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Show Wednesday, January 13, 1993 Page 2 Editorial City's response to record snow great--but could it be better? Orem-Geneva Times Will all Orem's street crews stand up and take a bow. And all private snow removal contractors. And all private citizens who took it upon themselves to help someone this week. And Utah Department of Transportation Transpor-tation employees. What a refreshing show of fortitude and response in the wake of a 56-year record snowfall. With the Citj?s limited funds and equipment, the response was pretty darn good. The question is, should citizens expect more? Do they want taxes raised to pay for it? Sunday night Orem City street crews completed their 10th straight 12-hour shift and Monday night another 2-4 units were going to be up most of the night handling predicted icy conditions so people could drive safely Tuesday morning. "Guys who've been working here 15 to 17 years have never seen it this bad," said Steve Webber, Public Works Street Engineer. City crews utilized every available piece of equipment to reach Orem's 210 miles of streets. Eight private snow removal contractors were hired at $70-$85 per hour to supplement Orem's own equipment and operators. Orem has four 10-wheeler dump trucks with snow plow blades, two 1-ton road graders, a back hoe that is being used to clear out intersections, and a plow that belongs to the Waste Water department. The council budgeted $10,000 for salt, sand and snow removal rental equipment this year (that's not counting manpower and overtime wages). They believed it was a good average of dry and wet years combined. Already the city has spent $16,000, and there's more storms predicted. "We still have some funds in the salt and sand budget, but the equipment fund is overdrawn," said Webber. City Manager Daryl Berlin said there have been lots of complaints despite the city's best efforts. Webber said a lot of private contractors aren't as familiar with Orem's streets as the city crews. "Some streets are missed and some streets are hit several times," he said. "But we're trying to get them all." During ordinary snowfalls, the City doesn't attempt to clear all streets, only major arterials and some hilly areas in northeast Orem are regularly scheduled. UDOT (State) is responsible for 25 miles of State owned streets including State Street and 800 North. Funds are limited. The City Council has supported a policy of keeping funds at a minimum rather than add to the taxpayers' burden. Equipment is terribly expensive expen-sive and often sits idle for most or all of an average year. Is it worth it to purchase more? It will be interesting to see if what policy will prevail during this gear's budget sessions. Maybe citizens are ready for a jump in their city tax bill if it means regular snow removal (on all streets) during snow storms. If so, the City Council wants to know. Tuesday night city council scheduled a discussion of Orem's limited resources and snow removal policy. They also planned to discuss future response if the unprecedented unprece-dented storms continue. In the meantime, neighbors need to keep helping neighbors, and call Public Works if your street has been missed. " - Apartment proposal changed to 20 condominiums Parts of the roof, snow and debris clutter a large back room at Rocky Mountain Printing and Publishing, 1170 N. Industrial Road. The roof collapsed Friday about 7 a.m. leaving a gigantic piece of the sky visible. There were no injuries. Free TCBY for those who read Edible Bookmarks, or rather, bookmarks redeemable for very "edible" frozen yogurt cones at TCBY (The Country's Best Yogurt), will be given to children as a reward for reading. In conjunction with the ProvoOrem Chamber of commerce com-merce sponsored Business Education Partnerships, TCBY will give several Provo and Orem elementary school bookmarks that are redeemable at the Provo and orem TCBY for free yogurt cones. Students at 10 elementary schools will be given several thousand bookmarks for primary grades first through third. When the children have read six books, the teacher will stamp the book mark, and the child can then redeem it at either TCBY. Ruth Killpack and Rita Edmonds, Ed-monds, owners of TCBY (Th( Country's Best Yogurt) in Oreir at 106 N. State, and Provo at 295 W. 1230 North, are involved with the Chamber Business Education Partnership committee. In addition addi-tion to their ownership of the store, they both are psychotherapists psycho-therapists t Aspen Therapy and have a double interest in this program. pro-gram. As owners of a retail business, busi-ness, they want to bring people into the stores, but as professionals profes-sionals they also realize the importance im-portance of reading skills in a person's life. "In this program we all benefit. Children are taught to read more through a reward system sys-tem at a time when it is very crucial that children be rewarded for their endeavors, and we get a chance to let more people taste The Country's Best Yogurt. It's definitely a win-win situation," said Killpack. 