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Show PAGE 18 THE ZEPHYRJAN-FE- 1996 county would they belong? They would continue to be the minority and should they choose to join the "white" county, they would be in even deeper trouble. And Blanding itself. As a great proportion of the residents of Blanding are Native Americans, would the city itself be annexed to the south county or would it join the northern county? Or would the city itself be split between the two new counties? Native Americans have a great interest in Blanding. Both the San Juan Campus of the College of Eastern Utah and the Edge of the Cedars Museum were started with Indian funds. The Indian peoples have a heavy investment in Blanding and they don't want to lose it. And would the northern communities of the county join the split? Would LaSal or Spanish Valley or the new community of Pack Creek join the movement? Or would they vote to set up their own county government. If we carry their logic further, why not split San Juan County into three counties: the southern, the central, and this northern. Then we could all have governments like miniature Piute County. Or something like Daggett County. We could gerrymander as much as we like. It is possible that some northern communities may find it more favorable to break away and annex to Grand County. This was tried once before and it failed. (Grand County has its own division problems. Should the town of Green River, which lies both in Grand arid Emery, adjust its lines too? Possibly Grand could give up Green River and obtain Spanish Valley and Prick Creek in return in a wholesale trade.) Maybe it's time for county boundary adjustments state wide. Governor Leavitt should select a boundary commission. And further, we should analyze the advantages and disadvantages of being a small populated county. Splitting the county two or more ways would put it on par with such counties as Piute or Daggett The new county, let's call in "Monticello County," could even possibly end up being the same area size as Piute or Daggett It might be workable with a citycounty form of government Maybe we could even end "city states." up with a bunch of ancient-lik-e And back now to aboriginal and sacred lands of the Indians. What is their place in this whole scheme of things? The extension of reservation boundaries, through purchase or by federal or judicial decrees, may be an answer prior to new county designations. At least this should be considered and studied in detail. It must be assured that the unique trust relationship between the government and tribes are maintained. It is possible too that the Indian community could purchase certain public or private lands or property in either county and place them in trust in order to protect Indian interests. This would effectively remove the land or property from a fee status to a trust status in which no taxes would be forthcoming to either county. And the county would have no regulatory power over that land. From San Juan County ... Around the Bend ' (Again) Ken By B Sleight SPLITTING SAN JUAN COUNTY San Juan County is in bad straits. Problems seem insurmountable. Poverty is rampant Most of the residents in the northern part of the county are prospering, and those in the southern part are falling further into poverty. The County is made up of over 5A Indian residents and most of them live within the Navajo Reservation. Most of the whites inhabit the northern part of the county. Racial and discriminatory policies still persist in certain areas. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer shades of Chiapis in Mexico. And the gap between rich and poor is ever widening. In no sense of the word do we have a unified society in San Juan County. We are a society of diverse cultural and economic groups. The poorest members of the county society are the Indian population. The more wealthy white community lives to the north of the Navajo Reservation where there is more economic activity - more firms and more jobs. The northern part of the county is able to tap into Community Impact Funds having garnered millions of dollars in the past. The people living on die reservation have received nothing from this source am in favor of any study that will add to our store of knowledge and guide us in making wise decisions. This study should be an economic, educational, and cultural study that encompasses many factors. But though I favor constructive studies, I fiercely oppose splitting the county into two or more segments. Should there be ah actual election, there will surely be a "race war and an "economic war." The situation is smoldering now. Surely there is a better way. ever. The assessed valuation of the county shows that there has been a drop of over 50 percent since 1984. Revenues from property values are falling. Oil production revenues have taken a big drop. Already basic human needs are not being met Sure to be hurt are the welfare of the children, the homeless, the elderly, the disabled, and the mentally ill. With the drive for deficit reduction by Gingrich's Congress will come cuts in welfare, food assistance, housing and programs. It is doubtful that the state would cover all of the losses. The county school district has failed to build certain needed schools and is now being forced into educational equity by lawsuits filed by Indian residents. More is in the offing. The threatened federal budget