairgrounds. and I fully support keeping the county fair in The Sheriff's Department is within a few blocks Manti at its current site with future enhance- of the fairgrounds, and officers patrol in the vicinity regularly. ments. Our Manti City crew partners well with Manti City is centrally located, within 25 minutes of Fountain Green, Fairview, Axtell Sanpete County personnel to complete necesand Fayette and 20 minutes from Mt. Pleas- sary work, prepare booth areas, and so on with ant, Moroni, Gunnison and Centerfield. The no direct cost to Sanpete County. Upgrades on historic location ties in nicely with the U.S. 89 electrical, water and sewer are accomplished at campaign now underway and presents a fair the fairgrounds at or below cost. All of these elements are providing a value, in real dollars, venue that is virtually unequaled in the state. Sanpete County owns the current fair- to all of the citizens of Sanpete and should not grounds property, and plans are in place to in- be underestimated. crease the acreage at little additional cost to Last Saturday, after enjoying activities at the taxpayers of Sanpete County. Additional the fair, including the car show, citizens watched acreage north of tr>e fairgrounds is ready to be a parade pass down the tree-lined street while developed for the fair when and if needed. they were parked in the shade or sitting on grass. However, if you stand on Temple Hill and look Following the parade the spectators moved to down at the fairgrounds you can see that there the fairgrounds and enjoyed the food and carniis space to grow. val, and filled the rodeo stands and bleachers We have an opportunity to update the ex- for an enjoyable evening. hibition building, provide for additional horse The Sanpete County Fair, under the direcstalls and horse exercise areas and repair or tion of the Sanpete County Fair Board and with rebuild the rodeo grandstand. active support from the Sanpete County comSome discussion has centered on the pos- missioners, is a true "winner" that is recognized sibility of an indoor arena, and there seems to throughout the state. With the support of the be a strong movement to develop one. While county, the fair board and all citizens, this "winthe ground is available at the current location ner" will not only continue but also continually for an indoor facility, the building cost could get better. To change the scope, location and run between $3-5 million, depending on the emphasis for this activity is not in the best interest of the county historically or financially. scope and size. The operation and maintenance of an inMuch of the funding is in place to complete door facility would require close study to de- the upgrade to the county fairgrounds. Manti termine its value to all citizens of the county. City is committed to continue to serve and work Certainly, Manti City officials would be ex- with Sanpete County. cited to have such a facility for activities in We trust in the judgment of the Sanpete the community, but we trust the County Com- County Commission and the fair board. The mission to evaluate the overall value to the county has the space, owns the current land and county. the land for expansion. Let's keep the fairAt this time Manti City provides a solid grounds and the fair where they belong, ceninfrastructure in support of the fairgrounds. An trally located at the county seat. adequate supply of water for consumption and ON 'OPINIONS' THEN 'LETTERS TO THE EDITOR* New fairgrounds should be based on fact, not emotion As a citizen of Sanpete County and a candidate for Sanpete County Commission I have a few personal thoughts I would like to share in regards to the Sanpete County Fairgrounds discussion. • This issue is not a "North Sanpete versus South Sanpete" issue. • This issue is not a "County versus Manti" issue. • This issue is not a "build the fairgrounds in Manti versus build the fairgrounds somewhere else" issue. • This is" not a Sanpete County versus the Corcoran's issue. This issue is about a unique opportunity that exists because decisions have been made that require the relocation and reconstruction of the fairgrounds— plain and simple. This is where we are at this point and time. Because we are where we are, a plan should be implemented that evaluates what we build and where. The plan should involve the input and. participation of county residents as well as professionals. That study should evaluate the following: • Type of events to be held. • Possible city and town participation. • Possible individual donors identified. • Year round use. • Current proposed location versus other locations. • Acreage required and land identification • Access to infrastructure. • Cost of land. • Willingness of property owners to sell or donate their land. • Parking facilities. Once the issues have been identified in the planning process, the following should occur: • Detailed cost estimates prepared for each site. , • Implementation schedules prepared including phasing of the project over a 10-year period of time. • Public hearings held. • Site selection determined. • • Funding alternatives evaluated. • Financing