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Show nH0 Serving American Fork. Alpine and Hiiildtmd Vol. 13, No. 8 Thursday, February 21, 1991 50 cents a single copy I IMP BiJil What began as a patriotic salute to a grandson and a son of residents of one American a Fork drive bloomed into a block long corridor of yellow ribbons. Kay Bowers said he has t. I Ui crdf- UJ a grandson serving with the regular Army near the front lines in Saudi Arabia and he VCllOlV VibbOTl decided Pu UP ribons in his honor. He also knew that a nearby neighbor has a son J who is a chaplain in the regular military in the Persian Gulf. "I decided to put up ribbons on our trees, but my daughter-in-law brought me a lot of yellow plastic, so I decided to do the whole street," Bowers said. He said he is an ex-marine ex-marine from World War II and said he feels real patriotic and supportive of the men and women serving in the military now. "We want them to know they are not forgotten over there," he said. Ambulance Assn. up for review again By BARBARA CHRISTIANSEN Representatives from the American Ameri-can Fork Ambulance Association are scheduled to report to the City Council next Tuesday on their efforts ef-forts to become self sustaining. "There have been some really good changes taking place," previewed pre-viewed Joan Shippen of the association. asso-ciation. She noted that they had made changes in both revenues and expenditures ex-penditures to decrease the city's subsidy. While she was optimistic, there was some concern that not enough time had passed for the figures to tell the entire story. The association was supposed to report back to the council alter six months of the new system. One major change was made several months into the trial -- turning the billing process over to Gold Cross. "At this point the figures are very difficult to interpret," said Shippen. City Budget Office Carl Wanlass agreed. "We will have a difficult time reporting anything," he said. "The flow from the revenue side is just starting." The association increased several sev-eral of the charges in order to bring their fees more in line with actual ivsts incurred. In addition they decrease!', er eliminated the amounts paid to the stall', including canceled runs, teaching teach-ing time and member training. Routine transports are now handled by only two memlxTs and they charge a flat rate instead of an hourly one for services. Association members have taken up various physical fitness programs in preparation for thetestingwhich begins next month to qualify them for service. Councilman Crosby Mecham noted that the city could require the association to be self sustaining, but that it could not be accomplished im mediately. 'it takes a little time to make that happen," he said. Another alternative he mentioned was for the city to turn the ambulance ambu-lance service over to another entity. "Or the city could get out of the ambulance business," he said. "Elected officials don't always make very good managers when you consider con-sider the expertise needed." Councilman Jerry Larson emphasized em-phasized the need for self sufficiency. "We very explicitly explained to them," he said, "that we did not want to subsidize the ambulance." Pool conversion to go out to bid Final plans for converting the old indoor swimming pool adjacent to the American Fork Junior High School to a gymnasium were approved by members of the Alpine District Board of Education at their February business meeting. Eric Sandstrom of Sandstrom and Associates, architects, presented pre-sented the plans to board members. The plans will now go out to bid, Dr. Steven Baugh, district superintendent said. The project is expected to be completed for use by the start of school in the fall of 1991, Dr. Baugh said. The swimming pool had been owned by American Fork City ' conjunction with the school district. American Fork City is participating in the cost of the conversion. The swimming pool, located adjacent to the junior high school, has been closed the last few years due to deterioration of the roof and equipment. It was decided to convert the pool area into gymnasium facilities which will be used by both the school district and American Fork City. Water system ready to bid "We are ready to go," was the report regarding the improvements to American Fork's water system to the City Council. Consultant Steve Sowby told the council thatmostoftheproperty easements were signed and that agreements had been executed with various agencies for the $2.5 million improvements. The specifications are ready and the council has called for bids for most of the work. They are scheduled to be opened March 12. Work will begin as soon as possible after that. Included in the scope of work is a five million gallon water tank, various pipelines, pump housings and electrical controls, repair works and meters. City seeks golf course funds American Fork City has once again asked Pleasant Grove and Lehi to pay