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Show litah Press Association StandvdRat 07 West 300 South, Suite 5005 JaJt Lake City UT 84101-1212 P.O. Box 224 Milford, UT 84751 USPoatag Paid MWord.UT. 64751 Pwntt No. 15 mm luu P. SEPTEMBER 4, 1997 (lut Ii 0. Box 224 Milford, Utah 84751 VOL. VII NO. 36 with more bites possible! Beaver County Board of Education voted four to one (Gary r) Brown was the to approve a tax increase that will fund programs throughout the district. This represents a $ 146,336 - or 7.8 overall increase over last year. It is, however an increase of more than $400,000 in the voted leeway levy. School District funding is divided into several separate levies, with the basic levy being set by the state. In 1956, the voters approved establishment of the leeway levy to allow the Board to add a .00200 tax increase for programs to benefit students. Tuesday's action by the Board represents .001561 of that amount. In the event the District needs additional funds in future years, they can use the remainder of the levy up to .00200 but they can not go beyond that amount unless the State Legislature raises the figure. The Utah Taxpayers Association warns of the danger of accepting a large leeway levy in a year when the debt service is lower. Their August 29, 1997 alert to taxpayers states, "This decrease in the debt service is only because of a temporary surplus and will increase again in the following year. Because of a temporary drop in the debt service levy, the certified rate has decreased considerably to .005040. The tax rate from last year was .005997. Essentially, what will have appeared to be a small increase in property taxes from last year, a change from .005997 to .006280, will become much larger next year, when the debt service levy increases again. The rate could increase to .007000 or more the next year." During the Truth-i- n Taxation hearing, the Board of Education confirmed that the decrease in debt service is only temporary. Debt service on the existing buildings in the District is expected to range between $850,000 and $900,000....considerably more than the $560,000 needed this year. With the exception of roof repairs at the elementary schools, most of the increase will be built into programs. When the debt service levy increases in future years, it will be difficult to adjust the budget to reapply the leeway tax increase to debt service. This obviously translates to additional tax increases down the road unless there is a significant increase in property valuation. The judgment recovery on centrally assessed properties is a virtual unknown, and is dependent on actions not only by the corporations involved, but the State Tax Commission and the Legislature. If valuation on centrally assessed properties decreases due to rulings at the state level, local taxes must increase to pay for services. Part of the pinch in the School District budget comes from lower than anticipated enrollment. District-wid- e enrollment to date taken Official be will at student on October 1st. count Stands 1,485. District funding is generated by the number of student count on that day. Last year the total was 1,5 16, or 3 1 more than the day after Labor Day count this year. At approximately $1,800 per student, this means a reduction of $55,800 in revenue unless enrollment increases within the next three weeks. Even with the voted leeway tax increase the District will not be able to implement all of the proposed programs this year unless there is a "wrndfall" in student growth. Historical Tidbits nay-saye- by Norman Baxter - When we moved to the farm in 1 9 1 9, I was a small boy. Most of the valley was untouched, covered -- with tall sagebrush and rabbit brush. The Beaver River ran the length of the valley. The overflow from Hay Springs and Tadpole joined the river and flowed north of Milford. Ages ago this valley must have been as a paradise to the Indians. There were bogs, fig f XiC' N '-- swamps and meadows, a natural habitat for wildlife. In those days we did not hunt for arrowheads. We walked on them, and only picked up the colorful and those with delicate workmanship. When we left the farm, there were coffee cans filled with points on the shelves in the blacksmith shop... we didn't bother to take them with us. After the war, I became acquainted with George Bush, a mining engineer and an avid collector of arrowheads. He had a large frame of arrowheads, with specimens from every state in the Union, including the territories of Alaska and Hawaii. George did most of his hunting north of Milford and watched it closely. Ne areas were always being uncovered by the winds. Late on spring, after a prolonged windy season, he found a large area freshly swept clean. The sand dunes had been moved , hundreds of yards to the north. It had been swept clean down to the clay surface. Spaced around, were dozens of Matate's. The rock circles for the fires were still intact, and he said there were hundreds and hundreds of arrowheads, lying around. As he described it, the only things missing were the Indians and their fv 1 M V Tepees. on-goi- 1996 Proposed Rate Last Year 1997 Rate Basic State Levy .002406 636,884 .001950 624,920 Voted Leeway .000318 98,989 .001561 500,150 Transportation .013007 24,280 .000078 25,444 Recreation .000147 45,758 .000148 47,590 Capitol Outlay .000165 51,361 .000166 53,355 10 .000415 129,181 .000419 134,435 NA .000210 67,200 Additional NA Judgment Levy Arlan Mayer demonstrates installation and use Quality and Quantity of moisture sensors. - Water is Life Last Friday's tour sponsored by Twin M Soil Conservation District, Natural Resources Conservation Service and USU Extension Service, gave d look at possible savings in water and pumping costs by farmers a moisture blocks and meters on irrigated crop land. Arlan Mayer utilizing demonstrated sensor installation at 1', 2', and 4' levels. Both he and Mike Yardley shared data they had recorded from the use of such sensors. "It can be a good tool if you know what your ground can take," Mayer concluded. Alfalfa roots extend from 1' for young plants to as much as 3' for older plants. The key to maximum yield is the amount of water nurturing those roots. In the Milford Valley, which produces some of the world's best Even the slightest high protein alfalfa hay, that means irrigation. increased in translates into profits. efficiency improvement Following the tour. Dr. Bob Hill, USU irrigation specialist, first-han- discussed system evaluation, irrigation scheduling and performance monitoring in an effort