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Show ii WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1975 1 HELPER, UTAH VOLUME 69 NUMBER 12 if 111 10 Riding from federal office Technicality denies Helper access to extra revenue sharing Over $3,000 of revenue sharing money, originally earmarked for Castle Gate and now being sought by the Carbon School District, was. at one time, thought to belong to Helper City, but the order granting Helper these funds was later rescinded because of a technicality, according to Helper City officials. revenue sharing office had indicated that these funds would be transferred to Helper, as a majority of former Castle Gate residents were moving to sharing agency had discovered that Helper was not taking over the actual geographic area of Castle Gate and so regulations, as a successor government for the town, Thus, Helper could not legally lay claim to Castle However, a hitch developed in this transfer when federal officials Gate's fifth entitlement period discovered that Helper was not actually taking over governmental responsibility for the actual site of Castle Gate but only for a majority of its former residents. In a letter received late last month from Gail Boyle, intergovernmental relations officer for the federal revenue sharing agency, Mayor Ghirardelli was told that, in conversations with Castle Gate's legal council Michael McCoy, the revenue This revenue sharing money, which was ordered two weeks ago to be held by the state revenue sharing agency until a rightful recipient could be located by Seventh District Judge Edward Sheya, was Castle Gate's allotment in the Fifth Entitlement Period from the federal revenue sharing system. According to Helper mayor Chuck Ghirardelli, the local under federal couldn't qualify, Helper. allocation. With this pronouncement, these revenue sharing funds were, more or less, "put up for grabs." When Pete Tabone, who served as special administrator for Castle Gate after its disincorporation, learned of the revenue sharing ruling, he contacted the Carbon School District and asked them if they may be able to obtain the funds. Carbon School superintendent Dennis Nelson, told the Helper Journal that the district is presently investigating the possibility of obtaining these funds but held out the condition that the legal manuvering not cost as much as the grant itself. While Helper did loose out on these fifth entitlement period funds from Castle Gate, some good news was received recently from the federal revenue sharing agency in the form of revised populations and income estimates that, according to Helper City Recorder Albert Fossat, will "quite possibly" mean an increase in a revenue sharing allotment for Helper in the sixth entitlement period. Helper's populations estimate has Last year, Helper's adjusted tax, been revised upward to reflect part of the increase from the new Castle Gate addition. which is the governments' estimate of total property and sales tax taken in the city, was set at $64,205 but this year their estimate actually went down with the Sixth Entitlement Period adjusted tax being set at From statistics received recently from the federal revenue sharing office in Washington, D.C., Fossat was informed that Helper's population estimate for revenue sharing purposes had been set at 2,020 which is up from last year's estimate of 1,964 residents living in Helper. While the per capita estimate of individual income was substantially raised to $3,269 for this coming entitlement period (up from $2,533 for the last period) other factors that are used in figuring entitlement period allotments have remained inLast years' tergovernmental transfers were estimated at $9,902 while this years' was pegged at $13,100. $63,698. In all, with the hike in estimated population (which Fossat says is still too low) and with other factors staying relatively unchanged, Fossat believes that Helper can expect a larger share of the $6.35 billion of general revenue sharing funds that the federal government will be distributing this year. sub- stantially unchanged. By Trico . , ! ' A 7 l V J Vr. . WWWmn ...;,r"f' .. , ; , til. J - f'v-"- 4 ", I if ' 4y h r j: : V J .. ' f f "I 'r 11 .1 These council members explained that these for improving the city owned playground on Helper city officials voiced some concerns last Thursday evening over a plan presented them by plans, as presented, would call for Helper to Locust St. in Helper. He complained that most of representatives from Trico of Utah to relocate abandon a permanent utility easement where the playground equipment was broken and that the city's main water line as it runs through the Helper's water line presently runs. They added the blacktop surface of the play area was old Castle Gate townsite. that this new easement must be established on covered with large chuckholes and littered with These plans, presented at the regular meeting Braztah property because the railroad demands debris. of the Helper city council, called for Helper's such strict prerequisites before granting any City councilman Ernest Gardner, who is in water line, which presently follows a patch that easements. Secondly, the council wanted to be charge of parks, told the resident the city has runs almost directly down the middle of Castle sure that Braztah would be maintaining these recently obtained most of the playground pipelines as the problem of finding line leaks equipment that formerly served on the Castle Gate, to be relocated into a utility that Braztah will establish along the west side of and identifying who the pipe belongs to would be Gate playground and planned to install much of their property in Castle Gate. multiplied by five eventually as Trico has plans this equipment on the Locust St. playground. He for five different lines to be run through added that cleanup and repair of the play ground and both Becker Ed Lewis, Larry engineers this easement.