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Show Energy director gives resignation to county C. R. (Chuck) Henderson has announced an-nounced That he will retire as Uintah Basin Energy Council Director on Oct. 1 A formal letter of resignation was presented to Uintah County Commissioners Com-missioners last week. Henderson has held his energy director position since 1975 when the office was under the Uintah Basin Association of Governments. Uintah County Commissioners assumed the funding of the energy office when they pulled out of UBAG three years ago. Henderson is chairman of the state Oil, Gas and Mining Board and served either on this board or the state Land Board for the past 24 years. He is also currently serving on the community planning and development committee of the Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce. Com-merce. While serving as Uintah County energy director Henderson has given tireless hours of study and professional research into oil and gas developments in the Uintah Basin area. Now at 72, he said he would like to have some time for himself, and do some of the things he has always wanted to do, but never could find the time to do them. In commenting on his retirement ttenderson stated, "I feel this is a good time for me to move on and make room for fresh ideasj and new plans. The many projects moving on tract in the basin have passed the point of probably' energy development. These nmipetc arp nn Innapr inst a nftQSthilitv but a current reality. The economic prosperity, that this area has dreamed of so long, is upon us and the demand is now for effective organizing, zoning and planning. A 'fat' economy will have to be controlled to bring to the area the best rewards. I am sure the county needs the funds and the facilities of the energy office to expediate the planning and zoning of the county. "I believe the city and county have gone the right way. They have established a joint planning office and hired a professional planning director and assistant. Bob Nickelson is doing an excellent job as director and has the capabilities and the potential to complete a master plan for both the city and the county. It is my hope he will continue to be given the backing and support of the City Council and the County Commissioners and that they will form a bulwark between Bob and the few people who would disrupt planning for their own personal gain. "A big step was taken in speeding orderly development, when the Vernal City Council voted unanimously to contract with the Uintah Water Conservancy Con-servancy district to build a treatment plant that can utilize the water from Ashley Creek, Ashley Springs, Dry Fork, Steinaker Reservoir and Red Fleet to insure sufficient treated water for the growth that is coming to the Vernal area. "The future long term impact can best be explained in its enormity, when you realize that one oil shale plant, producing one hundred thousand barrels per day, as proposed by White River Shale Company, will produce nearly as much oil as the whole state of Utah did in 1979 to 1980. We must realize also that this oil does not flow out of the I. -J. C. R. (CHUCK) HENDERSON ground, the rock has to be mined and refined. This will require many more workers to do the job. "I am leaving the position at the time when the shale projects, tar sands, Deseret G 4 T power plant and the almost certain building of White River Dam, are upon us. While many of our people dread the 'boom', most of us admit, it has been inevitable. If we can prosper with the growth and give our young people a bright future to live and to work in than u'p ran u'olrnm fKa economic boom for its boost to all of us, and meet the problems with forceful solutions. "I have enjoyed my job as Energy Director for the last six years. It has been exciting and interesting. My association with the County Commissioners Com-missioners has been one of mutual cooperation. I have had their assistance and backing all the way. "The commissioners have been good 'bosses'. I am only thankful that I am not faced each day with the problems and decisions that these gentlemen must solve. They have implemented many important decisions, such as a thirteen million dollar Bonanza to Vernal Highway, at little or no cost to the taxpayer. This highway will keep the growth within the existing communities. com-munities. The commission has not allowed small towns to spring up within the county. These would have acquired complete public facilities, transportation tran-sportation of students long distances and other complete services, which would have added the burden on the taxpayer. "My plans, hopefully, are to be around for a long time. Anything I can do to help either the county or energy industry, I'll be ready and willing. I will for the time being still be involved as chairman of the Utah Oil, Gas and Mining Board and its many demands. I plan to stay active in Chamber of Commerce assignments and am still serving as director of Equity Oil Company. "I would like to thank the Vernal Express and its editor and staff for their assistance and their fair in-terpertationas in-terpertationas of the many problems we have been faced with these last few years." |