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Show 2 vernal Express Wednesday, August 20, 1997 Opinion and Commentary JACK-STRAWS by Jack Wallis Property tax hikes By now most property owners have received their 1997 property tax valuation notice from the county auditor. The notices give a description of the property, last year's and this year's market value and the current cur-rent and proposed property tax amounts. There are two areas a taxpayer may have an influence influ-ence over the amount of taxes they pay. One has to do with the market value of the property and the other is the tax levy. This year four local taxing entities have announced they propose to raise their budgets through an increase in taxation over last year. Before this can be done a public hearing must be held explaining why the tax increase is needed. This hearing must be announced in a quarter page newspaper advertisement. Uintah County and Uintah Water Conservancy District held their hearings Tuesday. Uintah County Mosquito District has set Aug. 28 and Central Utah Water Conservancy District set Sept. 3 for hearings. The tax rates of all the taxing entities times the market mar-ket value of ones property determines the total tax amount. Market value is estimated by the County Assessor and can increase or decrease according to local property prop-erty values. Appeals concerning market value must be made to the County Board of Equalization who have set Sept. 5 as the deadline to make applications for the Sept. 10-12 hearing dates in Uintah County. According to the Utah Taxpayers Association, property prop-erty owners should double-check their assessed property prop-erty to ensure that they are not inappropriately high. If the market value listed on the notice is higher than what you think your property would sell for, you should appeal to the board of equalization. Here are the steps recommended by UTA in making an appeal on market value of assessed property: Step 1. Obtain a copy of your property tax file from the county assessor and check it for errors. Make sure the property description is accurate. Step 2. Substantiate the value of your property. This can be done with real estate closing papers, a professional profes-sional appraisal, or values of recent sales of comparable compara-ble property obtained through a realtor. Step 3. Submit any errors found during step one, and the value established in step two along with your appeal to the board of equalization. Step 4. Hearing. There will be three parties at the hearing: a representative of the county assessor, a neutral arbitrator appointed by the county, and you or someone you select to represent you. It is up to you to show why your property is not worth what the assessor asses-sor says it is worth. This is not the time to complain about high taxes. Step 5. If you are unhappy with the decision of the board of equalization, you may appeal to the State Tax Commission. Step 6. If you are not satisfied with the decision by the Tax Commission, you may appeal through the courts. The main difficulty is to get to the budget hearing before the budgets are made up and submit proper application to the Board of Equalization on their designated des-ignated dates. Property taxes are not delinquent until after the last day in November, but to make any changes the action must start in August. With taxing entity budgets increasing and property values skyrocketing, it is little wonder that the average aver-age taxpayer is suffering from the tax crunch. PUBLIC FORUM LETTERS TO THE EDITOR What is your opinion? The Express welcomes .letters .let-ters from its readers concerning any subject pertinent perti-nent to the Uintah Basin. There are no restrictions as to contents, if not libelous or vindictive and of reasonable length (two typewritten double spaced pages). Letters must be submitted exclusively to the Express and bear the writer's full name, signature, phone number and address. Letters may be mailed, faxed at 789-8690 or through e-mail at editoreas-ilink.com. editoreas-ilink.com. The name or names of those submitting letters must appear on all published letters. All letters let-ters are subject to condensation. Letters express the opinion of the writer and are not necessarily the opinion of the Express Editor. Historic aspect Dear Editor. The historical aspect of the revitalizing of the Fieldhouse needs to be addressed. Too many old historical histor-ical buildings have already been destroyed. The present building was built under the supervision of Billy and Ernest Untermann, who instigated the idea of a home for the display of dinosaur artifacts, prehistoric mammals mam-mals and their histories. The building is a monument to the Untermanns. who are in themselves important historical his-torical figures of Uintah County's history. It is true that the motels. Western Park and even small businesses of Old Tow ne Vernal are benefitted by the presence of the building in its current location. Tourists coming to Vernal for functions at the Western Park appreciate local attractions being close together within walking distance. The downtown business are definitely definite-ly enhanced by the museum. It is (rue that people are staying in the motels and utilize the downtown businesses, busi-nesses, but would they be staying there if it were not for the museum and the Western Park? Local artists are already featured in the Western Park Museum, and the tourists enjoy walking to the library to sec the First Lady Doll Collection and other art displays dis-plays at that location as they visit the fieldhouse. The museum committee has made u fantastic plan lo revitalize the present museum. As far us moving it to another location, it would not only lose the great historical histor-ical value it now attains, but would he further out