OCR Text |
Show The Newspaper Thursday, Octoh 21. 1982 Page A3 'L " ' ' J Frankly, you were wrong Editor: This letter is in response to a letter entitled "Singleton Can't Cut It." As employees of the Summit County Health Department, we are insulted that you printed a letter that was unsubstantiated with data and was a mere compilation of generalizations. We would like to go on record as saying that Singleton indeed has "grandiose ideas" and that is precisely why he has accomplished so much in only two years. His vision extends farther than the Park City city limits and includes the whole forest of Summit County! We could never detail all that Frank has done in the short time we have known him, but we will highlight some of his main accomplishments. 1. All three areas of the County now have adequate facilities for health department offices. (Prior to 1981, two nurses were located in the schools.) 2. Community nursing clinics have served 3 3A times the number of clients as they did in 1980. 3. Creative grant writing has increased the Health Department revenues by 3.2 times. 4. Reactivation of an Emergency Medical Council and solicitation of subsequent increases in emergency medical service funding from the State. 5. Creation of a laboratory for testing environmental health samples. (Previously (Pre-viously revenues went to Salt Lake. ) 6. Co-location with Social Services in all areas of the County. (Previously no permanent staff.) 7. Co-location with Timpanogos Mental Health plus a fulltime caseworker. case-worker. (Previously no permanent staff.) 8. Implementation of new community com-munity health programs (W.I.C., pre-natal classes, geriatric clinics- (CnmiTtfiiminiBofl ffuaiinni . RDA from 1 planned by private developers for upper up-per Main Street is built, construction will include a large parking garage behind the Egyptian Theatre on land sold to the developers by the RDA. Silver Mills' developers own the Main Street frontage on which the large commercial-residential project will be constructed. On the RDA parcels, developers will put in a 250-car parking garage three times the size needed for their own project for use by the general public. "The goal is to get RDA property back on the tax rolls," Loble said. "It's true we never intended to spend RDA money in Deer Valley, but with those tax increments, we can get RDA land purchased, paid for, sold and back on the tax rolls much faster. "If the RDA does what it intends to do, there's no question both the fire district and the school district will benefit," she said. Although that goal has been verbalized ver-balized consistently by Loble and city officials, neither the fire district nor the Board of Education was convinced. Both filed law suits against the Park City RDA, challenging the constitutionality con-stitutionality of the Neighborhood Redevelopment Act and attacking the inclusion of Deer Valley in the redevelopment area. The fire district's suit was thrown out of court two weeks ago. Judge Homer Wilkinson granted the city's motion for dismissal on grounds argued previously by the city that protests were valid only within the 30-day 30-day statute of limitations. The lawsuit by the Park City Board of Education, which has not been argued yet, claims the RDA illegally included Deer Valley in its redevelopment redevelop-ment area not as a redevelopment project, but to discharge debts incurred in-curred from other projects. The suit asks that the tax increment from Deer Valley be returned to county entities. When the school district put together its 1982-83 budget, it said it was $500,000 short as a result of tax increments that went to the RDA, and that the funds had to be replaced by an eight-mill increase in-crease in the tax levy a burden borne by county property owners. But in a recent meeting between city officials and school board members, the city said it had offered a rebate to the school district, and if the district had taken that rebate, it would have come out better financially than if the RDA had not existed. The city-school district conflict gets more complicated from there. If the school district were getting tax increments in-crements now from Deer Valley, that money would merely be turned over to the state's Uniform School Fund to finance poorer districts, the city claims. By giving up part of its tax revenues to the RDA, then accepting a rebate for its capital improvements fund, the school district keeps all the money in the county instead of giving it up to the state, the city believes. But according to the Utah Foundation, Foun-dation, a private, nonprofit group that does research on state and local governments, redevelopment agencies affect every taxpayer in the state, whether they live in areas that have such agencies or not. "It is estimated that the redevelopment redevelop-ment adjustments borne by the school program in Utah will total $1.6 million in 1981-82. Added state taxes made up most of this loss in school funds," the foundation said. State laws guarantee that all children receive an equal education, regardless of the economic situation in the districts where they live. As December 1981, food service education program). 9. Increase in the Prevention Center clients and revenues twofold. 10. Implementation of a drug and alcohol prevention program in the schools and community. 