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Show 1987 in review County growth, changes highlight top news stories of past 12 months DAVIS COUNTY Major changes took place in the county during 1987. Pit bulls, AIDS, school dress codes and garbage became be-came controversial issues for discussion. dis-cussion. New schools, new public buildings and new public servants were added to serve the fast growing grow-ing population in the county. Recent statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that half of the 10 fastest growing cities in Utah over the past six years are located in Davis County. The county now has an estimated population of 180,100, a 22.9 percent growth since 1980. News of the important issues that affected the lives of resi dents in these fast-growing communities com-munities was reported in the Davis County Clipper. The year did not leave the Clipper Clip-per unchanged. The paper celebrated cele-brated its 97th birthday and continues con-tinues to grow and increase circulation. circula-tion. This issue is the first to welcome wel-come the North Davis County readers, who in the past have received re-ceived the Reflex Journal. The two papers were combined in 1988 and the Davis County Clipper will now bring the readers complete county coverage to help them to be more aware of the faces and places and all of the local news that affects their lives. Following is a recap of 1987's biggest stories, as compiled by the Clipper staff writers. CHEMICAL SPILL DISASTER NORTH SALT LAKE On April 14, Lee Hodson, 30-year-old plant manager of Hodson Chemical, Chemic-al, died, and scores of workers from surrounding businesses were evacuated. The accident occurred when the toxic chemical Trichlor-oethane Trichlor-oethane III leaked from the tank CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Top news stories of 1987 reviewed Continued from page one Mr. Hodson was near, filling the surrounding area with deadly fumes. A daring rescue attempt was made by William Klein who passed the building on his way to work and noticed Mr. Hodson lying face down in the draining liquid. He ran to the victim and pulled him from the building, but it was too late. A company official explained that Mr. Hodson probably died within minutes of being overcome by the toxic fumes. Mr. Klein and the policemen and paramedics who were the first to arrive on the scene were all treated at Lakeview Hospital for lung irritations irri-tations suffered at the scene. Local emergency crews immediately blocked off the surrounding areas. Fear of the wind carrying the deadly dead-ly fumes into surrounding residential residen-tial areas created a full scale emergency response from all of the surrounding communities. Governor Norm Bangerter arrived ar-rived on the scene to survey the damages and to be briefed on the possible danger to the citizens in the area. The spill served as a reminder re-minder of the increasing danger present in the Davis County area where thousands of gallons of chemicals che-micals are used and transported on a regular basis. A debriefing session after the tragedy helped county emergency personnel evaluate their response and pinpoint areas of weakness if a county-wide emergency should occur. FAMILIES The Lucas Erasmus Family of Farmington received a Christmas present from the United States government giving the family amnesty to remain in this country until their citizenship is granted within the next two years. The Erasmus family fled to the United States from their native Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) when their lives were threatened because of their opposition to the Marxist government gov-ernment which was trying to overthrow over-throw the government there. For eight years, the family attempted to gain amnesty or a residency re-sidency status in the United States but was denied. Until the recent granting of residency, they were classified as aliens. Now, they en- joy all the rights of American citizens except the voting pri- ' vilege. The family is no longer under constant threat for deportation. deporta-tion. Tragedy was made less so for another family at year's end as well. The Melvin Thain family of 22, including 15 adopted children, saw Melvin lose his employment late last year. The South Davis area came to the family's aid. The Davis County Clipper picked up the ball and conducted con-ducted a campaign that brought 1 ,500 pounds of food, a large quantity quan-tity of clothing and more than $ 1 ,400 in cash donated to the Thain Family Fund at Utah Bank and Trust. Making matters even happier, Melvin was able to land a job. He started with Intermountain Health Care last Monday. MUNICIPAL POWER Bountiful and Kaysville power departments both were at odds with Utah Power & Light over sale of "cheap power." The private utility fought for the right to obtain what is currently "public" power supplies from the Colorado River Storage Project, a source that has supplied both city utilities with some power for many years. UP&L had the option to purchase