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Show SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS Opinion Letters Continued from Page 4 Resort, and thank you for the book, Callie S., its helped me out a lot. Another very special thanks to N ancy and Margaret who have been there for every need that might come up. Thanks and love to you all. Mark R. Kissick On the Coral Cliffs golf course Keith McAllister, city manager; Viv Adams, mayor; Kanab City Council Dear Editor: Three years ago my wife and I bought a lot on Coral Cliffs Golf Course. At that time the golf course was in very good condition. We were told it was planned to build the back nine in two years. We planned to build a new home on this lot when we retired. We have retired and have come here to make sure this plan was good for us. We are very concerned about the condition of the course. It has deteriorated even in this short time. The grass on the fairways no longer reaches the property line of the lot owners. Unless you are a real good golfer, your ball is on red clay a lot of the time. On any other golf course, this is considered ground under repair, and you are required to drop your ball outside the repair area. The grass is 10 to 15yards short of the out ofbounds posts which create the same situation. The sand traps are clay instead of sand. This would be acceptable ifthey weredugup regularly, which they are not. This leaves them very hard which defeats their purpose in golf. The sprinkler system has a lot of leaky valves which causes To: r ! WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 6, 1995 swamp areas on the fairways. An abandoned pickup rests on the edge of the parking lot at the club house. The parking lot has not been paved like we were told it would be. Gravel has been dumped on the parking lot and left in piles. Golf is not being promoted to any great extent in Kanab. There are many ways to make the experience of golf more enjoyable that would not cost much, such as informal tournaments once a week on ladys day, mens day, or even couples day. At the course a small trophy could be passed on to a new winner each time. A youth program could be implemented, etc. Keep in mind we dont need a world-clas- s golf course in Kanab. We just think it would make investors and potential investors more comfortable if we meet certain standards. We just want to be sure the city will follow through and keep the course Guest Editorial Looming affordable housing crisis dren and grandchildren to own attacking the problem on sevBy John Milchick, Jr. U.S. Dept, of Housing and a home in our neighborhood. eral fronts. First, the Urban Development With each action that we take to Departments programs are tarAs the new State Coordinator ban apartments, increase lot geted to those not adequately for the United States Depart: sizes and demand fancy addi- served by private industry proment of Housing and Urban tions to newly constructed grams. An example of this would Development, I relocated my homes, we make it harder and be the FHA home loan insurance program, where a family family from Michigan to the Salt harder to own a home. Lake area. While searching for a There was a time when our can purchase a home with less rental to meet our immediate children lived down the street than five percent down payment. needs and a home to purchase and our cousins on the next block. Next, the Department forms for our permanent residence, I Our next door neighbor was the partnerships with private indusbecame acutely aware of the local cop or a firefighter, or a try organizations at the national potential for crisis in the area of school teacher. And, these were and local levels to effect changes affordable housing. Home prices have continued on a sustained significant rise over a several year period. And, it is likely that the attention and subsequent economic development spawned by the coming (2002) Winter Olympics, will be open. cause for the trend to continue. If the course is allowed to deit appears that teriorate further or ever remain Unfortunately, are not keeping pace with in its present condition, it will wages home prices. What this means is leave people who bought lots or that the family with an average built homes in a bad position. income cant come close to buyIn the meantime, our proping the average home. erty taxes continue to rise beThere are more reasons than cause of the potential of the golf the substantial growth and ecocourse. We would not have pur- nomic development in Utah. chased the lot if not for a golf of the causes are course in good repair and nine Many In the name of protectmore holes in the future. We own values in our believe these matters should be ing property we have ignored looked into and some corrections communities, the fact that we are making it made. This is not to say the golf for our chil- course has to be expanded in an nearly impossible untimely manner just to appease us. There is a time for everything, and we want to believe it will happen in the due course. self-inflicte-d. Craig Smiley Nyla Smiley Ever notice that when you reach a certain age, everything you have seems to wear out, spread out or fall out? Sunday Mon &Tues Wed&Thur Fri & Sat 8 a.m. to 7 a.m. to 7 a.m. to 7 a.m. to Dinner 2 p.m. 2 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 9 p.m. We have gourmet coffees, mulled cider, hot chocolate drinks. Also try our mouthwatering and other warm-you-u- p pastries, muffins, pies, cookies & cakes. Brine in this ad for 15 Off our Fresh Soup & Salad Bar! 93 W. Center Kanab 644-884- which will ultimately make housing more affordable for everyone. The national home ownership strategy for example, partners HUD with home builders, lenders, realtors, agencies and many others in an effort to boost the rate of home ownership to record levels by non-prof- it the year 2000. If we in Utah are going to adequately address this growing problem, mayors, city managers, city planners, etc. must begin to work with each other to find solutions to these problems. Government at all levels, city, county, state and federal must cooperate in support of local efforts. Citizens must get involved to let their hood? officials know that they feel afThe U.S. Department of Hous- fordable housing is an important ing and Urban Development, led issue. This problem will not get by Secretary Henry Cisneros, is better on its own. ANNUAL HOLIDAY SALE featuring... We'll be open all winter! Hours: communities that cared about each other and looked out for each other. No more! The cop and the teacher cannot afford the house next door and so they live in another community and commute to work. Is it any wonder that so many of what was once the backbone of our community seems to care so much less today? Its not their community any more. Worst of all, its going to get much worse unless we start to do something about it. Every home owner (and local official) should ask themselves this one question and ponder the honest answer... will my children or grandchildren be able to afford a home in my neighbor- Nature's Showcase & Western HiCCs IBestt Efanemidls - serving Breakfast , Lunch & I Everything in the Store through December 24 This year give Mother Nature's Most Beautiful Gift 288 West Center - Kanab - 644-239- 6 3 I J |