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Show PAGE 10 THE ZEPHYR AUGUST 1991 the council speaks an interview with dave bierschied Km Davey conducted an Intorvtaw with Councilman David Biarschiad. Tha Interview haa bam adltad for darlty md length. . ' Zaphyr: On tha dump: Tha city and county mat racanttv. and tha county told tha city to coma up with monav to halp run It or thav would walk away from It How did you foal about tha m eating? Dave: I felt a little bit Dka I waa dealing with my granddaughter, I felt Ilka I waa trying to get a point acroaa and people weren't going to Uatm. They were going to be obstinate about It. Tha only difference la that I don't think they, being tha county commission, really understand tha situation wall enough to be obadnate. Zephyr: The commission aava they cannot afford to run tha dump anymore by thamaelvea. Dave: They have m option. That is to create enough money to run IL If It costs money to run It and It Is worth It to the public, they will pay IL Zeohvr: City council members talked about setting up a apodal service district to tha dump. But many people In town are disturbed by tha growth of special service operate districts. How do you justify another one? Dave: Let's resolve tha whole situation of special service districts first Let's put them all under me, multi-us- e district with tha county commission being tha governing board. Than you now elect the board, you have control as s voter. And you don't have all the overhead, because you use the county dark and county people to operate the district You use the money from whatever source, whether It be road money, PILT money, to the most needed area. I'm suggesting not creating another board at this point, but put a sanitation district under an already existing special service road board that already has funding available, without taxing the public at all. Zephyr: What are the odds of such a district actually being formed? Dave: A. I have to bet on history, and the history is that there was s unanimous vote In 1988 to go to a special district The county, Jimmy Walker, Dutch Zimmerman apd David Knutson, didn't do it They used the excuse that it was too hard, and too difficult to get started. Yet they started two other special service tax districts, and have used up $600,000 worth of money, with PILT money for the equestrian center, and the road to VemaL I bet they won't do ft. I bet they will turn the dump over to us. And then I suppose we operate it the way we operate the sewer and water. And we will run It for the people who live inside the city. Those who live outside the city, we will take care of as best we can, whether they be from Salt Lake City, or Grand County. Zephyr: Can the city afford to run a dump? Dave: I don't think the city can not afford to run one. We have to provide the service, I feel obligated to do that If we have to go to the CIB, wherever, we will If we have to hire a contractor, whatever, we'll do what we have to do. Zephyr: On the sign ordinance: People with experience on sign ordinances other places told Moab that an ordinance will not work If existing signs that are too high or big are grandfathered, or allowed to continue. Yet the council has agreed to Include a grandfather clause In a future Moab sign ordinance. Why did you go against that advice? Dave: If indeed what you are trying to do is change your community overnight, yes, to get rid of grandfathering, you have to get rid of the signs. But I believe when have you the sign ordinance came to us in the beginning, It was just establishing something. People were coming into our community with businesses, and saying, "how big can a sign be?" And we had to say, "we don't know." So the council said, get an ordinance on the books. Well, that was taken all the way. The pendulum was swung all the way over. I believe Moab can live with the signs we have right now. I think if you talk to realtors, property changes hands so often. And it would be in the ordinance that as soon as h changes hands, It would have to conform to the ordinance. It wouldn't be that terrible to leave the signs we have. But we need an ordinance now, because if we don't there are going to be signs. And I don't believe we could an ordinance that doesnt pass grandfather. Zephyr: Where doea the powerline altuation stand right now? Dave: As far as I'm concerned, its time to go back and regroup. I prefer a substation along the main corridor, and work over the years to build Into the system, so there are two subatations here. It's more expensive, but were working it out Zephyr: You have said that you felt of the alternatives presented to the council, the best route was along 4th East Do you still believe that? Dave: If you are going to put an alternate line into the substation, I believe 4th East is the shortest, least affecting route to take. Now those people who live along 4th East won't agree. But others In the city will. I don't think there Is s good route. I don't think taking