OCR Text |
Show kJ U 1 II Li iL IPark City, Utah Vol. VII, No. 44 Thursday, July 22, 1982 Two Sections, 24 Pages Using his head tate OICs city use of water from by Morgan Queal Park City has won the first round in its battle for water from the Spiro Tunnel. In a decision issued this week, state water engineer Dee C. Hansen approved the city's change application to buy Salt Lake City's share of water flowing through the tunnel. The decision from the Utah Division of Water Rights has the potential of more than doubling Park City's water supply to some 5,300 gallons per minute. But there are several protests to Park City's use of the water, and those contestors are expected to carry the issues through the entire court process. The city will begin using a portion of that water in about 10 days, after some repair work is done inside the old mining tunnel west of Park City and monitoring devices are functioning, according to City Attorney Tom Clyde. The new water, purchased under a 25-year lease from Salt Lake City, is Park City's cushion for new development, develop-ment, Clyde said. The complicated issue over who should have access to water flowing Agency eyes purchase of hotel site' A special meeting of the Park City Redevelopment Agency is scheduled for this afternoon to discuss the purchase pur-chase of land north of the Marsac School that in the future may see the development of a hotel. City Manager Arlene Loble said the land, currently owned by the Gad-dis-McKnight group, "is one of the most valuable parcels in the Redevelopment District." Until the written proposal has been reviewed by the land owners, Loble "said she could not reveal the terms of the agreement or price offered. The land extends north from the playground area of the Marsac School to Heber Avenue. The tentative plan proposed by the Redevelopment Agency Agen-cy would be to entice a private developer to use the land for the construction con-struction of a hotel. Lobel said that while using Redevelopment Agency funds to purchase property is not "showy"! in the way of physical improvements im-provements in the district, it fits the Agency's philosophy of getting control of valuable land. "The idea is to turn, it around and get investment in an area that wouldn't have it without the Redevelopment Agency," said Loble. "A hotel is a perfect per-fect example. In my opinion, what the city is lacking is a place for overnight Baa--J,,N3-. JHq: -V,- -J "I can't believe I broke the whole thing!" Toshio Takahashi appears to be giving thanks after a shattering experience in Park City Saturday. See page B6. out of the old mining tunnel began back in 1934, when the courts told Weber River water users that they owned rights to water originating in the first 6,600 feet of the tunnel. In a 1974 court judgement, Salt Lake City was awarded 60 percent of the flow that originates beyond the 6,600-foot station on the ground that, had the tunnel not existed, that water would naturally flow into Big Cottonwood Creek. The remaining 40 percent was awarded to United Park City Mines. Park City's request to divert Salt Lake City's portion into the Park City water system brought protests from several sources: Silver King Mining Company, which stated Park City's use of the water would interfere with its contract agreement for a portion of the water in the tunnel. Noranda Mining Company, which argued that it is the lessee of the Spiro Tunnel and is entitled to exclusive possession of the lands within the tunnel. Edward Leslie Gillmor, who said his right to use return flow from Salt accommodations for people who don't want to rent a whole condominium. I would think the Main Street merchants would be thrilled with a hotel. Right now there's no place vfhere you can just walk out the door and be here on Main Street." Loble said the hotel would be part of other redevelopment plans in Swede Alley. As proposed, a plaza with underground un-derground parking would be built west of the Marsac School and step down to Swede Alley. The underground parking area would have an elevator that would open onto the plaza, which would contain shops and landscaped areas. Overnight guests at the hotel would be able to walk to the plaza, then take steps or the elevator down to the parking garage or over to Main Street. "We have envisioned the hotel with lots of glass to take advantage of a gorgeous view," Loble said. The Marsac School would still be used for city offices. Loble said that because of the current economic climate it would be difficult to predict when the hotel might be built. She added, ad-ded, however, that if the Redevelopment Redevelop-ment Agency does purchase the land, it would begin immediately to entertain enter-tain offers from private developers. photo by Michael Spauldmg Lake City would be injured if the water were diverted. The Weber Basin Water Conservancy Conserv-ancy District and Weber River water users, who claim that Salt Lake's rights to the 60 percent have been lost by non-use. Hansen ruled that the 1974 court judgement awarding the 60-percent portion to Salt Lake City established the city's right to the water, and "forms a sufficient basis for (Park City's) change application." If Salt Lake is entitled to use of the water, then