Volume' 8 Number 24 Serving Roy and northern Davis County Auditor t commissaoners BRYON SAXTON Lakeside Review staff FARMINGTON According to County Commissioner Harold Tippetts, Davis County government is being bruised by an ongoing exchange of allegations between the county commissioners and County Auditor Ruth Ken-ningto- n. Tippetts, who referred to the internal fight as more than that," said he believes Kenningtons effort to make their differences public has left Davis "County government taking some bruises. But Kennington maintains if county government has been given a black eye, its not because she made the differences public, rbut because there is a problem. Kennington, in recent letters to the press, has claimed Commissioners Tippetts and Glen Saunders have interfered with her job by removing two employees from her office. The employees, chief deputy auditor Lamar Holt and accountant Shirley Hansen, were reassigned four weeks ago by the commissioners in what they called a measure. We make changes all the cost-effecti- ve claim and said she believes the employee transfer seriously impedes and interferes with the shifts. ability of the auditors office. Tippetts said the action was Kennington said she intends taken because Kennington is not not to let the controversy rest unaccomplishing the mandates of til either Holt is brought back unher office. der her direction or a new The commissioner said he also employee is hired. believes there are political moSince taking office I have distives behind Kennington bringing covered that, for the most part, the matter before the public. internal controls in Davis County But Kennington disputes that government have been entirely time, Tippetts said. We felt we could accomplish a more effective government by making these i : Wednesday, June 15, 1988 J! inadequate to protect the taxpayer against waste and abuse of public funds, she said. And Jim Larsen, acting chief deputy for the county, agrees. Larsen said he believes Kenningtons proposed cost accounting audits pose a threat to the commissions ability to handle county operations they way they want It is a questioning of their actions that presents the threat he said. ons. Larsen, who has worked in the auditors office four years, said Kennington implemented a double check system because she believed the countys current procedures do not fit with the methods used by other county auditors. Larsen also referred to the commissioners accusation of the matter being politically motivated as their weapon at hand...and But, according to Tippetts, the difference of opinion surrounding Kenningtons job is political. Tippetts said Kennington was made aware of the move in April, but chose not to go public with her complaint until May 20, the day prior to the Davis County Republican Party convention. Tippetts narrowly defeated his Republican opponent Dub Lawrence by a 54 to 46 percent margin. 'Middleman' wants end to battle BRYON SAXTON Lakeside Review staff FARMINGTON No matter how it is resolved, the man in the middle of a county government dispute believes the sooner it can be settled, the better. Lamar Holt, former chief deputy for the Davis County auditors office, has found himself in the middle of a battle being waged verbally between the county auditor and the county commission. Holt, who referred to the dis- agreement between the two parties as communication frus tration, said four weeks ago he was reassigned from Auditor Ruth Kenningtons office to County Administrative Services. Holt said he believes the move was made by commissioners to make him more accessible to their needs and to allow them to avoid going through Kennington to use his services. However, ques-tion...a- claiming the move interferes with her job and she either wants Holt back, or wants permission to hire another auditor. Ruth has a situation that she Lakeside Review staff LAYTON The picturesque scene of youthful swimmers swinging freely on a rope suspended over a Still green pond is an image you could expect to commerfind on a summer soda-po- p cial. Holmes Creek Reservoir, private property but widely used, is a place of similar activity. However, the activity at the ol summer swimming hole near 1700 East Gentile hasnt always resulted in fun. At least once it resulted in death. Last week the reservoir, known also as Companys Pond, was the site of the Layton residrowning of dent Kenneth D. Yenaz. Yenaz, like many others who visit the pond, was swinging out over the water nd briefs ftSsws 4 N. Former councilman told 'no' on hearing Y 00 v 4 y on a rope suspended from a shoreline tree when he fell in, disappearing below the surface of the water. His body was recovered 40 minutes later and rushed by helicopter to Salt Lake LDS Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Layton Police Chief Doyle Talbot said the reservoir is located on private property and No Swimming signs are posted. Boating and rafting are also illegal at the stream-fe- d irrigation pond. Fishing is allowed. Talbot said the pond is under Layton Police jurisdiction, but is difficult to patrol because of its really tough location and because of lack of manpower and time. .... r t A 4 v " A former city councilLAYTON man who wanted to construct 72 apartment units was denied a public hearing on his request. Lynn Wood approached the planning commission for a blessing on his multifamily project on two and a half acres of ground located between the new library under construction on Wasatch Drive and the Layton Park Plaza on Gentile. The property has no frontage on a public street and Kays Creek runs through it as it leaves the Layton Commons park. At the planning commission meeting several neighbors expressed concern about the development and the impact on traffic in the area, view obstruction, and the proximity to the flood plain. The planning commission voted the project down. The City Council had the option to consider the matter further at another public hearing or not, and chose to follow the recommendation of the planning commission and deny the project by denying the public hearing. $ h a 5 f gv- i