Show yl y'TyilTV j A2 Sanpete Gunnison Sentence (Continued from A I ) The council also discussed the possible expansion of the 9010 funding — its share of the 10 percent percent of the shared appropriations Airport noted that the Hermansen pansion could be a ex- done Richard Nay a local doctor private pilot and airport the at was meeting manager and said he was impressed that the airport has improved from due to almost being disrepair 20 years ago to being a potential “hotspot” for air traffic The airport already accommodates personal fixed wing and Life craft crop sprayers Dr flights The mayor said there is land available for an expansion but not the funds The airport could qualify for a 9010 funding program through the state however if the municipalities create a plan for the airport which projects usage over the next years Hermansen said that with a plan and if Salina could come up with 5 Flight In other action Eric and Theo Christnesen were granted their business license for Color Country Gifts moving up from St George to 145 N Main Street in Gunnison (Continued from Al) He elaborated on that last Friday As prosecutor in the case Blackham wanted to ensure a felony conviction against Hansen Blackham admits that he was concerned about a defense strategy that Hansen’s attorney Ron Yengich had raised over a technical issue Adjudication of that issue threatened to delay the case significantly Further Blackham says that another defense for Hansen was that she may have had permission or believed she had permission to do what she did to some extent (He says that there may be some credibility to that claim although there is not an active investigation into the allegation It does remain an “open con- cern” however) Not wanting to risk losing by going to trial Blackham was willing to bargain away the prospect of jail time in order to get guilty pleas from Hansen the case Messenger Al) the Sept 5 issue of the combined Messenger papers passed the 3 (XXI mark with approximately 3200 subscribers The Sun currently has 570 subscribers and Dean expects this from Lora Fielding said The papers will also offer a special advertising rate says Dean (Continued “An advertiser can place an ad in any of the papers for $475 per column inch Then the advertiser can add one more paper for an additional $150 per column inch or two more papers for $300 per column inch The advertiser will get one bill from the pper where he or she placed the ad” Dean explained Last month Sanpete News Cfi celebrated a milestone when -- — the deal airport could be seeing more traffic including commercial operations in the future and the runway needs an expansion from its present 3800 feet to 4300 to accommodate increased and larger aircraft number to increase “We think the Sun is going to expand to more towns and become a real powerhouse” she said “With the combined power of the Messenger and the new Sun we’re starting to organization move into the big leagues of weekly newspapering in Utah” Dean said Sanpete News Company Inc publishing the GUNNISON Sanpete VALLEY EDITION MESSENGER Member Utah Press Association Deadlines Post Office & nvL " Contact Information UPS 232 - 020 Copyright Sanpete News Company Inc ©2004 All rights or transmittal of all matter herein is served Reproduction prohibited without prior written permission of the publisher Published each Wednesday for 75e each $2400 inside Sanpete County $2700 outside Sanpete County by Sanpete News Company Inc 35 S Main Manti Utah 84642 Likewise he says the other entities involved in the case had objectives that preempted desires to punish Hansen with jail time Ephraim City wanted to be sure that there was a felony conviction that involved Ephraim City funds says Blackham Ephraim city manager Richard Anderson confirms that and explains the city’s reasoning First he says a felony conviction allowed the city to terminate Hansen’s employment without the threat of a wrongful termination suit Second since Hansen as city clerk had been bonded a felony conviction allows the city to make a claim against her bond to recover the money she took The landfill has no such recourse however as Hansen was not a bonded employee there says Doug Bjerregard mayor of Mayfield and chairman of the Sanpete County Landfill Cooperative Therefore one of the landfill’s priorities was for Hansen to repay funds taken from the landfill as quickly as possible Blackham says that this was the purpose of requiring Hansen to pay $30000 in restitution before her sentencing as a condition of a recommendation “This is not a done deal until the sentencing is done and the appeal period is over” he said “If she doesn’t come up with the $30000 all bets are off” Promises