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Show A-15 VIEWPOINTS www.parkrecord.com Wed/Thurs/Fri Februa 1-3 2012 EDITORIAL MITT IMAGINES SOMEONE "Saf-DEPORTING" The 3o Sty t4 61,4x*6 ‘Ali\ celktykit,v 0DIc.T. 1. 13Y1U1904eN4 91AgRVICe5 Sundance Lite: Might be time to loosen the reins on Main Street Mb. GUEST EDITORIAL Make an informed decision By Bruce Margolius Marion, Utah The Summit County Council would like to put a proposition on November's ballot to transfer, from the county manager to the council, the power to settle lawsuits and to buy and sell property. They want to make major changes to the form of government that was narrowly approved by voters five years ago and went into effect just three years ago. I don't disagree that changes should be considered, but I'd sure be more comfortable if the process leading to those changes were more deliberate and informative. gional, which creeps closer and closer to being a drain on the general fund. The council/manager form was voted in only after a (supposedly) independent study committee was created to examine Summit County government and make a recommendation. Before we rush to the polls to fundamentally undo that recent change and, in effect, install a five-member commission, I say we need another detailed study. There must be a hard look taken at what's right and what's wrong with the way Summit County does business. The county council has the power to call for a public vote whether to conduct such a study and, if they don't, the citizens may do so by petition. Please join me in bringing it about. 66 Then Bob Jasper was hired and the council wasted no time in usurping as much of his supposedly independent authority as it wanted, constantly reminding him that it can fire him at any time. " In theory, the vote created a council with purely legislative powers and vested all executive power in the appointed county manager. In fact, the county got along for the first year with an interim manager who exercised very little independence from the council. Then Bob Jasper was hired and the council wasted no time in usurping as much of his supposedly independent authority as it wanted, constantly reminding him that it can fire him at any time But each time they grab more power, they only make things worse. For example, under Utah law, the members of our two township planning commissions are supposed to be appointed by the county executive, with the advice and consent of the council. We're all familiar with how "advice and consent" works in America. The executive names a candidate, then the legislature holds a hearing. In Summit County, however, planning commission applicants are all interviewed by the council. Often, Jasper doesn't even attend. Then the council advises Jasper as to whom it consents, he "appoints" that person, and the council agrees. Even with this procedure in place for several years now, the council has had deep disagreements with the commissions, leading to frustration and public recriminations. The council - in the person of Chris Robinson - became deeply involved in the settlement of the movie-studio litigation. It seems inevitable that a studio complex will be built on the site in question, and likely it will be annexed into Park City. Thus, the county failed in its stated goal to block the project and will forfeit hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in tax revenues. If this is an example of its best work, it stands as an irrefutable warning against letting the council meddle in settlements at all. There are other examples of questionable conduct in how Summit County business is handled. They improperly taxed property at Empire Pass that had been annexed into Park City. They decided to pay Smith's and other landowners at Newpark hundreds of thousands of dollars for land to build roundabouts to ease traffic flow in and out of Smith's and the other landowners' parking lots. There was the misappropriation from the "rainy day" fund that voters had to approve retroactively. There are continued shenanigans with Mountain Re- LETTERS POLICY The Park Record welcomes letters to the editor on any subject. We ask that the letters adhere to the following guidelines. They must include the home (street) address and telephone number of the author. No letter will be published under an assumed name. Letters must not contain libelous material. Letters should be no longer than about 300 words (about 600 words for guest editorials) and should, if possible, be typed. We reserve the right to edit letters if they are too long or if they contain statements that are unnecessarily offensive or obscene. Writers are limited to one letter every seven days. Letters thanking event sponsors can list no more than 10 individuals and/or businesses. Send your letter to: editor@parkrecord.com The Park Record Staff PUBLISHER Andy Bernhard Editor Nan Chalat-Noaker Staff writers Jay Hamburger Scott Iwasaki Christopher Kamrani Megan Yeiter Sarah Moffitt Gina Barker Contributing writers Tom Clyde Jay Meehan Ted Orr Amy Roberts Larry Warren Copy editor David Hampshire ADVERTISING Classified advertising Ashlee Thomas Office manager Circulation manager Accounting manager Advertising director Advertising sales Jennifer Lynch Lacy Brundy Kate Fischer Valerie Spung Lori Gull Rachael Young-Tilton Barbara Yarbenet Jodi Hecker Erin Donnelly Photographers Grayson West Tyler Cobb Production