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Show Page Two - The Pyramid - December 11, 1996 Glauser submits rebuttal, gives Aspen Village history, complaints Commentary Editors Note: The following letter is being submitted without editing as requested by Scott Glauser. The Pyramid does not claim to agree with data and opinions expressed by the author; nor can the editorial staff substantiate his claims as Glauser did not include any documentation with his remarks. Dear Editor: Merrill Ogden & Calvin Hobbes Shopping, wants, dreams nephews wedding took me out of Sanpete and into the land of Mobopolis this past A weekend. Yes, Im talking about Salt Lake City. The bride was from Morgan, so thats where we traveled to the reception, but we stayed over and did some specialized Christmas shopping in the City of Salt. We went to Fashion Place Mall in hopes of finding a Christmas gift. The first swing through the gigantic parking lot yielded the fact that there was not a parking place to be had. After cruising the lot for 10 minutes we miraculously saw someone preparing to depart. We waited patiently for them to free up the parking other hapless spot while would-b- e shoppers looked at us with envy 1 was amazed at the sheer numbeis involved in the shopping scene. I mean, the pressure is not even on yet and people are mobbing the stores like this was their last chance to make a purchase. Once in the flow of the "mall current" I had to spot the store I wanted to go to ahead of time and "swim for shore." At one point, I rested and watched "on the bank of the river of mall humanity." As the stream of people passed by, it occurred to me that most of them probably didnt really need too much for Christmas. By outward appearances, everyone seemed to be and certainly well-fewell-cloth- This article is a rebuttal to the two derogatory articles written about me in The Pyramid, Nov. 27, 1996. To be fair and objective, I will not quote "unnamed sources" or unnamed "residents", as the previous articles did. I will simply state the facts for the record. The history of the Aspen Village Subdivision is as follows: On Dec. 14, 1982, construction of the subdivision streets, utilities, public lighting and fire hydrants is completed. The Mt. Pleasant City Council accepts the subdivision from the developer, Derrel R. Johnstun. Between 1983 and 1989, ten lots are sold. Eight homes are placed in the subdivision. The developer goes bankrupt. All remaining unsold lots passed to the bank and purchased later by Reed Nessan, Salt Lake City. On Oct, 16, 1995, I met with the Sanpete County Building Inspector to discuss building requirements for an RMH zone (Mobile Home Park or Mobile Home Subdivision). On Oct. 17, 1995, I met with Mayor Cheslea (sp) Christensen to discuss the possibility of cleaning up and placing mobile homes in Aspen Village. He seemed very encouraged by my proposal and said that Aspen Village had been a "can of worms" for the city. On Oct. 24, 1996, I attended a meeting of the city council. The siding, roofs, skirting and foundations were discussed. The mayor said as zoning administrator, requirements for manufactured housing units placed in the d. I thought, "I really dont need anything for Christmas. My children really dont need much for Christmas." (They physically grow out of shoes and clothing, so they do need those things on an all too frequent basis.) So the question becomes: Why are thousands of people d out spending their d cash and yet to be cash (for those of us who keep the plastic hot) on stuff that really isnt needed? The answer is, of course, summed up on the word, "want. " Kent, my seven year old, wants 92.7 percent of every toy advertised on the tube. But whats wrong with wanting? My dad used to say that it doesnt cost anything to dream. Whats wrong with getting? Nothing to a point. So maybe I shouldnt think of Christmas only in terms of what people need. Perhaps Christmas is better looked at in terms of what people dream for and yearn for and sometimes get when appropriately possible. The angels proclaimed, "Peace on Earth, Good Will toward Men." Theres a need, a want and a dream we can all strive for without going to the mall.... Merrill hard-earnehard-earne- Lee Michael Porter, Michael and Sherry son of Porter, American Fork, and former Ephraim resident, has been called to serve in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, LDS Mission. He will speak at 9 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 15, in the American Fork Fourteenth LDS Ward, 580 North 600 East. Grandparents are Vernon Porter, Mt. Pleasant; Lonnie and Lola Oliver, Moab. Fairview Seniors FAIR VIEW The annual Fair-vieSenior Citizens Christmas potluck dinner will be held tonight, Dec. 11, at 6 p.m. at the Center. According to Leatha Bohhe, senior citizen