their shares of expenses at the Tri-City Golf Course, according to City Recorder Dick Colborn. Councilman Jerry Larson reported to the other council members that a letter had been sent to the other cities. "Lehi and Pleasant Grove probably owe us around $32,000," he said. Larson, who serves as the liaison between American Fork and the Golf Course Committee, reported that the cooperative golf course was doing well financially and had been self-supporting recently. He has also asked the committee to finish the interior of the race track. "I talked to them a year ago." he said, "and said we wanted the inside of the race track finished. They agreed last year, but it is not done yet. I think we need to be a little more forceful." Larson would again present his request at the committee's meeting tonight, Thursday, Feb. 21. AF to inspect city fuel tanks American Fork City has called for an inspection of three underground under-ground fuel tanks at the city complex. In order to meet regulations requiring certification of underground under-ground tanks prior to a July 1 deadline, city officials have elected to proceed with inspection prior to possible replacement. Estimates of the costs involved if the tanks need to be replaced run around $40,000, said Councilman Jerry Larson. He suggested that American Fork call for an inspection, saying the replacement costs may not be necessary. "I don't think we need a $40,000 state-of-the-art credit card deal," he said. The card system would use a different card for each veh icle, allowing electronic tracking of fuel use and budgets. "At $500 for each of our three tanks," he told the council, "we can have them vacuum tested. If they don't leak we can have them certified." Testing was scheduled to be completed prior to next Tuesday's council meeting in order to send in necessary paper work to apply for certification by the deadline of March 1. State's top court hears Alpine suit By RACHEL C. MURDOCH The Utah Supreme Court heard testimony on Feb. 19 from Alpine City and a citizen's group protesting protest-ing the firing of former chief of police po-lice Brent Leseberg. John and Marilyn Anderson, representing the citizen's group, said " their group wishes to require the city to hold an election to allow citizens to decide whether or not Leseberg should continue as chief. The city maintains that the firing fir-ing was an administrative decision, not subject to popular vote. Marilyn Anderson said the court heard prepared statements from each party, but did not give any decision. The court has an indefinite indefi-nite amount of time to make a deci sion on a case. Anderson said since their case is fairly simple, it may not take as long for the court to hand down a decision. Mayor Elaine Barnes said the city "absolutely" believes the firing to be administrative, and not subject sub-ject to change. The city named a replacement for Leseberg this week. Leseberg still may file suit against the city in a separate matter related re-lated to the firing. In their prepared statement for the court, the Anderson's recounted the history of Leseberg" s firing, and the subsequent reversal in which the city allowed the chief to resign. They also protested the way Alpine City government had labeled citizens who were not in favor the administration's decisiong as "Rabble rousers, devicive and out of order" while citizens favoring the administration admini-stration were labeled "civic-mi nded volunteers." "We have acted in good faith. Every step of the way, the city has used our tax monies to oppose us as citizens." Alpine names new chief Alpine City appointed a new police chief this week. Dan Jones of Holly, Michigan will take over administration of the department on March 4. Mayor Elaine Barnes said Jones has been chief in Holly for five years, but is originally from Utah. "He's anxious to move back to Utah, and we're anxious for him to come here and get started," Barnes said. Jones will live in either Highland or Alpine, Barnes said. Barnes said Jones visited Alpine three times for interviews and the city has done extensive background checks on him. "He checked out extremely well," she said. Desert Storm prompts new hiring policy Members of the Alpine School District Board of Education have taken under discussion a policy to allow the hiring of employees on a temporary basis. Need for the policy was the call-up call-up of eight district employees -seven teachers and a bus driver -- to serve on military active duty in Operation Desert Storm. Under the policy, temporary employees could be hired on a week- to-week basis to "permit rapid and expedient hiring of personnel to fill positions which are temporarily vacated." The policy would also keep jobs open for the district employees called up by the National Guard, officials said. "This policy will help us be efficient effi-cient and responsible in a number of employee situations," said Dr. Steven Baugh, Alpine Superinten dent, "but it is also an