'The program was very successful suc-cessful last year. We had really good responses from the schools. The teachers supported the program, pro-gram, and lots of little children came to the store for their free yogurt," said Killpack. "We've I Orem-Qeneva dirties USPS 411-700 Published each Wednesday for $10.00 per year by the Orem-Geneva Orem-Geneva Times, 546 South State Street, Orem, Utah 84058. Second Class postage paid at Orem, Utah 84057 . POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Orem-Geneva Times, P.O. Box 65, Orem, Utah 84059 been pleased to discover how open the teachers are to any program that will enhance the pleasure of learning for the children." Because of the success last year, the program has been expanded ex-panded from four schools to ten schools, in the Provo and Orem areas. The schools participating in the program are: Northridge, Cascade, Orchard, Bonneville, Hillcrest, Edgemont, Joaquin, Grand View, Timpanogos, and Westridge elementary schools. For further information on the Edible Bookmark program, contact either Ruth or Rita at 225-8229. Orem residents risk tickets The recent snowfall might be considered a blessing for water supplies, but if you don't clean it off your sidewalks, said Steve Weber of Orem City Public Works, "...the fine might break your back." Weber said that with all the calls of complaints he has on his desk each day, he'd be forever trying to ticket everyone who. wasn't clearing their sidewalks. Orem City Ordinance Capt. 16-1-6 states clearly that responsibility respon-sibility for clearing the sidewalks on any resident's property rests with the resident. Weber said that blatant offenders of-fenders will be ticketed. . Orem City Council approved 20 condominiums to be constructed con-structed at 1965 South Columbia Lane in an R-l-6.5. A proposal recently was approved for 20 apartment units at the site. The applicant now requested approval ap-proval of Charleston Heights Planned Unit Development as a condominium project. According to the application, the request included an increase in the base density from 17.6 units on the 1.6 acres to 20 units for amenities. The amenities include in-clude a large children's play area and yard lights, two of which are placed along the east side of the children's play area. In other action, the council approved ap-proved a refund on Albertsons IRB (Industrial Revenue) Bonds based on current interest rates. The council authorized issuance of the bonds in April of 1983 with Zions Bank as trustee to construct con-struct the new store at Center and State. The city had no responsibility respon-sibility other than that and was not responsible in any wayfor repayment. Albertsons is solely responsible for repayment. The bonds allowed the company to use the City's bond rating and issue tax free bonds at no cost to the City. The council also approved to rescind the conditional use per- United Way Thanks all who helped on Sub-for- Santa The United Way of Utah County Coun-ty Sub-for-Santa program would like to thank all of the volunteer sponsors, clubs and businesses who helped provide a Merry Christmas for 719 Utah County families this Christmas season. '1 was amazed at the outpouring outpour-ing of concern and help for families in need," said Jeanny Gordon, coordinator. coor-dinator. "We had many calls on Christmas Eve from families needing need-ing assistance, and sponsors were eager to help, even at that late date." One family assisted this year wanted to thank Sub-for-Santa for helping them have a Merry Christmas. They said, "We just wanted to say thank you a whole lot. Sub-for-Santa made our Christmas better than we had expected. ex-pected. Especially for my son. He really liked all his gifts. Also, the clothes for my daughter are cute. Thanks again." Major sponsors of Sub-for-Santa this year included BYU, the Elks, Lodge, UVCC and the Kiwanis Club. . For the second year in a row, a class was offered on ways to celebrate Christmas on a budget, provided through the Community Action Agency. "They really gave the applicants ap-plicants some great ideas for low-cost low-cost Christmas gifts. The class was mandatory for all second-time applicants," ap-plicants," Gordon said. Recipients of assistance who would like to thank their sponsors may write care of P.O. Box 135, Provo, UT 84603. mit recently issued to Roger Clark. Clark requested the City to withdraw the permit which would allow him to hold worship services at 1930 North Skyline Drive. The Council imposed a condition condi-tion