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Show Single Copy 504 Vernal, Utah 84078 114th Year No. 29 We Jul) ; , wmvalxom BE PREPARED Ways to prepare for disaster. See B1 .KH I I I WEATHER REDESIGNED FOR GROWTH Water reclamation SeeA2 JHL- KgUT INC.. SeeC6 -sa 726 727 9563 9863 A few clouds. Highs Mora sun than inJhejmdOsjna' douiJsHighjinthe 1 f tir.ru M f t? The Best of Show July 24th Parade united. Parade captures community unity' At 8:30 a.m. July 24 there were two horses and one float preparing pre-paring to line up for the Parade down Main Street. Despite the slow start, the parade, with the theme "Community Unity," started its trek down Vernal Main Street with over 50 entries, including the Junior High marching band, the Outlaw Spinners float, 4-H Royalty, Uintah County queens, fire trucks, ambulance, color guard and missionaries. "I was surprised by the number num-ber and quality of participants," Wilderness By Steven R. Wallis Express Editor A priority with the Ashley National Forest is a revision of the Forest Plan which would include recommendation for wilderness areas. Last November the Ashley Forest published a Notice of Initiation stating that it was going to take the next couple of years and outline a new course for the Ashley National Forest. "To help guide this effort, I listened a lot to our employees and many of you," said Kevin B. Elliott, Forest Supervisor, Ashley National Forest, during dur-ing Tuesday's Chamber meeting. meet-ing. "You have not been shy about telling me your thoughts regarding he management of the Ashley and where you would like to see us go in the future." On the first of August the first round of public input on wilderness wilder-ness areas on the Ashley will end. Four of the areas being looked at are addendum to the Uinta Wilderness Area and the five in Ashley Gorge. "The public will have two or three more opportunities to comment on the preliminary draft assessment of wilderness areas," Elliott said. "We cannot designate an area as wilderness, it is only done by Congress. But once an area is recommended for wilderness it is managed as such." In April the forest hosted a public workshop at Uintah High School to start framing the concept con-cept of desired condition. The workshop along with open houses hous-es in Vernal and Salt Lake City in June and four public field S iV I. 0 float was built by Vernal 2nd Ward. said Stephen Henderson, parade chairman. Judges of the July 24 parade gave awards of Best Use of Theme, which went to floats by Naples 1st and 2nd Ward and Glines 3rd Ward; Most Original was given to Glines 1st Ward; Best Dressed was given to a float by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, The Best of Show was given to Vernal 2nd Ward and the Most Patriotic, honorable mention, was given to a float by the Constitution Party. The parade began after the part of Forest plan trip this month is assisting in identifying the niche or role the Ashley provides. By the end of August public comment on how to synthesize all that was learned from the various venues ven-ues will be open to public input. Also workshop will begin at the end of August about management manage-ment strategies and suitable uses. Elliott said he is experiencing increased interest with oil and gas development on the forest particularly in the unit south of Uintah mosquitoes found with WN The Uintah Mosquito Abatement District has test surveillance pools that consist of adult mosquitoes that are tested regularly, and only one pool came back positive for West Nile Virus. "This means it's active here, and it's time for precautions," said Dr. Steve Romney, the Director of the Uintah Mosquito Abatement District. Sentinel chicken flocks were deployed on farms and ranches and tested every week; they have been negative all summer long. Duchesne County had its first chicken test positive. Dr. Romney went on to say, "On the Wasatch Front, for instance, numerous mosquito pools and sentinel chickens are showing positive right now." "It is early in the season, but at this point in time the Uintah Abatement District has maintained main-tained wonderfully effective control going on, county wide," Dr. Romney stated. "We have 13 public health field technicians who are relentlessly seeking out and killing mosquito popu M,- .... ONE AMERICAN The float showed all the different aspects of the Community that make it :y "ffK J mm Parade participants prepare for ride annual July 24 Boy Scout Breakfast, sponsored by Rocky Mountain Power. During the breakfast, thousands were Duchesne. "We recently hired an additional addi-tional employee to work with the BLM as part of the Vernal Pilot Project Office, one of seven offices across the West designed to expedite oil and gas applications for permit to drill," Elliott said. The Ashley is also working with third party contractors to approve exploratory well proposals pro-posals from EOG Resources and Berry Petroleum in the South Unit. lations before they are able to fly. We have never had better control than this year. Overall mosquito control is excellent. With a virus like this, you can't predict for certain what is going to happen, but at this point in time, we are optimistic for Uintah County this season." Last year the first of 14 cases of human West Nile Virus started start-ed about this time and then went on through September. "The threat of human infections infec-tions with mosquito-borne West Nile virus is very reaL" says a release from the Uintah Mosquito Abatement District This urgent message gives these guidelines: Protect Yourself Use mosquito repellents with up to 35 percent DEET for adults and up to 10 percent DEET for children 2-12. Do not use on children under the age of 2. Follow all label directions carefully. Avoid outdoor activity when mosquitoes are present, especially from dusk to dawn. Take care to safeguard infants m i T4 down Main Street on their float. served a pancake, eggs and sau- sage breakfast. Proceeds from the breakfast go to support the local Boy Scouts. revision Elliott said the additional addition-al employee came from the Allegheny National Forest which has 220 to 240 natural gas wells drilled every year. The forest currently has nine active timber sales. By mid-August mid-August the forest should advertise adver-tise an additional five timber sales, including two in the Frenches Park area. "We awarded Lost and Center timber sales this year," Elliott See Forest on A10 and the elderly. wear long sleeves and pants for extra protection. Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in unscreened structures. Seal doors and windows with tight screens in good condition. con-dition. Help Prevent Mosquitoes Don't allow irrigation water to stand pooled in the field. Standing irrigation water is perfect habitat for mosquitoes which may carry West Nile Virus. Drain any water around the home, farm or business which may have collected in containers contain-ers such as tires, rain gutters, buckets and cans. Change water in bird baths, water troughs and wading pools frequently. Don't let water stagnate in ornamental ponds. Uintah Mosquito Abatement District reminds everyone, "Remember NOW is the time to fight the bite with all your might!" Commissioners present special service district proposals By Elizabeth Goode Express Writer Last Friday in the Commission Chambers, the plan for the creation of three new Special Service Districts (SSD) was laid out for the public. pub-lic. Discussed was the proposal of a Fire Suppression SSD, Economic Eco-nomic Development SSD, Animal Ani-mal Control and Shelter SSD. Also covered was the Amended Health Care Special Service District. Approximately 38 people signed the register of attendance, at-tendance, and participation was lively. Presenters were Commissioners Mike McKee and Dave Haslem, with assistance by Ed Peterson, Deputy County Attorney, and Candidate Darlene Burns, who maneuvered the power point software for the presentation. Commissioner McKee told the group that the "Federal Statute, Stat-ute, PL 94-377, section 9, states, in part: ... shall be used by such State and its subdivisions as the legislature of the State may '""dif&ct, giving priority to those subdivisions of the State socially social-ly or economically impacted by development of minerals leased under this act ..." McKee presented figures that indicated the growth of the Mineral Lease Fund in recent years. In 2002 the 2nd quarter allocation received by Uintah County in October was $697,630; 3rd quarter was $517,945; and 4th quarter was $702,887. Total To-tal allocations for 2005 was $16,704,533; and for 2006 in the first three quarters the subtotal is $20,576,481. McKee said, "The Parks and Recreation District is doing a tremendous job, but then we keep hearing that there are legislators leg-islators in the State who made remarks that Uintah County was squandering the money 'like pigs at a trough.' An audit was arranged to evaluate how Uintah County mineral lease monies were being utilized. Money from the tobacco industry indus-try is drying up, and there are legislators looking for additional addi-tional funds, including mineral lease monies." McKee continued, "The commission com-mission wants to ensure that the Legislature doesn't have any reason to think or believe that Uintah County doesn't need the funding. In the community, impacts im-pacts have never been greater than today, with needs for roads, and an infrastructure system to service the expanding population." popula-tion." Commissioner Haslem added, add-ed, "A couple of months ago, we met with the legislators. Gale McKeachnie has appointed a task force to review the mineral extractions of Utah. How much money would it cost the county to upgrade the roads in Uintah County, with emphasis on the areas of extraction? An engineer engi-neer did a study of 680 miles of Class B roads, the major corridors, corri-dors, not the service roads for the companies. The engineer estimated it to be $533 million to bring them up to standard gravel grav-el Right now it costs the Roads SSD approximately $1 million per mile for paving. "When the legislature sets up the funding," said Dave Haslem, "there are federal and state laws that govern how it can be spent There are 13 areas in which it can be used, but a new jaiL or a new library, or other great needs may not qualify under state mineral lease law. "We tried to take four or five other areas and fund them out of the mineral lease money for the county, and release that much of general budget to be used for things like the jail or library, approximately $1.3 million. mil-lion. The PILT (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) money would have to be forfeited if the mineral lease money went into the general budget." There was strong competition competi-tion over the choice of Special Service Districts. "We don't want the State to pass a law with more restrictions it was close last year," Haslem continued. "We are under tremendous pressure pres-sure on the County budget, and we do not want to raise taxes. The meeting on January 31 will be open for public comment." The plan for the Fire District Board was displayed. It shows a five member board, through which the Fire Marshall and Emergency Management (both Fire District Employees) would be funded and managed. The Board members would be appointed ap-pointed by the County Commission Commis-sion and would consist of: one representative from each of the three municipalities, (i.e. Vernal, Ver-nal, Naples and Ballard);, one member at large; and one commissioner. com-missioner. Avalon, Ballard, Naples, Vernal, Ver-nal, Jensen and Lapoint Fire Stations would be under the direction of the Fire District Board. "This has been under discussion dis-cussion for a long time," said McKee. The existing equipment would be part of the Fire District Dis-trict for the life of the equipment. equip-ment. Any new equipment purchased pur-chased by the District would be owned by the District. One of the benefits, besides the funding, fund-ing, is the management and operation op-eration advantages for greater coordination. At the startup the appointed board members will draw lots for two- or four-year four-year terms, so that all directors' terms will not expire after four years; from then on the terms will be for four years, with a limit of two terms." One of the many questions was a concern that the voter has no voice in the selection, and election of board members was requested. "Because these would be funded by mineral lease money," answered McK- "they have to be appointed Only persons funded by tax dollars dol-lars can be elected. However, if you don't like the board, you can make the commissioner responsible." respon-sible." Another question regarded the legality of one of the board members being a commissioner. The Commission has contacted expert authorities and have been assured that there is no problem with a commissioner being on a board, as long as the Commission Commis-sion does not control the board. It is the Commission's decision that only one Commissioner would be on each board. Whether or not the board members can be paid is still a question, but the answer in part is that "the present board members mem-bers (Roads and Parks &Rec) only receive a stipend. State law says they can be paid. There are no laws in the State to allow election; no SSD in the state has elected board members.'' The Commission had met earlier ear-lier with the Fire Departments. Todd Wallis, the "Chief of the Chiefs," related that they had all met to discuss the objective of better service to the communities, commu-nities, and put the plan together. "The opportunity for the funding fund-ing is good, and the manage- See SmcW Stork Districts m AW |