effort to insure that our people who have been called to active duty will retain re-tain their jobs when they return." The temporary employees have to be certificated in order to receive professional salary from the district, dis-trict, it was noted. Under the policy, the "period of employment of temporary employees employ-ees shall be from week-to-week, and employment may be terminated by either the district or the employee with seven calendar days notice." It goes on that "no temporary employee shall have any expectation expecta-tion of continued employment" in the district. Although board members discussed dis-cussed the policy, no action was taken on it. It will face board action during the next business meeting of the board to be held the second Tuesdays in March. Day's Market hopes to move to Highland to expand store By ANNLEIGH MC MAMS Day's grocery store of Alpine hopes to move to Highland. If the business is approved by the Highland City Council, their new location would be across from Kountry Korner, 5260 W. 1100 North, Highland. The southwest corner of the fou r way stop has a three-acre parcel in which the store could be built. Mel Clements, vice president of Woodbury Corporation, said that the proposed store would be approximately 16,000 and 20,000 feet. Woodbury Corporation has been responsible for the development of several local commercial ventures, including the Smith Food King in American Fork and the Uni- versity Mall in Orem. Changing times and local growth have created a need for a change in the Alpine grocery store, according to Steve Miner, market analyst for Associated Grocers. "We need to move that store," he said. "Highland has the geo graphical crossroads that we need," he said. Clements said that by locating the store in Highland enough sales could be generated to convince bankers to back the project. Along with the grocery store, Woodbury would like to include small retail stores at 8,700 feet a piece. Clements said that including the stores would serve two purposes. "It would get us to a loan amount, $1 million, that lenders are more receptive to, and it would serve a visual purpose," he said. Clements said that they have been in contact with Mayor Elaine Barnes of Alpine and that Barnes had made a trip to Heber to see Gerald Day, owner of the Alpine store. She questioned Day about the renovation and building of a new Alpine Market. "Mayor Barnes would like to see the store in Alpine if it were economically feasible," said Day. But Day explained that a smaller store than the one proposed couldn't address all the areas a community needs. The store would be willing to not sell beer and to close on Sunday, just like the existing Alpine store. Miner said that by locating the store at the proposed site, $60,000 to $70,000 income could "We need to move that store. Highland has the geographical crossroads that we need." Steve Miner be expected per week. "Sales and property tax would generate $50,000 to $60,000 per year for Highland," he said. Miner said that between Alpine, Highland and Cedar Hills, approximately $8-$ 10 million are spent on groceries. 85 percent of th at is goi ng into American Fork. "That is an awful lot of volume going into American Fork," he said. "The store would be priced aggressively with other stores," said Day. The issue for Highland goes beyond conven ience. The city has historically rejected commercial commer-cial enterprises outside of home businesses, and lacks a commerical zone inside the city limits. Councilman Kent Day said that of course everybody would like a store nearby, but in somebody else's neighborhood. Miner said that historically Associated Foods does a m arket survey to determ ine the desires of the community. "If a lot of people don't want a store then we won't put it in," he said. Along with Ed Scott, planning commission, Miner said that they would be willing to provide the ground work for a survey to determine the wants of the citizens. Currently all but one corner of the busy intersection inter-section remain undeveloped. "None of us would want to plunk a house in that corner," said Clements about the proposed site. Mayor James Hewlett said that it seemed like a solid proposal for Highland, but was circumspect circum-spect about the proposal. "We will take a very cautious approach at this proposal," said Hewlett. The two commercial establishments in Highland, High-land, Kountry Korner and the Alpine Country Club, are allowed inside the city because they existed before the city was incorporated. Otherwise, Highland residents have resisted previous attempts by commercial developers. Concerns also arise as to what would happen with the other two corners that remain undeveloped. undevel-oped. Would Highland be forced to provide commercial zoning for them also? Hewlett said that Highland would consult with the city attorney attor-ney for his opinion on the matter. If approved, Day would like to see the store open by the fall of 1991. |