secured. • Proceed to construction. This, is a simplified version of the process that needs to take place so that we, as citizens are no longer reacting to this issue based on our emotions, but rather, on facts. This issue should be a win-win topic, not a win-lose. I believe that if anyone perceives this issue as a win-lose issue, it is truly a lose-Iose for Sanpete. Vern Fisher Spring City Taking issue with Rocky During recent anti-war rallies, Salt Lake City Mayor, Rocky Anderson, accused America of being at fault for the Iraq War because we sold Iraq the materials out of which Saddam's regime made chemical weapons to destroy the Kurds. The materials to make bombs and other weapons are in the world market. So, is the hardware person responsible for killing when he sells those things to an evil person? I know that whoever takes those materials and use them to kill instead of for other intended uses, is responsible for the killing. Saddam's regime is responsible for killing the Kurds not America. I became so angry at this outrageous accusation, particularly in light of his later claim to love America. The United Nations was set up to protect the world from an- other world war and leaders like Hitler. Rules of basic human rights were put in place. It is supposed to protect freedom and liberty. But, it has become an organization of power-hungry men who threaten the very things they were supposed to protect. When the U. N. failed to step up and protect the Iraqi people, our president had the integrity to do it. I support President Bush because he had a large group of highly educated Iraqis pleading for help to free their people. It was those people who were haying chemicals dropped on them, killing women and children jn the streets. Whole villages of people were being killed execution-style. Men, women and children were being murdered by Saddam's regime. If you don't know or believe this, you should learn more about the mass graves. Also, look at the enormous wealth of the Regime while the masses lived in extreme poverty. The U. N. has failed. I support a president that has the integrity to step past them and help protect the world from such atrocities. If you have family memb'ers fighting in this war, know that they are fighting a righteous cause. The Iraqi people need and want our help (remember their voting). Our troops are to be highly commended. Hang your head in shame only if you sit back and do nothing to stop such evil dominion over any people and let it go on unstopped and unpunished. I iove America! No halfmast flags in my yard. Hold your heads high troops. We love and appreciate you. Alice Leatham Manti Introducing IN OUR OPINION!! Let's leave it better than we found it Apparently, some of us could use a lesson in respect. Or, maybe we all need to do a better job of teaching our children about respect. Or maybe both. On May 31 the Sanpete Messenger published an article, "BusthV the Sanpete Summer Blues," which listed activities for Sanpete kids during summer vacation. One of the activities was swimming at Fayette Springs. The law of unintended consequences struck as that simple suggestion turned into a nightmare for the town of Fayette and for the local irrigation company, which ' owns the property on which the springs are located. >t. As described in a follow-up f- story on Aug. 2, 'There are broken :. beer bottles, cans and trash everywhere, and townspeople are : afraid to let their children go there alone." Someone even destroyed picnic |j tables, which had been constructed as an Eagle Scout project, by pulling them apart with a truck. Recently, we have received reports that local recreation clubs. THE FOR LETTERS-TO-THE-EDITDR EILEEN K. JACKSON, MD The Intermountain Ephraim ( Clinic is pleased co welcome Eileen K. Jackson, MD to. its staff of family practitioners. Dr. Jackson KAREN PRISBREY / MESSENGER PHOTO This picnic table, an Eagle Scout project at Fayette Spring was destroyed by vandals recently. is a graduate of the University of Utah School of Medicine, and served her residency at Utah Valley Family Practice Residency that regularly use the mountains surrounding our valley leave their campsites in horrendous condition. In one instance, a group left trash and debris (including feces), spray painted trees, and unnecessarily trampled trails and plants. Many Sanpete residents complain about government trying to restrict access to public lands. Let's hope the behavior of people who use the public lands doesn't provide justification for such restrictions. It boils down to some timehonored rules we should all remember when out and about anywhere in Sanpete County: this land is your land and my land; tread lightly; if you carry it in, you carry it out; and, leave it better than you found it. in Provo. She previously worked as both a registered nurse, and as an emergency medical technician. Dr. Jackson is now accepting new patients at the Intermountain Ephraim Clinic, 525 North Main. Appointments may be scheduled by calling 283-4076. Now accepting new patients. Most insurance plans accepted. Intermountairr Ephraim Clinic 525 North Main 283-4076 |