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Show NRRL Ga “WASATCH COUNTY COURIER The most serious offenders in the Front, but most of those visitors do not report include counties that spent rev- spend much money, says Pearson. “A lot of those people will never drop a dollar. We’re a pass. through enue for ball fields, a municipal pool,,a golf course, and two airstrips that are Ethiopians Receive Gracious Gifts from Ficher : KIRSTEN SHAW COURIER used primarily by county residents. ~ One county spent $100,000 on a book- community,” says Pearson. “We’ve got | to slow some more people down and mobile. Another county spent an equal ~ try to grab some of their money.” | | amount on its library and justified the By comparison, the average out-ofexpense by claiming the library was a state visitor spends upwards of $200-a- “cultural facility” because it contained “tourism pamphlets.” State lawmakers Peat the Legislative Auditor General earlier this year to. conduct the audit. It was released three weeks ago. In 1999 Wasatch County collected $268,395 in tourism tax revenue. About - $109,000 went to the Heber Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Project 2000. The. second largest amount, $95,129, went to tourist and convention bureau operations for the Chamber Or: Commerce. _ Lesser amounts went moting the to county is trying to attract “better visitors instead of more visitors.” “Our number one goal is to change _ the mix of visitor into the valley and get more destination -Mathwich, visitors,” says general manager Britt of the - Homestead Resort and chairperson of the. Wasatch County Tourism Committee. | Mathwich says officials are trying to attract those visitors with promotions pro- Railroad of its can to an entire nation. Deanna and Lon Kennard recently returned from a 10 day trip to Ethiopia. Their mission? To retrieve and deliver more pounds of than Ababa They Wasatch Be The Heber Valley RRailroad is another yeclpicnt of the oe s tourism tax revenue. law intended, the coun- ty’s economic development admits that it’s not easy. director : _ Robyn Pearson says.it is a struggle ing plans. Pearson says the esha is already moving in that direction. The Chamber of Commerce has recently formed a tourism committee that acts as an advi- to nearby ski resorts to their advantage by promoting the Heber Valley as. the affordable side of Park City. | While Wasatch County’ s tax revenues pale compared to neighboring Summit County, Pearson believes local officials are still doing a good job. Wasatch County’s tourism tax rev-_ enues, which include a 3 percent.tran-. sient room tax and a 1 percent restaurant tax, have risen steadily in the last three years. In 1998, the county collect- ed nearly $190,000, but for the first 9 of this year that number jumped to $318, 000. sory board to the County Commission. - months - That committee gives the county and tourism industry the ability to speak “That means we're doing a oa with one voice, according to Pearson. — job,” says Pearson. “When we're spend-: “‘Tt’s still in an infantile stage, but~ ‘ing thousands of dollars, our neighborwe're heading in that direction,” he says. ing county to the north spends mil _ The biggest challenge for tourism officials is changing the profile of the cur- lions. I think we’re doing a good job with the resources we have.” REAL ESTATE CORNER (435) 654-1199 — could children from the desperate nation. “I was relieved to find nothing had been stolen. We left some for the hospital, orphanage and church. The villagers _ were thrilled. We are still collecting clothes and hope to get more money to send things over. We'll continue to help this village, although we will begin sending clothing to other areas.” Efforts to distribute donations in Ethiopia mer, a German ship offered tons of food to the famished nation. The local government we paid to ship the goods, — School Valerie SO they assumed we to dock without steep tariffs... Germany refused to _ pay for the food they were donating; yet the | government still have ‘ of this African Fortunately, Sa ing a strong state- returned to sea ™et, dumped more than that for -and the food, - ' the tariff.” northeast nation. many DEANNA panicled, water. | into The KENNARD the Kennards brought ing the villagers who trust the making innu- © Kennards learn so quickly merable international phone calls to Southern Ethiopia, afflicted by embassies, government officials—even severe drought, has lost most of its - searching for an American in Vietnam crops. The group purchased a truckalleged to have shipping ties. Airlines load of corn for the starving _. declined the packages for security rea- Ethiopians, who had not eaten for five - sons, and shipping companies charged days, and helped them plant nutrientDeanna woman from Heber, handed Deanna $5,500 to aid the effort. The goods were shipped to the Ethiopian airport, where they sat until a few weeks ago when the Kennards carried the cargo to the southern village. ment asked for.