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Show A story In Monday's Salt Lake Tribune carried the headline "County Associations Associa-tions Losing Favor." The story reported rumbles throughout the state in the seven AOG's. But with all the rumblings, only Iron County and San Juan counties have pulled out. Others have threatened, and Grand County Coun-ty actually voted to withdraw, but Moab with 70 of Grand County's population voted to stay and the county reconsidered. But none of this tells the true story. Why are AOG's in disfavor? Why, if elected public officials don't like them do they continue to tolerate them? Why is there so much difference between one AOG and another? an-other? Basically, AOG's didn't do what they were set up to do. Instead of cutting red tape, and bringing local government closer to state and federal agencies they added a level of government, just as the federal regional governments set up by Nixon. AOG's are not more efficient they do not eliminate a single step in dealing with government agencies they add one. To a county AOG's are liked, or disliked depending upon how much power they've been able to assume. For instance, the FCAG, is disliked almost universally, except by a minority who conceived the idea and created the monstrosity. These few see the AOG's as a tool they can manipulate for their own means. Whereas, the Six CountyCommissioners AOG, has few problems, though the largest of all AOG's, in territory and number of counties involved. The reason is that the Commissioners in each county have retained retain-ed control of the AOG. Cities and school boards do not vote on the steering committee. The steering committee does not have power to overrule an individual county. The FCAG has the most power of all AOG's. It is the only AOG with the power to sue and be sued. It is the only AOG that gives the steering committee the power to overrule Individual county commissions and force their will upon cities and towns. All other AOGs in Utah fall somewhere between these two. Ironically, the Six County AOG admits to approximately 50 staff members, while the FCAG admits to only 10. Actually, the opposite is more true. Six County lists employees in all departments, from the Executive director to mental health, aging, alcohol and drugs, community and natural r esource planning, hum an services, econom ic development, law enforcement, tourism , manpower, man-power, public health and emergency services. The FCAG lists only full -time employees in the District office in St. George. The Five County Health Service which employs the most people is completely disassociated from the AOG they claim. However, they still draw their pay checks from the FCAG and for comparison should be included in staff and administration count. The purpose of AOG's was to coordinate and administer state and federal funds (they never use the term "tax money'O. However, instead of cutting red tape, they added more red tape. Instead of reducing administration administra-tion costs, they increased. Why then do counties continue membership member-ship In AOG's? The answer is they're scared. The bureaucrats that run the AOG's and state and federal agencies warn them of loss of state and federal funds. Truth is, counties that have pulled out have suffered no ill effects. They receive the same services, and their share of state and federal funding. Anything less would be unconstitutional. Beaver County has a far better county health program since they pulled out of the health district. And at less cost to local taxpayers. Not only are our needs met efficiently, but we get what we want, when we want it. Our share of state health funds comes directly to the county, where it's administered by the County Commission". Our County Health Nurse spends all her time in Beaver County, not a couple of days a week in another county of the FCAG. She spends her time providing services not filling out bureaucratic forms in quadruplicate. quad-ruplicate. Sure we've had difficulties with sanitarian service. But when we were in the Health District, we received no sanitarian service at all or had to get it from the State Health Dept. in Salt Lake City. Just as soon as County Commissioners in Utah get their belly full, the AOG's are done or reduced to the equivalent of Six County AOG. That's what the five counties had in the old 5 -County Organization. We can live with that. In fact, we voluntarily organized ourselves, twenty years before Gov. Rampton, Dixie Leavitt and Nixon forced additional layers of govenment on us. And if the cities want to form their own A OG they like it so well let them pay the bill. To date, the cities have a voice, through the grace of county commissions. The counties have paid the bill the cities have had a free ride. See how fast they'll pull out when they have to pay their own way. Why should Beaver County pay for services ser-vices for Cedar City, Parowan, Brian Head and Paragonah. But we are and will continue con-tinue to do so as long as we remain in the FCAG. The same is true of Washington, Kane and Garfield counties. Even more! Should Beaver County be forced to abide by decisions of mayors and school administrators from other counties? Should law enforcement, public health, and other autonomous functions of local govern-- govern-- ment be usurped bythis bureaucratic agency? That's .right, ' the FCAG is a bureaucratic agency. Not a single member of the ad-m ad-m inistrative staff or of the steering com -m ittee Is elected to that position. But not for a minute do we believe that AOGs are on the run. No, when they, come into disfavor, they just duck their head like any bureaucratic agency until the heat's off. Then they regroup, and make a new approach. They just keep coming at you, until finally they catch you with your guard down. Next thing you know, you're paying dues, and they're telling you how and when. It's a system we've made ourselves. We've allowed our elected representatives on all levels to shuck responsibility by forming form-ing committees. With each added responsibility, respon-sibility, these committees or agencies assumed more power. Now the balance may be in their favor. But the constitution still places the responsibility re-sponsibility of Milford, Beaver County, Utah and the United States of America in the hands of elected representatives. It is only through these elected representatives rep-resentatives that they get funding, authority and power. It is through these elected representatives rep-resentatives that they must be controlled. Make your feeling known to your elected representatives today. Then spread the word from New York to Hawaii, from Alaska to Florida and Texas to Minnesota. You can do it if you try. "Red" |