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Show E THE PARK RECORD SATSUNMONTUES, DECEMBER 20-23, 2003 Viewpoints. A-1 5 EDITORIAL IHC to fill health care gaps, but at what cost? Until four years ago, Summit County residents knew they could drive up to the Park City Family Health Center on Bonanza Drive in the middle of the night and find a doctor. In December 1999, though, the company managing the clinic. University of Utah Health Network, decided decid-ed it was not cost effective to keep the doors open past 11 p.m. That came as a shock to some of Park City's paramedics who had not been informed of the closure and to plenty of residents suffering from a variety of non-life non-life threatening middle-of-the-night bouts with injuries or illnesses who drove up to the clinic and found the doors locked. UUHN's decision to shut the clinic at night touched off a battle pitting the community com-munity and physicians against the management manage-ment company. UUHN ultimately left town and turned the clinic back over to the local physicians. But 24-hour care was never restored. As a result, over the last four years. Summit County residents and visitors unlucky enough to hurt themselves or fall ill after the clinic's closing time have learned to drive themselves to a hospital in Heber or Salt Lake City or call 91 1 for an ambulance. That should change next month, thanks to a generous offer from Intermountain Health Care to underwrite a nightly after-hours after-hours clinic (from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.) at the Park City Family Health Center. Local doctors will staff the clinic through the night and, according to IHC, no one will be turned away regardless of their health insurance affiliation. As an added bonus, IHC also has agreed to partner with the People's Health Clinic by allowing the group to move its twice-weekly clinics from" their mobile van to the more spacious and better-equipped better-equipped clinic location. IHC must be commended for this demonstration of commitment to Park City and Summit County and especially for their willingness to support the People's Health Clinic. But the health care giant will have to forgive for-give us if we seem suspicious of their ultimate ulti-mate motives. The University of Utah Uwk over management of the local physician's group by making some of the same promis es, then changed their tactics once they were in control. IHC is the largest health care provider in the slate. The company insures nearly half a million residents, three times as many as the next largest insurer. Though the organization organiza-tion is a nonprofit, it has been known to wield some heavy-handed corporate tactics to maintain a monopoly in Utah's health care industry. An example is IHC's recent decision to require patients in Salt Lake County and Bountiful to sign binding arbitration arbi-tration agreements, forcing them to give up the right to pursue legal claims against their physicians. Could Park City be next? Park City is becoming an IHC company town - and that makes us nervous. When the only game in town is an IHC group plan, an IHC hospital, IHC doctors and an IHC-run clinic - that doesn't leave patients with much leverage. Nevertheless, since the individual physicians physi-cians in Summit County and taxpayers seem to be unwilling to underwrite the cost of an all-night clinic, we are grateful to IHC for coming forward to provide this vital service. Pil Xr flF YOU THINK THAT 15 WACKED, Wj'frl lJYje YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE 9T tili Jff ifh JP1jk WHEN GRANDPA TRIED TO RE- f J 5 X 2i L rJ ENACT THE FIRST WRI&HT f OP V5f 5J7 FLIGHT OFtTHzj 9 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR High school drug problem JOHN KILBOURNPWK RECORD "enlightened" girl called the Tip-A-Cop line and turned in her dealers... Editor: Ms. Merback's piece on high school substance sub-stance abuse was disappointing to say the least. Granted, it did provide an awareness to the parents of our community concerning concern-ing drug usage in their teenagers' lives. However, it didn't tackle the issue at hand: WE HAVE A HUGE DRUG PROBLEM. PROB-LEM. Instead, the article turned into an advertisement for the Tip-A-Cop Program. I am relieved that the anonymous girl found refuge in her parents, and I am sure the druggies of the high school will follow her example... doubtful. Ms. Merback, you actually promote social drinking and drug usage in your article by not condemning it. In your article, you left me with this impression: impres-sion: "Kids, just like this girl, it's OK to drink and smoke (marijuana) as long as you are in a social, friendly setting where it doesn't get too out of hand." Do you really feel like children have the discipline to limit themselves from increasing increas-ing their pleasure? If you have children, Ms. Merback. wait until they reach high school, middle school even, before you assume such an immature, careless stance on this issue. , I look forward to a piece about the huge drug problem, students' opinions, parents' reactions and the police's involvement, after this community wakes up and explodes with reaction. Should you refuse this responsibility, Ms. Merback, you do the students of Park City and their families a disservice. Should you assume your responsibility, attained through merely scratching the surface of students' hidden lives, you will have benefited benefit-ed the community with effective journalism. In conclusion, I don't suppose the Sincerely, Hank Mastain PCHS senior Praise for Sundance Editor: As the time for the Sundance Film Festival rolls around again, I start to shudder shud-der with thoughts of parking issues on Main