spokesperson, meat and rolls will be furnished by the '. center. A program will be presented by Renee Madsen and friends of Mt. Pleasant. This is the only meeting scheduled this month. w What governs actions? Are laws made by man or God, reader asks Lori Cook, daughter of Tracy and Marian Cook, Moroni, has been called to serve in the England Manchester LDS Mission. She will speak 9:30 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 15, in the Moroni Stake Center. Grandparents are Maxine Daniels, Mt. Pleasant, and the late Dan Daniels; Betty and Morris Cook, Moroni. She will enter the MTC Dec. 18. Sanpete's Leading Newspaper THE PHRflmiD (USPS 365-58- 0) Published Weekly at Mt. Pleasant Utah, 84647 49 West Main Street Telephone: FAX: 462-245- 462-213- same! 4 9 Publisher Craig Conover Penny Hamilton Managing Editor Cheryl Brewer Offite Manager Deanna Pate Copy Editor Andrea Lloyd ...... Photographer Staff Writer SUBSCRIPTION Dear Editor: As a concerned citizen of the world, I have been quite taken by an experience of one of our brothers who lives in Fountain Green. His name is not important, but I believe his experience should be an incentive for us all to take a long, hard look at this lifestyle we have so complacently created for ourselves, and our posterity. Our brother was in dire need of a new porch, as the exisiting one was becoming too dangerous to walk on. So, he purchased the materials needed, then tore down the rotted, unstable porch. After many days and hours of hard work, the county building inspector showed up and requested to see his huUding permit. This brother did not have one, as he was not aware that he had to obtain such a permit to just replace an existing porch. He was not adding to his home, nor was he increasing the enclosed floor space of the home. He was fined $3000. just the RATES Is there anything wrong with this pitchure? You bet there is! When did GOD appoint "men" to control the fate of other men?! We have been given certain gifts, and inalienable rights by GOD, meaning that which cannot be given or taken away, why then are people allowing "man-madlaws to govern them"? The laws of the lands are fine, as long as they do not over ride GODs laws and the gifts He has given us. Too many "man-madlaws cause discord. It makes no sense for an individual to have to e" e" (In Advance $20 per year-50- ( per copy get a permit to build on his own property, especially when that property belongs to GOD! Nothing belongs to man! And someday GOD is going to ask all of us to account for the "gifts" HE has given. And that day is not to far off! GOD will grant HIS children the desires of their hearts, even unto their own condemnation. Is this how we truly desire to live? To allow man to control every aspect of our lives, the lives of our children, and our posterity? Can we soon realize, through choice, that if we embrace GOD and the gifts HE freely gives to us, that we can evolve die current system, change our lives, and reshape our destinies? GOD has entrusted us as stewards over HIS children, to love them as ourselves, and guide and protect them. He gave us the Constitution to protect us and our posterity against tyranny. How are we doing so far? Most individuals are sitting complacently in their "comfort zones," waiting upon the Lord to come and save them! What a surprise that will be, and a disappointment to many! How many of us are truly living the Sermon on the Mount? How close are we to a Zion Society when we cant even love our neighbor as ourselves? When we cant stop gossiping about others, and pointing out their faults and weaknesses, and sitting in judgement instead of gently guiding them back into the light with unconditional love? How can we possibly think that the Lord is going to be pleased $23 per year outside Sanpete County NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS BID- - SURPLUS SCHOOL BUSES FOR SALE 84 passenger. Bluebird All American, transit type, transmisgasoline Chevy 427 V-- J engine, differential, 1982. Mileage: 175,752. 71 passenger. GMC conventional. Ward body, sion, North Sanpete, Leah Freeman Dean O'Driscall Snow College Reporter, Ray Truitt v; 445-332- 6 Send change of address to The Pyramid, 49 WestMain Street, Mt. Pleasant, UT 84647. Periodical postage paid at Mt. Pleasant, UT and additional moiling offices. POSTMASTER: transmission, gasoline Chevy 366 V-- 8, 1984. Mileage: 136,065. Buses may be inspected at North Sanpete bus garage, 761 S. 8:00 a.m to 200 E, Mt. Pleasant, Utah 84647, Monday-Frida- y 4 to arrange a time. 4:30 p. m. Call Sherm Strate at Please. submit sealed bid to Claudia Christensen, at North Sanpete District office, 41 West Main, Mt. Pleasant, Utah 84647, by Monday, Decenter 16, at 12 noon. 462-295- with us! He commanded that we love one another, unconditionally, without expectation