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Show Lakeside Review Lakeside Tuesday, Opinion Reported irregularities in the handling of economic troubles Da- vis counties have resulted in the resignation of two county officials in unrelated incidents. Former Davis County Treasurer Michael Porter resigned almost two weeks ago after the Davis County Commission announced it had requested an investigation into his handling of a duplicate tax payment check for $5,639. By JOANNE R. MILNER In a separate incident, former Weber County Assessor Steven Bexell resigned March 23 after he admitted to cashing $30,000 in checks made out to a county account. When the checks were returned by the bank for insufficient funds, he placed them in a desk drawer. Bexell has repaid up to $ 1 9,000 of the money he said he needed to pay medical and other personal expenses. No charges have been filed in either investigation. Both cases involve public funds and public officials handling of public funds. The Lakeside Review randomly asked several in informal interviews what steps passers-b- y could be taken to ensure similar situations dont arise in the future. Cora Wilcox, Las Vegas, Nev. If you cant trust peoples word, its a bad thing. We need to realize that when we sign things we need to be accountable for it. If theyre that kind of men in government think they need to be replaced. But why does it take so long to find out what then I Lake City State representative, Life is a gamble. In this game of chance, each individual player must calculate the odds, the risks and benefits of his or her decisions. Some are winners, and some are losers. So as an active participant, policymaker, and a proponent of choice, why am I opposed to pari- STREET TALK The county has requested the Weber County attorneys office investigate the incident where Porter was given cash on Dec. 18, 1991 for one of the tax payments made by the Freeport Center and Ryder Trucking for the same warehouse. Porter told the county commission he deposited the money into a county account Jan. 28 of this year. A county press release said that according to Porter, he was holding the money from the duplicate tax check until he was instructed by Ryder or Freeport as to what to do with it. 1992 3 Betting no cure for What about handling of public funds? taxpayers funds in Weber and now in April 28, mutuel betting? GUEST COLUMN cash it or even deposit it. Maybe there could be some kind of accountability that way, which would just protect the county or whatever entity it is because two people would have to sign it. Of course, it would be harder to get two people to lie rather than just one. Don Holman, Sunset city recorder There are internal control techniques that have been developed in the accounting profession that should, if they are applied properly, stop that kind of thing cold. Things like making sure all cash should be deposited every day by any entity. It goes right in the bank, nothing is ever held out. And exactly what you took in, not approximately. Every dime you take in goes in the bank each day, thats one thing. And then there are internal audit things. You can have surprise counts, a lot of techniques. You know who the real experts from internal control are? The casinos in Las Vegas, Reno, and Atlantic City. They are the ones that have become true experts in internal control. And theyve set the standards for the rest of us. Under the circumstances, I think the resignation was the least they could do., theyve done for such a long period of time? In years past we didnt have to worry about things like this because your word was as good as your bond, but evidently it doesnt hold that same way today. They should do Hartley Winget, Roy what they were elected to do. I wasnt too fond of the way he (Bexell) jacked the price up on recreational vehicles, doubled the taxes on them. When you vote them in, you would have thought theyd wanted to serve the public, not themselves. In Bex-el- ls Randy Olsen, Fruit Heights I from what understand, he situation, had some real financial problems and here was an opportunity to pay some bills, which was dishonest. It wasnt right, it was wrong. How are we going to cure that kind of thing, I dont know. Hopefully, the voters will get good people in there. The whole system is set up so that its our choice, were the ones who put them in. As far as Porter, I know in my own business, there has to be two signatures on any check thats ever cashed. It cant be just mine. I cant go in and sign something and When you look at circumstances behind the one in Ogden, its tough to think they were in the position to feel they had to go that route, but its still not a solution and it shouldnt have been done. It shouldnt have happened. I dont know how a person could ever, ever do the job to anybodys satisfaction after disclosing that. Theres no way the powers that be could trust him to do that job. Its unfortunate that that was the only thing he could do. With Porter, it may be a different situation but, and I hate to say this in public, it sounds like more stupidity than anything. There wasnt that much money involved. If what he said was right, the dumbest thing in the world was to cash that check. If he wasnt going to send it right back, he could have at least held the check. If youre going to hold something, hold a check, not