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Show Wednesday, October 25, 2006 Single Copy 50t Vernal, Utah 84078 114th Year No. 41 www.vernal.com. POSTER CHILD Makes the most of the rain. See B1 WEATHER BY VOLLEYBALL M&ffi f j 111 L t fl L it" S I T r!;A -v. -t. uies set ror Maiet?A.& 17 a a See CI See All 1025 1 1026 s jQ - 4928 4929 A few morning show- Sunshine. Highs in ers. Highs in the up- the upper 40s and MfiUSt By Steven R. Wallis Express Editor Over 10 years in the making, the beginnings of a Recreation Center in Vernal began this week with Monday's ground breaking. On hand for the ground breaking break-ing were the nine members of the Recreation Board, member mem-ber of the Alvin Kay family, who sold the property for the Recreation Center, commissioners, commission-ers, City Councilmen and other dignitaries. The Uintah Recreation Center will occupy about 12 acres of an 80-acre parcel of land at about 500 South Vernal Ave. Layton Construction Company is the primary contractor on the $15.9 million project. EDA Architects designed the 78,000 square foot recreation center, which will feature various activity spaces spac-es that were planned into the building's design based on input from the community. The areas include activity areas, administrative admin-istrative offices, aerobic and dance area, childcare, climbing wall, double gym, indoor lap pool, indoor leisure pool with two slides and water toys, party rooms, public meeting areas and conference room, running tracks, support and storage areas. The intention of the overall design and construction of the center, including the material mate-rial selection and design of the mechanical and electrical system sys-tem is to help lower ongoing maintenance and operational costs, minimize staffing and provide a facility that conserves energy. To help conserve energy, ener-gy, the use of natural light and other "passive" energy sources will be incorporated as much as possible. "This has been a long time getting get-ting going," said Fran Harding, Uintah Recreation District Board chairman. "We appreciate appreci-ate the commissioners going to the CIB. Uintah Recreation has a 30-year $7 million no-interest loan for the Community Impact Board to help fund the project. The loan will be paid back with mineral lease money." About 6 years ago Vernie Heeney, who was then a member mem-ber of the Uintah Recreation District Board, chaired a Recreation Center Board, which surveyed the public about what they would like in such a facility, facil-ity, if they were willing to use tax dollars for its construction and where it should be located. "I think the community will be very pleased with this facility," facil-ity," said Bert Cartwright, Layton Construction. "You will be the envy of the rest of the state." He said the rock formations at Red Fleet were used as inspiration inspira-tion "It will look like it belongs here when it is finished," he added. All of the cost of the facil- New routes explored for Vernal 's Main Street By Elizabeth Goode Express Writer The special service district formerly known as Uintah Special Service District has returned to their original title, Uintah Transportation Special Service District (UTSSD) to avoid confusion as the new districts dis-tricts are established. Last week the UTSSD hosted a public meeting at Western Park, regarding the Main Street 2000 West project. From the invitation to the public and the 160 letters sent to residents in the immediate area, approximately approxi-mately 55 people attended. Guy Denton, Utah State University, gave a presentation presenta-tion about the proposed USU ruction m f im i (?, d iv Ir ! i , 1 it? f If y i r I i c r - I Officials, contractors and youth Auston and Abbie Harding, turn a little dirt rt -...v,'. ... intufci"- mm ' i' iiif twit . " . jgr ' Board member John Millecam thanks the Kay family and energy companies for making the Recreation Recre-ation Center possible. ity will be paid with mineral lease money, which is given to the Uintah Recreation District from funds generated by mineral min-eral development on state and federal lands. "I would like to thank the Kay family for selling the ground to us," said Commissioner Jim Abegglen, a former Uintah Recreation District member. "People have put in a lot of time and effort and without the UBATC campus to open the meeting. To establish a route from Main Street to the new campus and connect with Hwy. 40, four alternative routes were presented for public comment. An overview was given by Troy Ostler, design engineer of CIVCO. "It was a very positive meeting, meet-ing, with the