the change application can be approved without impairing other vested water rights, the decision stated. The ruling requires Park City to ity Hal! to get by Bettina Moench The plans are still tentative, but a year from now, City Hall may be City Hall no more. City Councilwoman Tina Lewis said Monday that in an effort to consolidate municipal offices and to restore the historic Main Street building, City Hall may become the home of a Park City museum and the Chamber of Commerce Com-merce Convention and Visitors Bureau. Lewis said there has been interest among the City Council and local history buffs to have City Hall restored. Last week, architect Wally Cooper, who has engineered the restoration of the Miners Hospital, came to Park City to "case out" City Hall. In his estimation, said Lewis, City Hall needs extensive repairs that can't be made while it is occupied. Like the Miners Hospital, he said, City Hall needs to be structurally stabilized and Rossi Hill fire Woman charged with arso Park City police Wednesday arrested arrest-ed a Park City woman in connection with a Sunday night fire in a Rossi Hill duplex. Charged with aggravated arson is Eva Lane Townsend, 35, resident of the apartment where the fire occurred. Park City Fire Marshal Herb Johnson said the fire call was received at about 8:20 p.m., and a caravan of fire engines, police vehicles and elt route won winter deadline Skiers can anticipate another season of traffic jams on Park Avenue. The U-224 U-224 belt route designed to carry traffic in and out of Deer Valley won't be ready for winter travel. Mike Roshek, project engineer with District Two of the state Department of Transportation, said only a late Indian In-dian summer a "freak of nature" could assure completion of the hoped-for project before ski season. The new belt route includes widening of Park Avenue from the 224-Kearns Blvd. intersection up to Snow Country Drive, and a new two-lane highway along the base of the hill east of and parallel to Park Avenue, up to Marsac Drive. The project was to have been started in June, but a freeze in federal funding delayed the advertising of bids. Bids now are to be opened next Tuesday, July 27. If there's a good bid, Roshek said, a contract could be awarded within the week. If not if bids are high the department may have to wait until bids on Interstate 215 are opened a week later to determine where its funding stands. "But I'm anticipating a good bid. Contractors appear to be more competitive com-petitive right now," Roshek said. If work on the belt route project begins in August, the contractor could complete the Park Avenue section by winter, but it's not feasible, he said, that the entire belt route could be open for ski traffic. Weather here is too harsh install meters and measuring devices to monitor the amount of water entering the city's water system from the tunnel. Hansen did not, however, rule on the issue of whether Salt Lake City has lost its rights to the water by non-use. That decision, he noted in the ruling, should be made by the courts, and any court judgment would overrule his own decision in the matter. Protestors have sixty days in which to file a civil action in the case, and Weber River water users are expected to do just that. Keith Jensen, manager of the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, said the water engineer's decision is the first step in the formal process of partially gutted to return it to its original design. Currently, plans call for the offices of the mayor, city manager and the Finance Department to be moved into the Marsac School building where the' rest of the city offices are located. As for City Hall, Lewis said, "We would like to see the building continued to be used by the public so that people can still come in and see the Dungeon." Lewis estimated the restoration project would cost about $200,000. To finance it, the city hopes to attract a private investor, who would be able to take advantage of tax breaks given for historic restorations. Lewis said she hopes to meet with representatives of the Utah State Historical Society to see if the plan is feasible. If not, "we're back to square one." Once restored, the first floor of City Hall could house a museum of Park emergency medical technicians raced up narrow McHenry Avenue to the duplex, owned by Park City High School Principal Jack Dozier. The emergency aid was requested by Townsend, who burst into a party in the adjoining unit. Townsend apparently was home alone when the fire broke out in the downstairs bedroom. Johnson said the blaze was contained before substantial for winter construction, he said. Roshek noted that the belt route project already is at least two years ahead of schedule. Environmental clearance was received at the beginning begin-ning of the year, and normally there's three more years of work before construction con-struction can begin. Park City officials and the highway department, Roshek said, did three years of work in four months. "Even if construction begins next spring, it's still ahead of schedule. And the highway definitely will be open for the following winter," he said. During the last ski season there were State won't pay all of grand jury bill The state government