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Show THE ZEPHYROCTOBER 1990 an interview with Election 90 Torres us. Bigler Manuel PAGE 13 Manuel Torres Kn Dvy conducted an Interview with Grand County Commission eandklato, Torres, for the Zephyr:. The Interview has been edited for clarity and length. this and this. COLORADO RIVER CORRIDOR made. Zephyr: What made you decide to run for countv commiaionr? Manuel: I think we need to get going again. The hard decisions Just haven't been Zephvr: The Blue Ribbon Committee Is proposing designated camping areas along the river. They want to charge a fee, and using that money for maintenance and enforcement of the camping ban. Is that a good Idea? Manuel: I think Is, If the Blue Ribbon Committee uses private enterprises to set this up. If you run It through the government It's going to cost you 2 to 3 times the money. I think the river has to be cleaned up. But they need to look at private Industry. Who would be responsible for enforcing the Zephvr: ban? Manuel: The BLM right now checks the river everyday, to make sure rafters have their safety equipment and stuff like that It seems Ironic to me that while they were doing that they cant Just keep coming down the river and check for people camping there. It's a simple thing, the same vehicle, same person. I Just don't understand that lng ROAD PRIORITIES Zephyr: Should UDOT Improve the River Road? Manuel: No. I dont like It The River Road right now Is fine the way It Is. It seems Ironic to me. They're talking about building a road In the Book Cliffs, and ruining the looks of the land. Well, If you widen the road along the river, Its going to change It They're going to take out big portions of the hills. Its pretty the way It Is, why change It? Zephyr: Because of the wav It Is being used bv campers and dav users, the limited number of turnouts and sharp turns creates a dangerous situation. Manuel: I would go for that put In some turnouts and things like that but as tar as changing the road, no. Ive been driving that road for 10 or 15 years, and I love It It's unique. and nobodys explained why. I don't think they've been open with the people. I don't think the people of Moab understand whats going on down there. Zephyr: Have board members refused to give vou Information? Manuel: No. Ive looked Into things, but you don't get any solid answers. I don't think they know where they are going. The question I ask Is, what are we doing? Are we trying to become a hospital, where we can take care of everything? Or are we trying to become a first aid center that has Grand Junction close enough with the lifeline where the major things that come up can be handled by the Grand Junction hospital? We ch cant become a hospital. There Is no way financially we can do It We need to come up with some kind of a plan saying "this Is what we're gonna have to offer, and then Grand Junction Is Just going to have to take care of the rest of It Zephvr: One countv commissioner has suggested taking the mineral lease money going to the Special Service Roads District and putting It toward the hospital. Good Idea or not? Manuel: I dont know. I don't know what shape our county roads are In. If they're not In good shape then you got to keep those funds going. If they are In good shape, I say hey, yeah, let's take some of that money and put It Into something different top-not- ch, Zephyr: At a recent county commission meeting, the commission voted to designate the trails used by the Jeep Safari as part of the Countv Class D road system. You were there, and spoke In favor of that Whv? Manuel: It's not that I'm against government but It Just costs more money, and the decisions take longer, sometimes they don't want to make the decision, sometimes It's made by a gentleman back In New Jersey. Anytime you can control government locally, you are better off. Personally, I think It was a way for the BLM to flex their muscles, see how far they could go. And It's a sad situation. The Red Rock Four Wheelers have been great for Moab. And Its sad that we cant stand up and really support them. COUNTVBLM RELATIONS top-not- BOOK CLIFFS ROAD Zephyr: There has been a strained relationship between the countv and the BLM. Whose fault Is' that? Manuel: I think the BLM has a plan, to fake over the whole recreation In Southoast Utah. The only fault I see with that Is you're letting people make decisions that dont live In our area. I think the county has let them go too far. They need to go In and talk to the BLM often, to make sure they are on the same track as the county Is on. The quieter the. BLM can keep things the better off they are. It seems like In the past 15, 20 years, It sneaks In, Instead of being up front with people! Weve let our guard down. Zephvr: What Is this BLM plan? Manuel: There Is no doubt about It