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Show Volume XX Issue VII The Ogden Valley news Page 3 May 1, 2012 Guest Commentary Jobs and Rural Development Should be Farm Bill Priority By John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org Center for Rural Affairs On Wednesday, April 25, the Senate Agriculture Committee began considering amendments to their draft Farm Bill proposal. The proposal should make investment in creating genuine opportunities for rural Americans and their communities a priority. Unfortunately, their initial proposal does the opposite. This proposal increases farm program and crop insurance subsidies for the nation’s largest farms and wealthiest landowners, but slashes investment in rural small business development and value-added agriculture. In fact, it makes no investment in rural development whatsoever. We can, we must do better than this. In today’s economy, it is more important than ever that Congress make wise choices. Under-investing in our future while over-subsidizing the rich and powerful is not a priority that reflects the common good. Under current and proposed federal farm policy, if one corporation farmed my entire home state of Iowa, the federal government would pay 60 percent of its crop insurance premiums on every acre, every year, even in times of record profits. The higher crop prices rise, the higher subsidies for crop insurance premiums rise. They have ballooned to one and one half times their cost just two years ago—higher than all other farm programs. And with no effective cap on how much one large operation can reap, these premiums simply become subsidies that mega-farms use to drive smaller family farms out of business. We face a simple choice, either lavish subsidies on mega-farms, or, invest in rural America’s future. The best choice is obvious. Note: Please contact your Senator and let them know about your opinion on subsidies for the nation’s largest farms and wealthiest landowners. Letters to the Editor Planning Commission Made Correct Decision in Denying Changes to the AV-3 Zoning Ordinance Ogden Valley Residents, the sun is starting to shine! The economy is beginning to pick back up? Must be, because the dreamers are starting to request changes to the Weber County ordinances to meet their own personal needs—not necessarily the needs of the greater community (all of Ogden Valley). Mr. Charlwood applied in January for a heliport with site manager building and appealed the six-month probation. The commissioners approved the appeal, stating that the petitioner had followed the ordinance guidelines that existed when he applied in January. By allowing the heliport, the developer hopes to sell lots. Let’s hope that the rest of the developers in Ogden Valley don’t want helicopters, whirly gigs, or flying pigs, too, as incentives for selling lots. On April 4, a petitioner proposed to amend Chapter 5B of the AV-3 county ordinance (Agricultural Valley, 3-acre minimum lot size). The purpose and intention of the ordinance is to designate farming areas where agricultural pursuits and the rural environment should be supported and protected. This petitioner wants to allow custom exempt meat cutting as a permitted use in all AV-3 areas of the Valley—the predominant zone in the Valley. But this would take an amendment to the zoning ordinances’ Chapter 1, General Provisions, by adding a new definition of custom exempt meat cutting—the petitioner’s definition and purpose! The cutting, wrapping, and preparation of meat for human consumption provided that the source of meat shall be limited to animals that are part of one or more livestock operations in Weber County, and wild game (wild, living in a state of nature—not domesticated). Question: How does meat cutting promote prime ag land and a rural environment? The lead attorney of the Office of Property Rights Ombudsman gave a decision on 11/11/11, basically saying that Jones’ custom meat cutting use is neither a permitted use nor a conditionally permitted use in the AV-3 zone. The Weber County Commission comported with the decisions. Then, the applicant appealed to the Weber County Board of Adjustment on February 22. The BOA voted unanimously to uphold the Ombudsman’s decision. Then, Garret Jones petitioned the Ogden Valley Planning Commission to literally change parts of the AV-3, Part 5B-1-6 zoning ordinance to fit in custom exempt meat cutting. Fortunately, the Planning Commission voted to recommend to the Weber County Commissioners that they deny this request for a change to the zoning ordinance. We hope, now, that the Weber County Commissioners will support their appointed Planning Commissioners in their unanimous decision, thereby preventing the dilution of the AV-3 zone. Sandy Tuck, Liberty Legislative Update 2012 Dear Friends and Neighbors, I continue to fight for reductions in the cost doing business in the State, and we were sucNow that the 2012 General of in lowering the unemployment insurSession has concluded, I’d like cessful ance rate and rejecting costly state health care to take some time to tell you a mandates that take needed capital for few of our accomplishments in greater growth from our business entities. detail. We’ve done a lot of great work Over the 45-day session, the here, and I’d like to touch on just a Legislature passed 478 bills, while few of the things we’ve done. There 764 were introduced. These 478 bills are, of course, thousands of docucorrelate with our majority caucus ments and hundreds of hours of audio positions, which are: 1) fully fundand video available at <le.utah.gov> ing education, 2) no tax increases, 3) First up, our $12.8 billion budget was addressing the structural imbalance, a major undertaking and, subsequently, and 4) paying down the debt. a great achievement this Session. We Not all of our bills passed the made sure that our public education full Legislature; however, there system is being fully funded. A strong a number of bills that the economy requires well-educated skilled Representative were House of Representatives liked Gage Froerer workers and the legislature appropriated that didn’t have enough time to get money to not only fund the 12,500 new students through the entire process: House Bill 87in our public education system, but also increased Billboard Amendments, House Bill 337- Open per pupil funding. The numbers actually reflect Government Amendments, and House Bill an overall 1.15% gain per student, which equates 50- Repeal of Election Campaign Fund and to roughly $200. Tax Return Designation. These bills I also voted for improved student assess- Related be further discussed in the interim meetments to better prepare students for college will that begin in May. The public is invited while allocating money to improve math ings to participate and testify at any of the interim instruction and support excellence at colleges committee hearings, which are held on the third and universities in our State. of each month. State employees will also see new funding. Wednesday was successful in passing several bills that Their increased cost in retirement will be covered, willI have positive impact on the business clias well as a 1% wage increase, which will allow mate in oura State, including House Bill 8, which departments to decide what has the most immedi- will provide funding to maintain our critical govate need. While 1% may not seem like much, ernment infrastructure. I was also successful in we look to other states to find that many are still passing additional enforcement provisions that cutting budgets this fiscal year. Our $400 million- will aide in controlling the ever-growing sale plus budget increase is a great indicator of the and distribution of illegal drugs. You can find strength of Utah’s economy and fiscal policies. entire list of my legislation on votegage.com We also responded to the growth in health the or the legislative web site <le.utah.gov> care, which required a 7.8% increase, or an As always, if you do have any questions or additional $61 million. We’re greatly concerned comments about our legislative process, please about these programs, which, even with reforms, do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to continue to chew up most of your taxpayer hearing from you. dollars. These programs are growing exponentially, and will soon require not only all available Gage Froerer health funds, but will begin bleeding into other House District 8 - State of Utah department’s budgets, including education. gfroerer@le.utah.gov Sons of Utah Pioneers to Visit Construction Site of New Ogden LDS Temple The Sons of 17 at the Ogden Temple site. There will be Utah Pioneers May meeting will be a presentation on the remodeling of the Ogden Temple. The temple missionaries will give an update on the progress so far, what future construction plans are, and answer questions from attendees. Dale Satterthwaite of Big D construction will also be available to comment on the temple construction and remodeling projects. Participants will meet at 6:30 p.m. on May an informal dinner of your choosing after the presentation, which will last approximately one hour. The public is invited to attend this informative presentation. The June meeting is scheduled for Saturday, June 16, and will be a tour of the Evanston, Wyoming railroad museum. A Dutch oven lunch after the tour is has also been planned for this event. More information will be available in the next edition of the paper. For more information, contact Dennis Shaw at denniscshaw@msn.com or 801--745-3369. 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