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Show THE 2EPHYR JUNE 1990 PAGE 4 one on one an interview with Merv Lawton On May 22, 1990, an Interview was conducted with Grand County Commissioner Merv Lawton. The Interview has been edited for clarity and length. Tourist Impacts Zephyr: Let me first ask vou about the Blue Ribbon Committee and the steps you see being taken to reduce the tourist Impacts In the area. Merv: All along we've said that what we can do Is a function of the money we can Our problem of how to get the money has been resolved by the possibility that Nielson get can get a good slug of money In to handle some of the problems. What we must do right away Is develop a master plan. We've never had one because we couldnt see where on earth we could get the money necessary to put It Into effect So weve all been a little sluggish In getting up to speed. Now, however, everyone has to work hard to get this master plan together BLM, Park Service, the Blue Ribbon people. It will be a community Steven Rav Allen Attorney Debt In Zephyr: How Is the countv going to pav the $50.000 attorney debt Incurred the trial? Steven Rav Allen murder Merv: Very miserably. I feel so bad about that Zephyr: What can vou do? Merv: Weve handed It over to the county attorney. I personally have spoken to Mark Walsh (Utah Association of Counties), and he taels there may be some relief on the cost of the expert witness, but that Is only 6 thousand dollars. But It Is shocking, that a small county trying to do Its bit Is suddenly landed with Invoices like that And the way things are headed now, you people have got to pay. Not me, not the commission. Its your money out of your pocket Were probably going to have to go to the people and ask for more money to pay their bills. We hope our hands aren't tied, but they may be. Revenues and Expenditures effort Zephyr: And you're saving the committee can and should be Involved In the process? Merv: Oh, yes. We are all part of the same body. Learning Report Have vou read Zephyr: the Learning Report now, and how do you feel about It? haven't had a chance to read It Zephyr: But from what youve heard and reports about the statistics presented, do vou have a lot of faith In the report? Merv: I find K hard to believe the size of the figures that he puts In. I agree with what he says In conceptual form, but the practical aspect of It, those figures..... I have a problem with that But then, I'm not an accountant of that caliber. This Is why we hired a Merv: I person like that Nuisance Ordinance Zephyr: You support the nuisance ordinance Merv: Its a pity It's called the 'nuisance ordinance. I think that automatically, Its like 'Death Valley.' It frightens people. It causes peoples backs to raise up. It should be called the beautification ordinance, or something of that nature. Yes, Im very much In favor of that Ive never wanted to say that this Is what I campaigned on, but I did have It In my platform. I understand where the people are coming from who have stuff that they consider treasures, and talking about constitutional rights. But I also look at the other side we are a community and we have to live In harmony with one another. As In a family, there are certain things that are required. Joe Blow, with a lot of Junk In his yard doesnt have the right to keep It there when It's to the detriment of his must my place be as beautiful as yours? We're not neighbors. I hear the complaint hy looking for that But before, the responsibility for enforcement of these kinds of things was with the courts, and I dont think the courts should be spending their time on little things like that Zephyr: The enforcement responsibility will fall on Corkv now (Building Inspector!? Merv: It will still hinge a lot on complaints by neighbors. And there will be a certain amount of Judgement ruling. The commissioners must also accept some responsibility because It must act as a Board of Adjustments. If Corky delivers a letter and that fellow Is not satisfied, he can come to the Commission to appeal. Zephyr: Will Corkv need extra manpower to enforce the ordinance? Merv: We dont plan to, not this year anyway. suzan martin sales associate Quality Realty 59 S. Main Western Plaza H Moab, Ut 84532 Put your trust in Number One: 0 multi-milli- EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATE1X on ted. suzan's esoteric ads can you tell me how often the shingles fall off the roof?1 "Listen, Business (801) 259-502- 1 Residence (801) 259-791- 4 Equal Homing Opportunity Zephyr: Overall, how are revenues holding up against expenditures countv wide? And compared to last year? Merv: Expenditures are higher than expected, and one of the reason Is roads. But Spring came early, so we started working on them sooner. Itll probably even out There's an awfully lot to be done and It all requires labor and money. Its a pity not to do a Job Just because you dont have the money for It Zephyr: What other areas of county government are costing more, besides roads and public defenders? Merv: Police, search and rescue, Jim (Nyland) has reported to me that they are now charging search victims for expenses. Just like a hospital patient who pays for the ambulance. I havent Investigated whether theyre actually paying the bill, or the rate of return. Uke the Sllckrock Bike Trail we put a donation box up and after a thousand people a day, we collected 4 dollars. Zephyr: Talking about expenditures and revenues. It seems that at all levels of government we are spending enormous amounts of money with no thought of how to pav for them. The Commission Including yourself has endorsed a dollar courthouse expansion. Improved education, malor road building prelects... dont vou think government has a responsibility to show how It can pav for these first before they endorse them? Merv: Yes. The runaway spending Is going to get this country Into trouble. One of these days, the bubble Is going to burst There have been so many horror stories about how the money Is being spent., the $100 Pentagon hammer, and so on. Somewhere the priorities have to be straightened out and we have to stop being so benevolent and give away money everywhere. Zephyr: Do you think that all these road prelects In Utah are a worthwhile expense when we cant even provide textbooks for school children? Merv: Id like for there to be the money to do both. Zephyr: But there Isnt Merv: You must be aware that on certain types of funding some of these monies are The gas tax for Instance. You can't suddenly divert that to the school. But a lot of that Is at the discretion of the legislature. Zephyr: Merv: But much of It Is already allocated before the legislature gets It We do need more money. Im unhappy about Merrill Cooke trying to force a reduction In the sales tax for food. It Isnt such a bad Idea todrop It, because the tax hurts the low Income person, but we can't afford to lose that money. We've got to a amount certain of money to spend survive. On the major highways across the country, the roads are Weve got deteriorating. to keep working on these roads. Zephyr: But all roads? Do they all have to be upgraded to freeway status? How about the river road. Highway 128? Merv: Id like to leave It as It Is. Zephyr: What If they pave the Book Cliffs Road? |