to help fanners streamline their already efficient operations. One item addressed was the effectiveness of the end gun on a pivot. Hill said it is "sixes" on alfalfa, but he doesn't recommend it on potatoes or com. Wind direction also determines the efficiency of the end gun. Without irrigation, however, corner areas are left out of the cultivation George wanted to show it to a friend, a Professor at the University, so he didn't touch a thing. When he and his friend went there, there was nothing to be found. Someone else had found it and there wasn't even one arrowhead remaining. There is a mystery here! What could have forced those Indians to leaver so suddenly that they left behind their most treasured possessions? Matate's were a family's heritage, handed down from Mother to Daughter. I have seen some that had been used for generations. Rocks, almost eight tot en inches thick, were almost worn through. Indians never moved, that they didn't with them. take their have attacked them? But then, the tribe Could another victor would have taken those prizes. Perhaps a sudden deadly disease had struck and wiped out the tribe! A mystery from the past! Never to be solved. I understand that the area is now taped off to prohibit Too bad it wasn't done sooner, but government looting. programs are always 50 to 60 years too late. corn-grinde- Week In Review equation. The tour, eight moisture blocks at a cost of approximately $150.00 each, the dinner, and presentations were funded by Circle Four Farms. Department of Environmental Quality imposed a $6,800 fine following an into the August 3, 1996, incident in which lagoon fluid was the of the to the a terms of portion agreement, deep aquifer. According fine... approximately $5,000 was to go into an environmental project in the local community. DEQ deemed the clean-u- p complete, and informed back-siphon- water users that, due to the nature of the aquifer, rate of travel for any rs Special Improvement District: Property owners in the Lewis Addition will have an whether decide to opportunity they want to pay the cost for improvements. members voted City Council on a few remaining contaminate would be about 47 y ears per mile. for forming the guidelines Mark Novak, Department of Environmental Quality, told farmers district after Totals Troy Torgensen, .005997 .006280 1,866,758 2,013,094 that wells with screens at various and DeMille Jones Engineering, levels allow shallow, or poor quality, estimate of a cost water to move into the deeper aquifer, presented thus diminishing the quality of water in approximately $400,000 for the It must be "The general total project. the deep aquifer. 51 of the reservoir is being drawn down plus approved by will mud poor quality shallow ground water, property owners or the pesticides, and fertilizers are being remain. drawn down into the drinking water Donation: The Milford Mens' aquifer," he told farmers. He warned, and Women's Golf Associations "If the trend is not reversed, the first donated $1,500 toward the thing to go would be water for human purchase of a lawnmower. It is consumption, then stockwatering, then pertinent to note that the golf course has never looked better! irrigation." Scott Hacking, DEQ district In discussion For Sale: Southwest with Health, engineer Tuesday evening, Milford City instructed farmers in source protection Council members estimated that w ith regard to fuel tanks near the well at least 30 homes are for sale in head. Hacking said that one gallon of the Rentals, however, city. gasoline could quickly disperse and appear to remain somewhat contaminate up to one million gallons scarce. of w ater. Editor 's Note: I questioned Circle Four's Expansion Into this figure and called to verify. Iron County: A petition to Hacking said yes, there is data to protect the aquifer is being Natalie Hanley, Holly Fails, Elizabeth Kanell, Sadie Waters, Beaver High JV Cheerleaders (back back it up. Diesel on the other hand, circulated among water users to does not row), got a little help and friendly instruction from varsity cheerleaders Mickell Williams and Amy Jo is absorbed into the soil and bond to attach a sizable clean-u- p Bradshaw (front) in Milford last week. The Beavers JV team hosted Snow Canyon Sophomores on the travel through the aquifer to such an Circle Four's Conditional Use extent. Milford field. The Score? Well, Snow Canyon went home happy. Permit in Iron County to cover Hacking told the farmers that Meanwhile the Milford Varsity and JV teams played Snow Canyon JV and Freshmen in Santa the cost of potential damage to Clara. Varsity lost 0 in what was described by Kadcn Leko as a "moral victory." JV score? Better luck some states have legislated mandates Aquifer Number 71, which e, regarding fuel tanks. "Be next time. Josh Hardy sustained a broken arm, and Garland Walker a back injury. from Modena to Delta. extends In Volleyball action, Wayne County commanded a 15-- 8 and 15-- 2 victory. The Lady Tigers looked and do this (follow recommended The petition also demands that guidelines) before the Legislature good, however, and they are ready to meet valley on their home court this Friday. Beaver County require bonds be mandates regulations," he warned. Add First Security Bank and Sheldon Albrccht to those donating to the new MHS scoreboard. Debt Service .002828 880,303 .001747 560,000 7-- pro-activ- provided by the owner for existing facilities before any additional facilities can be built. Purpose of the petition is to guarantee that funds would be available to clean up if a facility is closed down, and funds would be available to compensate water users in the event of ground water contamination. Livingston County, Missouri adopted an ordinance in July of this year to require adequate security bonds to ensure cleanup and disposal in confined feeding operations. Eva Danner, Presiding said such Commissioner, ordinances will be on the agenda when Missouri's Association of Counties meets later this year. If Iron County isn't an option, will the company pull back into Beaver County and build north of Milford? Rob Adams, Circle Four General Manager, says he personally does not want to do that until the company has demonstrated mat they can control odor. The area north of Milford is also above Aquifer Number 71. Public Safety Building: Recent changes in the Department of Corrections may have a on effect the profound investment Beaver County voters approved last November. Accurate figures regarding total cost and expenditures to date are not available as of press time. |