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Show r it T '. r. THE ZEPHYROCTOBER 1990 y PAGE 6 r , i f ,1 -- . i i -- -- Election VO Knutson vs. Bierschied an interview with David Bierschied The Zeohvr conducted an Interview with Grand County Commission candidate, David Bierschied. The Interview has been edited for clarity and length. WHY RUN? Zephyr: First let me ask you the standard campaign question. Why are you running for office and whv do vou think you're the best person for the lob? David: I think Grand County needs a more focused direction. I think I can provide that I've proven that over the last 3 years with the City. My push Is not to Just let things happen and fall back In the past, but to figure out what die future holds and howto get there a controlled way. I enjoy politics. I enjoy being In a leadership role. I think politics today needs I good, strong leadership that will represent the people. I'm dedicated to the county and In there want It to go In a certain direction. In order for that to happen, It needs people who'll lead them there. I don't have anything specific to say on that but once elected I will be leading, people will know where I'm going, and I think they'll approve. I use fairly good rationale, and I think thats what the county needs. They don't need Just a popularity contest to fill a slot In Zephyr: SoecWIcallv. whats vour plan? David: I like the Idea of controlled camping during certain times of the year, with user fees. We need those fees to take cars of the maintenance of these areas, not Just from campers, but day use as well. I like designated camping with facilities and a cooperative effort with the county and BLM. Zephyr: Who enforces the rules? David: The county could pass an ordnance and have Jurisdiction, but I would hope, as commissioner, I wouldnt have to expand the Sheriffs office to administer tt. We keep asking the BLM for more help. They're working on that So I'd say the BLM would have primary Jurisdiction and responsibility for enforcement Uke the Forest Service at Warner Lake. NUISANCE ORDINANCE Zephyr: Do we need a nuisance ordinance and stronger zoning laws In the county? David: I dont think we need a new nuisance ordinance. We have ordnances on THE ISSUES want to run a series of Issues oast vou that affect our county, and I'd Zephyr: like vour feelings and position on each of them. I COURTHOUSE ANNEXJAIL Zephyr: Do vou really think we need to make the kinds of Improvements Courthouse that are being proposed. And how do vou propose we pay for to the these Improvements? Specifically, Im not certain that all the proposed Improvements are necessary. I don't know how much the state law requires and how much would Just be nice for us to have. I do know the courthouse needs maintenance Improvements. There are some real problems. I hope It Isn't forced upon the people, In the sense that If we don't do It, the state Is going to sanction us or something. I don't think the commission should ever let us get that far along. I honestly cant say how much Is absolutely necessary. I don't know enough about It I would hope the people have a chance In the matter, that they don't feel they're being forced Into It by past commission negligence and present state law. Zephyr: If s been said that the court has threatened to build Its own If the county doesn't and that we'd lose the revenue from It as a result but would that be so bad? David: Basically, If what we're getting In revenue doesn't offset the expense, why the heck Just forget about the revenue. Zephyr: Do vou think any of the funding that goes to the Grand Co. Special Service Roads District could've been used to finance the courthouse? David: I don't believe It could. What I do believe Is that money couldve been used for hospital, schools then the other money out of the general fund could have been saved. David: THE ROAD DISTRICTRECREATION DISTRICT Zephyr: Let me ask vou about the Road District and the Recreation District each chosen to use the funding they've received for one malor prelect Theyve The Book Cliffs Road and the Eguestrian Center. Tell me what vou think their value Is to the citizens of Grand County, and whether vou would have done It differently. David: The thought process behind the Book Cliffs Road was, I think - we're not to be guaranteed minimal lease monies or PILT monies, as they filter down through going the Federal and State government The Idea was to get as big as project as economically feasible over a certain period of time to bond against If the mineral lease money ran out, we wouldnt be able to pay back the loan In the road. But If the state okd the bond, wed still get the use of that $6 million. So they want to get It tied up. I don't know If that's such a bad Idea, If youre doing a project thats viable. This Is not In viable, my opinion. The road to Vernal may be brought to grade & gravel, project but youre not going to get It paved. If In 30 or 40 years that road gets paved, who knows what technology will come along. It's Just too Iffy to me. If we stayed within the bounds of the funds we're receiving, and we had an overall master plan of Grand County roads, and wanted to band against some special project of all the prioritized roads, I wouldnt have such a problem with the road district But the way It Is now, Id rather see money go to other things like the hospital, or other special service districts. Zephyr: If vou were Commissioner, would vou actually take steps to do that? David: The way I read the state law, county government Is still responsible for their actions, but you pass