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Show Volume 31, Number 17 Thursday, May 29, Council Divided On Police, Fire Proposal 1986 A Green Sheet Publication - Citizen Demands Met On Merger Issne by Ralph H. Goff Green Sheet Staff Writer Clayton Dumas testified during a on the issue. Without support, its destined to public hearing WEST VALLEY. I cant recall an issue Ive agonized over more in all my years on the council, Claude Jones told fellow members of the City Council here Thursday. The idea lacks the support of the police, the firefighters and the citizens of West Valley City, fail. His words proved prophetic when, after more than two hours, the counto turn down a proposed cil voted ordinance which would have com4-- 3 bined police and fire services into a single public safety department. Im relieved its finally over with, Police Chief David C. Campbell commented following the vote. Its been a rough couple of mon- ths. For the second week in a row, Mayor Mike Embley again found himself casting a pivotal vote when he joined Councilmen Jones, Janice Fisher and Leland DeLange in rejecting the proposal. Councilmen Pete Winder, Duane Moss and Brent Anderson supported the measure. City Manager John Newman had spent nearly an hour and a half attempting to convince both the council and the overflow audience crowded into council chambers for a public hearing on the issue. Ignoring protocol, he addressed the audience directly in his sometimes emotional appeal for merging the two departments. Newman explained the council had conducted closed-doo- r sessions investigating allegations of sex, pornography and drinking on the job in city fire stations, pointing out the issue had been kept quiet so as not to embarrass anyone. The council, he assured them, now had the situation under control. Newman polled the audience on specific objections to the merger and then, using visual aids and citing statistics, he attempted to meet or answer each one. Catcalls Addressing objections to the merger of fire and police services one by BY SHOW OF HANDS . . . asks citizens indicate specific reasons for their attendance. one, City Manager John Newman The MAGNA. graves of 17 the veterans American flags' placed desecrated here in Pleasant Green Cemetery over the Memorial Day weekend. Earl Clegg, World War II veteran who has been involved in the American Legion . flag program since 1947, said of the 47 flags posed on the graves of veterans, 17 were broken in half and trampled in the dirt. Clegg said that in all the years the American Legion has carried out the project, there has never been such an incident before. "This custom has been going on since the first Legionnaire was buried there after World War I, Clegg said. "And in all those years, we may have had one or two flags that came up missing, but there was no outright desecration of the national symbol of freedom. "It is not the expense of replacing the flags that disturbs me, he continued, "but the fact that someone would have so little respect for both The Green Sheets weekly TV log was not available for publication when press time arrived for the May 29 edition. The Green Sheet regrets the inconvenience this may cause readers, anticipating regular use of this feature in future editions. WV Days - ' Clegg went on to say that he felt so deeply about the vandalism because he, like thousands of other young men, had fought for this countrys freedom. "I served in the Army for four years, he said, and I even shed some of my blood for this country when I was wounded in Germany, so it is inconceivable to me that now in this generation, someone should hold that freedom so lightly that they degrade the very thing we fought for. The County Sheriff's office is now investigating the incident and requests that anyone having any information about the vandalism contact the department, Anyone having a veteran buried in the cemetery whose grave has not been decorated with a flag on Memorial Day is being asked to contact Earl Clegg, 535-706- 'No' To Drugs Sorry! - Room For More, Says Chairman WEST VALLEY. Participation is continuing to grow in next months West Valley Days celebration, according to Bill Barton, general chairman. He is encouraging area residents to contact committee leaders as early as possible to make reservations for such things as food and game booths, the entertainment program and a spot in the parade. Persons wishing to make reservations or obtain additional information may call: Verla Nielson, food and game booths; Gloria entemtainment; Johnson, Don Johnson, parade; prize donaGeorge Floor, Ugly tions; Gene Guthrie, Truck Contest; Karen Leftwich, general information and other contests, including a golf tournament, bicycle race, 10K race, chess tournament and bowling tournament. The celebration, with much of the activity taking place in Granger park between dawn and darkness on June 28, will also include the Miss West Valley Pageant the night before at Granger high. 966-237- 969-615- 968-989- 968-012- 974-550- 1, GRANGER. A debate on whether to establish a state lottery in Utah will be conducted here tonight (Thursday) under sponsorship of the who lie buried there veterans were disturbed, .and. andthe AmericanTlag.