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Show The Paper That Dares To Take HI OPEN LETTER TO OUR FELLOW Before you go to the oting booth to e:ist a ballot on the governmental consolidation issue Tuesday. March 4th you will be subjected to a veritable deluge ol propaganda. Most of it. we anticipate, will urge you to vote in lavor of this propositi. As elected officials of Salt Lake County and of the communities and cities w ithin the county, we wold appreciate your consideration of our advice. Put simis that it you VOTF, ply. AGAINST this proposal. It has already been alleged, and will probably be said frequently. that officials now holding office are opposed to Metropolitan Government because we want to feather our own nests. I'hat is simply not true. Were cit iens just like you and we're vitally interested in good government. If we werent, we'd not devote our time and effort to providing it. II the Metropolitan Government proposal were reallv an improvement and could honestly offer us better management of the various units which serve you. we would unhesitatingly endorse it. But thats not the case. This proposal would give us an unwieldy, unresponsive and not at all economical judge Boyd .V. Twiggs Mayor Midvale City Paul K. Mortensen Mayor Riverton I). C. Bin ill Mayor Sandy Conrad Harrison B. Mayor Salt Ixike City Vaughn C. Stiff? Orrin H William Mayor Murray City Becks lead Mayor South Jordan . Levitt Mayor Alta of whether such an could result in arrangement something better than we now have. Or. for that matter, even as good. In both cases, our collective answer is an unqualified. No. We hope you will take this as honest and objective, not advice. We all want the best possible government for our communities and our county. self-servin- g, Jones Councilman South Jordan A. L. Butterfield Committeeman Jennings Phillips, Jr. Commissioner Salt Lake City Jack F. DeMann Commissioner Murray City D. Davies Sherman Commissioner Murray City William E. Dunn Commissioner Salt Lake County Pete Kutulas Commissioner Sail Lake County Ralph Y. McClure, Chairman Commission Salt Ijike ( ounty Ehvood Junius H. Burton Mayor City West Jordan form government. As individuals. you'd lind yourselves further removed from the people who represent you. Because we have had practical experience in the workings of government, we feel qualified to T. Stephen M. Hurmsen Stand CITIZENS When a concept is offered that will meet that aim, we will be the first to endorse it. T his proposal does not meet that criteria and has virtually no chance of being developed in such a way that it could do so at some future time. That's not only our opinion as a group, but that of hundreds and hundreds of county residents, including the chairmen of all three major political parties. As your elected delegates, weve repeatedly voted on issues which were vital to you. Weve based those votes on our conviction that we were doing what But was best for the majority. weve now reached a vote that we cant make for you youll have to do it for yourselves. for your own benefit, we strongly urge you to go to the polls March 4th and vote AGAINST. well-inform- Gerald ed Hansen Auditor Salt Ixike County R. Glen F. Greener Commissioner Salt Ijike City Herman J. Hogensen Commissioner Salt Lake City Ixiwrenee A. Jones Auditor Salt Lake City Phillip C. Kemp Councilman Midvale City Richard S. I 'incent Councilman Midvale City Ernest J. Bedont Councilman Midvale City J. Donald Poulsen Councilman Midvale City Alhin M. Ross Councilman Midvale Citv Commissioner Salt Lake City Oliver P. Davis A Wafer Officials Blast Me fro The Ml RR AY EAGLE SALT LAKE. Officials of the Salt Lake County Water Conservancy District Tuesday g list of joined an to the opponents proposed city ever-growin- and county government merger that will be voted upon on March 4. Citing fears that the merger would threaten completion of the massive Central Utah Project and clouds of uncertainty that surround the entire issue, Robert Hilbert, of the conservancy district, said that the charter Is a nightmare where water is concerned. general manager Mr. Hilbert blasted the postion of the charter that calls for the w'ater supply, treatment, storage and distribution to be managed by the head of the department of utilities who will also have sewage treatment and disposal, as well as mass transit and airports under his direction. Where a man could be found with the expertise to handle such a diversified department is beyond me, the county official said citing the needs of water supply as being unique and requiring efforts on a regional level rather than purely local. Taking issue with the theories that say the con- solidation is designed to eliminate the special taxing districts, Mr. Hilbert raised the question as to how eliminating those entities that take perhaps 20 percent of the total mill levy is going to solve any real or manufactured i problems when 'the school districts, which take 80 percent of the tax dollar, are by legislative mandate, unaf- fected by the merger. He then went on to cite the track record of the Salt Lake County Water Conservancy District, as well as the many smaller ones. Figures substantiate that they are doing a fantastic job of managing their funds. Mr. Hilbert explained that Salt Lake Countys water is handled on a one miR tax levy and has been for 25 years. There has not been a rate increase for water service since 1951, he pointed out. To substantiate fears that the merger would affect the Central Utah Project which lias been awaited for more than 40 years, he said that the federal government looks with a wary eye to those who contract for water and if the new governments debts exceed constitutional limits the county wont qualify. To date. Salt Lake County has contracted for more than S200 million in water from CUP and if the new government cannot assume this dcht. then the entire CUP would be in jeopardy. While cities and towns are subject to constitutional debt limits, the conservancy district has a special Class B tax allowance that would aid in providing the funds necessary to assure county residents of water from the CUP. Although the Class B right has never been exer- cised, water officials believe it would be damaging not to have it available. The water official defended charges from Study Com1 mission Pete director Grundfqssen that said Ed Clyde's statements regarding these matters were not accurate. It was charged in a radio interview that Mr. Clyde was speaking for the water interests, out of fear of losing his job as their attorney. Mr. Hilbert pointed out that Clyde could be retained immediately by anyone on a number of issues throughout the country at far more money than water interests offer him. He is dedicated to these interests and I challenge anyone to present a person who knows more about the issues surrounding water usage and legalities than Ed Clyde, ".Mr. Hilbert said. Mr. Clyde has charged that the new government has no means of financing the $2 million debt already incurred because they cannot use the Gass B tax levy. He suggested, that the situation could be tied up in litigation for a period of time that would put the CUP in limbo and seriously impair the future water supplies of the county. - j, imtrftf 57 OakLtnd Avenue 11,1 S.ili Independent I .ie Ciiv. S4II5 Introductory Gift Offer 3 MONTHS 5 Subscriptions Name FOR $1 Minimum 1 (Address i |