director Matt Gordon Production Scott Schlenker Pat Hamaker Megan Maynard Wlule it is far too early to tally the final receipts for this year's Sundance Film Festival, some merchants on Main Street are saying that business during the 10-day festival was down. Obviously, the wet blanket that fell from the skies on the first Saturday, traditionally the busiest day of the festival, put a significant damper on foot traffic that day. But there was a feeling that, overall, the town was not as crowded as in previous years. On a positive note, the festival doesn't seem to be drawing the shoulder-to-shoulder gawkers and sideshow merchandising of previous years. That may be a good thing. If attendance at official Sundance events is strong, that is what really counts. But as the festival demographics shift, it may be time to review some of the ultra-tight restrictions put in place a few years ago. A few minor tweaks might be enough to satisfy concerns from those business owners on Main Street who feel that the public parking prohibitions combined with pricey private parking concessions are conspiring to drive business elsewhere. If the final tally of Sundance visitors corroborates the merchants' perception that visitor numbers were down, then next year, city and festival officials should consider reopening some public parking after the hectic first weekend. But Main Street merchants should consider some other factors too. In past years, many opted to close to the public in favor of leasing their spaces (at handsome rates) for private functions. In fact, when the economy was in full swing and swag-suites ruled, many galleries and restaurants were converted into "credentials-only" hotspots, complete with intimidating bouncers at the front doors. Over time that led to a perception that nothing is open to the public during Sundance. In recent years, though, Sundance and the city have tried to discourage the practice of ambush marketing on the coattails of the famous festival. Those efforts combined with the economic recession, have tempered the number of outside marketeers wanting to set up shop on Main Street, leaving local merchants to their own devices. So, maybe it is time to tinker with the formula. First: The city should consider restoring some public parking during the second week of the festival. Second: The merchants need to ensure that regular folks know they are welcome during the festival, even if they aren't wearing credentials or the latest eyewear. Customers also need a little guidance about whether reservation policies or cover charges are altered during the festival dates. Those who did brave the snowstorm, the traffic and the bodyguards this year will likely attest that Sundance adds a positive measure of excitement and cultural diversity that has a lot of potential to benefit local businesses. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Local government should take high road Editor: In response to Glenn Wright's letter, I agree that the Quinn's Junction movie studio deal is an example of Utah crony capitalism at its worst. But, is it any different than Talisker having Utah representatives and senators create a sweetheart deal and circumvent the established protocol to develop on Forest Service lands? Any different from the sweetheart deal Earl Holding got to develop Forest Service land at the base of his Snowbasin Resort, which led to the MIDA boondoggle? Any different from the threat of a lawsuit by Nadine Gillmor that may influence the approval of the Stone Ridge development? I believe we need to take a higher moral stand and lead by example in Summit County government. As Jerry Garcia, guitarist for the Grateful Dead, said, "Constantly choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil." Craig Eroh Citizens for the Alignment of Growth and the Environment (CAGE) Look for Silly Holiday Bazaar again next year Editor: The Park Silly Sunday Market wants to thank everyone who was a part of our first-ever Silly Holiday Bazaar. The turnout for the Silly Holiday Bazaar was great, and we could not have done it without the Park City High School staff and students. Also, thank you to all the shoppers who came out to support the local businesses. The Park City High School students helped the Silly Holiday Bazaar in more than one way, and we loved working with them before and during the event. The girls' basketball team, wrestling team, environmental group and Key Club all had booths at the entrance to fund-raise for their teams or groups and were very cooperative and outgoing throughout the event. The entertainment provided by the fiddle band and jazz combo band was a huge success, as they played beautifully. Thanks to our wonderful community, the Silly Holiday Bazaar is going to be an annual event! Kimberly Kuehn Executive director, Park Silly Sunday Market Help protect 120 acres in Round Valley Editor: With the recent approval of several large commercial and residential developments, it's comforting to know there are people out there still saving land in Summit County. The Summit Land Conservancy is asking the community for the remaining $100,000 (of a $5,700,000 easement purchase price) to protect 120 acres in Round Valley. The deadline is Feb. 12th. Please visit www. summitlandconservancy.org or call 435649-9884 and give what you can. Round Valley is a landscape we all love and need. Help the Conservancy protect it