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Show PAGE 4 THE ZEPHYRMAY '89 an interview with the grand county commission On April 10, The Zephyr conducted an interview with Commissioners Merv Lawton, Feme Mullen and Dave Knutson. The interview has been edited for clarity and length. First, there are a few questions about the Special Service Zephyr: District. The District has concluded that it legally must limit its spending Do you interpret the to road projects for at least the first two years. legislation this wav? Do vou believe the mineral lease money cannot be used for education? Merv: Yes. The law basically states that a Special Service District may not transfer its funds for the purpose of another cost account. Zephyr: But the legislation savs It can be spent for education. Merv: That is a separate item under the State PILT money (payment in lieu of taxes) and the opinion has been put out from Washington that If we use any of that money on education, we will lose federal PILT money, which is a much bigger pot. So at this stage, they say no. I think they will try to change the legislation to try and separate those two PILTs, so one doesn't jeopardize the other. If a private citizen were to read that Dave: Basically, that's iL it could be legislation, easily interpreted to say, yes, it could go to the inside but the schools, knowing workings on that Bill, the UAC (Utah Association of Counties) everyone agreed it should go towards roads. Then there was some question, and Im not real sure where it stands yet It was suggested strongly that it should only go towards roads, by the attorneys who worked on getting this legislation through. I don't Feme: What Merv said is essentially right agree with it, I I dont like it But dont know what we can do about it at this time except try to get legislation through to change it If the Special Service District thinks it would jeopardize Zephyr: funding to give money to education now, why would it possibly be ok to do the same thing In two years? Feme: This was a question I asked them, what guarantee is there that theyd continue doing that and I never got a good answer from them. I wasn't at that Dave: meeting, but from what I understand, the big can this of question is, piece legislation be held intact for two years which would give it the legs that it needs to be there. I think the concern is for the first two years because the federal lease monies that come to the district and also state PILT districts, originate from the same source of Whether It will jeopardize funding, which is the mineral lease revenues. that money or not is all a matter of opinion. I guess theres enough people I couldn't see where It who think it would. I have to agree really will I a think But but it, I've told what its been that's jeopardize safeguard. and until I get any further information, I guess thats the way it is. Merv: Just to express it slightly differently, although adding an aspect to that, was what were told was, especially for the first year, the whole thing is going to be very carefully scrutinized by the financial people. jgggggBgSgBSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSBBBSBMKM P ri 265 So. Main 259-634- 5 k Free of Pepsi with any Large Meat Lovers, Cheese Lovers, or Supreme Pizza at regular price. six-pac- This offer good at participating Pizza Huts only. Offer expires May 14, 1989. There was a fear that maybe the state was giving up more than they realized. If it wasnt used quite the way it had originally put to them, it may be cancelled, and you didnt want to lose the goose that laid the golden egg. Zephyr: The Book Cliffs Road may be financed bv a $6.000.000 loan from CIB (Community Impact Board), hopefully at a low f3l Interest rate over 15 years. It would be paid back from future mineral lease revenues generated In Grand Countv. The annual payment to CIB would exceed S600.000: vet funds from mineral lease revenues have fallen short of that In recent years. Is a still Investment this of mineral lease monies at this time? wise Merv: I've got no comment on that, because I dont know the financing plan. Ive read some figures but you have more figures than I up-to-d- ate have. Dave: As far as I understand it, there are several things theyre going to have to do to finance that road, CIB is one of them, maybe some others. As far as wise use of the funds, I really think it is a good Idea Its basically backing your business up, thats where the mineral lease monies come from; oil is not going away in the next twenty 20 yeara In fact, you can see it going sky high right now. So I think it'll be a good thing. It's going to be a little risky, but like they say about the turtle, it only makes progress when it sticks its neck out One reason revenues are down is because production costs are so high. I think Every time it rains out there, it shuts everything down. having a road number which the decrease would, one, costs, good production would make it more lucrative for these oil companies to drilL Zephyr: One of the Road Board members. Dutch Zimmerman, has missed 2 of the last 4 meetings: since it's only a board, would vou reconsider all-wea- ther expanding the board? ws Feme: I think it would be a good idea. Their board, say a but that can be changed. Dave: I wouldnt like to expand it, but if he's going to continue to miss meetings, I think the Commission needs to consider asking for his resignation and appointing someone else, unless he's going to start showing up. He has a responsibility to be there, and if he doesnt want to, we have a responsibility to make sure somebody is there. Merv: I agree with Dave on that Originally Id thought that a bigger board would be a more prudent thing, but at this stage, when I think the project for the Special Service District has been Identified, as that road, the small board is fine. A small board can be controlled better. They can work better than a big board. I think five Feme: I don't think five is too many to work together would be good. Zephyr: What's the timetable on the University of Utah Fine Arts School moving here, and what steps can the Countv take to facilitate the move? Merv: The Fine Arts thing is not through yet It's still got one more step to go, before it gets the go ahead. We must hear from the Board of Regents. By-la- 3-- man |