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Show federal Official Praises Moab "Slickrock" Proiect cnlev Womer. Federal ' hairman of Four Corners Lional Commission was in this week and expressed h praise for Harold Jacobs, Render, of the Slick-Project. Slick-Project. "Success of such wiccts depend on the supcr-Unand supcr-Unand his (Jacobs) dedica-L dedica-L has made this one just a riile of a success." sa.d December 31. 1974 president Ford signed the Emergency Unemployment Act establishing Title Ten of the I'tiblic Works and Economic Econom-ic Development Act of 1975. The Job Opportunities Program Pro-gram was intended to provide federal assistance to rural and urban communities to stimulate, stimu-late, maintain or expand job creating activities. The City of Moab applied for funds to construct flood control dams in Bliss, White and Stewart Canyons to retard the flow of water which, during heavy rain storms, has caused considerable flood damage. Engineering studies indicated that the construction of approximately ap-proximately 100 "Gabian Structures", rock dams reinforced rein-forced with wire, would control, flood waters to the point that existing storm drain systems would handle runoff. Gov. Ramptron approved the application appli-cation and the federal grant was auarHfrt About 80 of these dams have been constructed. Runoff ditches have been lined with rock, and a holding pond is under construction at the east end of Center Street. Controlled Control-led flow from the holding ponds will prevent flooding. Because of the rough terrain on Slickrock, it was not feasible to use machinery. Every rock had to be hand carried and placed on the dams. Some of the rock has been carried to the dam sites on a horse drawn slip. It is estimated that one and a half million pounds of rock have been carefully hand placed on these dams. To date, 101 persons have been taken from the roles of the unemployed to work on these dams. Because of the difficulty of the work a number have quit, but more than 80 percent of those who have left have gone to better jobs. Only one man is known to have returned to "unemployment insurance." There are presently 18 men and women working on the project. "Harold Jacobs, superintendent su-perintendent of the project has done an outstanding job. He has maintained steady progress pro-gress and will complete the job within the projected budget," Womer said. Federal funds. S.5.000. plus $54,300 in-kind funds furnished by the City of Moab and Grand County has been budgeted for the project. Federal oversight has been provided by the Four Corners Regional Commission, who expressed pride in the project because it has provided jobs and will serve the City of Moab for many years. In government language, this is a Force Account Project, meaning that planning, supervision super-vision and accounting are handled by local city government, govern-ment, eliminating the need for separate personnel, payroll, accounting systems and the profit which must be included in normal contract systems. Womer said, "The tax dollars have been well spent and benefits will accrue to your city for many years." He also stated that the Slickrock Project was the best organized and tun project in the Job Opportunities Program within Utah. ; Approximately 24 other projects are being conducted in 14 areas. Included in those are fairground improvement in Richfield and removal of abandoned houses, improvement improve-ment of recreational facilities and cemetery expansion in the Price-Helper area. |