Street, floods of darkly-clad Hollywood types clogging the sidewalks and the general gener-al moans and groans of the Park City community. com-munity. I also realized, after doing business here in town for almost 1 1 years, that I knew very little about the Festival and what it brings to our community. So, after doing a little bit of research. I discovered dis-covered that in spite of all the temporary discomforts the flood of "Festies" may cause, the benefits that the Festival contributes con-tributes to our community far outweigh any inconvenience. Here is what I learned about the Festival and the economic activity it brings to both Summit County and Park City. The 2003 Sundance Film Festival attracted attract-ed almost 40,000 visitors - almost 30,000 were from out-of-state and .stayed here in-Park in-Park City for about six nights. Almost 70 percent of these visitors were not in the film industry and the majority of them had been to more than one Festival. Of those surveyed, 93 percent planned on visiting Park City for the next festival, and 65 percent planned on returning to Park City on other occasions for skiing, etc. Amazingly, these visitors spent almost $40 million while staying here with us. The Sundance Institute has presented the Sundance Film Festival in Park City for the Park City Offices Emergency 911 Building Inspection 615-5100 Bus Information 615-5350 Business Licensing 615-5220 Cemetery Admin. 615-5630 Circuit Court 615-5210 City Attorney 615-5025 City Council 615-5007 City Engineer 615-5075 City Manager 615-5007 City Recorder 615-5007 Community Development 61 5-5055 Events & Facilities 61 5-51 50 Finance 615-5220 Garage 615-5300 Golf Course Pro Shop 649-8701 Human Resources 615-5240 Leisure Services 615-5400 Library 615-5600 Miners Hospital Community Center Parking Parks Administration Parks Reservations Planning Police Dispatch Administration Investigation Records Public Affairs Public Works Administration Racquet Club Recreation Santy Auditorium Snow Removal Streets Water Maintenance Water Billing 615-5150 645-PARK 615-5630 615-5630 615-5060 615-5500 615-5505 615-5500 615-5506 615-5200 615-5300 615-5400 615-5400 615-5150 615-5300 615-5300 615-5320 615-5223 For numbers not listed above, call 615-5000 past 20 years. Over this period of time, the program has grown exponentially and both its organizers and our community have struggled to keep up with the demands and challenges necessary to keep the Festival based here in Park City. There are many out there who would question this effort and ask what d(x:s the Film Festival do for me and the community? 'Hie answer is simple: As an internationally recognized event, the Festival provides an opportunity for locals to take part in a wonderful, multicultural experience. We are the first audiences in the world to see the best independent films of the year. We have a unique chance to actually actu-ally participate in extended dialogs with these new filmmakers from all over the globe. The Institute offers discounted ticket packages to residents and early access to ticket sales. They also provide free community commu-nity screenings at the close of each festival in January. Although the cultural immersion is a unique aspect of the Festival, the most important benefit to our community is national and international exposure. The Sundance Film Festival is known worldwide as one of the preeminent film industry events today. It brings over 1,000 members of the print and electronic press to our town, providing exposure we would otherwise not receive. Last year, these press brought television tele-vision stories on the Festival in Park City to over 32 million households and print articles to a tombined circulation of over "405 million! mil-lion! The Festival has had a huge impact on our visibility as a viable and desirable tourist destination. There are many who would argue that Park City doesn't need exposure that might lead to undesired growth. But like it or not. we are a visitor-based community and all those things that make Park City such a special spe-cial place to live are driven by tourist dollars. dol-lars. The services the community has to offer. City services and recreation, parks, real estate values, and schxl funding all benefit as more people hear about and visit our community. Park City and its surrounding surround-ing counties benefit both directly and indirectly indi-rectly from the dollars spent here during the last weeks in January. So the next time you find yourself fighting crowds. Uxking for a parking space or cursing because someone parked in your space, remember that the Sundance Film Festival contributes much more than they take from our little town. Sincerely, Bill White Right-of-way error Editor: I would like to offer a public apology to property owner Nadine ("Jillmor for a recent trail improvement undertaken by the Snyderville Basin Recreation District along Old Ranch Road. Many years ago. the Gillmor family, along with other property owners, generously dedicated a portion of their land to Summit County for ( )ld Ranch Road. In this case, the road divided her property and today she continues to own land on both sides of the road. The District had g(X)d intentions to improve the safety of trail users with the installation of an equestrian eques-trian crossing and the grading of a section of trail along the east side of Old Ranch Road. Further property ownership research demonstrates that the District was in the wrong as there is no public right-of-way along this section of the road. The District will restore and re-vegetate this area of disturbance and requests the cooperation coop-eration of trail users in respecting the private pri-vate property rights of