OCR Text |
Show n$L, community Kg comments... The Grand County Commission was caught between a rock and a hard place this week, and had no alternative but to change a previous decision regarding the taxing of automobiles and light trucks in Grand County. The State Tax Commission threatened to withhold considerable funding from Grand County School District If the County didn't fall into line with other counties In Utah and abide by the State edict. It's too bad, because the County didn't really need the money (although the School District couldn't afford to lose It), and because the decision will cost almost every car and light truck owner in Grand County more money when they purchase plates and pay their taxes. There was little choice, however, when the facts of the matter were explained by State officials. Some interesting points were made, though. Property taxes in Utah are darned Inequitable. With the State moving into the field of setting values, the authority left to locally-elected county assessors is considerably lessened. And with the Legislature determining levels of educational support, there Is very little authority left to locai school boards in the matter of setting levies. And it has already taken the State Tax Commission about seven years to get the entire state assessed. By the time they're Nthrough, the equalization they are seeking will be clear out of whack again. It's obvious, however, that the State Tax Commission or the County Commission for that matter is not the place to lodge objections. The Commissions work under laws passed by the Utah State Legislature, and that is where the action, if any, will have to take place. It was encouraging to see so many local residents at the series of meetings held this week. Perhaps that kind of citizen involvement will lead to some hard and meaningful contact with the Legislators who actually write and pass the laws. sit-About sit-About a year ago, Town Television of Moab was caught up in controversy which led to a public meeting conducted by Grand County Commissioners over franchising. At that time, Moab residents indicated their support of the company if certain improvements were made to the system. Those improvements are now coming along, according to Tom Worster, Grand Junction, who has chief responsibility for the Moab operation. "We can't control the quality of our signal until we operate our own microwave relay between Salt Lake Valley and Moab Valley," he said at that time. Applications are now being prepared for microwave relay points, and if all goes well, construction should be underway by early summer, Worster said Monday. The firm has, until this time, been using microwave facilities of Continental Telephone Company. Mr. Worster said that the new company-owned relay will involve a new pickup point on Beckwith Mesa between Green River and Price, which will shoot the TV signal to the rim north of Moab Valley, where it will be deflected down to the company offices in Moab. "The quality of reception should be considerably better and more consistent," he said. He also stated that in the next few weeks, a new manager, trained in electronics and cable television management, will be coming to Moab to take control of the operation. Moab residents pay considerably more, we grant, than persons in some communities served by tax-supported and government-operated TV systems. But it's well worth it, in our opinion. Our quality of reception is good and should be even better when improvements are completed. We have the advantage, not only of the three Salt Lake City commercial channels, but also the popular educational channel as well. And locally-programmed features add spice to an otherwise drab line of fare on TV of late. FM stations are a bonus also enjoyed through this system. The impending work, which will now await only approvals from the Bureau of Land Management and Federal Communications Commission, should make it clear that Town TV is keeping its promise made during those public meetings last year. |