| OCR Text |
Show The Garfield County Insider January 14, 2010 muummuway _IIWESCAIIANTE1 EXPI Harriet Priska attended the City Council meeting and reports: • The city worked with Kurt and Diana Richens about their broken water line due to the water construction project; • Dustin Schaible, Wildlife Biologist from the Utah Div.of Wildlife Resources outline the procedure for surveying a community to determine if the deer population is a threat to "public safety"; • Councilman Allen reported on the Escalante City Airport project. The new cost is $1,000,000 and the city share is $80,000 $30,000 more than originally projected. • Had a discussion on snow removal and the possible purchase of a "bobcat" to plow the sidewalks. Merchants were reminded that they are responsible and liable to clean their sidewalks by 9:00 AM, according to City Ordinance. • Mayor Taylor appointed Councilwoman Torgersen to oversee buildings, and parks. The agenda for the planning and zoning meeting brings Kate Vining back for a full permit for her "new place" at 115W 300 N. A new business in town, Escalante Backroads Shuttles and Tours is seeking a business license from the City based on their location at 110 N 690 W. Their state license shows Lloyd Edward Hart as the register owner/ agent and Diane Moscone is the person requesting the license. Ttheir NAICS code is for Other Amusement/Recreation. A new chairperson is also on the agenda. Harriet wanted everyone to know that Cory Jensen, Architectural Historian of the Utah Div of State History, will be in town this weekend to resurvey the properties and determne our eligibility for Historic Designation. If you see him and his wife Chris, please say hi. I was listening to the BBC one afternoon and heard an interview of James Lovelock regarding his recent book "The Vanishing Face of Gaia". They referred to him as the 'father of the environmental movement in Great Britain', and wondered how he could come to the conclusion that Nuclear Energy is the cleanest and we should be building new plants as fast as we can. That prompted me to purchase the book and read his theory for myself. His premise is based on the earth, which he calls Gaia, and it's ability to take care of itself. His premise begins with the statement, "the earth has been dying since the beginning of the industrial age". When discussing some of the solutions available he warns, "Don't for a moment believe the sales talk that these (wind and solar scams) will save the planet. The salesmen's pitch refers to the world they know, the urban world. The real Earth does not need saving. It can, will, and always has saved itself, and it is now starting to do so by changing to a state much less favorable for us and other animals. What people mean by save the planet is save the planet as we know it', and that is now impossible." On the other hand, Thomas I. Friedman wrote "Hot, Flat and Crowded", the #1 Non-Fiction of 2009. He agrees that there is much to be done to promote and develop "clean energy", but he looks to government to create financial incentives for corporations and energy NEW "TWIST" IN THE LAW Changes Make it Easier to Qualifi, for Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, and Chubby Checker, Grammy Award winner and rock and roll legend, today launched a new campaign to inform millions of Americans about a new "twist" in the law that makes it easier to qualify for extra help with Medicare prescription drug costs. The extra help program currently provides assistance to more than nine million senior and disabled Americans -- saving them an average of almost $4,000 a year on their Medicare prescription drug plan costs. To apply for extra help, there is an easy-to-use online application available at www.socialsecurity.gov. "The changes in the Medicare law that take effect this month will allow hundreds of thousands of Americans who are struggling to pay their prescription drug costs to get extra help during these tough economic times," said Commissioner Astrue. "I am thrilled that Chubby Checker has volunteered to help us spread this important message through a new television, radio, and Internet spot as well as pamphlets and posters." "Listen up, America! For 50 years, people of all ages and backgrounds have danced the Twist," Chubby Checker said. "Now it's important everyone learn about this new twist in the law. Check it out at www.socialsecurity.gov." To qualify for extra help, people must meet certain resource and income limits. The new Medicare law eases those requirements in two ways. First, it eliminates the cash value of life insurance from counting as a resource. Second, it eliminates the assistance people receive from others to pay for household expenses, such as food, rent, mortgage or utilities, from counting as income. There also is another important "twist" in the law. The application for extra help can now start the application process for Medicare Savings Programs -- state programs that provide help with other Medicare costs. These programs help pay Medicare Part B (medical insurance) premiums. For some people, the Medicare Savings Programs also pay Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) premiums, if any, and Part A and B deductibles and co-payments. To learn more about the extra help program and to view the new TV spot featuring Chubby Checker, go to www. socialsecurity.gov/extrahelp. companies to build plants other than coal fired, including nuclear and wind/solar. "If you take only one thing away from this book, please take this — We are not going to regulate our way out of the problems of the EnergyClimate Era. We can only innovate our way out....." How does all this affect us? Alton Coal Mine. At a time that corporations are looking for additional supplies of affordable coal, citizens have mixed reactions to the plans. Yet there is not the intestinal fortitude in Congress to place a higher gas tax or fuel tax to push industry