purch-ase power from CRSP a quarter century ago but declined, while public utilities, such as Kaysville and Bountiful, opted to buy from the then-new source. A lawsuit has been filed by both Davis County cities through the Intermountain In-termountain Consumer Power Association to thwart UP&L's efforts at obtaining some of that public power now at a premium demand and being utilized by many public power agencies. The year also saw Bountiful Power continue its expansion to serve a growing customer base by turning the switch on a new hydroelectric hyd-roelectric plant at Echo Dam. Other similar facilities are planned later. Kaysville expanded its in-city capacity to supply a growing population popu-lation by announcing plans for a second power sub-station. SMOKE FREE JAIL "If you want to quit smoking, commit a crime in Davis County." That quip by Davis County Commissioner Com-missioner Bill Peters was picked up by news services and repeated around the country. He made the remark when the county announced that the Davis County Jail would become a smoke free facility as of Sept. 1, 1987. That move made the Davis County jail the first county jail in Utah to be smoke free. Before that date, employees were prohibited from smoking but prisoners were not. Despite original rumors that prisoners would file a suit against the county, the Davis County Sheriff Sher-iff s Department has had few problems prob-lems maintaining the smoke free status of the jail. - While most Davis County residents resi-dents were not alarmed over the announcement of a smoke free jail, the location of a proposed new jail did alarm some Farmington residents. resi-dents. Now that bonding for the jail was approved in the November election and a proposed site has been chosen in West Farmington, Davis County can look forward to a 1988 story on the construction of the new jail, which will also be smoke free. COUNTYWIDE 911 One story that affected all of Davis County was the decision to start 911 service for all parts of the county that were without that service. ser-vice. The Davis County Sheriffs Department presented the idea to the cities of the county early in 1987 but the various cities were unable un-able to come to an agreement until after a tragedy in Fruit Heights emphasized the need of the service. ser-vice. Paperwork that will bring basic 911 and eventually enhanced 911 to the county was finally set in motion in December 1987. Mountain Bell has been authorized to begin collecting col-lecting the $.50 per phone line charge to pay for the enhanced system. sys-tem. In the meantime Mountain Bell is to begin setting up the basic 9 1 1 for cities in the northern part of the county who do not now have 911. Clearfield and Layton already have their own 91 1 system as does Bountiful. The basic 911 will cost $2104 for installation and $495 per month service charge to the county. The county will use the basic 9 1 1 for the next two years. Calls will be answered at the sheriffs office with a ring back to Layton for calls from that area. With the ringback, the person calling in does not have to place a second call, be put on hold or risk being disconnected. Once the Enhanced 91 1 is in operation, opera-tion, the PSAP system will automatically automa-tically transfer calls to the proper location. HIGHWAY 89 The future of Davis County's "semi-freeway" came into serious question as mayors and others contemplated con-templated what role it should take in the future. Pros and cons of making mak-ing it into a full-fledged freeway, costing possibly $20 million, versus ver-sus a route sprinkled with stop lights, are being studied. Traffic has increased dramatically dramatical-ly on the stretch that runs from south of Shepard Lane in Farming-ton Farming-ton to the Weber County line just north of South Weber. Fruit Heights residents are especially espe-cially concerned about the highway, high-way, as it bisects their small community. com-munity. Those on the east side must cross the road to get to school and to do any business while others must cross to the east for church and to conduct business at city hall. '4 RICHARD E. KENDELL SCHOOL CHANGES In perhaps the biggest change to hit the Davis School District in decades, more than a handful of shuffles were made in key administrative adminis-trative positions. Supt. Lawrence Welling, a longtime long-time education veteran who started his career in Davis School District as a teacher, stepped down. Taking over for the retired Kaysville resident resi-dent was Richard Kendell of Bountiful. Boun-tiful. While a newcomer to Davis District, he brought many years of education-related experience, much of it at the university level. TtS i...,m,MmM1w-mm- wnr.