aside Blackham points out that the plea document does not contain everything that will be included in the final sentence “There will be a whole bundle of things I fully expect there will be substantial community service” He also indicated that mandatory counseling may be an option and that there will be several probation conditions Blackham has taken heat for to recommend that Hansen’s convictions be reduced after her proba- offering to misdemeanors tion Defending this action Blackham says that it is the right of a defendant to request such a reduction if all sentencing and probation requirements are fulfilled “I can’t remember a time when one of those requests wasn’t granted” he says Based on his experience Blackham says he knew that Ron Yengich the noted Salt Lake City attorney who is defending Hansen would demand something in return for the prosecution's demands Jail time was the only real bargaining chip because of the complexities involved he maintains “All three of us got part of what we wanted What we had to give up was jail time in order to get that” “The thing this case has pointed out is that you cannot put too much financial power in the hands of one person” says Blackham “This case resulted from abuses that came from too much power and too little oversight It should serve to teach cities to follow proper protocol to observe the checks and balances set in place” This lesson has apparently been learned by Ephraim City which is tightening up its moneyhandling policies (See related story page 2) However it is a hard lesson learned a little too late Phone fax publisher: suzannesanpetemessengercom stflfiea to: newssanpetemessengercom ads to: lloyd sanpetemessenger com Deadline: Thursday 5 pm 9 am to 6 pm Manti: 35 S Main Hours: Periodicals Postage Paid at Manti Utah 84642 and at additional mailing offices POSTMASTER: Sanpete Send address 35 S Mam Messenger changes Manti Editor & Publisher Associate Publisher Senior Reporter to: Utah 84642 Suzanne Dean Lloyd Call Hales John Hales Jacque Marsh Sean Assignment Reporter Office Manager Administrative Assistant Webmaster Editorial Assistant Lintlsay Kogianes Kelly Hancock Ben Fox Staff Manti Ftn Green Gunnison Centerfield Axtell Judy Chantry C R Truitt Darlene Agren Elva Jensen Audrey Boore Moroni Mayfield Spnng City Staff Writers Sports Writers Margaret Amy Holly Nicholes Erika Johnson Kathy Eggleston Bob BahlmannDoug Johnson Jeff Ericksen Craig Cox and Coaches Bob Bahlmann Sean Hales Vern Buchanan Peter Goss Russ Beck Roger Baker Corrie Lynn Player Contributing Writers Jana Wahlquist Karen Buchanan Anita Photographers Columnists Shirley Bahlmann Lyons Sfoct 9 9 Royal West (Continued from Al) Arts Day Students of the martial arts school in conjunction with students throughout the country will attempt to set a world record for the number of kicks performed in one hour The funds raised will be matched with a grant from Tanner Spencer and Benjamin Agren enjoy playing on naval gun in Gunnison City Park The Gunnison American Legion Post is planning to spruce up the World War II weapon Gunnison Park WWII gun to get makeover By Darlene Agren Staff writer GUNNISON— The American Legion Post 104 of Gunnison has decided the World War II naval gun mount at the Gunnison City Park needs a new paint job this year Although still legally the property of the US Navy the American Legion has been keeper of the gun since it first acquired the war relic 45 years ago After World War II the US government had a surplus of de- militarized artillery items Melroy Peterson Jr and Lester Hill applied to the government for a gun On January 22 1959 the gentlemen drove to Clearfield and picked up the Gun Mount Twin which came from a World War II Naval ship The cost of the gun is $47250 and as the invoice states “remains the property of the US Navy and is issued on a loan basis” The late Edward Anderson was the Legion’s war adjutant and the late Don C (secretary) Anderson took care of the cement footing the gun rests on These men felt it honorable to make this gun available to Gunnison Valley to help memorialize and preserve the war The Legion largely consists of World War II veterans with a few Korean and Vietnam War veterans as well The gun originally rose up and down but it was welded tight when a youngster was injured and the Legion worried about future injuries Children from all over stop to enjoy a spot in the control seat of the gun and many have spent hours climbing on it Leslie Edwards of Gunnison has been hired by the Legion to restore the gun by power washHarsh winds ing and repainting and rain have caused the gun to weather but the American Legion hopes a fresh coat of paint can help preserve this surviving