OCR Text |
Show -alley district scolds medi, answers election questions In an effort to tell the "true facts," 1 Ashley Valley Water and Sewer movement District (AVWSID) iased a public statement last week . tch clarifies their position on their lent elections, and scolds the news ia for misleading coverage of the (Son. iWwr-page statement by the board directors is preceded by a page of vij chastisement oi local news ilia coverage of the election, and js that the dissemination of sleading information is the reason 1 issuing the public statement tough the AVWSID policy in the past s been to "refrain from making ft statements on issues surroun-1 surroun-1 the election." Tie need for the public statement ses because of the large amount of fading information which has been seminated by the news media and m in the community who seem to thrive on controversy and sensationalism," sen-sationalism," the statement says. District officials have attempted to educate media representatives" and other members of the public who are interested in the facts about the recent election and the District Board of Trustees position regarding the problems which have arisen in connection con-nection with it. Yet not one media representative has attended the board meetings where the election matters were discussed nor asked to see the minutes of those meetings reflecting the Board's handling of the issues involved." in-volved." "The fact that board members and their families continue to be called anonymously and to receive signed and unsigned letters attacking the integrity of both the members of the district and the candidates and accusing them individually and as a board of things which are not true, it has been decided to issue this statement in an effort to set forth the true facts." The public statement goes on to clarify the recent election where Dennis Mott and write-in candidate Larry Hacking gained more votes than incumbents Lyle McKeachnie and Lee Rosenhan, but questions have arisen over whether Mott qualifies as a candidate. The statement says that the AVWSID has issued a certificate of election to Larry Hacking and has sent him a letter to notify him to attend the regular meeting of the AVWSID on Jan. 6, 1982 to take his oath of office. He will replace the present chairman, Lyle McKeachnie. Both McKeachnie and Hacking reside in the Glines precinct. A letter has also been sent to Dennis Mott, says the AVWSID's statement, notifying him that his seat will be held open to allow him to qualify for office (Continued on page .2) fSHTON ENERGY CENTER, a 140,000 square t office complex on West Highway 40 is star-. "n8 up with Phase One. The complex is being built by the Para Development Corp and is adjacent adja-cent to the new Sheraton Hotel. This first phase is scheduled to be finished in September. District scolds - - - (Continued from Page 1) until the 60 days prescribed by the Utah Code has elapsed within which a candidate has the opportunity to qualify for office. "Although Mr. Mott received the highest number of votes he would be prohibited from taking office because the resolution passed by Uintah County in 1974 creating the Ashley Valley Water and Sewer Improvement District prohibits more than two trustees from residing in any one precinct," says the statement from the AVWSID board. Present board members Gaylon Cook and Robert Turner already represent the Naples precinct where Mott resides. In order to qualify, "Mott will be required to reside in some other precinct or in some other manner qualify for his seat." In answer to the question of why Mott was allowed to run for a seat for which he now appears to be not qualified, the AVWSID's statement said. "The answer an-swer simply is that Mr. Mott upon filing his candidacy, swore under oath that he could qualify and that if elected would and the district determined that it had an obligation to allow Mr. Mott the opportunity to qualify as he swore he would." Mott said that he wasn't aware until after the election that there was a resolution which would disqualify him and that he didn't take an oath but signed a paper stating where he lived, if he was a registered voter and if he was . qualified. "They kept it really quiet until after the election," Mott commented. Lee Rosenhan, district trustee, who was defeated in the election will remain in office as prescribed by Utah Statute until Mott qualifies or the seat becomes vacant because of the failure by Mott to qualify. "Mr. Rosenhan does not have a choice in the matter since the state statute requires the incumbent to remain in office for his term and until his successor is duly elected and qualified." "If Mr. Mott is unable to qualify with the 60-day statutory time, Mr. Mott's seat will be declared vacant and the' Uintah County Commissioners will be asked to appoint someone to fill his vacancy, " the board's statement says. "It is the intention of the Board of Trustees of the Ashley Valley Water and Sewer Improvement District to seat Mr. Mott if he can qualify. The board members however, are under oath to uphold the laws and the Constitution Con-stitution of the State of Utah. One of those laws is the county resolution which created the district," says the statement. The board members have concluded that to seat Mott and ignore the requirement of the resolution would be in violation of their duties of office, "regardless of how much they personally per-sonally would like to seat Mr. Mott, and regardless of how popular that move might be," concluded the district's statement which was released from AVWSID's attorney Gayle McKeachnie's office. Presently there is a petition circulating cir-culating which is planned to be submitted sub-mitted to the County Commissioners questioning the district not having Brownie Tomlinson's, district trustee, seat on the ballot because of a state law requiring persons who are appointed to fill the remainder of a trustee's term to be up for re-election if the term is more than two years as is the case with Tomlinson. "What is fair for one should be fair for another' said Larry Hacking about the district adhering to the law in Mott's case and ignoring it in Tomlinson's. Actually, according to Hacking, he (Hacking) should be disqualified because he never took an oath of candidacy. |