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Show Recreation district proposed A recreation taxing district may be created in Uintah County if a suggestion sugges-tion made at a joint meeting of the Vernal City Council and Uintah County Coun-ty Commission Wednesday is realized. At the May meeting of the two entities, en-tities, a committee was established with representatives from the Vernal City Council, the Uintah County Com- mission, and the Uintah School District. Naples City declined to participate par-ticipate in the committee, whose purpose pur-pose was to study what might be done to coordinate the recreation programs in a better way, and facilitate the best use of existing facilities and future planning. At the May meeting Uintah School District representatives Phil Ellis and Ted Taylor addressed the governmental governmen-tal bodies in terms of providing the best recreational facilities to all involved, in-volved, and perhaps incorporating the facilities at the proposed high school into the future recreational plans. Ellis said it would be unwise to duplicate facilities, such as Softball fields, when the schools and public recreation could use the same fields. At the combined city-county meeting June 8, Pam Beyers reported on the findings of the committee. Their options were outlined: (1) to remain with the program as it now is, which Vernal City is mostly responsible for; (2) create a County Recreation Department and program, under the direction of the commissioners. This would create a situation where the program pro-gram may vary significantly with different dif-ferent elected officials; (3) to create a recreation taxing district, under the direction of a recreation board. The possibility which seemed to have the most support from city and county officials of-ficials is a five member board, comprised com-prised of an appointed member from Ballard, Vernal, and Naples, since those are the only three incorporated entities in the county, and two elected members, who could come from any portion of the county. Naples City has been incorporated in the plan, even though they did not participate in the planning committee, because it was felt by the officials the only reason Naples did not participate in the planning was because they did not understand what was being done. Vernal City Councilman Greg Hawkins said he is confident the Naples City Council will welcome the plan once they understand what is happening. In order to create a new taxing district, residents of the county must vote their approval. The election, should this plan be chosen as the most viable by the commissioners, coun-cilmen, coun-cilmen, and the school district, would occur in November. Nothing would happen until voters have a chance to express their opinion. Although the recreation district would have the authority to tax, there would be no actual tax increase to anyone, according to Ms. Beyers. Once the district is created, the other taxing entities, such as Vernal, Uintah County, and the School District, w:ould no longer have recreation responsibilities, respon-sibilities, therefore could drop the tax they are now levying for recreation programs. Ms. Beyers said the new district could actually provide better programs for the same amount of money now budgeted, because there would no longer be duplication of programs. While the entire recreation district is still speculation, most of the Vernal and Uintah County officials seemed to be in favor of the idea. County Commissioner Com-missioner Byron Merrell said it is less expensive to provide recreation than jail cells for people. He said at some point there is a trade off between recreation and incarceration. Merrell said that while recreation in and of itself does not keep anyone out of jail, the fact that people are involved in organized activities, and associating with other people who have similar interests in-terests may keep people from being idle and thus more prone to anti-social behavior. Merrell said he is in favor of the recreation district to stop duplication of efforts when split up in various entities. Vernal Mayor Sam Snyder said a similar district was created in Grand Junction some time ago amid strong opposition by some of the residents. He said the district has now been in place awhile, and the people are very satisfied with what they are getting for the money being spent. Snyder said he was sure the same positive situation would occur in Uintah County. Vernal City Manager Ken Bassett suggested a meeting be arranged with Naples City Council to discuss the situation. Councilman Hawkins suggested sug-gested he and other representatives go to a Naples City Council meeting to explain ex-plain the program. Vernal City Councilman Karl Migliori made a motion, which was' passed, that each entity deal more with the three alternatives more specifically during this month, and come to the next joint meeting ready to make a decision as to how to proceed. pro-ceed. That way enough time will be available to make all necessary preparations before the recreation district is actually formoH |