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Show WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2010 • A7 Guardian of Your Community News New format for WH Mission president: Hilarie Orman STAFF WRITER firmed before entering into any discussions. Pray noted that the subLast Thursday evening division area had received the city council in Wood- Rl-19 zoning based on the land Hills met in the first existing developer plans, of their planned monthly but that if the developers "work sessions," and may- abandoned the project or or Steve Lauritzen showed sold the land, the zoning off his management style might not be in the best inwith a long agenda and terests of the city. lots of information. The "We need to get a modifications to the plats consensus among the for the Woodland Heights members of the city subdivision dominated the council before proceedmeeting, and it pitted two ing," said Johnson. "We council members against want to see if changing the mayor in a drawn out the agreement could be discussion. beneficial to all parties," The mayor gave the noted Carter. "Please concouncil members a memo vey to the developers that from the city attorney, and we are not trying to delay he said that the council the project," Johnson told was obligated to approve Lauritzen. "That's imposthe changes or face legal sible!" he replied, laughramifications. "Some of us ing. don't like parts of the deThe council agreed to veloper agreement," said hold another meeting on councilman Jerry Johnson. Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. to delve Council member Steve into the several issues surCarter said that he wanted rounding the subdivision. to discuss the agreement Part of the meeting may be between the developer, in closed session because RSV LLC, and the city, of entangled financial inin conjunction with the volvements of other deplat amendment. Council velopers that may result in member Wendy Pray said, litigation. "I would recommend conFinancial Director tinuing the agreement." Chris Helvey described Lauritzen said that the the new accounting softdeveloper's spokesman, ware and its multiple adRoger Conrad, had told vantages , including the him that they wanted to ability to process credit have the plats approved card payments. The stellar and the agreement reaf- improvement, though, is that "you'll be paying for less of my time." The new software removes the manual data entry steps of that the old software imposed on the monthly closing of the books, and Helvey said that time saving translated into making more money available for other city employee salaries. The meeting then moved outdoors for several cold minutes so that Johnson could show off the new parking lot lights. Carter voiced complaints about the lighting level, and Johnson agreed that the area near the exit needed an additional light, and that it might be installed during the summer as part of a landscaping project. "Some people won't let their kids play on the soccerfieldat the park, it is too uneven and dangerous," said an audience member. Johnson said that about 60 loads of topsoil would add 3 inches to the fields and suffice to even out the pitted areas. He estimated that improvements would cost somewhat less than $10K. He also said that a mower would save the city money over using a hired service, and the city's public works director, Jack Marshall, recommended buying one for about $3K during the winter, when prices are low. From ATWOOD • A l this to his wife in that letter. Less than two years after that visit, Michael was called to be president of the Haiti Port-au-Prince Mission. Upon hearing the news of their call to serve, my first concern was for his wife, Maria. I wondered how she could survive what some described as a "threeyear camping trip" in a third world country; but Maria had great faith. She showed her willingness to support her husband. I witnessed that Maria is a woman of strength and a blessing to her husband when I visited Haiti in 2002. I went with my husband, Mike, and brother, Milton. It was a trip I will always remember. On our arrival, Michael and Maria were there to greet us. As we walked through the crowded airport, people reached out to touch him as if my brother were a celebrity. I later found out that he was known to many of the Haitians as "President Love." Some of the people were seeking a blessing from this religious leader and others may have wanted money. To the latter he would give crackers, for which they always seemed grateful. Most memorable to me were the children. We drove through the country one day and saw many school children, some neatly dressed in matching uniforms. They Marilyn Atwood / The Sentinel HOMEMADE: Above is a photo of a home in Haiti in 2002. Many similar structures did not survive the earthquake. were happy, smiling and willing to pose for photos. Another day, we walked to an orphanage not far from the mission home. I remember picking up a little girl, feeling sorry that she had no clothing on. She stroked my long straight hair as several others gathered around seeking my attention. How I wished I could have taken all of them back to Utah with me and find them good homes. When I heard of the earthquake and saw the devastation there, I saw a news report that an orphanage had been completely destroyed. I was sad to think it might have been the one I visited that day. My brother told me that about 20 of the church members he knew had been killed, but it was truly a blessing that all of the missionaries were accounted for. Michael and Maria found happiness in Haiti by focusing on the positive. An email from them said, "We are rejoicing in the daily adventures of our mission — meeting friendly, happy people, experiencing a culture and way of life far removed from our own and basking in the tropical pleasures. We are on a hectic schedule butfindingjoy each day." We could all find added happiness in our own lives by reaching out to others in need and serving them with love. be adjusted to grow with the city or even adapt to be used with several difcentral role in the brand and ferent departments. Furplay into the strap line of thermore he stressed, "Our brand is not JUST our logo "Surround Yourself." Some citizens, how- and strap line — these elever, are not impressed by ements are merely emthe strap line, citing it's braceable and understandvagueness. When asked able 'manifestations of our about this, Assistant