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Show Volume XXIII Issue XV The Ogden Valley news Page 3 September 1, 2016 Guest Commentaries The Challenge of Safety & Security and Public Funds By way of some history, Weber County Sheriff’s Office employees have experienced a tediously slow increase in wages over the last several years. Wages in this market, however, have increased creating quite a dilemma for the Weber County Sheriff’s Office. That being said, the Sheriff’s Office has been frugal in its approach to expenditures, understanding the responsibility of managing public funds. As an example, the Office has eliminated several positions over the past five years. In addition, the Command staff of the office has been cut by 1/3 and first line supervision was cut by another 12%. These changes have resulted in budget decreases of nearly $1 million. During a time of additional unrest and burgeoning societal changes across our country, with the nature of the targets on law enforcement, it is imperative now to do the right thing and appropriately compensate Sheriff’s Office staff. Citizens ask law enforcement to risk their lives to save others, and, sadly, the loss of law enforcement lives happens daily across this nation. No amount of pay will compensate for the loss of a loved one in the line of duty, but Peace Officers accept this risk and love their jobs. To preserve individual freedoms and liberties, it is imperative that there are noble law enforcement officers to maintain order, decency, happiness, safety, and security. Employees in the Sheriff’s Office are taxpayers, too, and no one likes tax increases. However, Sheriff’s Office staff are acutely undercompensated. Weber County Sheriff’s Office staff have been leaving at an alarming rate. These employees have been transferring to other agencies that offer better compensation packages. They are compelled to leave to better provide financially for their families. This has resulted in tremendous time and cost to train new staff that has become increasingly difficult to recruit. It is, however, critically important to train, mentor, and teach our Law Enforcement Officers the personal attributes necessary to build the very best public safety officers out there to serve all citizens they come in contact with in order to build and maintain the public trust in the community. Please support the Weber County Commissioners at this difficult time as they consider the much needed, critical increase in pay and wages for Weber County Sheriff’s Office staff. Thank you, Weber County Sheriff, Terry L. Thompson I Encourage All Americans to Join in Standing for What is Right As a former Air Force officer and pilot, I held a top secret security clearance. Now, as a member of the House Committee on Intelligence, I am trusted with overseeing and safeguarding some of our nation’s most sensitive information. I have read Hillary Clinton’s emails and she truly jeopardized our national security, while willfully breaking the law. I feel a sense of duty to speak out against her actions and to do all in my power to ensure she is held accountable. Each time you have chosen to send me to Congress to represent you, I have taken an oath of office to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. The Constitution is the basis for all other laws created by Congress, including the very laws that Secretary Clinton blatantly acted against. Some individuals say this issue is merely a Republican witch hunt in order to prevent Secretary Clinton from being elected as president. However, this is not an issue of Democrat versus Republican, or of Hillary Clinton versus Donald Trump; it is a matter of right or wrong, of legal versus illegal. We are a country based upon laws and Secretary Clinton knowingly violated those laws, while diminishing the trust that Americans have in our system of government. For these reasons, she must be held accountable; Hillary Clinton is not exempt from the law. From the first patriots of the American Revolution to today’s service members and intelligence community, many Americans have died protecting classified information from falling into the hands of our enemies. Yet, Mrs. Clinton carelessly placed her own “convenience” above the law. Not only has Mrs. Clinton thumbed her nose at us, she has thumbed her nose at those who have fought to preserve and protect this nation from our enemies. I assure you that I am doing all within my power to ensure she is held to the same standard that you and I would be held to; she is not above the law. Americans know this and that is why 67% of us do not consider her to be an honest individual. Sadly, it is likely the current administration will give her a pass. If that is the case, then her day in court will be on Election Day. I will not be silent on this issue; I will exhaust all options to hold her accountable. In encourage all Americans to join with me and stand for what is right. Sincerely, Christ Stewart, U.S. Representative from Utah’s Second District ATTENTION VALLEY RESIDENTS! WE HAVE SPENT THE LAST TWO YEARS , . . . $$ OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND COUNTLESS HOURS ON A GENERAL PLAN UPDATE. VALLEY CITIZENS, IN GOOD FAITH, HELPED DRAFT THE FINAL PLAN THAT CONTAINED MANY COMPROMISES ON OUR PART. NOW, AFTER A BRIEF TIME, THE