f i . i vv BRYON SAXTON Tippetts said there is no wrongdoing in county government; the matter is just a difference of opinion over the county auditors job description. But Kennington said she plans to continue the fight to get another employee. Meantime, both Tippetts and Kennington said they will wait for a job description for the auditors office requested from the state attorney general. The states definition of the county office, which was requested by Kennington, is expected to be received by next week. ar wimmin S said. needs resolved, Holt said, but and the commissioners theory of theyre (the commission) not go- the how the auditors office works ing to hire another person. are both workable. Holt, an eight-yeBut Holt believes it could be employee of the county, said he believes he some time before the situation is will not be returning to Kenninworked out. gtons office because on Monday Ruth has a very valid the county commission formally the commissioners transfered funds to Adminstrative think they have addressed that, Services from the auditors budquestion, he said. Either way, the man in the midget. He said the funds will pay saladle said he believes it is a misries for him and accountant Shirunderstanding that he hopes will was also Hansen. Hansen resolved to avoid further conbe ley moved from Kenningtons office. flict between the two offices, Holt said Kenningtons idea theyre reaching for their weap- - is Kennington The more I respond, the more he it becomes like a bonfire, t - - Y & y v v- "?. V - it w M I 4 A ' t K .Ws?i 'jT ' $ ' , - $3 f I fct . ; y Sunset celebration planned Saturday SUNSET Sunset Fun Day will be held Saturday, June 18, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sunset City Park. Residents and are welcome. Events will include: Family bike ride, 6 a.m.-- 7 a.m.; breakfast, 7 a.m-- 9 a.m.; a.m.; volleyball, 11 parade, 10 a.m.-l- l non-reside- a.m.-finis- h. Baby contest, noon-1:3- 0 p.m.; baby register, 11:45 a.m. noon; auction, 2 p.m. until all is sold; rides and food, 11:30 a.m.-- 4 p.m.; pie eating contest, 1:30 p.m.-- 2 p.m.; youth dance (stomp), 8:30 p.m.-- l 1:30 p.m. -- Syracuse will start Staff photo by Bruce Bennett Signs warn swimmers and boaters away from Holmes Reservoir. Visitor to Holmes Reservoir swings out over deep water where a young man recently drowned. 01 BRYON SAXTON Lakeside Review staff FARMINGTON The Davis Board of Education has approved a tentative $141 million budget that includes a 3.42 mill levy increase and no cost of living raise for district employees. The budget, reviewed last Tuesday by board members, lists hiring 35 fewer teachers for the coming school year and increasing class size by less than one pupil per room. Davis School District Superintendent Richard Kendell said the reduction in teachers and the mill levy increase is necessary in order to balance the 1988-8- 9 budget. The Davis District continues to be challenged by enrollment growth, requests for additional services, and limited revenue, Kendell said. The assessed valuation per student for the Davis District ($12,207) is the third lowest in the State... while the taxing effort in Davis County ranks ninth, he said. Reese Roberts, district accountant, said the 2.44 mill levy increase in the IT3t3(0 HI maintenance and operations budget is required by law to service the needs of the district. The mill levy increase in the debt service and capital outlay budget are required by Utah law to meet the districts bond obligations. In addition to the tax leeway, estimated to generate about $2 million, the district will also assess increased student fees both in the junior highs and high schools. and a high school athletic fee increase of $5 per person, per sport. School fees have been increased for several programs at the junior high school and high school levels, Kendell said. Most notable are fees at the junior high level for textbooks, activities and make-u- p credit. The Davis superintendent said other measures being taken by the district to balance the budget include targeting several programs to become fully g. The fee adjustments include a $20 textbook fee for all junior high students Examples include adult See SCHOOL, page 2A High school fees rise to balance budget BRYON SAXTON Lakeside Review staff FARMINGTON The Davis Board of Education in an effort to balance the school district budget for the J 988-8- 9 school year has proposed increasing high school student fees for athletic participation and summer school. The board, which last month adjusted junior high fees and approved them Tuesday, proposed the high school fees be considered for final approval at the June 14 meeting. Davis Assistant Superintendent Steve Ronncnkamp said school fees the board has proposed to be increased include the cost for make-u- p classes, summer school classes and athletic participation. Ronnenkamp said classes for make-u- p credit will go up $5, from $40 to $45, while the cost of summer school classes 5 will jump from to $20 to $60. Materials for the classes will be extra. Other proposed fees include a $5 in- $15-$3- Robert Ahrensbach, Syracuse City to organize and implement a safety program for the city as part of his responsibilities as safety director. He compiled and edited a safety manual for city employees. He was instrumental in forming a safety committee which meets on a monthly basis to maintain a close awareness on the safety needs of Syracuse. SYRACUSE 1861 W. 550 N., was asked by On the agenda The Syracuse City Council will hold a public hearing on June 28 at 7:30 p.m. to consider the budget for the fiscal year 1988-8Preliminary calculations indicate that a tax increase will not be 9. needed. Interested persons are welcome. Best quote crease (from $30 to $35) in every major high school sport and a $10 increase (from $15 to $25) for cross country, golf and boys and girls tennis. The only sport not to sustain an city safety program in- crease is gymnastics which will remain at $30. 'As is usually the case, it was all coaching Layton Basketball Coach Stan Buchanan on honors given his state championship team