-- to State Lottery Debate Is Set Tonight Vandals Wreak Havoc At Graves Of Magna Veterans Granger Lions club. ..The. issue will, be aired during a session starting at 7:30 p.m. in the music room at Granger high. Taking opposite sides of the issue will be State Representative Arlo James and State Senator Brent Overson. See related story and murmurings, however, increased as Newman presented his case. Lets cut out the smokescreen, one citizen yelled from the crowd. Lets get this over with and get out of here. Dumas was one of six citizens who had requested time to address the issue prior to the hearing. I believe the citizens of West Valley should have a right to express their feelings on issues that affect them, Nancy Earl told council members while presenting a petition against the merger carrying more than 3,000 signatures. She asked the council to explore on page 12. James will address the issue in favor of a state-ru- n lottery, having introduced legislation in the 1986 session that would amend the state constitution to allow such lotteries. The measure was defeated by a substantial margin. Taking the opposing view will be Overson, who led opposition to the proposed legislation in the Senate. Time will be allowed for questions from the audience, according to Bill Barton, Lions club president. Information about the evenings program may be obtained by calling Keith Tracy, 968-836- by Ralph H. Goff Green Sheet Staff Writer WEST An initiative VALLEY. petition which would put the question of constructing a new city hall in Granger park on the November ballot was filed with the City Recorder this week. Signatures are being sought until June 4, according to Marna Lutton, one of the five organizers of Citizens to Save Granger Park (CSGP). The group has been formed to stop the building of a new city hall faciltiy in the park and a petition to place the issue on the November ballot will be circulating this week, she said. Mrs Lutton pointed out there are several reasons for opposing the Granger park site, but stressed the need for parks and open areas in one of the most densely populated cities in the state as of primary concern. The initiative petition process was designed so that citizens can initiate their own laws, CSGP at - Issues Advice SALT LAKE. The message was loud and clear - Just Say No Learning to say no to drugs was the idea Utahs First Lady Colleen Bangerter tried to get across Thurs- torney Stan Beutler explained. Probably the most famous initiative was Proposition 13 which passed in California a few years ago. An initiative petition, he said, differs from a referendum in that it does not challenge a law or resolution already enacted by a government body, but the citizens themselves initiate their own law or resolution, and thats exactly what were doing here, he said. The Utah code excludes zoning ordinances from the initiative and referendum process through its definition of the word measure, he noted, "and in order for an initiative or referendum petition to be valid, it must be a measure. By going this route, were not challenging the zoning ordinance per se. What we are challenging is the original decision by the City Council to build city hall in Granger park. There have been several steps in the process so far. The final step was the City Council overturning the City Planning Commissions denial of a conditional use permit for the Granger park site. Granted, there is a zoning issue there, but were not basing our challenge on the zoning ordinance or on that particular action by the City Council, Beutler said, but only on the resolution to build city hall in Granger park. Beutler explained that City Attorney Paul Morris has checked over the language of the petition and authorized its circulation within the city. In order to have the measure considered on the November ballot, . By UTA Director ! day as she symbolically tied the ends of a knotted ribbon on the steps of the State Capitol. Joining her in the ribbon rite were about 300 elementary, junior high and high school students from throughout the state, including the entire John F. Kennedy junior high marching band. Lt. Gov. Val Oveson began the ceremony by reading a resolution by the State Legislature declaring Thursday as Red Ribbon Day in Utah to heighten public awareness a of drug problems in the state resolution echoed by most local jurisdictions. Red ribbons lined both sides of Salt Lakes Main Street from South Temple to 400 South in observance of the event. College football players and other local celebrities joined the First Lady in delivering the antidrug message to the students. They told the youngsters to stand up for themselves and say no to peers who try to talk them into using drugs. A similar message was also delivered by the nations First Lady, Nancy Reagan, on the steps of the White House that same day. "Just Say Nq clubs are organizing throughout the country to counter the drug problem nationwide. Mrs. Bangerter said she is proud of those students participating in the movement in the Beehive State. Questioning the idea of crosstraining