THREE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, NONE OF WHOM LIVE HERE, ARE GOING TO MAKE A DECISION ON “OUR” PLAN. AGAINST THE EXPLICIT RECOMMENDATIONS MADE IN THE PLAN, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW DENSITY BONUSES AND TO CONSIDER VALLEY-WIDE SEWER AND WATER SYSTEMS. BOTH OF THESE OPTIONS MEAN THAT WE WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO HOLD THE LINE ON DENSITY. Attend the public hearing: TOMORROW—TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, in County Commission Chambers, 10:00 A.M. NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST THE RELEASE OF FUNDS September 1, 2016 HUNTSVILLE TOWN 7309 E 200 S PO BOX 267 HUNTSVILLE UT 84317 801-745-3420 These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by HUNTSVILLE TOWN. REQUEST FOR THE RELEASE OF FUNDS - On or about September 19th HUNTSVILLE TOWN, will submit a request to the State of Utah, Department of Workforce Services, Housing and Community Development Division (HCD) for the release of Community Development Block Grants Funds (CDBG) under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (PL93-383) to undertake the project known as the HUNTSVILLE TOWN WELL DRILLING PROJECT for the purpose of drilling a well in order to develop and construct a redundant potable water source. The total estimated cost of the project is $247,900. FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT - An environmental review for the project has been made by HUNTSVILLE TOWN and is available for public examination and copying at the HUNTSVILLE TOWN HALL, 7309 E. 200 S., Huntsville, UT, Monday and Wednesday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Based on this review, HUNTSVILLE TOWN has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment and hence an environmental impact statement will not be undertaken under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). PUBLIC COMMENTS ON FINDING - All interested agencies, groups and persons disagreeing with this determination are invited to submit written comments to HUNTSVILLE TOWN, PO Box 267, Huntsville, UT 84317 by September 16th. All comments should specify which Notice they are addressing. RELEASE OF FUNDS - HUNTSVILLE TOWN is certifying to HCDD that James A.Truett, Mayor, in his official capacity, consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to environmental reviews, decision making, and action; and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. The legal effect of the certification is that upon its approval, HUNTSVILLE TOWN, may use the CDBG funds and HUNTSVILLE TOWN will have satisfied its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and other environmental responsibilities listed in 24 CFR Part 58. OBJECTIONS TO STATE RELEASE OF FUNDS - HCD will accept objections to its release of funds and HUNTSVILLE TOWN’S certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are made on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the HUNTSVILLE TOWN; (b) HUNTSVILLE TOWN has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; (c) HUNTSVILLE TOWN has committed funds or incurred costs not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before the approval of a release of funds by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; (d) another Federal agency, acting pursuant to 40 CFR part 1504, has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures of 24 CFR Part 58 and shall be addressed to Cheryl Brown, State of Utah, Department of Workforce Services, Housing & Community Development Division (HCD), 1385 South State, 4th Floor, Salt Lake City, UT 84115. Potential objectors should contact Cheryl Brown at HCD to verify the actual last day of the objection period. James A. Truett, Mayor of Huntsville Town, Environmental Certifying Officer Final Notice of a Potential Impact to a Flood Hazard Area Huntsville Town will be committing discuss all mitigation measures to be undertakU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds, under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (PL 93-383), as amended, to undertake a project known as the Huntsville Town Culinary Water Transmission Line Replacement Project. The specific elements of this proposed project are that the Town will abandon, in place, the existing waterline and install 4,000 linear feet of 8 inch PVC pipe. The proposed action, if implemented, will impact a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA); reference Panel #49057C0500F. The purposes of this notice are to: (1) inform the public of this commitment; (2) identify the reasons why the proposal must be located in the floodplain; (3) provide a list of the alternatives considered; (4) en to minimize adverse impacts and to restore and preserve natural and beneficial values. Details concerning the proposed project are available for examination/copying at the Huntsville Town Hall located at 7309 E. 200 S., Huntsville, UT on Mondays and Wednesdays between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the proposed project to: HUNTSVILLE TOWN PO BOX 267 HUNTSVILLE UT 84317 All comments must be received no later than September 9, 2016. Gail Ahlstrom, Clerk/Recorder Huntsville Town 2015 Consumer Confidence Report for Nordic Water Company is available for review in the office located at 4794 East 2600 North, Eden, Utah. For more information, call 801-745-2605. |