majority of the audience in support of the expansion," said Cheri McCurdy, UTSSD executive officer manager. Every effort is being made during the engineering engi-neering design to find an alignment align-ment that will have the least impact. The final design and start of construction is expected by the fall of 2007. The UTSSD Board held interviews inter-views with proposing firms on Lanny Kay, whose family sold the property for the Rec. Center, participates par-ticipates in ground breaking. land we would not have gotten to this point." "I would like to thank the companies who have seen fit to drill in Uintah County," said Jim Millecam, Uintah Recreation Board member. "Mineral lease money is a wonderful blessing." Millecam noted that it was due to the efforts of Rep. Jack Seitz, who in 1996, sponsored a bill to bring more of the mineral lease money back to the county design of several projects last Wednesday, and made awards for three. CIVCO Engineering will design Glen Bench Overlay Project, with construction anticipated to begin next spring. Mountain Fuel Phase 2 Reconstruction Project was awarded to CIVCO to begin by the end of November. The Alternate Truck Route Study will be designed by Korve Engineering of Midvale, a firm specializing in transportation planning studies such as this one. Public comment will be sought. The study of two to four alternate routes is scheduled to be completed by July 2007. Award of design for Dry Gulch Bridge Replacements Project was postponed until Nov. 1. Um0 at the ground breaking for the Uintah ShaunaJo Eves, right, Uintah Recreation District, explains the layout of the Rec. Center. of origin. Millecam noted that the Kay family was offered three times as much as they were paid for the property from a developer. "That would have been a deal breaker in most cases," said Millecam. "My Dad would have rolled over in his grave if he knew we sold this property for a subdivision," subdi-vision," said Lanny Kay. "He would have wanted it for this purpose." ) p NT - ,g J&FL ....... . . .. iTjie-i i i ,. , .. j .(" Aerial map illustrates four alternatives for the Main Street2000 West project. irata Recreation Center. The park where the Recreation Center will be located locat-ed will be called "the Alvin and Virginia Kay Memorial Park." Plans have also been made for a ball park complex, sledding hill, library and other recreation recre-ation facilities at the park. The Recreation Center will be nearly as big as the Vernal Walmart and will straddle the northeast corner of the property, prop-erty, said Doug Miller, Layton Construction. Busing solution proposed By Elizabeth Goode Express Writer In a work session of the Uintah School District Board of Education Tuesday, a plan was presented to resolve issues of busing. The School District, Uintah County, Vernal and Naples Cities are working on partnerships partner-ships to provide funding so the elementary students that were bused last year can be bused. At this point there is no indication indica-tion of a date when this service could begin. Three additional routes will be added and two buses will do a "double hitch:" after unloading, unload-ing, the drivers will return for a second load. Both loads will include those students that have been walking due to mileage restrictions. The cost for an entire year would be approximately $125,000. If the city county partners can fund $67,500, the School District Board will find the funds for the remaining $67,500. There is a concern that adding three extra drivers will create a shortage of substitutes for after-school after-school activity transportation. The board members agreed , that it is important to focus on students during school hours, and it will be spring before the f impact on activities will be felt. By that time, drivers should be available. There are sufficient buses to accomplish this busing change, if funding is realized. County selects boards Once again the Uintah County Commissioners appointed appoint-ed 16 members to four special service district boards, three of which are new. To the Economic Development Board, commissioners com-missioners appointed Mike McKee, Uintah County; Sonja Norton, Vernal City: Dennis Long, Naples; Tanya Meacham, Ballard; and Mark Raymond, at large. To the Fire District Board, commissioners appointed Mike McKee, Uintah County; JoAnn Cowan, Vernal City, Robert Hall, Naples, Bob Abercrombie, Ballard and Delmer Lane, at large. To the Animal Control Board, commissioners appointed Dave Haslem, Uintah County; Dennis Glines, Vernal City; Dan Olsen, Naples, Nicki Deiter, Ballard; See Boards on A10 ! |