of the view of tourists passing through the urea. Perhaps un across the street arching sign could help it be seen by passing tourists, The building contains the magnificent collection of I'ntcrmann's paintings which could, of course, go to a new area, but would lose the character of being in the "I'nicrm.inn building," It again is true there is a p.uking problem. Il was mentioned in the letter to the editor thai the library anJ L'mt.ih County wcte using the present fieldhouse patk-ing patk-ing lot Officials at the library do not believe this to he Expi (ISSN 0892-1091) Put! py e I'too & r hs"tnj " ITC t r S" I ' SO t )r w 0 '' US fey Vo"l t ( PwbH'wsj CoT b Ntjfifi vmi Vff"l yt" Qt pmti0 tij at V"si WW MO'I Rot 090 Vn Va M0l Jr A . Put mh wg go" wo 6h.. V Jt-y Jtw tnv-"" t C W AH V P H. lv 35U fM tt9 Vo- 9 Vfc Ajfi r4 NlPMtl Honn&tc OCI0 ... V"T!, tf nee Siepmj AiHw . Mii-t it tm'-j Mv" Vf! t p true, maybe occasionally, but the county commissioners commission-ers are also addressing more parking for these entities. The committee did address several parking alternatives such as a half-underground parking plaza behind the adjoining Dinosaur Inn, parking under the museum, parking on First North and several other options which are under consideration. Please do not move this building build-ing and lose more of Vernal's historic flavor. JULIE BROOKS TROY BURTON MANDY BROOKS DORIS BURTON s, MINDY HADLOCK Vernal Emergency response Dear Editor, I would like to inform the residents of Uintah of an organization known as the LEPC (Local Emergency Planning Committee). The LEPC has two important provisions: 1. To provide for emergency response planning committees com-mittees which will help plan for the safe response to accidental releases of toxic chemicals into the air, land or water. 2. The community right-to-know provisions of LEPC will help to increase the public's knowledge and access to information on the presence of hazardous chemicals in their communities and releases of these chemicals into the environment. The LEPC includes local government, police, fire and resource environmental planners, public health, business busi-ness organizations, professional societies, civic organizations organi-zations and the media. The Uintah County LEPC meets on a monthly basis. I have attended two LEPC meetings since March of 1997. I found each to be very informative as well as productive. The members seem dedicated to being prepared pre-pared in case of a hazardous materials emergency. There has been one table top exercise which is a practice prac-tice exercise. There is also a full scale mock disaster planned for October 1997. BAXTEEN SMITH Vernal Field House Dear Editor. We support the rcvitalization and expansion of the Utah Field House of Natural History in its existing location. I'VE GOT MYSELF A MEW D06. HE'S A GOOD DOS. he barks ALL THE TIME. NOW ALL 1 GOT TO DO IS FIND A PICKUP TRUCK SO HE CAN RDE IN THE BACK.' YAP Yl The Program Planning Team and Steering Committee involved in the revitalization of the Field House should receive the support of the community in the proposal to renovate the existing facility. Too many times it seems the powers in charge of such things take the quick and easy approach of simply going out on the far edge of town and spending money on a new building and massive parking lot, which in most cases is not appealing in architecture and does not create an interesting and unique "Downtown." There are two prime examples in Vernal of renovating renovat-ing existing buildings that are very positive. One is the notable job done by Zions Bank on their historic downtown down-town building, and need I say more about the remodel of the old tabernacle into the most unique LDS Temple in existence. Buildings like this from time to time come down to very close decisions on should they be torn down or remodeled. It would be very hard to find any one in the Ashley Valley who would agree that these historic buildings should have been torn down and removed. The Museum Committee has a very fascinating and inviting plan for the Field House. The plan might help answer the question some of us have been hearing from travelers lately: Where is Dinosaur Land? I say leave the Field House in its present location. There are many ways to overcome problems that might come up and the benefit to the atmosphere and re-vital-ization of downtown business are immense. TERRY COX DEBRA COX Vernal Don't move museum Dear Editor, I feel that moving the museum would be devastating to our city. Not only would it take away the main attraction in Vernal City, but it would also hurt many of the businesses on this side of town. We employ 30 or more people without something like the museum bringing tourists down to this side of town, these 30 people could be left unemployed. And not only ours, but others such as the Trading Post. If tourists do not come to town to see the museum, then they wouldn't would-n't come at all. There is nothing on this side of town that brings people that is bigger than the museum. Moving the museum would also be a great loss to Vernal as a whole. It's a main tourist attraction, and is a major asset to our city. There are people from all over the country who pass through Vernal, and a large number num-ber of those people will stop in Vernal City for the sole purpose of viewing the museum. They will then spend their time here, and perhaps relay what a nice place this is to their friends. i Therefore, the museum means a great deal to Vernal City and its people and should be kept where it is now. BONNIE MILLECAM Vernal FBI agent to leave Dear Editor, I have recently been granted a very appealing transfer with incentives that I find impossible to pass up. Consequently, I will be leaving the Vernal FBI office for another stimulating opportunity with