a powerline through the heart of your town, no matter which direction you go, Is good. Even the suggestion of coming down the highway, you would have a powerUne "tunnel" coming 56-fo- ot 2 south 1st west (801) 259-6666 COLORADO Restaurant & Bar OUTSTANDING SOUTHWESTERN CUISINE AND MOABS MUSIC SPOT all the way Into town, and once you broke off of the highway, going up over the Mils. And to m that would affect the town shell of a lot more than running along 4th EssL So there Isn't a good way to do H, but 4th east was the best Zeohvr: Do you think that win be the route eventually used? Dave: No, I don't believe there will be another line Into that substation. I believe there will be another substation built, and If s going maybe 20 years. Zachvr: So In the meantime, we'll only have one line In for decades? Dave: I believe Moab, at least for 10 years, will have one source of power. Zeohvr: The dtv council has abolished the property tax and Increased the local sales tax. What has bean the response from residents? Dave: I hate to disappoint you, but other than you, and Tony Lama, and some county residents who are mad because they felt they got ripped In the deal, nobody has said anything to me. So I have to assume that they accept ft. Zaphyr: Conflict! of interact or perceived confllctc. have been a big part of tha local news In 1991. You work for JJ. Wang. When he has made direct requests to the cftv. you have stepped down as a council member. But J J. la also one of the biggest property owners In Moab. and saved one of the biggest amounts of money when the council abolished the city property tax. Can you separate yourself as an employee and as an elected official? Dave: In any of the issues that have come up since my declaration of working for J J., ft has been fairly almple. I havent brought up the particulars of an Issue. I have only judged what is best for the community. So my decision was not weighted by working for J J. ft was weighted by what I thought waa right I don't fed my working for J has an effect on my dedslona. If ft's something particular to J J., such as a zoning Issue, I fed I would be In a conflict, and I just bow out But in general decisions, probably anytMng that affects business will affect J. J. the most, since he has the most business. I can't step out of every decision, whether Its the sign ordinance or the tax lasue, because of that Zeohvr: The city council voted themselves a pay Increase of $200 per month. What la your position on that? Dave: I was in favor of IL I think ft was In line. Do I feel that as a council person I earn the pay, yes. I spend a lot of time at city hall, I'm over administration and the executive as the council lislson. I don't think you get Into the Job of the council to earn a living, but you then shouldn't have to sacrifice everything. Zephvr: You raised the pay with no advanced notice. Shouldn't the council have J. dlscueeed It openly In meetings beforehand? Dave: ft was discussed In budget hearings, If people were there or not. I don't know If we should advertise it ft was s very small part of the budget process. Wechanged the pay of most of the city employees. Most people fed coundj pay Is token. I think bdng a council person is no longer a token Job, and there should be some compensation for ft. And as much as you affect the public with your decisions, I don't think you'll ever pay the members enough for the harassment and hassles you get I fed I earn It, and I have no problem with IL Zephvr: Should overnight rentals be allowed In residential neighborhoods? Dsve: No. Thst wss a mistake in the beginning. Zephyr: But there are some. Why are they allowed to continue? Dave: Because of pest dedsions that we can't go back and change. We should grandfather those people, call ft a mistake, and not allow It to happen anymore. Zephvr: What Is happening with the burned cut building on Main Street? Dave: We found out there is something called the uniform condemnation code, and we Just passed that Into law In the city. Now we will set up a condemnation board of 5 people, who cannot be city employees, where a person can come to If thdr property has been condemned. If they don't satisfy that board, then the city can act to demolish that building, In tills case, the Trading Post building. Zephyr: The building caught fire on New Years Day. 1 988. For the past 3 and a half years, all that time the dtv never realized they didn't have the power to do anything about ft? Dave: I don't know about the power, we probably could have pushed It through the courts, but ft makes it simpler If you set up something to take care of the situation. Zephyr: Why has It taken so long? Dave: Inept, we just are not good at condemning buildings. We don't know how to do IL We don't want to push people srouncL Zephyr: Should there be s height limitation on buildings In town? Dave: My view Is yes, I'd like to see It 4 stories or lower, because of our setting. Zephyr: Is the dtv going to annex surrounding areas? |