of what it will gain for us, monetarily of otherwise, as HE has loved us. And to not do anything to another, that we would not want them to do to us. Lets not kid ourselves, we have not hidden one thing from GOD, or our Lord! They know our every thought and desire, so the choice remains with us, as it always has. We are a community here, with an opportunity to become a "city of light". a Zion Society, if you will. Dont you think its time we stop being consumed by each others petty differences, and unite in love, faith, and hope? Otherwise, how are we going to react if one morning we awaken and our only grocery store is closed forever, and all the gas stations, businesses, and banks are also closed permanently? Will we be able to pull together in love and strength, faith and courage, and take care of one another? Will there be enough people willing to share and do for others, unconditionally, whether they are a member of the church or not? Will we recognize and accept everyone in our community as GODs children? Well, we havent done it so far! , We came here to establish GODs Kingdom on Earth, and I would estimate that we are a long way from fulfilling our covenant with HIM. What do you think will be His gift to us on our graduation day? You see, man must change, before Kingdoms can change. We must begin to live by the Lords message, and be willing to take a stand for the gifts GOD has given us. Otherwise, Im afraid we are, all facing annihilation! If there is anyone out there who shares our concerns, please walk your talk now. Hypocrisy and gossip are blasphemy, as whatever one does to one another, or says about another, is doing no lesser to GOD himself! However, if you are an individual who is ready to take that stand, please call 427-354- 6. We are all in this life together, and there are some incredible times ahead for us. Misty Vance Mt. Pleasant city, did not apply to the RMH zone. Permanent foundations, pitched roofs and wood siding were required only for manufactured housing units placed on a regular city lot, and not a zone exclusively for mobile homes. I showed a seven-minuvideo of the homes I would purchase which were all models between 1973 and 1982. I mentioned that I was a computer programmer by trade and had no retirement plan. te To provide for myself in my old age, I had planned on constructing an apartment building in Ephraim, but would do the Aspen Village project if there were no objections. I said if there was any hesitation on the part of the council to let me know now and I would not do the project but would go to Ephraim instead. The council was all in favor and clearly gave me the go ahead. An exact quote from a tape recorded transcript of the meeting is, "There really are a lot of people looking for a place to live... we should go right ahead and work with him as much as possible and as soon as possible. . . " The mayor mentioned that the law should be clarified regarding an RMH zone. My understanding was that foundations, siding and roof issues should be explicitly mentioned in the ordinance as being NOT required. On Dec. 11, 1995, I purchase seven mobile homes shown in the video and the last home arrives in Aspen Village. My waiting-lifor housing is now more than 30 families. Jack Martin, a building inspector and retired resident of Aspen Village, goes under, around and through all seven homes after work has ceased and my employees and I have gone home for the evening. On Dec. 13, 1995, Jack Martin delivers a six page "complaint" to the city council claiming many violations exist on trailers which had not even been installed or worked on yet. Some of his claims follow. My remarks are in parenthesis. 1. Trailers with a Utah Department of Transportation sticker stating the trailer meets ANSI 119.1 were acceptable but trailers with an Idaho sticker stating the trailer meets ANSI 119.1 were not. 2. Mobile home 2 was not acceptable because, "Mr. Scott Glauser stated in the presence of a city council member that he had purchased this mobile home sight unseen." (This home was the most attractive of all of the ones I purchased.) 3. Concrete blocks are required to support mobile homes, cinder blocks are not acceptable. (No mobile home transporter or installer in Utah has ever heard of st ed this.) 4. Removing the springs and axles is a modification of the home, and as such violates the law. (Removing the springs and axles is common practice, and most of the homes purchased by me came without axles.) 5. Mobile home 24 had extra insulation added which is a modification and is a violation of the law. Also this insulation may cause cancer. 6. Hurricane tie downs are not installed. (There was no law requiring these, and they are not commonly installed in Utah. In fact, of the seven homes I bought, only one had hurricane tie downs.) 