the Bureau. In , February, 1991 many of you attended the open house for our new office. Upon opening that office, I defined specific goals aimed towards aggressively pursuing narcotics nar-cotics traffic and incarcerating those who commit violent vio-lent crimes in our communities. We have met those goals. In addition, other significant inroads were achieved in white collar crime and illegal telemarketing. telemarket-ing. I thank my two FBI partners for helping me achieve those goals. I am especially grateful for the people we work with the most: Captain Ed Reynolds and his staff from the Bureau of Indian Affairs Police Department and Criminal Investigator. Anselm "Andy" Tom from the BIA-Law Enforcement Services Division. These people have given me their unconditional support and partnership partner-ship in very demanding, high-risk situations. They are exemplary of professional law enforcement and truly bring honor to their agencies by trying to do their best. I also commend the other local law enforcement agencies in our communities through the Basin who have assisted us and who have contributed significantly to our mission accomplishments. My hat goes off especially espe-cially to the younger officers serving our communities who struggle with odd shifts, lough assignments and the lower end of the pay scale while trying to do the right thing for us. Judy and I are especially indebted to the teachers and adult leaders who have helped to nurture two of our children Shayna and Justin, and to those coaches who helped them develop. We express our sincere love for the people of the Glines 5th Ward and to our many friends and neighbors whose memories we will cherish. We wish the best for the people of Vernal, where we have made our home and hope that our lives have positively posi-tively touched yours. MIKEMCPHETERS Vernal Voice of Business The CIPE solution by Dr. Richard L. Usher president U.S. Chamber of Commerce WASHINGTON - We have achieved many goal, during my more than two decade with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce most of them the result of hard wotk, careful planning and deliberate execution but il is fair lo say thai one of our ntosl successful and important program, is one we initially accepted with some reluctance, Il all began in IVX2 when President Ronald Reagan announced an initiative before the British Parliament "to determine how the nation to ihc global campaign cam-paign for democracy now gathering force." The National Endowment for Democracy, union and the major political parties was charged to promote our shared value of political and economic freedom around the world. President Reagan was a great friend of (he U.S. Chamber of Commerce. so he naturally looked to us to play a major role in hi inspired initiative, The reult was CIPE the Center for International Private Enterprise begun with NED grant which were later supplemented with support from the Agency for International Development, the U.S. Information Agent), and matching grants from the private sector in countries where CIPE operates. CIPE has become a driving force for social, political politi-cal and economic progress throughout the world. Its primary focus is to help foster development of the basic institutions that underpin democracy and free enterprise. The most simple things of American life, such as basic properly rights, ore alien concepts in many parts of ihe world. For example, in counties emerging from communism, virtually all substantial wealth and means of production belonged to the government. gov-ernment. These nations must not only enact legislation legisla-tion to establish property rights, they must establish workable mechanisms lo secure those rights. CIPE conducts a diverse variety of outreach programs pro-grams in dozens of countries to promote the legal and institutional structures required lo support free market economies. Il leaches business people to participate actively in political and social affairs and to work together through voluntary associations to defend their values and rights. It leaches government officials, offi-cials, educators and journalists about the rights and freedoms inherent in a democratic free enterprise system. sys-tem. Establishing and strengthening democracy in places where it has been absent or stymied is profoundly difficult. dif-ficult. Many people who have grown up under socialist social-ist systems espect the government to manage all eco nomic matters, including many decisions that we presume pre-sume to be individual choices. A major problem is fear of the uncertainty and self-reliance required of individuals in free market economics. People unaccustomed unac-customed lo freedom can find il terrifying, Another challenge is die virtual Uk of a private property base to build upon in many nations, l ew citizens citi-zens of former communist countries own their own homes or businesses. Before the eitienry of any country can be enpecicd lo establish a commitment to property rights, a substantial percentage of them must in fact own property worth protecting. CIPE operates under the assumption that people and organizations make political and economic reforms stick if they have adequate resources and technical guidance. CIPE is careful not to dictate what should be done in any given country, and prefer trt approve programs which have been conceived and organised by a nations leader who are committed to progressive progres-sive change. The eager reception CIPE encounters everywhere is profound testimony to the general hunger for freedom among all people. CIPE is achieving achiev-ing tremendous results with minimal resources, creating creat-ing vast new opportunities for U.S. buinescs. It is one of the greatest things the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has done on my watch. |