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Show Te ALL | 1 COURIER - Wasatch PAGE 4 County’s Source Politicians Honest An Open, Public Government everal weeks ago someone told me (and I paraphrase), “I wish you guys would just Yor years Wasatch County has been governed with a nod and a handshake. When it was a small county with no quit muckraking and concentrate on the wonderful things we are trying to do here. If you would just focus on the positive, sian would be fine.” I have one thing to say in response, “We did not create the muck, we are just trying to clean it up.” money, this may have been the most efficient way to conduct business. But now that the county has multi-million dollar budgets, it would be wise to impose professional standards upon its leaders. When people from not so-wealthy communities like Wasatch County are given lots of power, there is always the temptation it. My goal is to report things the way they really are. _as a result, I am an unknown factor in county politics. So for the record, I would like to state what my philosophy is as a reporter. 1. People have a meee to know about their increases the costs to taxpayers dramatically. A few thousand here, a few thousand there, adds up pretty quickly. By their very nature, nods and handshakes aren’t open to past problems in government should under the bridge. I agree to a certain if someone committed a crime or an act against the people, I feel it is my The architectural contract for the new fire station was not had already In theory, the counlowest since scratch like other We’ Il never know for sure-whether this would have been the case since Design West never had any competition for the con- tract. There may have been other firms in Salt Lake or Utah County that had similar designs in their files who could have , The laws on the books are designed to protect the citizens of Wasatch County. Politicians may think they can get a better deal by doing some things in private, but we don’t. And neither did the Founding Fathers. Obey the laws and maybe the citizens of this county will once again develop some trust in their government. _ By SAM ALLEN Courmr Poumcat Cotumnist | 7 news items without informing their readers of be water degree. But unethical duty to what principles guide their decisions. As a result 3 readers often accuse the media of having a hid-. den agenda. eh = My goal is to be upfront with my opinions in ‘my columns and then do my best to report things the way they really are in my news articles. If you disagree with how I report a news item or event, please feel free to voice your opinion in this paper with a letter to the aoe or a rebuttal column. Some news organizations try to pretend they have no opinion. By reporting all sides of a story | thought of making people’s lives difficult. At the same time, if a business leader, Church leader or civic leader does something newsworthy, I will report it. That’s one of the burdens of being a ? 3. The people have a right to know the paper’s opinions. | ; _ L enjoy being a reporter but I don’t relish the what the press prints. I intent to treat this power leader in the community. Your actions are subject to review by the press. I firmly believe that without this review, many leaders will not serve the citizens of the county effectively. equally, they often confuse the reader. If one side of a story is misleading, I believe the reporter has a duty to say so. LED: What could Seber City do to improve the safety of pedestrians on Main “They need more crosswalks on Main Street. I dont want to have to walk two or three block just to cross. Maybe get one CHELESEY highway that needs them.” EGLOFF “People have to watch “II think they should before they cross the have a policeman at every crosswalk making sure people have finished crossing before -— ic street, and they ought go out.” ‘or two overpasses. Main Street is a major RK MAIR to be sober before they _ “T think the safest thing would be traffic lights where people cross the street.” Have a topic you would like to see discussed? The vensatcn County scott ASH | nor david MAISEY d.d.s. Something To Smile About! - continues.’ Cail AISIVA | I LLU Street? BOB MELGREN “ their opinions indirectly by selectively reporting the government. 2. People have a right to objective news. _Thave already checked out several rumors that have proven to be unfounded. They would have made great copy but since they weren’t true, I couldn’t print them. I-understand that people’s careers can be made or broken based upon with respect. oe izations express — report it, especially if they are still working for | | © Of course, some news organ- government.. Some people have adopted the attitude that public review. And agreements made with them usually rely upon the best, or worst judgment of the officials involved. : saved the taxpayers even more money. If fair and bal- _ anced reporting means printing 50 percent truth and 50 percent lies, I don’t want to do I know that I am the new person in town and for them to use it to help out their friends. When they do so, it firms. TUESDAY Muckraking Keeps Courier Editorial put out to competitive bid since Design West _ designed a similar building somewhere else. ty figured that their bid would have been the Design West wouldn’t have had to start from for News LL | LUO BETO. 654-4009 Tell us. toucies at 654-2661. midway 783-CARE kamas |