OCR Text |
Show u w . Page Six - The Pyramid - February 11. 1998 Moroni council hears audit report by C.R. Truitt MORONI Gary Keddington and Brent Christensen, city auditors gave the annual auditors report at the Jan 28, city council meeting. Keddington told the council that the city did an excellent job with their books, showing a remarkable improvement and went on to explain audit findings. The only serious finding was an unexpected higher sales tax revenue, other unexpected revenue income and smart department spending that threw the city over their budget more than the allowable five to 18 percent by the state. Keddington further explained, at length in bookkeeping terms, ways the city could handle and keep this problem from happening. He said it was an easier problem to deal with than being short. Keddington mention the separate checkbook accounts belonging to the 4th of July, Heritage Committees and others that cause a reconciliation problem, although he said the city did make remarkable progress in this area. He suggested the city take a more formal approach to reviewing the accounts and include the committee's bills with the citys. Purchase order findings were good, but not perfect, having four purchase orders out of 25 that didnt have a purchase number. He stated this was better than most cities which showed that Moroni is keeping track of their expenditures. Segregation of duties was also mentioned. Keddington said this finding happens on most small cities and the only way to bypass this finding would be to triple the number of office employees, which is totally unfeasible. City hears hospital report still undefeated MT. PLEASANT In action this week, it was The Hooners defeating Ison Stilsons beat Lee Drywall 56-4Dental 59-4with Chad Moore the leading scorer with 27 points. three-on-thr- 7. Nike Attack over The R.J.S. Connection 78-3with Joe Allan the leading scorer with 35 points. Stilsons beat Sanpete Steel with Dusty Cox the leading scorer with 22 points. Lee Dental beat D.J.S. TruckThe Hooners over The ing 49-4R.J.S. Connection 64-5with Todd Jorgensen the leading scorer with 46 points. Ison Drywall defeated JCI D.J.S. Trucking beat Sanpete Steel 46-3with Shane Sherman the leading scorer with 25 points. Dilweeds beat JCI 22-1Nike Attack over Dilweeds. 7. 54-3- 3. 0, 29-2- 2. 6. USFS to hold public meeting Local food bank still needs more EPHRAIM The U.S. Forest Service proposal for the Manti Area Recreation Fee Demonstration Project will be the topic of a public meeting Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 7 in the Utah National families we see only every other Guardp.m., MT. PLEASAN- T- It started located at 525 Armory month, but others are more reguout in the basement of a home West 100 South, Mt. Pleasant. lar, monthly or weekly. When and later moved to a cramped The meeting is scheduled to you are a family of eight or 10 discuss how the issues raised classroom at Wasatch Academy. and out of work, you just can't have Now. for the first time in nine been addressed and to presmake it," she states. "A couple of ent the revised Forest Service years, the Sanpete County Food boxes of macaroni and cheese do Bank has a home of its own at proposal for the fee project, not go far. " 1080 South State. to a Forest Service The food bank obtained its according While the spaciousness of the press release. new building through a grant and For those who are unable to building is a welcomed improvereceives federal financial aid. attend the ment, it brings a new set of meeting but would like However, it must share federal additional information or to make challenges for food bank volunteers. funding with food pantries in six comments on the fee project other counties. "Every dime of In addition to finding enough contact the Ferron-Pric- e federal money is used to purchase proposal, food to meet clients needs. Mary Ranger District offices in food and it simply is not Price at Goodwin also must figure out 7 or Fer-ro- n (435) how to pay for things like elecenough," Goodwin says. Now at (435) that there is a building to maintricity and heat. Beginning this summer, a fee "It is wonderful to have the tain, things will be even tighter, will be collected for recreational she It will be much easier adds. building. use of National Forest land in the to assist families. If we can manThe food bank needs more Manti area of the Manti-L- a Sal assistance, both in food and National Forest. age to get the utility bills paid, well make it. but it will be a dollars. It accepts all types of Under a new law passed last struggle," Goodwin states. "Our