cash. Like if it was in his desk, what if someone else got to it? Then where would you be. I wasnt Susan Armstrong, Layton of the situation but I dont think any- aware one should willingly do anything with money thats not theirs. Improve the checks-and-balan- system. First, parimutuel betting is not a panacea for economic woes. With the onset of a national recession, the state of Utah must look for via- ble means of diversifying its econo- my previously dependent federal military and aerospace on con- tracts. Tourism is a reliable way of economic development. It is a clean, profitable and revenuegenerating industry. The Great Salt Lake and other popular state and ng national parks in Utah lure millions of visitors each year. It would be wise for the Legislature to subsidize this industry, appropriating monies to rural areas for the planned development of hotels, motels, restaurants and visitor cen- ters. Second, gambling in any form is a regressive mode for generating revenues. While some may claim racing a voluntary tax, empirical evidence shows that gamblers are drawn disproportionately from the class. Gamlower bling is a deceitful means for desocio-econom- ic pleting essential resources of desperate people. Glamorized gaming legitimizes wealth without work. A basic principle of economics is TNSTAFL: Theres no such thing as a free lunch. You cant get something for nothing. Someone must pay, and unfortunately its those who can least afford it. Discretionary money drawn to racing may be diverted from other goods and services which generate revenue from the sales tax collected. Parimutuel betting taxes are an unreliable source of revenue and are declining in many states due to competition from other forms of gambling, such as lotteries. An increasing widespread acceptance and tolerance of gambling improves the environment for all forms of legalized gambling. The negative aspects of pari- -' mutuel gambling would outweigh financial benefits. any short-terThe costs are not always counted in terms of dollars. Accompanying the gaming industry is a host of social ills. The impact may not be a dramatic change in lifestyles, but may be developed over a period of time. Several states with legalized gambling are now being asked to appropriate monies for the treatment of compulsive gamblers. In addition, other states have experienced an increase in illegal forms of gambling, organized crime and violence. As fragile as our natural environment is, so to is our quality of life, and thats something we cannot afm LETTERS ! ll mii . the child. That was 9 years ago. 1 completed high school. We are still married and we enjoy our daughter as only parents can understand. It I I would like to respond to the guest hasnt always been easy. BUT IT columnist, Beverly Dailey, from the HAS BEEN WORTH IT. ! Every time 1 hear someone talk April 21, 1992 edition of the Lake-- ; side Review. about abortion, I look at my daughMs. Dailey failed to mention a ter and know that it would have very important option for women been the biggest mistake of my life had I made any other choice. And ; who do not wish to raise the child it would have been murder to have she is pregnant with. ADOPTION. I am not an LDS male. I am a destroyed this precious mind and woman who does not spirit. ; I do not expect anyone to keep a : belong to any one religion. But I child they do not want or can not , have a very personal reason for not . agreeing with abortion. I was an afford. But once a woman becomes ' unwanted pregnancy. You see I pregnant, I do expect her to accept ! was adopted. I dont know who my the responsibilities of their action biological mother was and I havent and for 9 months think of someone I looked for her, but if I was to see else. I would want to say one thing There are thousands of people j her ! to her. Thank you for letting me who would do anything to have a child to raise and care for. Adop) live. I She went through a very rough tion is not shucking off your probtime to allow me to be born. I have lems on someone else. It is giving no doubt of that. The family I was the most precious gift to someone that anyone could give. Sometimes i given to wasnt perfect. They were not rich, and my parents divorced you must put your faith in God, when I was around 10. But they, and believe that the best is going to j ' still did the very best they could, happen to yourself and your child. ' and I was happy growing up. I have Whoever cares for it. became a productive adult. I work, If my biological mother had depay taxes to help support this coun-- ; cided to have an abortion I would try, and try to make choices that not be here. J make it a good place to live. Name on JUe But 1 can also see the issue from ,. the other side. I became pregnant at thc age of 16. And I was faced with decision of what would be the best for all. I considered abortion. 1 am I cannot believe ' - But I saw it only as an easy way the state outraged! and Recovery Services has out for me. I then had to decide the nerve to take money from the 1 whether to keep the child or give it children are supposed to help! ' up for adoption. 