will pay for the Summit County grand jury's prosecutor and investigator. But the county must find someone else to pay for nearly $45,000 in other jury expenses, according to county clerk Reed Pace. According to his July 1 estimate, the expense for prosecutor Francis Wik-strom Wik-strom would be $16,534.79. The expense for investigator Ralph Jones was $31,931. (Since then, Pace said, he has figured Jones cost about another $5,000.) The governor's commission Spiro Twine determining who has rights to Spiro Water beyond the 6,600-foot station. The Weber district has combined forces with the rest of the Weber River users and will bring to court their contention that Salt Lake City has lost its rights to Spiro water through non-use, he said. Clyde said Park City is arguing, in that issue, that the state's forfeiture statute does not apply to municipalities. municipali-ties. Park City also has filed a change application with the state engineer to secure rights to the remaining 40 percent of the Spiro Tunnel water. The 1974 court judgement awarded that portion to United Park City Mines, which turned over the rights to Deer new tenants ? City memorabilia, Lewis said. "We could have old costumes, stagecoaches and mining cars," she said. "And it would be a place for people to come for information and to see a pictorial history of the city." The second floor, she said, would house the Chamber Convention Bureau offices. Has there been any sentiment toward keeping City Hall as it is, just because it always has been? "Yes, there has," said Lewis. "I was one person who fought all along for it to remain City Hall. I was for expanding the building to get the needed space." While the expansion plans were "magnificent," said Lewis, they also were expensive about $1 million. "But where do you get that kind of money?" she asked. While City Hall is within the Redevelopment District, she said that project would not be fire damage was done, although there is a large amount of smoke damage. The fire marshal said the drywall, ceiling and closet doors were burned and will have to be replaced. Park City Police Detective Lloyd Evans estimated estimat-ed the damage at about $5,000. "That thing was ready to blow," said Johnson, recalling the blaqk smoke billowing out windows and doors. He said that a flammable liquid substance t meet a half-dozen peak days in late afternoon after-noon when traffic out of Deer Valley and Old Town was backed up while cars exited from Park City Resort to lower Park Avenue. During those jams it could take an hour to travel the two-mile two-mile route from Deer Valley Resort to the Holiday Inn. District Two engineers already are launching plenary work for construction construc-tion of a new U224 Highway between Kimball Junction and Park City, with that project some five years away. Predictions call for 40,000 to 50,000 cars per day on the highway by the year 2,000, Roshek said. has indicated it will pay for this, said Pace. Pace said his July 1 figures showed $42,773 in other jury costs. By far the largest amount was for the auditor, followed by monies for jurors, a court reporter, and supplies and materials. Another $2,000 has been figured in since early July, the clerk said. Pace said he hoped to find another source to reimburse the money by sending the bill to Judge Bryant Croft. Croft headed the 11-member panel of judges who called the jury. Valley. The resort has transferred its rights to Park City. The same parties ar protesting the change application for the 40 percent, Clyde said. Civil action also is anticipated in that case, regardless of who wins in the second change application issue. Clyde said it is that 40 percent in which the city is most interested, because it could own the rights to that water instead of using it on a lease basis. It's possible, Clyde said, that protestors, in a court civil action, could secure an injunction to prevent Park City's use of Spiro water while the matter is being adjudicated. If that happens, use of Spiro water could be tied up for a period of years. appropriate for redevelopment funds. Since it is a public building, it would not be returned to the tax roles. Since the city recently purchased the Marsac School for $1.35 million, Lewis said one "hard nosed" approach would be to sell City Hall since all municipal offices would be moved. The money from the sale could then be used for other projects within the city. "But we don't want to see it become the City Hall Saloon," said Lewis. "We want it to remain a public building, and right now the best use seems to be the plan we're talking about." If the city does decide on the plan and attract a private investor to restore City Hall, Lewis said it could be leased back to the city for "the next 99 years." She said it would be possible for the restoration to be completed and the new tenants to be in City Hall by the fall of 1983. was found in the bedroom. Detective Evans said experts from the state fire marshal's office investigated investi-gated the unit on Monday, and took back to Salt Lake evidence to be analyzed. Townsend was arrested early Wednesday afternoon at the scene of the fire, according to Officer Joe Of fret. He said bond has been set at $10,000 in the felony charge. |