food donations as long as it is not the Omnibus Consolidated year, clients have built up to a level home canned, even fresh proRescissions and Appropriation that we are at a crucial point duce. "We take anything and ), Act of 1996 (PL the financially. We are constantly everything," remarks Goodwin. Recreational Fee Demonstration looking for funding." Local organizations often sponsor Program was conceived to test Goodwin has run the food food drives. "We desperately the feasibility of a bank for eight years. It supplies depend on that," she explains. cost recovery program for recreFood bank volunteers also hold things like peanut butter, tuna ation areas on Federal lands. fish, packaged foods, canned bazaars and other fund raising The Manti-L- a Sal National goods and fresh produce. It is run events. Forest selected the Manti area to All proceeds go to serve the entirely from volunteers. be one of 100 such areas included "It began as an emergency number of clitest program, in the three-yea- r food pantry for people who were ents. The food bank is making which is authorized through out of work," explained Goodabout 48 home deliveries a month 1999. September win. In the beginning, an average to places as far away as Axtell. Under the Fee Demonstration of about 15 families a month in addition to those it serves from 100 percent of the Program. were assisted. "It has steadily Mt. Pleasant. Even with that revenue generated will be reGoodwin worries, "I know there grown since then," she continues. turned to the Manti area where it Now, the monthly clientele is are people we havent even will supplement Federal appropriwell over 225, and many of them touched who need help, especialations and be used to improve are large families. "Some of the ly seniors." visitor services, maintain and enhance recreational facilities and protect and restore natural resources. The state capitol m Little Every man takes the limits c The proposed fee area encomhis th field of for vision own Rock, Arkansas was built to look limits passes world. of the approximately 260 square like the U.S. in just Capitol miles, 166,400 acres, of National Arthur Schopenhaue Washington, D.C. Forest land on the FerronPrice Ranger District of tne Manti-L- a Sal National Forest, which is about 21 percent of the Manti Division. The area includes Huntington Canyon, Millers Flat. Joes Valley, Grassy Lake and Petes Hole. The fee will be collected for all dispersed d and for camping winter parking in selected areas. Generally, those who are not camping or winter parking andor engaged in an activity for which (1 they have a valid special-us- e permit will be exempt from the recreation fee. There will be no fee for summer such as hiking, Magnum 4x4 and picnicking. There will fishing 199798 New MSRP also be no fee to use State Roads MODELS 1997MSRP NovDec 97 Magnum 29, 31 or 264. $5949 $5199 'Magnum $4799 Public meetings have been $4299 Sportsman 400 $5799 $5299 Xploier 400 held in Price, Castle Dale, Eph$5799 $5009 Xploiei 500 $6449 $5999 Xpiess 400 raim, Provo and Salt Lake City $4599 $4199 Boss $3599 and a great deal of public input $3199 Scramble! 500 $5699 $5499 Sportsman 500 $6749 has been collected regarding the $6499 Xpress 300 $4099 $3939 Blazer $3349 proposal. $3199 Xploier 300 637-281- 384-237- a 2. by Murphy-Marti- n MT. PLEASAN- T- City Council members passed several new ordinances and heard reports from the power department and hospital during its Jan. 27 meeting. The council unanimously passed a new ordinance on cigarettes and tobacco since there was no opposition from the public at the public hearing held prior to the council meeting. Other ordinances that were passed were the Telecommunications Excavation Permit and Irrigation Impact Fee and the Franchise agreement. Right-of-Wa- y, Power Kent Kummer gave the quarterly power department report. Councilman Blackham asked for an update concerning the health of Power Superintendent Anderson. Kummer replied that Anderson is recovering slowly from knee surgery. Kummer explained to the council that a goal of the department was to deal with potential safety problems. Since the last report, 13 meetings on safety have been held with the power department personnel. Additionally two department employees are enrolled in schooling to improve safety performance. The downside of Kummers report stated the hydros are running, but they are running about $18,000 over budget due to unexpected breakdowns. Hospital report George Winn, Sanpete Valley Hospital, appeared before the council with the hospitals annual report. The hospital board is making