I think they want to control the recreation In southeastern Utah. Zephvr: Is the road to Vernal a good Idea? Manuel: I've been for It, and the reason Is Im In business. We talk about how Its I going to ruin the wilderness, or how Ifs going to affect wilderness, but don't think thats If there Is a really the Issue. I think the oil lease money has been good for Grand County. way to pay back those people who have been taking the oil out, and my understanding of the area Is that there Is tar sand near where that road Is going, or on It The crisis of today Is all about oil. I think we cant dose our minds to anything. Zephyr: What evidence have vou seen? Manuel: This Red Rock Four Wheelers thing turned my lights on. I saw what happened In San Juan County last year with the Arch Canyon Jeep Jamboree, and I came to the thought, well, that was Just a fluke. But when these guys the commission and said, we've had a runaround, I thought, what's going on here? I think they have a master plan, there's no doubt In my mind. We need to look and see If Ifs going to go side by side with Grand County. If It Isn't we need to do something about IL COURTHOUSE RENOVATION SPECIAL SERVICE DISTRICTS Zephyr: The courthouse renovation has an estimated cost of about S4 million. Is that a good protect? Manuel: Thats a sad part about America. We all live under laws, and Its seems like and today that the person In Jail has more rights than a man who Is working for a living, thats sad. And because of that, there are certain things we have to have in our Jail house. We have to either build a new facility or we have to remodel what we have. I don't understand why there Isnt a way that we cant get any types of grants or something to help us build that facility, If we have to have tt. It? Zephyr: Are vou In favor of the election Initiative to raise taxes to pay for But Is between answer the It yes. Manuel: If we have to do to update the facility, I think our county commissioners can go to these tax and Increase not the having departments and find out what kind of fundings are available. EQUESTRIAN CENTER Zenhvr: Is the Equestrian Center a positive protect? Manuel: It comes down to special Interest groups. I'm a special Interest group, we all are. What we like to do we protect There are so many people In the county, and their and say, "I dont think you should special Interest Is horses. Im not about to go up to them have that facility because I don't play with horses. RECREATION FEES Manuel: This brings up another point with me. If s like the bikers In town. Hey, I go out to do something, I think If s great the mountain bikers are coming. But when whether If s hunting, fishing, golfing, I pay for that I think Ifs time that everybody has to dolt Zephyr. How would you have them pay? Bill Groff at his store Manuel: There are a lot of ways. Theres a way to work with dollar that pays for this, fee a five Rim CycJery and as they report In, Just say, "hey, there's Zephvr: What do vou think of Special Service Districts? Are they a good Idea? Manuel: They are to a certain extent Sometimes, you get so many of them you lose track of what each of them are doing. And they are making decisions that effect the voters of Grand County. If s ok If you can control them, or at least tell them what the county commissioners have In mind. But what I see Is that all of a sudden Its gotten out of hand. I think Its time the county commissioners pull back the reins and say, "we're going to call In. Is next Is at 4 we what we're for This what want What ends the you This years. looking up happening Is that the minority ends up controlling the majority In these small Interest groups. Zephvr: Should board members to these districts be elected? Manuel: It still comes back to the county commissioners. They are the ones In charge of the funding. If they don't have control of It, there Is something wrong. SCHOOL TAX INCREASE Zephyr: The school board has the two mill lew tax Increase coming up on the ballot Are vou for It or against It? Manuel: I am for It Ifs a sad thing. I don't think money Is the solution to everything. You clean up your place before you ask for money. Zephyr: Has the school board not done that? Manuel: I think the school system Itself hasnt done that to the maximum. You're seeing that nationwide. I would guess In the next 20 to 25 years that public education Is not going to be like It Is now. I think you're going to see a lot of privatized schooling, because they can teach your kid cheaper for the dollar. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Zephyr: Lef a talk abdut economic development What do we need? Manuel: It needs higher paying Jobs. We have lots of work, but If s for 3 to 4 dollars an hour, and thats not going to cut It We need to get solid companies Into Moab. continued on page 15 |