-Y -,,,,,,, - PHOTO BY ROGER TUTTlfc Controversy continued to surround what some are calling Davis County's $54 million white elephant. The Davis County Bum Plan has not yet officially opened, and already tipping fees have increased three times. Several assistant-associate superintendents su-perintendents also retired, along with some curriculum department chairpeople. That brought new faces to the central office in Farmington. Farm-ington. In addition, a score of shifts were made in principalships from the high school down to elementary elemen-tary level. The massive changes were prompted by the early retirement "window" offered by the state retirement re-tirement system. The district continued con-tinued its fast-paced growth, meanwhile, mean-while, although a new policy of no new school buildings was announced. AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS In the skies over Davis County during the year there were two aircraft air-craft emergencies one a helicopter helicop-ter crash and the other incident involving in-volving a private plane that was "talked down" by ground personnel person-nel at Woods Cross' Skypark Airport. Air-port. The helicopter crashed on the edge of a water retention basin east of Bountiful, slamming into the hillside at an estimated speed of 40 miles per hour after the tail blade apparently snagged a high-power electrical line that transmits power to Bountiful from the Echo Reser- -voir hydro-electric plant. The chopper rammed into a hillside, hill-side, pinning a North Salt Lake man and his son inside the crumpled crum-pled aircraft. A passerby called for help and the two occupants were pulled to safety. The drama over Skypark Airport started when a private plane was attempting a landing in Cedar City with its landing gear only partially locked into place. Rather than land at Cedar City, the pilot, co-pilot and a passenger decided to return to Woods Cross, its home airport. Once in sight over Woods Crossan airport mechanic began giving instructions to the crew on how to manually lower the gear into place using a tie-rod to physically push the wheels into a locked position. As the place circled the landing field, the pilot and co-pilot took turns leaning out of the plane flying at a speed of 80 miles per hour and ram the wheels into place. It worked, and the trio landed safely. CONSTITUTION The Bicentennial of the Constitution was celebrated in a big way, not only in Davis County, but throughout the nation. Essay contests were held, "bowls" were conducted where participants' knowledge was tested, and patriotic patrio-tic programs presented. A "Constitutional Debate" was staged at Woods Cross and Clearfield Clear-field high schools featuring well-known well-known TV personality Gordon Jump and Michael Bennett. The actors portrayed Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson in a mock debate. LAGOON Lagoon Amusement Park marked its centennial last year. The park, ranked among the top 12 in the country, carries on a long tradition that started as a centralized central-ized recreation area between Ogden and Salt Lake City. Although the "family" tradition continues, it has grown to be far more than a tree-filled mecca where friends and loved ones can gather for a leisurely picnic on a hot, summer afternoon. The park employs hundreds of county residents during its peak period over the school summer break months. It also features indoor in-door tennis, camping and other services ser-vices to meet the needs of the traveler and recreation enthusiast. GARBAGE A HOT ISSUE Davis County's new burn plant never did, officially open in 1987, but the burn plant and the Davis County Solid Waste Management and Energy Recovery Special Service Ser-vice District were a continuing news story and a controversy of county interest in 1987. On July 1 the BARD was officially official-ly disbanded and all garbage in the county except that from Bountiful began being delivered to the NARD and then to the burn plant. Tipping fees at the burn plant started at $15 per ton, which was higher than expected, and rose to $20 per ton by the end of the year. Several cities were forced to raj their price of garbage coHecfj twice during the year. While the price for garbage collection col-lection was going up, the district was plagued with falling natural gas prices which adversely affected the price of steam to Hill Air Force Base and exorbitant insurance costs. By the end of the year the board had managed to find a different diffe-rent insurance carrier at a major savings. At the same time the former members of the Bay Area Refuse Disposal District have been unable to settle their differences with Bountiful, who took back ownership own-ership of BARD on July 1. North Salt Lake, Woods Cross, West Bountiful, Centerville, Farming-ton Farming-ton and Davis County are now involved in-volved in a Federal court suit with Bountiful to determine if they should have to help pay for identifying iden-tifying and correcting any environmental environ-mental problems at the landfill in West Bountiful. The actual official opening of the r burn plant will have to wait until ; the plant can be thoroughly tested and brought to a point where the special district will accept it. In the meantime, the special district has to struggle to generate a sufficient waste stream to put the plant through its final performance testing. |
