OCR Text |
Show THE ZEPHYRJANUARY-FEBRUAR- At the county commission meeting where the commissioners made their decision, a brisk discussion ensued. And one person said, "you people are working awfully hard. Maybe we can do something to ease your burden." It was the birth of the Gtizcns for Better Government, the group that organized first the petitioning, and then the campaigning, for the change of government initiative. If the commissioners had held back, they'd be drawing county salaries for years to come. HONORABLE MENTIO- N- Gene Nodine retired from the Bureau of Land Management with a pretty good pension after a long federal career that included 10 years as the Moab District Manager. But the political bug, apparently chomping at him for years, finally took over this Autumn when he decided to get into public service (as opposed to public employment) So he looked around for a way to serve, and chose the Grand County Roads Special Service District. Bad choice. True, road district board members are paid, unlike hospital board members or mosquito board members, or any of the other appointed boards in the county, and nobody can understand exactly why, except that they want to be paid and have the power to give themselves salaries. But even so, the amount they get in per diem for attending meetings and mileage for driving to them seldom results in more than $400 or so a month. Gene happened to get on the board at the very time that the road to Vernal was coming under the heaviest scrutiny since the announcement in 1989 that the county was going to commit millions to the project. And Gene became the point man for the project, barraged with questions about why the road was a better way to spend the money than improving schools or health care. One could develop some sympathy for him, if one did not realize that Gene is not dumb, and understood exactly what he was getting into. Y PAGE 17 1993 DECISION BY AN ELECTED BOD-Y- The Grand County Board of Education, following up on their decision to extend the school week from 4 to 5 days, built upon that important step by instituting, and carrying through on, a nationwide search for the most professional administrative staff available. The workings of the school system since then has been decidedly different The best teachers don't feel as hamstrung, the best students don't feel as deprived of opportunity. But the board has a long way to go, in moving down to the next levels, the students who aren't doing as well, and the teachers who aren't working as hard. The board deserves the thanks of us all, and the encouragement that difficult decisions they make in the future will be supported by the taxpayers. BEST It's been a special year for all of us. But for me it has been the best ever, without doubt, question, fantasy. 1992 has been the year of the family, the year of the child. I was given the chance to reaffirm love for a woman so odd, so quirky and so outrageously exdting. And I have the opportunity to welcome into the world a youngster, who will look to me as we all have looked to others for security and knowledge and inner strength. 1992 was a damn good year, and a harbinger of better ones to come. r Bus. (801)259-593- 0 Fax (801) 259-593- 0 Toll Free (800) 842-662- 2 COLDUIGU: BAN Kiel? V. ARCHES REALTY MOST INTERESTING STATE POLITICIAN TO VISIT MOA-B- Election years bring them all down from the Wasatch Front, for the local party conventions, fundraisers, and campaign stops. 1120N.HWY 191 Everyone from the new governor to the obscure and erratic candidates whose only dream is to speak to any group unlikely to actually stand up and walk out. Many of these career politicians are interesting and lively conversationalists, raconteurs of the first order. But the best of them all was state Republican Party Chairman Bruce Hough. He was funny, open, and more than willing to banter with friend and foe alike. And he had the amazing ability to say, with a straight face, that Richard Harrington was a credible Republican candidate to run against Democratic Congressman Bill Orton. WORST POLITICAL PROGNOSTICATO- R- Ken Davey, based on his uncanny sense of the pulse of the people, predicted that Rick Hover would be elected commissioner, the hospital referendum would pass easily, and, in a dose vote, the change of government would lose. But don't say anything about it to him, he's kind of sensitive. -- 4V-V OF FORMAL LOGIC AND THE EINSTEINIAN CONTINUU- M- The county commission was looking at granting approval for a proposed subdivision in Spanish Valley. Developers of such a project must post a bond to guarantee that infrastructure will be installed, so homeowners don't find themselves stuck in the future. The law requires either a cash bond, or a real estate bond, putting up a piece of property not connected to the development itself, so that if the developer goes broke or runs off, the infrastructure can be put in regardless. This particular project called for homes to be constructed in phases. Asked commissioner David Knutson, "Is phase one related to phase three?" BEST MERGING TIME-SPAC- E VJ- short time, Cherie Gilmore has developed a seamless is and envied cadence that style by the rest of us. She has moved away to fulfill family sparkling obligations, a loss to us that is tempered by the fact that she remains a regular contributor to this paper. Someday soon, when her books are published to critical and popular acclaim, maybe shell come back to autograph a few copies. BEST ZEPHYR COLUMNIS- T- In just a 1 MOAB PART-Y- There are some who claim the Moab Boogie is still the event of the Others year. say the Fat Tire Festival Halloween bash can't be beat. But the most meaningful in 1992 was the (me held by the Natural Bridge and Arch Society last March. And the reason for the quality of the event was the guest of honor, Ed McCarrick. His retirement move here from New Jersey was the just the beginning of a new career as a counter of arches at Arches National Park, both as a park employee and as simply a lover of the desert. I le steadfastly denied the charge that on occasion he helped nature along in the job of creating the natural wonders that have made this region famous, insisting his kicks it the side of rock openings fractions of an inch smaller than the standard set by the NPS for an arch were nothing more than knocking off some dirt Ed's unique syntax and logic were welcome wherever he traveled, and his appearances at public meetings where he succinctly and accurately categorized officials as a "bunch a bums were always appreciated. Ed died just weeks after the party, losing a painful battle against cancer. But his grace and dignity in those final months helped all of us deal with the loss. BIGGEST LOSER DURING A LANDSLIDE VICTOR- Y- Peter Haney ran a model campaign for county commission. He spoke to groups, he went door to door, he ran informative and opinionated political advertisements. And he won, big, defeating Rick Hover by 600 votes and Sam Cunningham by almost 1,000. And he gets to serve on the county commission for about 50 days. Then he has to do it all over again, in a run for the county council. BEST get-togeth- er Excellent opportunity for the right person. A profitable 8 unit bed and breakfast. Two units arc 2 bedroom and 6 units are bedroom. All with kitchen and all have had some remodeling. All are in veiy good shape. One block from the center of town. Owners are asking $325,000.00 and e to arc willing to finance to the right parties. Please call Arches Realty now for more information. toll-fre- t JANUARY 5 (THE PRIMARY) DO YOU USE SOLAR ELECTRICITY? Say YES if you make long distance calls or use a solar calculator. Now that you've got your feet A, think about: well & irrigation pumps, remote homes, cabins & RVs. . LOCAL SALES AND SERVICEINFORMATION Cvsr 2510 MOAB, UT 84532 (801) 259-76- Professional design & installation Equipment competitively priced SOLAREX authorized dealer 38 m .th." f r - yi J? ' i. j, - |