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Show EZZZZ3 PCMR is looking for the fondest of memories Reflect on 40 years of skiing at one of Park City's premier resorts. Page C-1 Mkrv', rill,, J Park CityWeather 1 Tedding photographer Colleen Woolpert presents V V photographs that blur the line between photojournalism photojour-nalism and fine art at Alpine Internet Coffee House. 738 Breezy conditions with possibility of snow flurries. See B-2 for a complete forecast. Lower Mam Street Feb. 26. A closing reception will be held from 6-9 p.m. For more information call 649-0051. The Serving Summit County since 1880 I I 500 PARK CITY, UTAH www.parkrecord.com ii cdlLJft. J ssSfe. VOL. 1 24 NO.5 VedThursFri, February 25-27, 2004 1 1 : : .. w '-'oil 7,1, ' C00? t Li iv Mia Senate could debate nuke waste stand Bill would give state say over more types of radioactive waste By PATRICK PARKINSON Of the Record staff The Utah House of Representatives passed a bill Friday, which requires the Legislature and governor vote before Utah companies dispose dis-pose of "hotter" and additional types of radioactive waste in the state. Lawmakers and lobbyists on both sides of the contentious debate supported a compromise compro-mise that resulted in the bill's passage. This week the Utah Senate could debate House Bill 145 sponsored by Rep. Stephen Urquhart, R-St. George. The House passed the bill 63-6. "It closes this loophole ... the state Legislature's had no control over any of this stuff." said Park City resident Rich Wyman. "The loophole would have allowed Envirocare of Utah to re-classify radioactive waste." A public furor arose last fall when Envirocare wanted to accept radioactive waste perhaps more hazardous than class A, from federal sites in other states. Jason Groenewold, director of the Healthy Environment Alliance (HEAL) of Utah said HB 145 is an attempt to regulate material not recognized by class A, B and C classifications. Governments use the scale to rate the danger of radioactive waste and class C is most toxic. State lawmakers already had the ability to refuse hazardous waste above class A, and had done so. But the possibility of Utah receiving more hazardous material from the federal government, gov-ernment, last year, without state approval, revealed a "loophole," Groenewold said. "What this bill does is it expands that requirement to waste beyond just B and C," he said, adding that a moratorium on the disposal of B and C waste in Utah expires in 2005. "Not every type of waste that Envirocare takes fits within that class A, B, C definition." The federal Atomic Energy Act allows Envirocare to still accept some higher-level waste without state approval, but HB 145 grants lawmakers more oversight over other radioactive material, not previously regulated by the state. The bill initially granted the Legislature and governor power to refuse other types of waste below class A. Tim Barney, senior vice president of Envirocare of Utah said lawmakers were "micromanaging" low-level waste already accepted for disposal in the state. "It drew the line below the class A," Barney said, about the original bill, adding that the House amended HB 145 to address the company's compa-ny's objections. Envirocare disposes of radioactive waste in Tooele County - about 80 miles west of Salt Lake. Groenewold said it's the only company currently storing radioactive waste in Utah. "We have to have elected, accountable decision deci-sion makers set radioactive waste policy in the state not these un-elected bureaucrats who work at the regulatory level," Groenewold said. "The regulators have been making these major policy decisions for the last decade." Barney said Envirocare is not seeking approval to dispose of class B and C waste in Utah. During last week's House debate, the company com-pany also contested a 10-percent tax, the bill would levy on Envirocare, which House lawmakers law-makers passed. Sen. David Thomas, R-South Weber, said survival of the bill could depend on whether it makes it before a Senate standing committee. "If it's not done before Wednesday then it's Please see House, A-2 3 SECTIONS 50 PAGES Agendas A-8 Automotive C-1 5 Business B-9 Classifieds C-1 2 Columns A-14 Crossword C-4 Editorial A-15 Education A-9 Events Calendar C-2 Letters to the Editor A-15 Legals C-1 7 Movies C-4 Professional Services B-1 2 Restaurant Guide C-7 Sports B-1 TV Listings C-11 Weather B-2 11 Tark Record Serving Summit County since 1880 www.parkrecord.com Down the tube L-t.--.. . Gr. ;J?z nr.