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Show THE ZEPHYROCTOBER 1990 PAGE 12 N' an interview with Election 90 Torres vs. Bigler Craig Bigler Ken Davey conducted an Interview with Grand County Commission candidate, Craig Bigler, for the Zephvr;. The Interview has been edited for clarity and length. different What we need Is an ability to negotiate our differences before they get blown an out of proportion. What we need Is someone who has the experience and ability to bring the decision makers together to work out their differences, before they make Irreversible or foolish decisions. SPECIAL SERVICE DISTRICTS Tanhvr: What made vou decide to run for County Commission? Craig: Social attitudes have changed dramatically In the past 5 or 6 years while county politics haven't really reflected that Its still being dominated by the same attitudes that were probably very appropriate 5 or 10 years ago. Zephvr: What will be the malor county problems In the next 4 years? Craig: Leadership. Financial responsibility Is the major concern. Building a new courthouse, or building a road through untamed land Isn't going to solve our problems. Its hard to believe that we can be so Irrational as to continue to sink our scarce resources Into these kind of things when we are faced with higher taxes Just to maintain the services we absolutely need. Zephvr: Are Special Service Districts a good Idea? Craig: Whether or not It la a good Idea, Its how the system works. The problem with special service districts Is that they represent special Interests. They put special BOOK CLIFFS ROAD Zephyr: On the read to Vernal. What's vour opinion? Craig: The road may or may not be beneficial some time way Into the future. Right now, It would be beneficial only to a very, very, few people. I cant believe that people think that this county, In the economic straits It Is In now, ought to subsidize the state highway system. Zephvr: Supporters of the road sav It will Increase mineral revenues to the county. Is that a valid point? Craig: No. There Is no industry In the world that has more resources than the energy Industry. If they decide they really want to exploit the resources they'll have the money raised and the road built In the wink of an eye. But Its going to take this county a big portion of Its scarce resources. What the county Is doing right now Is diverting resources from absolutely necessary projects. To go Into a public project like this requires evidence that the benefits exceed the costs, and I haven't seen any studies, I havent heard of any studies, I havent heard of any efforts being made, to prove that the benefits are there. COURTHOUSE Zephyr: On the courthouse. It Is facing a S4 million renovation. officials agree that the renovation Is necessary. Is It? Most county Craig: Its desirable. I dont know that Its truly necessary. The roof leaks. The electrical system has to be taken care of, no quarrel with that In the long run, when you merely do the minimal things necessary, It ends up costing more money than If you do It all at once. For that reason. I'm for a real renovation. However, I'd like to find out what It would realty cost us It we had to goto Montlcello to have court Over the next lO.years, would It cost us $6 million? I doubt It We ought to have an adequate Jail for local offenders, I need to be convinced that Its In our Interest to house state prisoners. ROAD PRIORITIES Zephvr: What are vour general priorities on reads? Craig: When you build roads you have to anticipate future needs. But right now were not really certain what our future needs are. One of the most magnificent roads In the whole United States Is called the La Sal Loop Road, and It's In a pretty sad state of affairs. Its a county road, the Road Board should be doing a lot to make that into what It was originally set up to be, a tourism feature. I think the Road Board ought to be spending more of Its resources on really working to assess what the needs are, rather than the single minded purpose of the book cliffs road. Zephyr: Is the UDOT plan to Improve the River Road legitimate prelect? Craig: If they want to turn It Into a high speed highway or commuter road, no. If want to Improve It as a scenic byway, then probably yes. It has enough traffic on It they now that In some places and times there Is more than a little bit of danger Involved. You can eliminate those dangers without blowing away the cliffs. COLORADO RIVER CORRIDOR River Zephyr: The Blue Ribbon Committee proposes limited camping along the Colorado to designated, fee areas. Craig: It Is a good beginning. Even If the Blue Rfebon Committee recommendation approved right now, Its going to take years for the BLM to find the resources to act Zephyr: One proposal raised bv the County Commission Is to In the meantime an ordinance pass banning camping along