OCR Text |
Show """ f ' I ''""') I "i "Win i mMi ijn Jigiin.i iniiiWpf.nWW.iP.F pn.inui ...iiii .1 i. p , . "I "MT'l!.l"w''M"' wim . t n i jii m.. in... i.i n ! -.I., i..... ii .Ml1",., "' .. . , IJ!l f i " wmt'rn m mwn mw ijiiimiiiipiiiiW wj" w )!' !J '"P" I7l?v " I PC cycl ists dom i nate road T3CG see SPORTS on B1 , II i 5c- i 'ci'lia Watson earns respect of school h . A6 sceSTCWYon A3 . Cll'inSSe WFiter SpealCS OUt . . ." ' : . see LIMELIGHT on B5 l " 1 1 "im -" T,,J State files by TERI ORR Record editor Rapidly becoming the saga of "The road under permanent construction," con-struction," a portion of State Road 224 this week resumed work, while at the same time the Utah Department Depart-ment of Transportation filed a lawsuit against dairy fanner D.A. Osguthorpe to allow archaeologists access to his land. According to UDOT Disrict II Director Gene Sturzenegger, construction con-struction of the final two lanes from Kimball Junction to Silver Springs began on Monday and should be finished by the end of July. "We expect it will be complete in a month but we're going say six weeks just to be on the safe side," said Sturzenegger. The project is technically just 15 days overdue at this time. But the second section of the improved highway from Silver Springs to Park City is more than year behind original plans. Losing this construction construc-tion season, Strurzenegger said, has largely been due to the difficulties in state archaeologists obtaining ac Windfall added to council budget by HEIDI WEST Record staff writer City council members again followed staff recommendations in deciding how to budget yet another unanticipated chunk of money expected ex-pected from property taxes next year. Finance Director Kent Parker told the council he had underestimated the value of new growth in Park City over the last year by almost $40 million. Now, with the Summit County Coun-ty Assessor's actual numbers in hand, Parker explained $49 million worth of new building had taken place, rather than his estimate of $11 million. The additional property tax generated on the difference would amount to $139,000, a sum council members wasted no time in spending. spen-ding. The city staff provided the council with a list of projects and additional personnel it recommended financing with the money, just as it had for the entire $1.3 million increase anticipated an-ticipated next fiscal year. About half that sum $600,000 is the result of higher-than-expected sales tax revenues and an unusued contingency contingen-cy fund. The bulk of the remainder is impact fee money collected from Low values by SENA TAYLOR Record staff writer Declining oil and gas revenues in Summit County have caused an $800 million drop in state-assessed property pro-perty values, and county commissioners commis-sioners may have to increase the tax rate to support current budget demands. County Auditor Blake Frazier said in 1987 the assessed value of the county was $2,239,912,090., and the property tax rate was set at .001613 to support a budget of $3,612,978. But in 1988, the assessed value dropped substantially to $1,443,675,952., and Frazier said the property tax rate will have to be raised to .002503 in order to support existing budget expenditures. That new tax rate, scheduled for approval June 21, would support a budget of $3,613,521, and cause an increase in-crease on a $100,000 home of $53 in county-assessed taxes. Frazier said $660 million of the $800 million decrease is directly attributable at-tributable to the depressed oil and gas industry, whose primary developer in Summit County has been Amoco Oil Company. Frazier noted that Amoco has been struggling to maintain a viable business in the county, saying last b A L T L A K E C I T Y , U T S 4 1 1 torn liiBCEaDiRia Vol. against Osguthorpe cess to the property owned by Osguthorpe. Indian artifacts are reputed to be on the property, and if that is the case, state crews are required to dig up and catalogue those artifacts, then replace the topsoil and any plant life just as it was found. The dig could also cause the realignment of the proposed additional two lanes of improved road. Previously, Osguthorpe has stated that the expansion could put his 45-year-old farm out of business. The Park Record tried repeatedly to reach Osguthorpe but he was unavailable at press time. In April, Osguthorpe reportedly twice asked state workers to get off his land, and he grew uncooperative when he told workers in a telephone interview, "Come prepared. It's my property and I plan to protect it." That phone conversation was between bet-ween Osguthorpe and Allen Schroedel, a consultant with the excavation ex-cavation firm PHI Associates. It was a that point that UDOT officials