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Show community comments... Two news releases hit my desk at approximately the same time this week, and maybe It's because I read them In the wrong frame of mind or whatever, they seemed to point up to me a major problem in our nation's capitol today. The first release was the official company release, prepared for Southern California Edison and partners by Oavid Evans Advertising Agency, about the decision not to proceed with the Kalparowlts power project principally because of Increasing regulatory problems from the federal agencies that might In some way be Involved. The second release was from the U.S. Department of Agriculture touting the work of its "Economic Research Service," In preparing a new brochure developing strategies aimed at balancing urban-rural Income by 1990 by Increasing employment opportunities In the rural communities of the nation. When you see totally different philosophies coming from different federal agencies one trying to do something, the other trying to undo It you wonder if there Is really a hand on the tiller at the very top level. Really what has happened, I'm afraid, is that It doesn't matter very much any more whether or not there Is a strong hand on the tiller In the White House. Congress has given so much authority to so many autonomous agencies to do their own thing, that it will take massive congressional action ever to get the i federal bureaucracy locked In on one set of goals. I won't even ; bother to speculate on whether or not that might ever happen, but It should. -sjt- One of the most valid criticisms voiced by those who are either against or undecided about the proposed Moab-Grand i consolidation plan, Is that there have not been sufficient copies of the entire and complete proposal available. Next week, as required by law, the entire plan will be published In this newspaper as a public notice. Following that, The Times-Independent will publish a booklet reprint of the plan In sufficient numbers that anyone wishing a copy can have It free of charge. And we'll publish the booklet at our own expense, as a public service. Toward the end of next week, drop by and pick up a copy. Before you've fully decided how you'll vote, read the whole plan. Don't take someone's word for It. -sjt- Thursday night at 7 p.m. In the courthouse there will be a public hearing on a federal program that I think deserves the attention of local citizens. The program Is Title 20, social services, a new addendum to the Federal Social Sevurity Act which first went Into effect In Utah last October. Title 20, rather than mandating what services will be provided in the states and communities, provides that the citizens of communities make these decisions through their elected officials, thereby serving their own needs more fully and effectively. At least that's the way it's supposed to work. If last year's track record and Indications about this year's performance so far are any indication, I wonder. The way It appears to actually work is that a "Needs Assessment" Is made, by public employees contacting other public employees in the social services areas, mainly. After the Initial assessment is complete, an expert In the social services area presents the findings to the county commission to see if they agree or disagree. (I'm not sure It would make a whole lot of difference If they did disagree.) Then there is a public hearing held. That's what Is going on tonight. Those who attend will be given a copy of the 72-page proposed plan for Carbon, Emery and Grand Counties, and asked to respond to Its contents Intelligently on the spot. In actuality, the only ones there who will be able to do so will be social services agency people who have been aware of the hearing for some time, and who have been Involved also In the needs assessment or someone diligent enough to review one of the plans available the past two weeks at the Social Services Office. I must say in all honesty that this year's document is much more meaningful to the people of Grand County than last year's was. At least It details what programs the social services prople think we need most in this area. By and large, I can't disagree with their findings. However, when I look at where the Title 20 monies are going this year, with a total of $718,820 (according to the figures in the proposed plan) being spent In the three counties, and nearly - one-third of it going to Carbon County Senior Citizens, I wonder i how the spilt will really work out this year. As nearly as I can tell from studying the document, Carbon, Emery and Grand Counties should receive $1,850,405 not including vocational rehabilitation funds, the figure for which j was unavailable at the time the report was printed In Title 20 I funds for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1976. j Nearly $2 million is a good sized chunk of funds, expecially j when you consider that the programs It supports are supposed to ' be designed to keep people off "welfare". One often has cause to wonder whether these programs don't tend to keep people ON the public dole. At any rate, since it appears we have to accept these federal programs, we'd better try to work with them and put In our 2 i cents worth when possible, and this being the case, we urge all ' who can to attend the Title 20 hearing. |