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Show rn f iw nu.l uu vwwi u nw, w v, wi i vwi In Garys Opinion Negotiations At Stalemate Between DEA, Administration At least four times within the last few months Salt Lake televi- sion stations have responded "unethically pening in Davis County. squeeze. FARMINGTON - Attempts at hammering out teacher contract negotiations have been underway at a high clip for the past month, and now it's time to options on both sides and continue -- on top of slim pickins, is added to the picture by potential loss of up to $500,000 that went for students livof taxes not ing on base as paid by federal installations. Beyond that, $240,000 will be lost in a change in enrollment-attendancaccounting procedures by the state. Most of the states 40 school districts are trying to offer packages a bit above that four percent, Mr. Burningham said, with small Park City District looking at 15 percent as are other districts where a voted leeway tax was recently imposed, all offering substantially more in that same league. Provo, for instance, is looking at a 10 percent basic increase for all teachers, he added. u THATS THE assessment by three Davis Education Assoc, officials in discussing the yearly round of negotiations now being studied along with the board of education and administrators. e, it We've been meeting rather vigorously for the last month, former DEA Pres. Dave King said, while Executive Secretary Dee Burningham calls current action time to take a good hard look at the budget. ITS BEEN an effort on both h understand there are perplexities as to whats available and where it will do the most good, said incoming Pres. Delbert Francom, an elementary sides--bot- NOTING THE mood of teachers, Mr. King said, our teachers have to look at something positive this year that comes closer to taking care of the cost of living. Their expectations and stress level are so high for any teacher there has to be some incentive pro- teacher at South Clearfield Elementary School. Maybe we need to stop and think, look at priorities, both sides of the issue, he continued, with all three agreeing the picture right now doesnt look too bright in the eyes of teachers. vided. Asked about the teacher flight thats drawn so-call- ed many into other fields, Mr. King said, I think a lot of teachers are waiting to see. We may not know until next fall how many teachers may throw in the towel. d THE LEGISLATURE hasnt much too fare, tantalizing up g his year, the trio explained, enough for a four percent ost of living increase--a- t least, 'hose monies are separate from career ladder funds ny nat will, at best, give some extra toney to probably only 10 percent f the teachers, and that for extra 'ork. And while all three said teachers re happy with the ontract that means more on their ay checks, that again is only for ork being done and doesnt increases, for dis-le- pro-idin- THE END of such concerns hasnt been reached, though, Mr. so-call-ed er re-e- ct (stance. ITS NOT easy for teachers to rget the zero percent salary allocated by the Legisla-ire-and passed on by a school district, when t. index rose by six This year, that indicator is cpected to climb another four Mr. Burningham said, but so r, the district cant see beyond a ree percent salary increase. I think in a lot of regards were istrict) running on a pretty lean ogram, Mr. King, a Davis High ;hool instructor, said. 1 think hat we have (offered in schools) in response to what the publics anted. 1 think the district made se d hap- OR I SHOULD say, news events they "thought were happening in Davis County. The reason they thought they were happening is because they didnt take the time or effort to check out the Burningham opined. The crisis in education has not reached its peak yet. Basic money for education has really not turned around in Utah. Weve (Legislature) made a very small effort. The ability of education to attract a large number of capable people hasnt been resolved at all. And with the tight financial straight-jackimposed on the district, that makes the picture even less rosy, compared with Utahs dubious distinction of paying out the least amount per pupil of any state. I think the electronic media have their place in the world of news - right along side the print media. But I also feel that television stations have the same responsibility to the public as do the newspapers. -- - several newscasters are my I LIKE THE electronic media personal friends - but I believe that on occasion, not always, by any means, they do not check out their facts either before they respond to a news story or after they have filmed the event and go on the air. Here are some examples of which 1 am personally familiar, without mentioning any station by name: -- MOST RECENTLY a Salt Lake TV station went on the air with a newscast that something irregular could be happening in Layton. First, I thought it was just a teaser and that the regular newscast would include information substantiating their opening statements. BUT THEY had no facts. They went on the air saying that an investigation is underway into citizen allegations that there may be some wrongdoing in local government. They added that no charges have been filed nor had any city official been named. financial--strappe- per-:n- AND THE money crunch comes in a district where patrons expectations are as high or higher than per-:n- t, elsewhere-th- ey probably demand more- -I think were both trying our very best, Mr. King said. As both sides sift through the options, the clock will probably tick for at least another month, Mr. Burningham estimated. Last year e contracts were signed in and its been a few years since they were consumated before school let out for summer recess. mid-Jun- - because they were summoned by a citizen -the station responded and aired the newscast. Immediately, the