of-ficials employed the services of the state Attorney General's office to write to Osguthorpe and explain that new construction. At its June 1 meeting, the council approved a package of staff recommendations recom-mendations on how to use the $1.3 million. Included in the list was $314,000 to continue city services at their present level; $234,000 toward a fund to reconstruct a portion of Meadows Drive; $170,000 into the account ac-count to reconstruct Deer Valley Drive; 140,000 to landscape the city's Racquet Club; and more than $100,000 in grants to the ChamberBureau, the Park City Museum and the U.S. Ski AssociationSki Associa-tionSki Team. The "new" $139,000 will also go toward a list of staff-recommended items, despite council discussion to the contrary. Kris ten Rogers told her fellows on the council she wanted the money to go to "hard cost" items, such as street repair, new equipment or the city's depreciation fund (an accumulating ac-cumulating account set up to purchase pur-chase high-cost equipment). Her ideas were supported by council member Ray Johnson, who said he would like to see it spent on a "bom-badier" "bom-badier" (for sidewalk snow removal), the depreciation fund, and the city's self -insurance fund. Council member Jim Santy may inflate tax rate "Santa Claus has left town there's no more freebies." Blake Frazier year the company appealed 24 percent per-cent of its assessed value. The county coun-ty has not been able to collect $625,000 tied up in that appeal, and Frazier said "we will not collect that until the appeal is settled, and we may never collect it" Amoco's appeal has also skewed the once impressive tax collection figures of the county, which in 1987 amounted to a 90 percent collection rate, but in 1988 dropped to 78 percent. per-cent. "The collection rate along with the assessed values are the two main 1 10, No. 19 3 Sections, 30 state workers are allowed access. Since the farmer has repeatedly denied archaeologists access, this week the Attorney General's office filed a lawsuit against Osguthorpe to force him by court order to allow the workers on his property. Don Coleman, assistant Attorney General ,told the Record, "We are expecting to set up a hearing date in the next few days and we hope that will require Mr. Osguthorpe to allow cultural and historic surveyors on the property. Should the court order him to do so and should he still resist, I guess the next step would be to find him in contempt of court." It appears Osguthorpe isn't the only on-ly property owner who is unhappy with the state archaeologists. Yvonne Murnin, who owns property in Silver Springs (between the elementary school and Old Ranch Road), also this week denied workers access to her property. "Last time (about a year ago) see UDOT on A2 agreed, but added he would like to see at least $10,000 go toward maintenance of the downtown redevelopment agency parks (primarily the Main Street pocket plazas). The staff had asked for $19,000 for that purpose. Council member Brad Olch said he supported putting the entire $19,000 into park maintenance if the staff recommended it, and Rogers, who is a staunch supporter of the city's park system, asked Leisure Services Director Bob Johnston why the line item had not appeared before now. She also pointed out the redevelopment agency budget had already been approved. Johnston admitted it had been an oversight on his part not to ask for funds earlier, but said he was unsure of the cost involved in-volved in maintaining the little parks. Mayor Pro-Tem Ann MacQuoid suggested adding $20,000 to the city's contingency fund in case the parks needed additional maintenance money, and the rest of the council see BUDGET on A2 components to establishing the tax rate, and both have decreased substantially," said Frazier. He said county commissioners are "rather upset with the drop in values, but they feel like they still need to operate the county at its existing ex-isting level of service, to support road projects, capital improvements and the tax stability fund. " While Frazier said the commission commis-sion felt the tax rate would have to be boosted, he emphasized they have no plans to increase budget expenditures. expen-ditures. "Amoco has been carrying the burden and at this time is decreasing decreas-ing its contribution to the county." While Frazier said the oil company is "slowly pulling out," he feels gas and oil development will continue in the county when prices and demands for the reserves increase. The auditor said the only other large contributor to state-assessed properties in the county is Union Pacific Railroad, but Amoco is by far the largest. "There are other oil companies that have Interests here, but nothing