to develop other means of producing clean electrons (energy). Roughly 30% of our greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector. The rest, according to Mr. Friedman, comes from the electron creation in America which is 50% from burning coal, 20% from nuclear energy, 15% from burning natural gas, 7% from hydropower, and 2% from burning wood and geothermal, solar and wind sources. If we're not going to burn coal, what are we going to do to provide America with enough electrons for industry, jobs, families, heating and cooling, etc. Mr Lovelock thinks "it is absurd to think that we can alter the Earth's response in our favor by using wind or solar voltaic energy at its present stage of development. " ...you would have to build a nuclear power or coal-fired power station for each of these monster wind farms to back up the turbines for the 75% of time when the wind was either too high or too low. " Mr. Friedman wants government to set standards and regulations that will give corporations certainty in order to invest in new technology. In addition, he wants the rules created that require electric companies to allow for an exchange of information for smart homes to be created. These are just the thoughts of two men in different countries, each with a different focus on the problem. Each has a number of valid arguments and there doesn't appear to be a right or wrong answer. But climate change is here to stay unless the earth decides to resolve the problem herself. Time will tell. Until next week - - - OPEN SWIM Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 6-8 pm Saturdays: 2-4pm LAP SWIM Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 6-7 am Tuesday: 6:30 - 7:30 pm Thursday: 5-6 pm Saturday: 8 - 9 am SWIM TEAM Tuesday & Thursday: 3:15 - 4:30 pm LUCKY TO LIVE IN PANGUITCH Yes, I feel lucky to live in such a wonderful community where people know you by name and always inquire into how you are doing, etc., where people are willing to help out when you need the help, where we have a great hospital and schools, clean air and water and where volunteerism is beyond comparison. We are all lucky to live in such a community. Because of this good fortune I feel compelled to respond to the recent two articles written by Justin Fischer. The first article was written under his position as Economic Development Director for Garfield County, therefore, his comments in that article must be taken as endorsement from the county. The second article was written from the perspective of an area resident expressing his personal sentiments. In the first article "Making Lemonade from Coal?" the statement was made "how did these elected officials keep their jobs?" Answer is simple, the County Commissioners waited until end of December,2008 (after elections in November) to write their letter to Alton Coal Development and OGM that they supported the mine. The Mayor of Panguitch wrote his letter endorsing the mine in Janaury of 2009 — he lost his bid for reelection. Fischer further states "In my position as Garfield County Planner and Economic Development Director, I have worked with elected officials from all over the County, especially the Garfield County Cornmission. I have never seen these officials turn a deaf ear to anyone. They listen. They are empathetic. They make choices with great deliberation, seeking the greatest good for their constituents." HOWEVER, after a meeting several of us had with the Garfield County Cornmission, Mr. Fischer wrote a letter dated May 7, 2009 to one of those in attendance. This is a direct quote from that letter "I have seen how boards react to people with complaints. It has been my observation that those who are reputed to be opposed to most things are generally humored and then largely ignored." So is this empathetic and is there great deliberation taken before making choices? In this article Mr. Fischer further states that pollution comes from coal burning not coal mining. Research strip coal mines and then you will see his statement is false. Strip coal mining is the dirtiest form of mining. In fact, a comment made from Utah DWR to OGM states "Another issue of importance concerns the coal dust impact on water quality. Haul trucks, if not properly covered, could produce large quantities of coal dust potentially impacting aquatic life inhabiting Asay, Kanab and Mammoth creeks, as well as the upper Sevier River. We encountered similar problems along Salina Creek when the SUFCO mine began heavy hauling resulting in layers of coal dust entering the creek." This dust devastated the fish in this creek. Take a drive on 1-70 from Richfield to Moab in the winter and notice the color of the snow from Salina to the turnoff to the mine (about 15-20 miles to the east) then look at the snow after you have passed the mine turnoff. You can't say the coal dust does not leak or come off of those trucks. The black snow is evidence of this. You will be breathing it. No matter how you figure it — 300 trucks a day is 12.5 trucks per hour or a truck every 4 or 5 minutes. Also, the economic development director suggested you stand at the corner of Main and Center Bobbi Bryant, Panguitch and count the trucks. I have and these trucks will mean an increase of more than 30% more traffic. I must point out that when double tandem trucks turn at that intersection heading north they are forced to make an illegal turn — they need to go over into the south heading turn lane to navigate the intersection. How is that safe? Alton insisted a new road be built around their town at the expense of Alton Coal Development so the trucks will not be coming through their town. ACD is doing it. Why are we accepting letting these trucks come through our town with their noise, pollution illegal turns and possible endangerment to foot and vehicle traffic. Don't we matter? Speak up and protect what you have. "The impact on Panguitch will be increased truck traffic. It should