entire city council and all city employees were placed in a situation of being suspected of wrongdoing. Centerville Mayor Neil Blackburn was blackballed by a group of angry citizens who called him a dictator who is not willing to listen to the public. ON THIS BASIS HE WAS EXPOSED by a local television station which allowed an angry resident to say anything he pleased about the mayor. Even though the mayor was cleared of all allegations against him, his character had already been defamed because a TV station had allowed one citizen to appear on its station and make unsubstantiated accusations against a city official. BOUNTIFUL HAS been in the television (and newspaper) limelight a lot lately, and rightfully so. There are a lot of things happening. But the things that didnt happen - but for which Bountiful officials were unjustly blamed - included a TV report about lack of fencing along its natural creek channels and an accusation that -- the burden of dealing with current problems of inequality of levels between the north and south portions of the lake. LAYTON -- - The Layton Kiwanis Club meeting at the Family Tree Restaurant for their regular Saturday breakfast meeting on June 2 heard Franklin Knowlton, local legislator, speak on the flooding problem around the Great Salt Lake and elsewhere in the state of Utah. RECENTLY AS lake levels have risen the proposal to pump late water out to the west desert have been discussed. To date the potential problems have discouraged pursuit of this option. ONE YEAR ago- the Governor met with several legislative leaders and proposed breaking the Southern Pacific causeway. The legislative leaders were concerned about potential liabilities. - The legislature has appropriated emergency funds for dredging the Jordan River.- About $6,000 has been spent to date for that purpose. In the past the local government units have assumed partial responsibility for maintenance and control of the river and other similar flooding problems. Now local governments are attempting to turn this responsibility over to the state. - ' Tues. 6:00 P.M. TELEVISING these reports were, to me, a clearcut case of not the word of irate citizens. checking the facts but merely taking TV the for reporters to have found so It would have been easy channels out why there was no fencing along the concrete-line- d thus, giving both sides of the story. - a INSTEAD, THE telecast was one of emotion of Bountiful his little grandchild resident who lives near the stream holding and the newscaster saying that without proper fencing, surely there would be little ones, just like the one pictured, who would be swept downstream and into a culvert. it is still my contention Fortunately, this has not happened. But that the TV report should have based its telecast on something more than emotion. Why didnt they talk to city officials and find out why fences were not immediately installed? ANOTHER NEWSCAST, also relating to Bountifuls runoff concrete-line- d preparations, stated that Bountiful had all those basins. detention no but channels, This information was presented by a TV weathercaster, and a darn good one, who just didnt get complete information and as a result had an erroneous report. weathercaster admitted that he CONTACTED LATER,-th- e was not aware that Bountiful had detention basins and appolo-gize- d for not getting the complete story. I realize, and respect, the importance of TV stations being first with the most and the extreme pressure under which they work. AND I REALIZE, too, that the electronic media are not the only ones making mistakes and not getting the full story. We of the entire news media are at fault and need constant improve-men- Lets give it our best - especially when it comes to the possibility of defaming a person, especially an elected official, and lets give less credibility to irate citizens who call and want to get something off their chest. -- LETS MAKE certain that the information they give is substantiated with facts. Lets protect the rights of others - especially those being unjustly accused! AND WHEN both sides of the story are available, every effort should be made to present both sides. In Bountiful recently, one television station aired the dilemma of a young couple the station reporter said was being forced out of business to make room for city redevelopment. -- THE PROPERTY owner was interviewed and he explained the circumstances behind the young business couple having to relocate because of a redevelopment project. But this was not aired, at the time of the original story or later. - WHAT EVER happened to fair time television? MR. KNOWLTON reported that he has not voted in favor of the breach of the causeway for two reasons: (1) he believes the primary beneficiary of the breach would be the railroad and he believes the railroad has primary responsibility for solving the causeway problem and (2) the breach will probably only lower the south area of the lake seven inches, an insignificant part of the overall problem. timely done. The actual construction work on the causeway bridge structure has been completed and the causeway will soon be breached unless a court action stops such procedure. The legislature has been squeezed the past two years between demands for higher appropriations for schools and flood control on the one hand and demands for holding the line on tax increases from taxpayers. The property tax rollback for homeowners which was exacted a few years ago was held to be unconstitutional by the Utah Supreme Court. The' probable result has been a dramatic shift in the tax burden away from business and to homeowners. The He also opposes the pumping program because its feasability is questionable and because it would apparently affect the overall level of the lake by less than one foot. THE PRESENT agreement with the railroad provides