an attempt to keep the communities that it serves informed of the status of the hospital. The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. -- Albert Einstein Winn reported that changing demographics have the largest impact on the hospital. He said approximately 90 percent of all health care expenses are incurred during the patients last year of life; and that in this country about 40 million people are uninsured with no solution in sight. He cautioned that rural hospitals by their nature are very fragile. Winn also wanted the community to know that Sanpete Valley Hospital is the only rural hospital in the state that has a family practice residency program. Councilwoman Jarrett raised the question to Winn about a rumor that the hospital is plancare. ning to reduce long-terWinn stated there was no truth to the rumor. He said the hospital is alive and well, operating in the black, and serving more people than ever before. It has acquired a general surgeon and other services include home care, home makers, two respiratory therapists, one respiratory technician, a sleep study program, a CAT scan, an updated ultrasound and the Select Med Insurance program. Public comment Jon Schuhmann appeared before the council to thank the mayor and council for their combined support in the special election. He especially wanted to thank the city for funding the mailing of 1,800 brochures to promote a "yes" vote on the ballot. A citizen complained that the Spring City veterinarian. Dr. Loomis was not the veterinarian at the dog clinic held Jan. 24. Mayor Christensen said it was his decision to bring lots of local business people into Mt. Pleas- m ant. It was reported that 66 licenses were applied for at the clinic compared to 137 last year. The council promised to look into the issue. Miscellaneous Approval was given for the extension of the current Animal Control Officers contract and approved a $100 per pay period raise for the officer. Councilman Larsen met with business owners in the Main Street area to hear their concerns about increased vandalism and graffiti. Larsen proposed that the police department increase its daily patrol of that area especially during the hours between 3 and 10 p.m. Mayor Christensen will take up the matter with Chief Kay Larsen. The Planning Commission gave its approval to a mini office mall to be a part of the Cedar West property on State Street. The council set a public hearing on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. in the City Hall Blue Room. A bid came before the council from D. Hansen to take over the citys Human Resources including Risk Management and payroll. The council will take the bid under advisement. NS FFA to pick sweetheart MT. PLEASAN- T- The North Sanpete High School FFA Chapter is celebrating FFA Week, with the theme, "Building the Future", which was also the one used at the national convention in Kansas City. Activities include hat day, wrangler day, official dress day, farm vehicle day and an assembly to be held Friday, Feb. 13, at which time the FFA Sweetheart will be crowned. On. Saturday, Feb. 14, from A camel needs little water 9 to 11:30 p.m., Valentines because it sweats very little and Day, the Sweetheart ball will be keeps most of the water that is in held in the commons area of the its body. high school. ere are two things you can count on every winter: 104-134- user-generat- -- Save up to $750 on Polaris ATVs Cold weather and Mickey Morinaka. year-roun- And neither is the reliable service they get from Questar Gas and Questar Gas technicians like day-user- s, Mickey Morinaka. Weve seen our customers through this type of weather for over 60 years. And, as long as winters continue to be 4x4 2x4 Trail Trail $4699 We PgBLRiians RIDE THE BEST Garrett Service Inc. aoo no63 North Main Nephi, anytime: Freezing temperatures are nothing new to people around these parts. a $4849 Give Questar Gas a call cold, you can count on Mickey and all of us at Questar Gas to keep your home warm and safe. can replace auto glass in a flash . . . for less 0Rock Chip & Glass Windshields. Vent Insurance Claim? We can handle it! Christiansen Glass & Paint 1 Pleasant .1 951 S. your home You have no heat You need a pilot lit or an adjust- ment to any natural gas appliance You need 6 the gas meter turned on in your new home You need advice from an expert about your natural gas service or appliances Repairs OSide, Back You smell gas inside or outside State, Mt. (801)462-243- The new name for Mountain Fuel. Questar Gas can also help you find a qualified contractor for major repairs. $ 6 (800)834-243- 6 i M- |