over the responsibility to administer these districts. You In no way can control the money through the general fund, but you can control the governing of that SSD, If you so please. If the present county commission felt this group was going off In the wrong direction, they certainly could add to the board, or make It an elected board. There are options. Zephyr: How do vou view the Equestrian Center? Will It oav for Itself. David: When they first came up with the Idea, I went In as president of Chamber and said, It's tough to support a special Interest project I registered my complaint that we got Into a deal, with almost free monies, we've taken state PILT monies, that could go Into other areas Including education, tie them up for a period of time and with no business plan. It bothers me. But weve signed the contracts and Its a done deal. But In the future, let's not build White Elephants. I don't think It can maintain Itself, personally. the books If they were enforced fairly. I think we do need a Master Plan, a land use plan, a long range plan, county wide, especially In the Impacted areas. It has to be more specific. - The Golf Course, the river corridor, Spanish Valley, Castle Valley. If we had a comprehensive plan, the areas would know what they're working with and we wouldnt have all these conflicts. We always try to wing It Zephyr: Would vou try to make zoning retroactive? David: No, that wouldnt be an answer. A grandfather clause would be appropriate for traditional uses. THE DUMP AND TOXIC WASTES Zephyr: In the last four year, the countv has accepted ever Increasing amounts of toxic wastes. Including asbestos, and now contaminated (gasoline! soli, often from outside the county. Do we need a policy on this, and would vou continue to allow these materials to be brought In? David: I don't know what legal contracts were under. But I certainly would not accept It otherwise. I dont think Grand County should be taking other areas' asbestos, gas, or anything else. I dont believe Utah should be taking New Yorks either. As for Grand County accepting its own, I would say we shouldnt be sending ours elsewhere. Zephyr: What about the medical waste Incinerator at Green River? David: You have the experts explain It, but I have a real hard time when Isolated communities accept waste to bolster their economy. I don't think these companies come In with a plan to make them prosper, they come In with a knowledge that theyll get less resistance In unpopulated areas. Zephyr: Do vou think the perception of an Incinerator In a countv trying to promote tourism la a good Idea? David: Lets put It on the record - I don't want It I don't think Its good for the economy or the perception. Zephyr: If It happened again, would vou do more to oppose It than the current commission did? David: To be honest, I don't know what they did to oppose It, or even aware. It was kind of a shaky deal. I would certainly be apprehensive to give Block Grant money to create something that our county has voted against RECYCLING Zephyr: Our dump Is about full, and will have to be Do vou see a role for the countv In recycling efforts? years. David: Yes. The city and county should both participate. ted In the next few Curbside recycling works. When the burden falls on the retailer through deposits, etc, It becomes a problem. The county could set up curbside collection - you separate, we pickup. Or maybe bins like in Bountiful. We need to lobby to develop a market for THE RIVER CORRIDOR recycling. Its cheaper to recycle to than out new and a find source a for go recourse. Immediately, we could Zephyr: You're on the Blue Ribbon Committee. How do vou see this Issue and aluminum. recycle paper, glass, plastic, resolving Itself? Zephyr: At what cost to the countv? David: Personally, I believe something needs to be done along the river corridor, David: The county could not afford to subsidize It now to a and everyone agrees on that There's a sentiment out there that we don't want to be told great extent But we It cant either. Ignore what to do by the federal government Each of us has a problem with that But we have to THE KOKOPELLI THFATRP consider Jurisdiction and the legalities of It I think the committee Is trying to work a Zephyr: What do vou think of the U of U'a proposal and the scale of the prelect? partnership between private, public, state, federal, county and even city to work out a David: Pretty futuristic. If Indeed It was to solution to maintain the Integrity of that land, while maintaining traditional uses. There's happen, It's a real chicken before the been talk of "shutting down these areas. That would be a mistake. There's a possibility egg situation. The concept In my mind, Is fantastic. But you have to have support for It of the private sector taking up some of the slack, but a lot of people Just want to camp along financial support Not Just that Its a good Idea. Ive heard things from outdoor amphitheaters to $10 million arenas - I'm for promoting the arts, but I have a hard time the river and they're not going to go to private campgrounds. So It's a complex Issue. Blit Its not going to work unless the county, city, believing that Oils project Is feasible at this point In time. I dont think the Valleys Individuals and the BLM work out a compromise. The users have to be satisfied - so do the poputotton Is big enough to support It If that project did fly, our county would be so I administrators, and the private people as welL I feel like were moving towards that goal. affected, don't think we'd be ready for It continued on page 8 non-reversl- ble |