7. Trailer 2 had copper wire spliced to aluminum wire and this is illegal. (448 words of Martins complaint were devoted to this. Both wires were actually aluminum and the real building inspector passed the connection.) Mr. Martin finally states, "Each time Mr. Glauser has been made aware of something that did not comply, he has chosen to ignore it..." Martin is not a city official, county official, building inspector and in fact is not gainfully employed. I agreed to install the trailers according to standards set by the building inspector and not some retired bozo who wants to be a building inspector. On Dec. 1, 1995, shocked after reading Martins manifesto, the city council votes to not issue any further permits for mobile homes in Aspen Village. On Feb. 2, 1996, I send a registered lettr to Jack Martin demanding he stop all tresspassing on lots owned by me. On Feb. 17, 1996, eight families who had rented lots from me and were unable to move in demand their money back. Ron and Amy Barker, Layton, stopped payment on the check they wrote to me. I lose about $5,000 in rents and deposits. This money would have installed and skirted all my existing trailers. With legal fees mounting I lay off five employees and cease work on the project. On March 3, 1996, under a threat of a lawsuit, Mt. Pleasant City issues a permit for a trailer owned by Joel Diamond, even though the moratorium is supposedly in effect. In April 1996, Jack Martin trespasses no fewer than four additional times telling the police my trailers are now public property. On April 23, 1996, I retain Cohne Rappaport & Segal to represent me and pay Ralph E. Chamness, attorney, to travel from Salt Lake City to attend a city council meeting. At the meeting, Mt. Pleasant City drops the moratorium under threat of a lawsuit. On April 24, 1996, I rehire and resume some employees work on the project. Jack Martin files a complaint with the Utah Department of Commerce, stating that since the b ailers will be for rent they are "public property" and all work must be completed by a licensed contractor. On April 30, 1996, the building a "STOP places inspector WORK" tag on the trailer we are working on. All employees are laid off and work again ceases on the project. We had only worked five days. On June 7, 1996, a citation and fine are issued to me by the State of Utah for working as a contractor without a license. This is done even though I was not working for pay and was working on my own trailers. I refuse to pay the fine and hire the firm of Hanson Epperson & Smith to represent me. On June 24, 1996, the State of Utah, Department of Commerce, drops the citation stating, "...the citation was issued in error..." Out of the seven months, I have worked less than 50 days on the trailers, I decide to abandon the project and begin selling alLlots and homes owned by me. On Oct. 15, 1996, Mt. Pleasant City files in Sixth District Court a "Complaint and motion for temporary restraining order", preventing me from moving any additional trailers into the city, even though I no longer own any lots. They claim among other things that I am the developer of Aspen Village and failed to pave streets correctly. They name violations of trailer 38 which does not and has never belonged to me. On Nov. 1, 1996, a reply to the Mt. Pleasant City lawsuit is filed by my attorney containing the " following . . . Mt. Pleasant City and it Mayor Cheslea (sp) R. Christensen and Ken Chamberlain of Olsen & Chamberlain, while allegedly acting for Mt. Pleasant City, wrongfully filed the Complaint and Affidavit with the Sixth Judicial Court at a time when they knew or should have known that the allegations contained therein were false, malicious and intended to damage and injure Scott Glauser and his business pursuits." The attorney representing Mt. Pleasant City, after realizing the false claims made in the citys cpmplaint, agreed and immediately dropped the complaint and temporary restraining order. The matter is Not being settled out of court as Martin suggested in an article of The Pyramid, of two weeks ago. All I ever tried to do was provide clean, affordable housing for people with lower incomes. The trailers I completed met his criteria. For this, I am blamed for prostitution, arson, burglary, causing property values to go down, failing to keep promises and "causing problems." The truth is that I abandoned the project because of the nonstop interference and harassment of Jack Martin of Aspen Village, trailer 3, and Mt. Pleasant City Council which broke all the promises made to me, doing everything possible to stop the project, after giving it the go ahead. , Scott Glauser Mt. Pleasant The swallows may come back to Capistrano on March 19, but four days earlier is officially Buzzard Day in Hinkley, Ohio to mark the annual return of those birds. |