Mrs. Gillmor. Bonnie Park District Administrator Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District Pollution-free wind power Editor: As we recently saw ia The Park Records support for wind power is taking off in Park City ("Park City Receives New Challenge," Nov. 11 and "Resorts Join Park City in Buying Wind Power," Nov. 15). Wind power is a pollution-free, inexhaustible source of electricity that will help us achieve a cleaner, safer electricity supply now and in the future. EPA data shows that electricity generation is the largest source of industrial air pollution in the nation. Public policy is one way to drive change to a renewable, sustainable sus-tainable energy system. In the absence of policy, consumer demand is a powerful driving dri-ving force. Utah Power offers the choice of pollution-free pollution-free wind power through their Blue Sky wind program. Collaborative community efforts such as the Park City Clean Energy Challenge, launched on Nov. 12, will help lead the way to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future. Already, Park City Municipal, the area's three premier ski resorts, some visionary Main Street businesses, and over 200 residential resi-dential customers are purchasing wind power. We hope that all the people of Park City join this effort and help Park City become a leader in sustainable energy by exercising their consumer voice and cluxis-ing cluxis-ing wind power. For more information about wind power or to sign up to purchase wind power through your electricity provider visit our website at www.utah-greenpower.org. The Utah Wind Power Campaign is a joint effort of two non-profit environmental advocacy groups, the Utah Clean Energy Alliance and the Western Resource Advocates. 'Hie goal of the campaign is to increase awareness aNwt new clean energy alternatives and to increase the use of wind power and other renewable energy sources. Sincerely, Kevin Emerson and Sarah Wright Utah Wind Power Campaign Summit County Offices Animal Control 336-3985 Library 336-3900 615-3985 615-3900 Assessor 336-3235 783-4350 615-3235 Motor Vehicle 336-3296 Attorney 336-3206 615-3940 615-3828 Personnel 336-3265 Clerk 336-3204 615-3265 615-3204 Planning 336-3124 Commission 336-3220 615-3124 615-3220 Building Permits 336-3122 District Court 336-3205 615-3122 615-4300 Public Works 336-3970 Data Processing 336-3242 615-3970 615-3242 Recorder 336-3238 Engineer 336-3250 615-3238 615-3250 Senior Citizen Facilities 336-3299 Coordinator 336-3025 615-3299 615-3025 Fair 336-3221 Sheriff 615-3221 Administration 336-3500 Health Admin. 336-3222 615-3500 615-3222 Jail Administration 336-3700 Health Clinics 336-3234 615-3700 615-3910 Treasurer 336-3268 783-4321 615-3268 Historical 336-3015 USU Extension 336-3217 615-3015 615-3217 Justice Court 336-3800 (615 numbers are local Park City calls 61 5-3800 and do not require 435 area code.) The Park Record welcomes letters to the editor on any subject. We ask that the letters adhere to the following guidelines:They must include the address and telephone number of author. No letter will be published under an assumed name. They must not contain libelous material. Writers are limited to one letter every 28 davs. Letters must not be longer than 350 words (guest editorials, 550 words) and should if possible, be typed. We reserve the right to edit letters if they are too long or if they contain statements we consider unnecessarily offensive or obscene. In addition, thank you letters may be limited lim-ited in length with regard to businesses and event sponsors. E-mail your letter to: editorparkrecord.com The Park Record Staff PUBLISHER Editor Staff writers Contributing writers - Editor's assistant Classified advertising Office manager Circulation manager Accounting manager Advertising director Advertising sales Editorial production Photographers Production director Production Distribution Cartoonist Andy Bernhard Nan Chalat-Noaker Jay Hamburger Pat Parkinson Monika Guendner Jennifer R. Merback Casey Basden Brett Larsen Tom Clyde Teri Orr Jay Meehan Joan Jacobson Silvia Leavitt Linda Gorton Linda Jager Berris Samples Courtney Herzinger Inkama Black Alice Hummons Patti Christensen Michael Duffy Kate Keesee Valerie Deming Wendy Halliday Ian McNeil Anne Cummings Cathy Vandeweghe Christy Wilson Molly Ballard Erin Donnelly Ellen McCauley Cheryn McNicol Kat James Scott Sine Grayson West Matt Gordon Kristi Ruppert Scott Schlenker Katie Perhai Jason Plawecki Kyle Burress Carrie Winston Justin Deuel John Kilboum Contents of the The Park Record are copyright 2(103. Diversified Suburban Newspapers. All rights reserv ed. No portion may be reproduced in any form without written consent of the managing editor or publisher. Vie Park Record (USPS 378-730) (ISSN 0745-9483) 0745-9483) is published twice weekly by Diversified Suburban Newspapers, 1670 Bonanza Dr.. Hark City. I'lah. Periodicals Postage paid at Park Citv. Utah. POS'l'MASn:R:Send address chances to Vie Park Record, Box 3688. Park ( ily. tftah 84060. Hntered as second class matter. May 25, 1077 at the post office in Park City. I'lah 84060, under the Act of March 3. 1807. Subscription rates are $37 inside Summit County. $70 outside Summit County. I'lah. Subscriptions are transferrable: S5 cancellation fee. Phone (435) 640-9014 or fax (435) 640-4042. Published every Wednesday and Saturday. PHOTOS BY GRAYSON WEST Asked around Park City What should happen to Saddam now that he's been captured? For the record - p v t,- - t ' Pain Alford "They should shove things under his fingernails and make him talk." Glenn Manarin "He should be put on trial by the Iraqis." Jolian ltorniuan "He should receive a fair trial in his country by his countrymen." |