$6,00 in “tariffs” for make an indispensable contribution to the nation’s greatness, but the men who question power make a contribution just as indispensable, especially when that questioning is - disinterested, for they determine whether we use ne power or power. uses us. —John F. Kennedy Amherst College October 26, 1963 | COURIER WASATCH COUNTY DENISE PECK Ph (435) 654-1199 — _ water from a filthy river for the gardens. Cultur traditions prevent the @ men from doing so. “I told them the men had to be Sponsible. Told them they had to eat the foreign vegetables to save their children. They realized they were being ridiculous,” Deanna said. Lon Kennard and the villagers planted and The men who create Reser your bottom line.© — rich zucchini, Swiss chard, beans and the help of community members, cut _ beats. the shoulder pads out of dresses to The village women, exhausted cit reduce weight. Still, they couldn’t afford walking three miles, four times daily to -to get the crucial clothing abroad. haul water for cooking and cleaning, Responding to a Courier article last told the Kennards they could not possummer, an anonymous, generous sibly make additional trips to gather may ‘be priced high. Or you may be able to close the gap with an owner take-back or with terms that: } Wardley GMAC Real Estate spent months $5,000 per 3,000 pounds. Kennard, with - Most homeowners take pride, in _erty comparables, the “buyer” may | their home, so it can be a shock: not intend to purchase yo or any > when a buyer makes an offer far home. below the asking price. Sometimes, can = ~ | - fing. Ps. On the other fase. your | refused to allow the volunteers, spent more than a year collecting vital goods destined for the destitute villages. — are onerous. Lastsum-. other praise for d 7 little balked. The ship, mak- Denise Peck = If the offer is insultingly under market value, as reflected 1in prop- we Thurnell and Bure alEstate times it’s an indication you may have priced your home too high. _ assumed ship CONTROVERSIAL, |A LOW BALL OFFER a low ball offer isa ploy, but some- they afford a little more than that for the tariff,” said Deanna, who has adopted six _ volunteers were moved to tears watch- also trying to use the county’s proximity makers clarify the meaning of “tourism goods, so Unfortunately, this was only the begin- moting.” “I’ve been at meetings where even various county TESS could not agree,” he adds. promotion,” and hold counties responsible for misspending tourism tax revenue. Auditors also recommended that counties improve their tourism market- to paid more than $5,000 to ship the the clothing. knew threatened were donated and alunicers the county. Mathwich also hopes to have ~~ _items sorted and packed boxes for shipping. more money in the future for direct pro- x -motion like magazine ads.. Officials are that law- government Choice Humanitarian representatives to the hamlet to help them educate villagers on gardening. The like a pocket guide io the Heber Valley, a Midway tourism guide and media kit for every year to decide where to draw the line “between promoting and not pro- Auditors recommended “The confiscate the clothing. They knew we more than $5,000| - paying Kennards, with S600 for “storage.” “The government threatened to con- quilts that Middle . teacher state Jeamae they along Wasatch as thing The Be for its new revenues some locals are selflessly giving every- airport.since June. Valley County seems to be spending at least most considering what gifts to give whom, the Addis | While are had been sitting in fiscate Visitors Center at $217,731 and $100,000 depot. festive spirits every- where "made Valley to the Heber and clothing and hand- Valley Gun Club, the Heber Valley Railroad, and the Utah High School Rodeo. The two largest expenditures for this year are maintenance of the Heber \ os the holidays have begun, 3,000 Heber the donation. With the help af the US. - embassy and an African branch of the ; -L.D.S. Church, the fee was reduced to day. Those are the tourists officials are _ struggling to attract. Pearson says the STAFF _ Wasatch County’s Source for News 7 tended at least six gardens, producing " enormous vegetables in the fertile soil. “It was really _ moment. They another touching love us and we love them, just like our famil,.” she added. -An who anonymous is a Humanitarian, Park member purchased City of man, Choicea storage tank for the village, making it possible for them to have potable water—a luxury. He also purchased a sewing _ machine. The village women normal- ly are required to wear multiple layers of clothing to cover giant holes in the worn garments. Now, they can repair clothing and begin a business with the machine. The donor also purchased scholarships from a nearby university and hired a doctor to care for the villagers. An anonymous Heber physician has also donated his Services. santedne has numerous recreational opportunities that attract people from the Wasatch CONTINUED FROM A1. r _ rent Wasatch County tourist. The county eage - TOURISM DECEMBER 6, 2000 if AS | | ht RU H IERIE UM] Wud HN ene |