-:. J )l - i t c 'v. r v. I v: SCOTT SINEPARK RECORD Colorado native Clair Bidez takes a nose-dive after a botched landing in the World Superpipe Championships at Park City Mountain Resort on Saturday. Jre prepares to run for re-election Rep. will try to maintain hold on local Statehouse seat By JAY HAMBURGER Of the Record staff David lire, the Republican politician who has held the Utah House of Representatives 53rd District seat for more than a decade, in November will seek his seventh term in the House. Ure, a dairy farmer from Kamas, said in an interview inter-view this week that he will run for re-election in hopes of making the state government more transparent trans-parent to Utahns. He wants the state's lawmakers to operate in a more open manner, especially when crafting Utah's budget. "Right now, the leadership in both houses probably proba-bly put together (80 percent) of the budget . . . without with-out the rest of the Legislature or the public," Ure said. He would prefer if that process was more open to the public, Ure said, adding Utahns likely would not be as critical toward the state government if that were the case. "For one thing, it would take away their skepticism," skepti-cism," Ure said. Ure offered, for instance, if the public understood under-stood debates such as if money should be earmarked ear-marked for education programs, but, in turn, funding fund-ing was taken away from social programs, regular Utahns would have more respect for the budgeting process. Ure hopes that Utahns better understand the tradeoffs that lawmakers make when determining the budget. His desire for a more open budgeting process has been longstanding and it was part of his re-election platform in 2002 as well. Ure, 52, has proven to be one of Summit County's most successful politicians of the last decade. He has survived Democratic challengers who have torn into his voting record and repeated ly charged that he does not represent the interests of many of his constituents. Please see Ure, A-2 Changes suggested to county accounting practices 'Clean audit' reveals several areas that need improvement By PATRICK PARKINSON Of the Record staff An audit last year of Summit County finances compelled officials to adjust how county revenues and expenses are accounted for in 2004. Independent auditors found two checks totaling more than $1 million, sent out by the Summit County Treasurer's Office in 2002 that had apparently gotten lost in the mail. The checks were not sent certified. "We recommend that Summit County initiate a policy whereby checks over a pre-determined dollar amount are sent by certified mail," states a letter to the county describing the 2002 audit. Treasurer Glen Thompson said the issue was addressed. The lost checks were property-tax payments pay-ments to taxing entities, at least one was written to Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, Thompson said. "No money was lost," he said. "The checks got lost in the mail and the way we corrected it is we talked to Weber Basin and all of our bigger entities and we now transfer the money by wire in the state treasurer's pool." Thompson said the county was never at risk. "We started sending everything over $25,000 by certified mail," he adds. Some checks also now expire after 90 days. The audit also found that the Summit County Treasurer's bond needed to be increased in relationship relation-ship to the amount of money the office handles. , Certified public accountants for Schmitt, Griffiths, Smith and Co. "noted certain matters involving the internal control structure and its operation oper-ation that we consider to be reportable conditions under standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants." The audit identified several "material weaknesses" weakness-es" in past accounting procedures. Accountants state that Summit County must record revenues and expenditures differently. "During our audit, we observed that a material amount of revenue and expenditures susceptible to accrual had not been recorded," states the audit letter. let-ter. It adds that adjustments were made to county budgets to account for the findings. "What was done was not deemed satisfactory to our independent auditors, as they reached well into 2003 to accrue, in particular, some 2002 revenues." According to independent auditors, this issue was Please see Two, A-2 Jump In! and hold on! SCOTT SINER4AK RECORD Caitlin O'Connor, a tenth-grader at PCHS keeps a tight grasp on ropes secured to a tepee skin while Erica Lindbloom watches Tuesday morning at the field near the Park City Library. The activity was part of the Jump In! Youth Leadership Program. 1 . ' ' bk Student creates his own nonprofit PHOTO COURTESY OF MAUREEN MALCOLM Timothy Dahlin, left, executive director of the Christian Center, accepts winter clothing donations from Robbie Malcolm. Malcolm is not content with community service projects By JENNIFER R. MERBACK Of the Record staff When Robbie Malcolm began his seventh-grade year in the International School at Treasure Mountain Middle School, he thought he'd complete com-plete a community service project for a local organization. organ-ization. But, then, he came up with a different idea - creating a nonprofit organization of his own. "I realized I wanted to take more leadership - be a good leader," said Malcolm. So with the help of his father Bruce, Malcolm filed the necessary paperwork - Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws - and Community Donations, Inc. was born. The nonprofit collects coats and other winter clothing to donate to the needy. "I was thinking that there are so many of them just sitting in closets with no use, when they're so warm and useful," said the seventh-grader. Malcolm notes that unlike food, coats won't go to waste. As part of the nonprofit process, Malcolm also formed a Board of Directors - his mom, dad and a Please see Teen, A-2 I " 8 I 94937"0000T |