for the railroad to do the construction work for the breach at a cost to the state of $3.6 million. Mr. Knowlton is unhappy with this arrangement because he believes the cost is excessive and the plans for the construction work were not carefully or legislature has met in special session and adopted special legislation to ameliorate the results of the Supreme Court decision. Garbage Bum Plants A New Breath By GARY R. BLODGETT Clipper News Editor BOUNTIFUL - After three years of feuding and fussing, the proposed Davis County Resource Recovery (Bum) Plant may have a new breath of life. AT LEAST theres an attempt to revive life to the controversial facility that had been proposed for construction adjacent to Hill Air Force Base in Clearfield. The revival process came to light at a meeting of the Bay Area Refuge Disposal (BARD) board of directors last Tuesday night. Layton was the first to withdraw from the project and Clearfield City Council also voted to deny the project - making four large communities against the bum plant proposal. CLEARFIELDS decision did more than join with the other cities in opposition, it also voided an earlier approval by the City Planning and Zoning Commission for a conditional use permit which would allow construction of the $54 million facility. At least for the time being, there is no "home for the plant - even if Bountiful, Layton, Clearfield and Centerville councils change their vote. -- THEN THERE would be the additional operbecause of the hauling cost inating cost volved - of an additional $6 per ton. But if all communities participate, according to Mr. Jefferies, the initial tipping fee would be about $7.50, instead of $9.50 per ton as previously proposed. would reach capacity within a few years and that a provision could be made that if Bountiful then wanted out and build its own plant, to serve only Bountiful or south Davis County communities, this could probably be arranged in the agreement. THE REDUCTION of the tipping fee and the added cost of hauling would result in a total tipping fee of approximately $13.50 per ton the first year. This compares to about $9.50 per ton tipping fee for the originally proposed plant. The new, revised figures are based on a scaled down 400-toper day facility, said Mr. Jefferies. all the cities --- especially those that opposed the first project and be certain that the county is - -- BUT FIRST we need to know the intent of - unified, said Mr. Jefferies. There would be no need to go outside the n county for garbage with a plant, he said. But there would also be little, if any growth capability. 400-to- ns AT THE MEETING of the mayors of south Davis County, Wil Jefferies, executive director of Wasatch Front Regional Council, explained to the BARD board that it might be possible for developers of the plant Systems, Inc.) to build a transfer station in south Davis County. The transfer station, he said, would enable to picklarge trucks operated by up the debris at the transfer station and haul it to the plant site where ever that might be. (Katy-Seghe- rs S BUT officials say they are not about to give up, not until all avenues are KATY-SEGHER- explored. One of those avenues (alternatives) is to provide a transfer station for south Davis County communities - in an attempt to pacify Bountiful and Centervilles opposition to the excessive hauling costs. Katy-Seghe- rs - THE ADDITIONAL cost of hauling garbage from south Davis County to the proposed plant was the primary reason Bountiful and Centerville city councils denied the project a month or so ago. BUT EVEN with the. proposed transfer sta- tion, there would still be additional tipping costs cost per ton to have garbage delivered to the plant and disposed of. For example, it would cost about 65 cents per household per month for cost of building the transfer station - an estimated $250,000 pro-rate- d t. F. Knowlton Addresses Kiwanis Subsequent research disclosed that the original causeway right of way agreement between the state and the railroad provided a hold harmless clause which placed the burden on the railroad to correct or prevent damages resulting from the causeway. It has consequently been decided that at least a part of DISPLAY AD DEADLINE it -- et cost-of-livi- to news events facts. UNCERTAINTY, working. the city was not fully prepared for the spring runoff because had concrete lined creeks but no debris basins. By GARY R. BLODGETT Clipper News Editor some fairly major efforts at costsaving, he added, noting empathy on both sides for the tight financial By TOM BUSSELBERG North County Editor salary-benef- IsTW'j. - over 20 years. HE SAID the proposed plant is no longer being considered because it no longer appears possible that the plant could sell electrical power to Utah Power and Light Company. Sale of the steam, however, is still being considered but only if the plant is located in a very close proximity to Hill Air Force Base. BASE OFFICIALS are still interested in the d purchase of steam even though a large steam plant is being constructed on the base, Mr. Jefferies told the BARD board. Mr. Jefferies said that with the plant and all cities participating, the plant coal-fire- ay UNDER THE new proposal, as before, the developers and operators of the plant would also operate BARD as a sterile landfill. BARD chairman Robert Palmquist urged BARD members to pursue the project by finding out what the opposition cities are willing to do. If Bountiful would come back, the issue would not be dead, he said. PROPONENTS of the plant said there are no other logical sites for the facility if the steam generated by the plant is to be sold to Hill AFB. which voted 0 Thus, Clearfield Council against the plant would have to change their minds. A New York banker, representing said a decision must be reached in 60 to 90 days, or forget it. . - - 5-- Katy-Segher- s, |