officers to perform one anothers functions, Caughey said he did not believe a public safety officer could have the experience necessary to do either job well. I strongly oppose the PSO (public Jack safety officer) concept, Shober testified. I believe if this is accepted, morale will go down and service will be diminished. A lot of scare tactics have been used on this issue, William Earl told the council. You just saw the citizens tricked in verbal discushe said in reference to sion, Newmans presentation. Im firmly convinced weve approached this in entirely the wrong way. Im afraid we have a tendency to add chiefs and eliminate Indians, Jay Bowen explained concerning his objections to the proposal. I have to admit I was happy, to see all the bright orange signs when I came back to town, Mayor Embley told council members. Its good to see people active and doing something. When it became apparent the city Continued on page 13 ... EMOTIONAL City Manager John Newman reacts to Thursdays events. Petitioners Seek Support For Vote On City Hall 1st Lady -- fire the option of a county-wid- e district rather than compromising citizen safety with a public safety department. There has been so much apathy about our government, Im glad to see an issue like this come along. Im really glad to see so many people here, Ted Caughey told the council. Thanks for finally getting something that gets people so excited to get them all here. the group has until June 9 to obtain enough signatures to qualify the resolution for the election process. My opinion is after the City Council sees the signatures, theyll reconsider the issue, Beutler said, but if they decide to go ahead with the Granger park site, well seek an injunction to prevent any construction prior to the November 4th election. The resolution opposing the construction of West Valley city hall at Granger park reads, in part, that at no time now or in the future shall or other public a City Hall building be built on what is known as Granger park. According to the legal timetable, Morris explained, CSGP has until 5 p.m. on June 4 to collect signatures and submit the petition to the city, after which the city has until July 1 to verify that those who signed are registered voters in West Valley Ci- ... ty- Once the signatures are verified, the City Council then has 30 days to either accept or reject the resolution. If its rejected, they have the option of adding an alternative measure to the ballot in addition to the CSGP resolution before it goes to the voters Nov. 4. If they accept it, theres no need for a vote, Morris noted. Legally, there is no reason to stop the groundbreaking ceremony slated for June 28 to coincide with West Valley Days, Morris said, but for political or other reasons they might put it on hold. Ill do what the council tells me to Continued on page 13 - City Budget Is Praised WEST VALLEY. The City Council here heard only one speaker Thursday night before adopting an annual budget totalling nearly $26 million. Jack Olson, executive secretary of the Utah Taxpayers Assn., told the council his organization was pleased with the budget because it does not raise taxes in spite of the loss of federal revenue sharing funds. Almost without exception, cities have had substantial tax increases this year, Olson told the council. Like everyone else, youre losing federal revenue sharing and youre still not raising taxes. Its a good budget and a tight budget. We feel really good about that. The 1986-8- 7 budget is based on this - years levy of 7.97 mills, City Finance Director Russ Sanderson explained. A $1.5 million shortfall caused by the loss of federal funds is being made up by transferring capital improvement funds to the general fund budget. A new taxing structure adopted by the State Legislature this year eliminates the mill levy from the computation, but the citys certified tax rate percentage which will be issued by the county next week should yield the same results as if that mill levy were still in place, he said. Whether taxes are figured on a percentage or in mills, people can expect the end results to be the same, he said. Reward Offered After Bank Hit Utah' First Lady Colloon Bangortor said tho Is proud of tho youngsters participating In tho Just Say No campaign. Mrs. Bangortor joined about 300 youngsters Thursday on the steps of rite symbolizing the observance of the State Capitol for a ribbon-tyinsubstance abuse awareness week in the state. PROUD . . . anti-dru- g g WEST VALLEY., The Utah Bankers Assn, is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to identification of the person who robbed a bank here Thursday, according to West Valley police. The robber entered the Valley Bank at 4090 So. 4800 West about 10:50 a.m., walked to a tellers window and demanded money. While no weapon was actually observed, the man kept his hand in his jacket pocket throughout the incident. He took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled through the banks north door. He was described as a white male, tall with dark curly hair. He was wearing a red baseball cap and wearing a tan and brown nylon jacket at the time of the inci- |