11. Implementation of "Driving Under the Influence" rehabilitation classes. These are a few of the major improvements that have been made in Summit County due to the expert leadership of Frank Singleton. At a recent State Health Department meeting, meet-ing, Summit County ranked number one in all their programs compared to the rest of the State health districts. A unit cost analysis was mid-range, thereby concluding we give quality care in a cost efficient and effective manner. "Frankly" we feel the community's vendetta is getting out of hand and far less scholarly articulated. We believe our great number of satisfied clients can attest to the fact that we are increasingly meeting the human health service needs of Summit County. Sincerely, Nancy Ann Chartier Jane Kimball Louise Pace Pam Pace Teresa Nelson Robert Pingree Grant Williams Rose Bigelow Marge Atkinson Rosemarie Miller Nance Hutchinson Steve Jenkins Kathie Nielson 'Let's do it again' Editor: Things were really swinging at the Kimball Art Center last Friday night. money is drawn off school district funds to finance redevelopment agencies, agen-cies, that loss is made up by the state and is paid for by taxpayers state-wide. In Park City, the Redevelopment Area has an assessed valuation of around $18.5 million, about 20 percent of the valuation of the county. About two thirds of the $18.5 million represents Deer Valley development. The RDA, according to city officials, this year drew its tax increments off only $14.4 million so the school district would not lose revenues. A chief critic, not of redevelopment or tax increment financing itself but of abuses of the system possible under the current legislation, is the Utah Association of Counties (UAC). Brent Gardiner of fte UAC's Salt Lake staff said the assocation is not bent on eliminating the redevelopment concept, con-cept, just on amending the existing law so it restricts municipalities from abuses. "The theory of redevelopment is to take the parts of the city that have no tax base, revitalize them, bring in new business, and put it back on the tax rolls. The theory works if you keep the scope narrow. "But the law is so vague that cities have been designating for redevelopment areas that clearly have potential for their own economic growth," Gardiner said. Salt Lake City and Ogden, he said, are two municipalities which have restricted redevelopment projects to small pieces of property, and it has worked well. Other city councils, he believes, have put themselves in the role of becoming develr-ers at the expense of other taxing entities. Redevelopment, Gardiner said, affects af-fects a lot of people, and a major concern con-cern to critics is the area of accountability. account-ability. The Neighborhood Redevelopment Redevelop-ment Act requires only that city councils publish notices for four weeks of public hearings on formation of an agency, and that the same published notices be used to inform the public of annual budget hearings and new projects. There's currently no requirement, Gardiner noted, that cities notify county coun-ty taxing entities or property owners of how the redevelopment proposals will affect them. Thus, most taxpayers remain unaware of the action, unless they are in the habit of reading the small print of legal notices in the newspapers. The result, he said, is that the redevelopment concept is abused in many areas. And he believes the inclusion in-clusion of Deer Valley in the Park City RDA area is an abuse a move not intended in-tended by the law. "Park City is saying that if you restrict us to a small piece of property, we can't operate the RDA. They say they need the growth potential of the other properties to operate; that they need Deer Valley to make the RDA a viable entity. "This is an admission," Gardiner said, "that tax increment financing doesn't work." He noted that Roosevelt included large portions of the entire city, and much vacant land, into its redevelopment redevelop-ment area. Payson was considering including the entire city in its redevelopment area boundaries. Both are examples, he believes, of a violation of the spirit of the law. Even critics agree that Ogden appears ap-pears to have the ideal redevelopment plan. Under construction are a shopping shop-ping mall with offstreet parking, a hotel and convention center, all in the downtown area. The city's historic 25th Street will be repaved and new sidewalks installed to encourage Thanks to ihe generosity of our sponsors spon-sors and the enthusiasm of our dancers, dan-cers, Big Band Night was a great success. suc-cess. Not only were we able to present Joe Muscolino's Big Band, Rebecca Terry and The Saliva Sisters through -the National Endowment for the Arts, The Utah Arts Council and The Rural Arts Consortium, but we were able to raise some needed funds for the center. cen-ter. Our appreciation goes to sponsors The Design Coalition, Gump & Ayers, Harry ReedSkyline Land Co., James R. Dunn, Park City ConocoMarge Sowards, Quality Interiors, Ray and Ruby Robinson, The Hat Shop and Utah Welders SupplyHerb Pollock, whose donations covered all of our ex-' penses. An extra measure of thanks to Western Airlines, Marriott Hotels, The Salt Lake Hilton and Lloyd StevensThe Claimjumper for their donations of exceptional prizes which were a real attraction for the dance contest and to Arthur Murray Studios, whose graceful exhibition was an inspiration in-spiration to the numerous competitors. Also thanks to Ken Sowards for lending lend-ing