1 had no education The courtthey has ordered each child be but I did have a partner who loved awarded a specific amount of child me as much as I loved him. support every month. Why does ; We decided to marry and keep this state and the entire county for Adoption an option for pregnant women , 'the 4f Recovery Services fee hurts children that matter, always punish the children for the shortcomings of adults? Please, can someone ethically exparent plain why the isnt charged the $3.50-$- 7 fee instead of the child? After all, it is the fault of the parents that Recovery Services exists in the first place? Since when does the local, counal al ty or state departments have the right to override the court? Where is the separation of powers? Many parents need the support money in its entirety. The $3.50-$- 7 charge each month could mean not having enough milk or food or the other necessities the money is supposed to help insure for these chil- dren. Single parents with children are already the majority of citizens below the poverty level. Why is the state and Recovery Services feeding that trend? This is just another example of children taking the rap for governments idiocy. Judy Coran Kaysville Libertarian philosophy can work well in Utah It has come to my attention that there have been at various times, and still are, contentions among the people concerning a certain sect, known as the Mormons, of whom there are a great many in your land. And therefore I send you this epistle, to exhort you to follow this plan, which will bring much of the contention to an end. And I would exhort you to choose for your leaders of the civil government, the best of the Libertarians among vou. It is written in the apocryphal books of the Bible, in the story of Bel and the Dragon, wherein Daniel proves that the idol named Bel is not a living god, even though food that was placed before it would always disappear overnight in the locked temple. Daniel proved, by putting ashes on the floor and finding footprints the next day, that the high priests were sneaking in with their families through a trap door and devouring the feast. Now there are many who would discredit the religion of the Mormons, much as Daniel discredited the Babylonian mythology. Now if you should find a temple consecrated to idols, and the pagans beat evil spirits out of their misbehaving children to appease the angry god, does not nature itself tell you that these pagans are doing evil? But if you see little children sitting quietly as their parent reads them a book of mythology, and the parent is a loving and caring one, and you see the curious baby pointing to a picture in the book, does not nature tell you that this is precious? Therefore, let them be; for they are doing good works, and they do not violate the rights of anybody. And there is no difference, if they teach their children that the living god dwells in the pagan temple or in the stellar system called Kolob, as the Mormons believe. (This thing is written in the third chapter of their Book of Abraham.) And to the members of this sect called Mormons, I exhort you to call the best Libertarians among your communities, to be your elected civil government officials. Verily I say unto you that no Libertarian would have attempted to use the force of government to crust the principle of plural marriages. And to threaten to confiscate a sacred temple, the same being private property, unless these persons discontinue a practice which violates nobodys rights, would be an abomination to a Libertarian. And there are yet some men who have more than one wife, even today, and the Libertarians would not forbid it with the force of law. Now a church is a voluntary as- sociation of individuals, and as such, it may accept or expel members according to its charter. Therefore, no action of the government would prohibit excommunication of persons with plural spouses. And if a woman is impelled to obey the Law of Sarah, and be an obedient wife to a man with more than one wife; or if she is compelled by God to do so, it makes no difference, so long as she is compelled by no mortal. But if she will leave her husband and he pursues her, and seizes her, and brings her back against her will, then he has kidnapped her, and he should surely be punished in penitentiary, even though he claims that God has commanded it. And if you, being of that sect called Mormons, should say, I will let the others teach what they will, but not to my children; for in those schools evil things are taught, contrary to the laws of God; and I will not let my little ones fall into the snare of Satan," then again, I exhort you to select the best Libertarians from among your community, to be your leaders of civil govern- mCnt Tom Alciere Nashua, N il. ford to gamble with. The Lakeside Review asked state Rep. Joanne Milner to write about her position as an opponent of parimutuel betting to provide an opposing viewpoint to a column by a Utah horse breeder published two weeks ago. Proponents of horse-rac- e wagering are collecting signatures statewide in an effort to get the initiative on the November general election ballot. GOVERNMENT DIRECTORY Clearfield City Council Mayor Neldon Hamblin 9 Home 825-583- E. Gene Fessler Home 825-55Patricia Seach 4 Home 825-077- Paul E. Poorte 6 Home 773-291- Diane Layton Home 825-78Don Ormsby 5 Home 773-801- Clinton City Council Mayor Steven Weller 9 Home 776-079- Dennis Simonsen 8 Home 825-841- Arverd Taylor 3 Home 776-086- Bruce Stokes 6 Home 773-508- Kenneth Barlow 5 Home 773-841- Walt Hokansen 6 Home 773-437- ; |