forever. Digital billboards in your neighborhood? Editor: The billboard industry has amazing power. Every time a community attempts to regulate the industry to improve neighborhood appearance, the result is a proposed bill at the State Legislature to stop the community's initiative and usually to increase overall billboard protection. Remember that when a state law is passed, it applies to every community. To date the billboard industry has been incredibly successful. Why? Could it be that the contributions to various legislators and the free ads on billboards results in a very sympathetic legislature? For some legislators, the contribution by the billboard industry is the largest contribution they get during their campaign (High Country News, 1/23/2012). Check out state law - their success has already made billboards the most protected land use in the state. And now they want digital billboards to be allowed anywhere there is an existing billboard. Communities would be given no choice on the issue. Do you want Vegas-style signs right in your front yard? Can you imagine them in Park City, Moab, or even Millcreek? Enough is enough - tell your legislator that billboards are a local issue that should be determined by the people who live with them, and not by lobbyists on Capitol Hill. John M. Janson Salt Lake City Debi Scoggan Park City GUEST EDITORIAL Curbside treasure: a Dumpster diver's diary By Dawne Belloise Writers on the Range It's garbage day as the new year moves along, and the streets of Crested Butte in western Colorado are lined with black plastic bags filled with kitchen gadgets, coffee pots and designer bedding. Last year's unwanted items sit abandoned at the curb to make way for this year's must-haves. You can tell a lot about a community by its trash, especially by how long it takes for stuff to get snatched up and recycled into someone else's household. From TVs to Foreman grills, and from almost new 12-cup coffee makers to halogen lamps, resort towns like mine are a gold mine for the garbage meister. One local Dumpster diver gained notoriety by making a small fortune on eBay, cleverly transforming somebody else's junk into the desirable niche category of shabby chic. That weird picture frame you threw away because no one you knew wanted it? It just sold to a buyer in Croatia who was looking for exactly that - and who outbid 15 people to pay 20 times more than its original retail price. I proudly tell visitors to my tiny alley cottage that it's almost entirely furnished from garbage, yard sales, or - if I have some money to play with - thrift stores. In fact, my home is the epitome of Nouveau Trash decor: My oak dining table was on the street with a "free" sign taped to it. A curved glass curio cabinet and its companion sideboard were advertised as "Free, get it out of here." Rescued houseplants, end tables, dressers, bookshelves, lamps and planks of wood have all been happily scooped up and put to good use in my rooms. My Depressionera grandmother would have approved. It is true that a resort town's wealthier population of second-home owners offers better pickings than most. You have only to drag a sled or little red wagon through six square blocks of fertile hunting grounds during my town's trash day to get both you and your home fully furnished. "That's what's nice about second homeowners," the husband of a young couple told me. "Carpet, electrical fixtures, half of our living room and all of our bedroom was 'given' to us by second homeowners who were throwing stuff away." Some people have even built their entire homes from the ground up using recycled construction materials that were either discarded from building sites or banished from houses that were remodeled. This is, perhaps, the ultimate in green construction. Once you begin to talk admiringly of trash, friends sometimes confess to their own hauls. "College kids just throw everything away at the end of the school year," one friend recalled happily, "because mommy and daddy pay for it all. The dumpsters got filled with microwaves, TVs and cement blocks." Many refuse-recyclers, however, are reluctant to admit their hobby as curbside curators. "I don't want anyone to know that I have their stuff," one man insisted. If you yearn to get in on the action but are squeamish about being seen rummaging through your neighbor's castoffs, start your search for treasures late the night before trash gets picked up. The pickings for guttersnipes are fresher and you're less likely to be noticed. In the summer, though, even the bears are aware of trash day, instinctively anticipating its arrival the evening before and helping themselves to easy curbside cuisine. Even with the mandatory bear-proof containers that most towns have adopted, this makes pre-planned nighttime treasure hunting more of an adventure, since you have to outwit the large, hungry bruins that will be enthusiastically shredding the "free stuff' bags as they dig for the happy meal buried within. Despite the embarrassment and cornpetition from wildlife, more and more people are getting savvy about this ultimate treasure hunt. For me, I've come to think of garbage day as just another farmers market, this one featuring ousted gems with my name on them. Dawne Belloise is a contributor to Writers on the Range, a service of High Country News (hcn.org). She is a freelance writer and photographer in Crested Butte, Colo. |