his truck, Prospector Square for the dance floor, Ted Warr for designing and donating the invitations and to the local media for attracting a crowd so ably. The evening couldn't have run so smoothly without volunteers like Dave Krajeski, Trent and Emily Lowe, K.C. Muscolino, Kathy Thomas, Cordell Warr and Mike Todd. The KAC staff worked many extra hours on the organization, set-up and clean-up, as well. Thanks to all of you. To top it off, the whole event was planned and staged by my fun and dependable committee, Lisa Warr, Marge Sowards, Joan Krajeski, Ruby Robinson, Sandra Sharp, Jill Johnson and Corke Pepper. I love you all. Let's do it again! Raye Ringholz redevelopment, and planning is under way for a housing project for senior citizens. Park City's plans are similar. New sidewalks already are being put in on Main Street as the result of redevelopment funding. The city and the RDA together own just about all of Swede Alley, including a portion of upper up-per Main Street. At an RDA session last week, City Council members agreed that plans should be implemented implemen-ted next year for the Swede Alley development projects. The RDA has been criticized for buying the old Marsac School from the school district and holding onto it for use as city offices instead of selling it and getting it back on the tax rolls. But City Attorney Tom Clyde explained that the RDA is working on plans to sell the building on a lease-back arrangement so the city can remain permanent tenants while the building also contributes to the tax base. The sale probably is several months in the future, he said. The one factor that sets Ogden apart from Park City and all other redevelopment agencies in the state is that the Ogden agency was formed under un-der the 1965 Utah Community Redevelopment Law. That was a piece of legislation similar in many ways to the Neighborhood Redevelopment Act, except that it required voter approval for formation of the agency. And the requirement of voter approval ap-proval is one amendment being proposed by the Utah Association of Counties. In a rough draft of suggested amendments, the association proposes the Neighborhood Redevelopment Act require a more restrictive definition of blight to exclude all but inner-city decay. It suggests that the redevelopment redevelop-ment directors not be city council members, and that agencies send letters let-ters to affected property owners informing in-forming them of the intent to create the redevelopment area and of procedures for filing objections. E. Ute Knowlton of Kaysville, chairman of the State House of Representatives Revenue and Taxation Committee, said proposals for amendments to the Neighborhood Redevelopment Act definitely will be a topic before his committee when the legislature convenes in January. In the meantime, the Park City Redevelopment Agency is pursuing its plans for the development of Swede Alley and upper Main Street plans that include a major parking facility, the convention center-arena, a transit center, a facility that will provide "an overnight stay on Main Street," and general improvement of the Main Street image. Work sessions at this point are centering on preliminary problems, like the flow of traffic in Old Town. One proposal calls for closing Main Street to all but bus traffic and deliveries; another proposes a oneway one-way system up Main Street and down Swede Alley. Council members are concerned at this point with such issues as whether a bus terminal at the bottom of Main Street would adversely affect upper Main Street businesses, access to the new belt route, and the feasibility of chair lifts to carry skiers from Old Town to Park City Ski Area or Deer Valley. ' When all is done, the Redevelopment Agency expects to have spent $6.5 million on land acquisitions that will, change the economic ana aesthetic face of the Main Street area. Said councilperson Helen Alvarez, "We are taking pot shots from everyone for trying to raise the tax base and making our Main Street viable " S M1 Friday, October 29th Snow Park Lodge at Deer Valley 6:30-10:00 p.m. $25.00 per person, tax deductible. All proceeds to the Park City Junior Racing Program. Meet honored guest World Cup Champion Phil Mahre, sponsored by Marker U.S.A. Master of ceremonies: Channel's Patrick Greenlaw and Terry Wood Fashion shows Gourmet buffet and cocktails See the all new 82-83 ski equipment and apparel presented by factory representatives. Live auction CalMM Park Meadows Racquet Club We wish to thank the sponsors of the 1982 Miller Highlife Bartenders Cup Tennis Tournament for their support of Big Brothers-Big Sisters ADOLPHS RESTAURANT JAN'S MOUNTAIN ALPHA BETA OUTFITTERS BOB BROWN JUPITER PROPERTY BLACK PEARL (3 teams) MANAGEMENT CLAIMJUMPER HOTEL KARLYNN'S RESTAURANT SALOON MARGUERITE SHOPE (2 teams) MEN'S COALITION COFER CHIROPRACTIC PARK CITY BUSINESS CLINIC COMMONS COLONY RESORTS PARK CITY SKI CORP CRANDALL FORD - PARK CITY RACQUET COALVILLE CLUBVILLAGE LODGING DEER VALLEY RESORT PARK MEADOWS RACQUET ENERGY EXPRESS CLUB ENOCH SMITH COMPANY PENN WEST SECURITIES FAMILY JEWELS QUADRIGA OF UTAH PARK RECORD SILVER KING FIRST SECURITY BANK STATE BANK FOREIGN CAR SPECIALISTS SNEAKERS RESTAURANT HIGH COUNTRY REAL LOG THREE KINGS HOMES RESERVATIONS " S7 ettj for details. 649-4949 or 649-8749 : I J . ' i V v -4 : r 77 "A miniiinimniiniinfiiiiniii riiiiinrnnnnr'r'riri .sJB. Sunti iitui 1 Phil Mahre Miller Brands |