like Amoco. Last year see COUNTY on A2 4b Pages Thursday, June 15, 1989 . -v. l v 4m - h-.:. - - - ' : 1 " 'i V, A, T. ' Dan Pamtwenco Fishing frenzy New well by HEIDI WEST Record staff writer Bureaucracy has intervened to slow the date when an important new water well will actually contribute con-tribute to city sources. The well was scheduled to be hooked hook-ed up this summer, but studies and public hearings required by the Utah State Engineer's office will push that timeline back to as late as December, Public Works Director and acting City Manager Jerry Gibbs told the Record. "It will be physically ready in the next 45 days," said Gibbs, but the state must be sure the well will not unduly interfere with neighboring water users and that water rights are in order. That means a $10,000 to $15,000 study of the area hydrology and a hearing to determine the impact im-pact of pumping the water. Although both may be complete by as early as September, November or even December is more likely, he adds. . The well has already been drilled and cased about 20 feet from the spot a test hole told the city it had hit pay dirt last year. The site between the middle and high schools on Park City Ci-ty School District property was chosen primarily because it was located where it could meet all state standards. Any drilling has to be on publically owned property and be at least 100 feet from residences, explains ex-plains Gibbs. Although a second test on the city's golf course was dry, this one UTAH PRESS ASSOCIATK 7 EAST 300 SOUTH 0 4 I 'YV: X. ' 7-1 in. 1 1 Great weather and a one-day license waiver brought out legions of anglers for the second annual an-nual "Free Fishing Day" June 10. This fatherson tandem tested the waters of East Canyon Ca-nyon Creek. on hold until Dec? produced results a stream of water rising at 400 gallons per minute (gpm). In fact, says Gibbs, it looks like the water is under enough pressure it flows naturally to the surface as an Artesian well. With a new, larger hole (16 inches as opposed oppos-ed to six inches), he is hoping the well will flow at 1,500 gpm. If it does, it will serve to increase the city's supply at any one time from its present pre-sent 4.6 million gallons per day (mgd) to six million gpd. Last summer, intensive outdoor watering frequently pushed the city beyond its ability to produce, drawing draw-ing precious storage and fire-fighting fire-fighting supplies to dangerously low levels. On one day, citizens used 5.4 million gallons, leaving the city unable to fight fires in certain residential areas should they occur. The new well will alleviate the anxiety anx-iety those days cause, and give the city "some cushion" in its water supply, says Gibbs. . Even though Park City will have enough water to serve its customers with the new well, Gibbs thinks it would be a bad idea to stop looking for new sources. "It should be an ongoing goal," he says, adding "it may take three or four years to get the next well drilled." Besides new wells, the city is exploring ex-ploring the possibility of using surface sur-face water from streams, lakes or even the Jordanelle Reservoir when it is completed. But, any of those options op-tions would require building a water treatment plant at a cost to the city 06-90 509 A'1" r . ' i Jit" ' 4 i f WirM. J 7; ' T 4 of around $5 million. For now, energy and money is focused on doing whatever is necessary to complete the middle school well. Bids have been let to three different firms to build the pump house, supply a pump and complete a water transmission line, and all intend to start work the end of this week. Pump tests to determine deter-mine the rate at which the well can produce and its "drawdown" profile are being conducted now. Meanwhile, Gibbs and his staff are working with the State Engineer's office to design a study which will determine if the underground aquifer the well pumps is connected to other groundwater basins. Although it looks like the city's Artesian Arte-sian well is distinct from its well in Park Meadows and its mine tunnel supplies, no one will be certain until each is monitored while the new well is pumped. "At this point," says Gibbs, "we don't know if we interfere or not. " Although he believes the interference in-terference with other water sources will be "minimal," Gibbs admits the city is forging ahead with completing com-pleting the $270,000 well without knowing it if will meet resistance from nearby water users. But, he says the water is so important to the city, he feels it has to proceed. If the study and the testing do show an impact, the city will just have to try and negotiate a settlement, settle-ment, he says. "We'll do what we can to resolve any interference." 1 |