City competitive identity.'" Manager Seth Perrins, The city has budgeted commented that there can $20,000 this fiscal year for be change made to the changes regarding the new strap line. The brand can brand, but certain items are off limits for now. The cement welcome sign that is a part of the North Main Street and 1-15 intersection, for example, will not have changes made to it any time soon. Once UDOT construction on the roadway has taken place, then will come the changes for the sign. Now that the new brand has been released, it remains to be seen how the community itself will respond. Veterans hoping to bring new home to SF City unveils brand: Christy Hardman STAFF WRITER "What that does is it allows us to move from the B list to the A list back On Tuesday, Jan. 26 a in Washington on the VA veteran's care center for state funding. Without that the elderly or disabled assurance of state funding, opened in Ogden with the we're just going to stay on help of the veteran's advi- a B list and we'll never get sory board. Thad Jensen funding," McFall said. of Spanish Fork is on the The second thing that veteran's board, and he, has to happen is they have along with other dedicated to secure land in Spanish veterans, is trying to se- Fork. cure sufficient facilities to "We need six to eight serve the needs of the ag- acres of land. We have no ing veterans. They would money to buy land, so we like to have at least two more veteran's homes, one in Spanish Fork and another in St. George. Jensen said they like the location "We have a of Spanish Fork because it serious need in is centrally located. According to Dennis Utah County McFall, assistant director fora veterans' for the veteran's affairs in Utah, there are over home ..." 160,000 veterans in the state. - Dennis McFall "We have a serious need in Utah County for a veterans' home, because it will service in the area in excess of 20,000 vets, over half of whom are over the have to rely on someone's age of 65. Their needs*are generosity there," McFall not being met," said Mc- said. Fall. If the veteran's adviMcFall went on to ex- sory council can arrange plain that the needs of the to build a veterans home vets cannot be met without in Spanish Fork, it will sufficient homes for them serve veterans from south to retire in. The veterans Salt Lake County down have to go into a state- through central and eastern owned home to qualify Utah. McFall said it will be for their VA per diem, and built using the same model these homes do not exist to that was used in Ogden, meet the demand. "or something very close to it." McFall said that in order to get a veterans home The facility will include in Spanish Fork, the state a main building with four legislature has to prom- outlying buildings with inise an appropriation of 35 dividual living quarters for percent of the cost of the the residents with around building. 120 beds. The main build- t ing will contain the laundry room, plant operation, a physical therapy room, an exercise room and many other accoutrements. "It will be built more like a residential care center or condominium complex . They are entirely moving away from the sterile, long hallway style of the older nursing homes. Every room has an outside view," McFall said. A veteran's home would boost a local economy by providing around 100 full time jobs, as well as some part time jobs, which would equate to $3-4 million in wages for the community, McFall said. Further, there would be an additional $ 1 million spent on food and recreational activities, cleaning supplies and other miscellaneous items, all spent in the community in behalf of residents themselves. McFall said that Utah Valley has a pretty good chance of securing more funding. "They look at the need," McFall said. "Utah's need is great. Then they look at the availability of the funding, which shouldn't be a problem since a lot of states got on the A list when they had the money, but with the fall in the economy they don't have it now, and that's critical." McFall said if there is another stimulus package, the federal government will likely provide funding for "shovel ready" projects. "This would qualify. They like projects that create jobs," he said. "That's a plus in our favor." From BRAND • A l UMPA elects new officers Utah Municipal Power Agency's Board of Directors' new officers for 2010 are: Mayor Mark Jones of Nephi City will remain Chair; Steve Leifson, Spanish Fork City Council, will be the new Vice Chair; and Alan Justesen, Manti City Council will remain SecretaryTreasurer. Others serving on the Board of Directors are Mayor Russell Mangelson of Levan; Mayor John Curtis of Provo; and Lynn Durrant, Salem City Council. Utah Municipal Power Agency's Technical Committee also held their 2009 election and Kelly Peterson, Spanish Fork City Power Superintendent, will remain Chair; and Jason Worwood, Levan Power Superintendent, will remain Vice Chair for 2010. Other members of the Technical Committee are Eugene Rogers, Manti City Power Superintendent; Tony Ferguson, Nephi City Power and Gas Superintendent; Kevin Garlick, Provo City's Director of Energy; and Clark Crook, Salem City Lead Lineman. Utah Municipal Power Agency is an interlocal entity created by the cities of Levan, Nephi, Manti, Provo, Salem and Spanish Fork, to provide all electric power, transmission and other services providing efficiencies and economies of scale to their municipal electric utilities. Prescription drug disposal in SF Unused medications, be scavenged and illegally improperly disposed of, sold or accidentally found can harm you and the en- and consumed by children vironment. When drugs or animals. are flushed down the toilet Abuse of prescripor dumped down a drain, tion drugs, particularly they are not completely painkillers, has increased removed by the wastewa- among teenagers and ter treatment process or young adults. Sixty perseptic tank systems and cent of the persons who can enter the soil, surface abuse painkillers indicatwater and groundwater. ed that they received the Additionally, drugs can drugs free from friends or relatives. In order to assist the public, the Spanish Fork Police Department has established a proper disposal program. Bring your unused prescription and over-the-counter medications for disposal to the Justice Center during normal business hours: 789 West Center Street, Spanish Fork; Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ^ |