the river, la that a good Idea? Craig: From an environmental point of view certainly. However, the cost to the county to police It will be a lot greater than any of us can Imagine. Right now, the degradation Is really concentrated, concentrated unfortunately In one of the most beautiful places In the world. It will be scattered all about If we close It If were going to shut down the River Road then we had better designate alternative places. CUSS D ROADS Is Zephvr: The County Commission designated the trails used bv the Jeep Safari as Class D countv reads. Your opinion? Craig: If they become class D county roads, the county becomes responsible for the maintenance, for safety and eo forth on those roads, and where do we get the resources to do that? I think what we have here Is a classic case of failure at (afferent levels of government and a private organization to get their acts together, to work together. The BLM, apparently, went off half cocked. They realized they had been doing It wrong In the past, they had to make some changes, but Instead of consulting Initially with the county and with the Jeep dub, they Just Issued an edet Then, Instead of the Jeep dub saying, "hey, lets work this out," one member reacted In kind and went off half cocked, created a great turmoil, to which the county commission responded In haste. If I had been county commissioner In this case, I would have called In representatives from the organizations. We would have sat down and reached the solution they are now trying to put Into effect BLMCOUNTY REUTIONS Zeohvr: Between the county and the BLM. there Is strain. Who Is to blame? Craig: The Marne Is built Into the system. BLM has responsbllltles. The county commission has Its reaponsfcintfsa. And at times they dont mesh, because they are so Interests In the driver's seat, and give them revenues and, worse yet, taxing authority to pursue their special Interests. So what we have to have Is the one entity that Is elected, that Is truly responsible to all of the people, to assume responsibility for coordinating and Informing the public about how all of these activities mesh together. Zephvr: Should these boards be elected? Craig: Probably, because of their profound Influence they will have In the future. SCHOOL TAX Zephvr: On the two mill lew for the school district where do vou stand? about I stand unequivocally In favor of It Craig: Heres one Im not wishy-wasBecause we are shortchanging our children, and we dont have any right to do that hy MOAB DUMP Zephyr: There has been some concern that the dump has been accepting hazardous material. What should be the attitude toward accepting It? Craig: It should be as rigid as we are about a lot of other things. I think a very careful, analysis of what we are doing ought to be made, what the ramifications are. My guess Is we really shouldnt be accepting asbestos. When you are talking really about gasoline contaminated soil, maybe I could be convinced that Its a good place for It, but right now Im not convinced. Zephvr: According to some, new EPA regulations mav mean the dump will have to close within the next two years. What should the countv commission do about that? Craig: If a contaminated dump Is going to shift a burden on to future generations, we then ought to think very seriously about shutting It down and seeking other alternatives. If s another Instance where we have a serious need to deal with, but we cant, because we dont have the money, because we are putting all our money Into a road we dont want, we dont need, Just to satisfy a few egos. We should divert funds to this very needed project We should find ways to recycle as much as possible. Zephvr: There Is now a recycling task force In the countv. Should the countv spend money to fund It? Craig: Certainly, If It will help offset costs of a new dump, or solving the problems with the existing one. In-de- pth COUNTY ATTORNEY Zephvr: How do vou stand on Elaine Coates and the veano vote on her? Craig: I have seen a great deal of evidence, more than Just hearsay, that her counsel to the county commission Is less than adequate. That her prosecution In court Is less than adequate. That her knowledge of the law Is less than adequate. Zephvr: What evidence have vou seen? Craig: Her Inability to answer simple questions asked by the county commission, serious mistakes In the reading of the law. For example, advising, confirming the viewpoint that the money going to the road board can only go for roads. That was clearly wrong. EQUESTRIAN CENTER Zephvr: Is the equestrian canfor a valid nrolaet? Craig: It may be a valid project If It can serve other needs besides the special Interest group that Is behind It They say It will serve conventions and other purposes, and that will allow It to pay Its own way. I'd Ilka to believe thafs true. continued on page 14 |