piece of the war which in turn can survive in the memories of those who visit it at Gunnison City Park Swimming pool will need 400 swimmers a day to break even By Judy Chantry Staff writer MANTI — The Aquatic Board and its financial advisor received support from the city council at their meeting on Wednesday Oct 6 to request additional funds for the proposed community swimming pool project from the Community Impact Board (CIB) and from another lending institution Melanie Jenkins with the Aquatic Board and financial advisor Kristine Parker of Zions Public Finance reported to the council on the progress of acquiring Republican Candidate for Sanpete County Commissioner ceptable Furthermore Parker suggested that a General Obligation Bond Election be held next June which could help pay off the debt service incurred in financing the pool “This would amount to ap$36 per year on a proximately Lifelong county resident Graduate of Snow College and Utah State Served 10 years as city councilman Served 3 years on county planning and zoning Chairman of Sanpete County Republican Party Chairman of Sterling Scholars of Central Utah $100000 home” explained Parker If and when the CIB vote ovi Nov ovid PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT funds for the pool project Jenkins reported that funds on hand amount to over $200000 Jenkins reported the board would make a presentation to the CIB at a meeting Thursday Oct 7 Jenkins said that another application for a grant from another lending institution for an additional $200000 would be submitted on Monday Oct 11 Parker presented some statistics on operating the swimming pool once it is opened “It will be necessary to have a minimum of 400 swimmers a day to break even on operating expenses” explained Parker Parker said that to pay for capital improvements or any unexpected repairs the city may want to consider creating a line item in the budget for the swimming pool as was the case with the old swimming pool The city council concurred that contributing a fixed amount each year designated for the swimming pool would be ac- 9 Mark Anderson V Wednesday October 13 2004 Valley Edition Messenger-Gunniso- n for the project further arrangements can be made for the bond election and awards 1013 money the project can go to bid by late summer 2005 Leon Paxton from the Utah Municipal Power Agency (UMPA) reported to the council on the impact of the drought relative to power resources that may affect the community The area is entering its sixth year of drought which is the first time in 100 years of recorded history that a drought has gone on so long The rapidly dropping water level at Lake Powell may have a direct impact on Manti City and surrounding communities “It would take six consecutive years of moisture like we had in 1983 for Lake Powell to recover from the effects of this drought” said Paxton UMPA has tried to avoid raising rates and the rate has been sically flat since 1988 City resident ba- Shannon Miller addressed the city council with concerns regarding a sewer line running across the back of her property This is an additional line that was in- stalled to accommodate plumbing in the basement of a home in the vicinity Miller would like the pipe removed and to the main sewer line in a di- rection other than her back yard Developer Charlie Stevens would like to begin a proposed subdivision consisting of eight lots near 700 South and 500 East but two issues must be addressed first One is a land gap that was discovered during the initial survey into which the city attorney is looking The other issue is the need for a traffic study to assess what impact additional traffic will have on the existing streets Stevens assured the council that a traffic study was done by Ludlow Engineering however council member Loren Thompson suggested a firm that is not affiliated with anyone in the county be contacted to do another study Stevens requested to begin development however that approval was declined Mayor Anderson understands the urgency and will do whatever it takes to get an answer by next council meeting on Oct 20 On a follow-uvisit to the city council residents Barbara and Ron Ballard reiterated their concerns over the numerous dogs next door to them “Not only is it a nuisance with that many dogs barking and chasing children the smell is bad and it may become a health concern” stated Ballard Mayor Anderson said the sheriffs office might need to be volved if the offender is not in compliance with the ordinances and the Health Department might need to be contacted if the living conditions are unhealthy Mickelson asked the Ballards if they would be willing to file a complaint and they agreed they would |