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Show I Progress of County Cited by Retiring County Commissioner i Burton H. Adams of Pleasant Gi'ove retired as a member of the Utah County Board of Commissioners Commis-sioners on January 1, after six years of continuous service. He did not seek re-election last November. Novem-ber. During his incumbency, he was associated with the following commissioners, for the length of time indicated: Verl Dixon, four years; Clark Elmer, four years; Reed Kmidsen, two years; and Sterling Jones, two years. In commenting on the changes and accomplishments in Utah County during the past six years, Mr. Adams said, "I have served one-third of the total years of service ser-vice of all five of my fellow commissioners; com-missioners; but I do not expect more than one-fifth of the credit, if that, for what has been done.'- In a brief summary of the projects pro-jects initiated and the accomplishments accomplish-ments made by the County Commission Com-mission during the past six years,' Mr. Adams recalled the following: 1. We got Utah County out of the dog house on the Federal Housing Hous-ing situation. 2. The City and County Building has been cleaned and renovated, and the sewage and heating de- fects corrected. The outside walls were scraped and a hardening solution sol-ution applied, with a ten year guarantee against further deterioration. deter-ioration. 3. Succeeded in getting Utah County set up to meet future flood devastation. Worked with water users of Hobble Creek relative to channel preparation to meet emergencies; emer-gencies; but to no avail. 4. Sold the Utah County Slough Farm, which formerly brought in only $200 yearly rent, and bought acreage on the hill east of the County Infirmary; which can be used for present and future development de-velopment of Utah County's needs. 5. Built the Utah County Youth Home with no additional tax levy 6. Changed the policy and improved im-proved the facilities of the County Coun-ty Infirmary, so that it is now operating as a modern rest home for the aged and infirm. 7. Established a weed eradication eradica-tion program, based jnn the premise prem-ise that every property owner should have an even break. This has lead the way to a general clean up. 8. Established a program of microfilming mi-crofilming of county records; thus cutting the proposed $1,000,000 insurance in-surance coverage of the City and County Building to half that amount. We now have adequate filming and ample insurance. 9. Initiated benefits to County employees, which have now culminated cul-minated in .Social Security. 10. Adopted a 0.3 mill levy to provide good roads to our recreational recrea-tional areas. 11. Placed Utah County's tax receipts on interest -for the first time; thus effecting an earning of several thousands of dollars each year. 12. Secured a requisition with top priority under the Hill-Burton act, which gives Utah County access ac-cess to building materials at five cents on the dollar, and up to 50 percent Federal participation in the erection of a new Utah County Coun-ty Infirmary. When asked why he filed for election to the 1955 Utah State Legislature, Mr. Adams stated, "Because I knew the needs of my constituency and I was willing to sacrifice a well-paying job in order to do my bit in obtaining legislation legisla-tion badly needed on the local level. lev-el. I was beaten badly in American Amer-ican Fork and Provo,, where the newspapers can take the full credit cred-it and I am not bitter toward them or their management even at that. I certainly appreciated my vote from my local people. Three out of four votes, which was the highest in the County. I shall ever be grateful to my friends and supporters." sup-porters." Mr. Adams was the recipient of a surprise party immediately after af-ter terminating office wherein the heads of the departments and office of-fice workers showered him with some very nice tokens of remembrance. |