cuts will cut deeply into San Juan's economy. It is possible that San Juan County could become another Orange County if things aren't fixed. We're down to the bare bones now. It's that bad. I job-traini- ng PUBLIC EDUCATION Dividing the county would surely have an effect on the county school district Already the county is small in terms of its student population. Division would probably mean creation of two of the smallest school districts in the state. Cost of administration would skykrocket Problems would remain. The need for better educational facilities on the reservation and the construction of a high school at Navajo Mountain is at the critical stage. Last spring, Judge Bruce S. Jenkins, ruled that the San Juan School District, the State of Utah, the federal government, and the Navajo Nation had a duty to educate the children at Navajo Mountain. But at this point nothing seems to have been decided as to just how that is to be done. While a number of county officials are pushing for splitting the county, there are d others challenging the construction of the high school at Navajo Mountain. In the Blue Mountain Panorama of Oct 24, 1995, reporter Becky Joslin quotes State Representative Keele Johnson of Blanding as saying, long-standi- ng SPLITTING THE COUNTY Now comes a proposal to solve everything. Simple - "throw the bums out" (meaning the Indian poor). "Make them so mad they'll want to get out!). There have been elements for quite some time now that have advocated splitting the county. There are a number of northern county residents that would spin off the Navajo Indian Reservation from the county for whatever reason. So county officials decided to take the step and ordered a study as to whether splitting the county would be feasible and what ramifications there might be. It was arbitrarily decided to use the reservation lines as the division point. In the beginning the talk was just to have a study and then to analyze the data in detail. This should have taken some time for such an important issue. But now, it seems county officials will hurriedly use the study as a springboard to an actual election this coming year. Approval of the voters in each effected area would be required should there be a split. But the northern white commissioners, Ty Lewis and Bill Redd, are indeed in a hurry! Mark Maryboy, the Indian commissioner is not in such a hurry as he opposes any split. The County Commission has budgeted $63,000 for studying the proposed division. It has budgeted $131,000 for election costs, up $45,000 from the 1994 election year budget. Proponents of the split have envisioned a county split arbitrarily on reservation lines. That is what is being studied now. But some opponents already have stated they will not accept this. Indeed, there will be challenges to any split But should there be a division, numerous questions will surely be askol. Why not draw the lines on other factors, such as and including traditional or aboriginal lands still claimed by the Indian peoples? . Lines, some say, should be drawn just south of Blanding and include these Others would aboriginal lands. Some have said the line should be drawn at extend the line to include the Bears Ears area. Some say that should there be a split, and that existing towns or communities should be allowed to vote which county they desired to join. Would Bluff or White Mesa then join the south? As there is a sizeable number of Native Americans living in Blanding, would Blanding vote to join the south? White Mesa (the Ute Indians) must be recognized as a unique entity. These people have tong been dominated by white interlopers. The situation there has already exploded. Splitting the county wouldn't help them, only make it worse. To which U-9-5. court-ordere- "The last thing we should be considering right, now is building a new high school in Navajo Mountain. With welfare reform how many people are going to be able to live there? People are going to be moving away...They've done nothing to develop an economy down there in the private sector and now with the public sector collapsing there are not going to be any jobs... We may not have any students there in a few years. . We now know where he's at. So why the continued resistance? Resistance just means more suits. More litigation. More money spent. The court's have ruled: "do it" So let's get it done. After all, its our children's welfare we're talking about There is no doubt that the district needs help in financing better educational facilities. Fine schools have already been built in the north of the county. However, now that the north has been taken care of, there is little effort to complete desperately needed school construction on the reservation. (Even some schools now there were built after court orders. Foot dragging all the way.) And Representative Johnson's quote quite epitomizes a e attitude. He is in a position to do something about it. County officials and school district administrators need to become advocates in finding ways and means of getting that funding. It can non-car- be done. Splitting the county is not going to help. The problems will still be there. COLLEGE OF EASTERN UTAH There are other factors to consider. What effect an actual county division would have on the College of Eastern Utah, San Juan Campus is unknown. However there would need be great changes. At present the San Juan Campus is dependent upon |