for sufficient off-street parking park-ing for patrons who come to the site, and that all off-street parking park-ing be paved with either concrete or asphalt. The council also directed the Planning Commission to review the CUP on December 2, 1992. However, when the review was to be held the applicant was not present to answer questions. On December 6, Mr. Clark delivered a letter to the Planning Commission Commis-sion requesting the City to drop the conditional use permit. Councilman Jim Evans, who lives in the area, said there appears ap-pears to be no activities at the site related to the proposed church. In other action, a Conditional Use Permit was issued to Lisa Gaffney to open a Day Care Center Cen-ter at 14 W. 1475 South, Orem, in a R-l-7.5 Zone. The applicant will provide group day care within her home for a maximum of 12 children. Human Rights activities this week Orem City began Human Rights Observance Tuesday and will continue through January 20. Several educational films on human rights will be aired on Channel Three. Time and days will be advertised both on the cable channel and through a list posted at area schools, according to Orem's Human Rights Commission. Com-mission. Channel Three also will air an interview with Dean Duncan, a motion professor at Brigham Young University. Duncan will address the role the media has played in advancing or detracting from human rights. Monday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m., a panel of women will review their experiences in Utah politics. The event will take place in the City Council Chambers, 56 N. State, Orem. The panel will include Mayor Stella Welsh; Joyce Johnson, former mayor of Orem; Delora Bertelsen, mayor of Springville; Marie Huff, mayor of Spanish Fork; and Sydnee Fonnesbeck, Utah League of Cities and Towns. Questions for the panel have been 'provided by the local media. Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 7 p.m. in the council chambers, David Dominguez, law professor at BYU, will address the topic "The Law and Human Rights." Dominguez Domin-guez is a recognized speaker on human rights. Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m. on Channel Three, the movie "Ghandi" will be shown. The movie is provided to the city by KSTU. ABOUT illM Recycling and the Elderly By Margie and Harold McCown Recycling in Orem is interesting. interest-ing. In order to take part in the recycling program, we pay. We pay so others can take our used newspapers and aluminum cans, make something out of them, and sell for a profit. Yes, we pay our hard-earned money so someone else can turn a profit. Makes sense to me. Whyisitwhensomethinggets old, we decide to either recycle it or throw it away? Why will we . recycle instead of trashing it? ; Money?? Guilt? . Dunno. I've heard this is a "throw-away" society. We're trying to learn to recycle, but still we throw used things away. Yep, if something gets old, we have to get rid of it. Out in the trash, out in the recycle bin. But out of sight. Do we do that with our people too? The other day a truck was parked on the handicapped ramp at City Hall. Not too kind towards my suggestion that he move to another space, the driver fumed, fussed, called me an "old lady" and grudgingly left. Noticing he was not much younger than I, I wondered why he had been so angry? Why was he so upset? Did he, too, see the closeness in our ages and feel threatened? Did he not understand that my wheel chair had nothing to do with age? Did I remind him that no one is immune to illness, accidents, time, and, yes, aging? Or did he, like many others, fail to realize that aging is nof contagious? You don't catch it from being too close to senior citizens. What about the seniors? What happens to them? Once they have passed their useful cycle shall we throw them out? Or will we recycle them? Recycling the seniors isn't so hard. Let them have a place to live their lives with dignity, with pride. What if they 'aren't wealthy? weal-thy? What if they need affordable housing? Should they have it? Haven't they earned it? Unfortunately there are some in Orem who take the attitude "affordable housing is fine, but not in my back yard! ItH devalue my property" I don't know, but what makes an expensive house' an asset? What makes affordabli homes for the elderly a problem? I've often thought a home is sacred, but a home is what is inside, in-side, not how expensive the structure struc-ture is. A home is love, understanding, under-standing, pride; not destructive behavior towards a possible neighbor. It's not the size, it's not the value, it's the love. Yes, let's "recycle" our elderly. Let's give them a chance to care for themselves. Let's give them their independence, their self-respect. self-respect. Let's give them affordable affor-dable housing! |