not be forgotten that logging and oil trucks before them were a common site here. The town was no less special for it." stated Mr. Fischer in his last article. He failed to mention that those trucks were coming through town PRIOR to the improvements on highway 20. The significant increase in truck traffic through our community since highway 20 was improved is noticed by residents and commented on by visitors. Why should we bear the burden of these coal trucks? In his first article Mr Fischer states that the mine will create 50 new jobs for the Panguitch/Hatch area. In his second article, dated December 24th, he mentions 50 to 150 jobs in Panguitch. Folks it will not be either of those. I welcome you to look in my files and see what is said about employment from this mine. The mining company stated in the Southern Utah News that this mine could possibly create 90-100 jobs at the mine and there will be 50 trucking jobs that goes to an outside contractor. That contractor is located in Cedar City, UT. So let's say there are 100 jobs from the mine. Take Alton, Kanab, Orderville, Glendale, Hatch and Panguitch as communities that will get jobs. That equates to 16.5 jobs per community. But I would do you a disservice if I did not mention that many of the unemployed miners in this state will come looking for those jobs. Wait, will we really get any of the jobs? Here are statements made from officials in Kane County. In a Salt Lake City Tribune article dated 12/21/09 Kane County Commission Chairman Dan Hulet states "It would definitely benefit the county (Kane) by bringing jobs that pay a good wage. It is what we need." Mark Habbeshaw, Kane County Commissioner, wrote in his letter to OGM dated May of 2008, "The economic benefits to Kane County as a coal producing county will be of tremendous benefit to the County, its residents and property owners". Of course, Kanab will not be burdened with the truck traffic. David Litvin, President of Utah Mining Association states in his letter to OGM dated May 16, 2008, "I am writing on behalf of the 120 companies which comprise the Utah Mining Association in support of the Coal Hollow Project in Kane County, Utah. The project will bring much needed employment opportunities to Kane County. The local Kane County economy will benefit from the money spent to develop and operate the mine and to truck the coal to Cedar City." Representative Mike Noel states in his communication dated May 13, 2008 "Kane County and the State of Utah will benefit greatly from the production of 2.5 million I tons of coal from this field. This funding helps reduce property taxes and income taxes for my constituents (Kane County)." He also states that Panguitch will bear the burden of the trucks. Alton Town Mayor, Claren Heaton, wrote in his letter dated May 9, 2008, " We appreciate the fact that the impact on our community (Alton) will be the addition of jobs to our lagging economy providing jobs in our depressed county (Kane) to families who want to 'come home' to live. We feel that this mine will be beneficial to all of our citizens (Alton) and we hardily endorse it." So do you see the writing on the wall — Kane County and Iron County will greatly benefit from this mine. Who is looking out for Garfield County and how are we being protected? Ask your county commissioners that question. I researched the OGM website and counted the amount of letters supporting the mine (15 and most of them lived in Alton or Kanab — 2 from Garfield) and those opposed to the mine (91 and most of them are from Garfield County) so I don't believe those concerned about the mine are in the minority as Mr. Fischer claims. Will the coal be used for electric power in Utah? That seems to be the assumption of many in the area, however, ACD has admitted that some of this coal will be going to China. 43% of the coal produced in Utah goes to California for their power. Coal generated electricity will go to the highest bidder that is just basic economics. There is no guarantee we will see any of this coal used for power in Utah. Sadly, in both articles Fischer feels it is necessary to divide the community into those who have moved here and those who were born here. He claims that certain individuals want to push out the families making Panguitch a quaint retirement community. Has he studied St. George, or Sedona and Prescott, AZ and looked at the influx of retired people to those cities and how those cities have flourished. St. George is still in the top 3 cities in Utah for growth — new schools built, a new airport being built and an abundance of shopping, eating experiences, theaters,etc. The snowbirds moving to that area helped it become the thriving diverse community it is today. Mr. Fischer claims that those who oppose the mine are people who have moved to Panguitch to retire. This is an erroneous statement. There are many people who have moved here and work full time (myself included) at the hospital, schools, local grocery, drugstore and shops, restaurants , motels and convenience stores who oppose this mine. It is just not retired people. In fact, most of those I know who are concerned about the mine all work and volunteer in this community. Justin issued a challenge in his last article "Some will surely have an issued with the coal mine. I issue them this challenge: bring your resources and experience to bear in helping to create 50 to 150 jobs in Panguitch that pay at the least the national median wage." There are numerous individuals who do have the resources and experience to help create jobs for the area BUT Mr. Fischer this is your job as Economic Development Director. That is why you are paid a salary which is well above the national median wage so the challenge is yours. As I stated at the beginning of this article "I am lucky to live in Panguitch". We all are-let's work together and make it a community of positive long term growth for each and everyone of us. |