- - utility surface was planned es soon as weather and for Trico, presented the "plan and explained- its features. Becker said Trico planned to tie into Becker heard these questions and assured the manpower permitted. chief Karl Stavar came Helper city police Helper's water line at a point above the old council that all their conditions would be met before the council and told them the police townsite and run the line over to the Price River. before moving any lines. He added that the Trico From here, Helper's line, along with water lines engineers were presently in the final design department's sole patrol car had broken down the week and would require some expresently being maintained by Price City, the stages for this project and said that during tensive engine repairs. He added that the county River Price Water Improvement District and by specifications would be available about the first department had lent Helper a car until Braztah, would run down the west side of the of next month and contractors would be hired sheriff's a new car, which has already been ordered from Biaztah property where it adjoins the railroad soon after. Valley Motor Co. in Price, arrives. Stavar said Becker said all these lines would be The council asked Becker if Trico would grant the car would probably arrive on April 18 or 19. maintained in a permanent utility Councilman Vince Bonza reported that the city the city the right to salvage water lines that Becker said Helper's new line would continue would be disconnected and he answered that is still awaiting arrival of materials and down this utility easement to a point just above the Utah Power and Light Carbon Plant where it decision would have to be made by the company equipment for manufacturing mulch for repair management but felt there would probably be no of city streets. He felt that both would be coming would be tied back into the present line. soon and said repairs would begin as soon as opposition to the request. Council members were concerned over two The council told Becker the plan would be they arrived. points of Trico's plans. First, they asked would acceptable provided it met with all Councilman Ernest Gardner told the council legal and this new be established as a percriteria and directed him to meet that work on the city's swimming pool should engineering manent easement and would this easement be with the city attorney and city engineer to work begin immediately and listed things such as established exclusively on Trico property. out the details. patching the pool bottom, cleaning the pool of Second, who would maintain the pipelines in that A resident from the south end of Helper came algae and overhauling the pool's pump as being area. before the council and asked if the city had plans in need of attention. i mi ? - v ' f i right-of-wa- y 1 i - 1 f 1 c right-of-wa- y. right-of-wa- y. right-of-wa- y to install" newly acquired playground equipment and to repair the playgound surface which is marked with potholes Il-- J and littered with debris. Photo nearly here, Helper residents reminded the citv council that the Locust Street playground, shown here, was in need of repair. The council has promised With Spring 9 Says PR WW chairman 'ytnywy--y- y WWW Voters hold Carbon future in their hands The possibility of Helper and Price following the example of Rock Springs, Wyoming and becoming "boom towns" was held out as a distinct prospect if prompt and planning programs are not carried out by Stanley Litizzette, Helper lawyer and chairman of the Price River Water Improvement District, in a recent terview. in- Litizzette in speaking of the upcoming $3.5 million water bond election, said representatives of the PRWID and Utah's congressional delegation have been repeatedly turned down in their requests for federal funding because the bureaucrats in the Economic Development Administration were not convinced that the people of the Price River Basin really wanted this water project so and have been challenged by the EDA to prove that the people really want this project by approving the bond election. Studies predict large growth in Carbon County schools Carbon area schools face up to a 22 percent increase in enrollments within the next five years according to recently released separate studies conducted by the Utah Department of Employment Security and the University of Utah's Bureau of Economic Research. Statistics compiled by the Utah Employment Security Office projected a 22 per- cent rise in school enrollments by 1980. The statistics showed that 3,873 students are currently enrolled in Carbon Schools out of a population of 17,600. The date went further to project an enrollment of 4,070 of an 18,500 total 4208 population in 1975-'7of a 19,400 population in 1976-'74466 of a 20,300 4686 population by 1977-'7of a total population of and 4884 of 21,300 in 1978-'7a 22,300 population by 1979-'86; 7; 9; 0. The employment security office statistics projects that Mauro Sally with an Elementary, enrollment of 407 in 1975-'7- 6, would grow to 426 in 1976-'7446 in 1977'-78- ; 468 in 1978-'7nd 488 in 1979-'8- 7; These projected statistics also that Helper Junior High, with a enrollment in 284 1975-'7- would grow to 298 in 313 in 1977-7- 1976-'7- 328 7; in and 342 in 1979-'8Carbon High School, with 1978-7- 9 a set at enrollment figure 814, was projected to grow to 853 in enrollment in 1975-7- 6 "In the event that this bond is adopted," said Litizzette, "the EDA said it would then reconsider their earlier refusal for funding." The PRWID chairman said it is essential that the bond issue be decided immediately because the AdHome Farmer's ministration regional office in Denver has told water district officials that they want to be in a position to buy any bonds the district may issue. To do so, the district must approve this bond before the end of April when all loan requests are referred to the Washington, D.C. office. If the issue is approved, said Litizzette, the district stands a good chance of getting a low cost loan. Litizzette said any property owner in the district will be eligible to vote in this election, which, in and 977 in in a meeting held yesterThe University of Utah day, was set for April 14. Figures the chairman Bureau of Economic Research statistics coin presented showed that 63.2 cided closely with the percent of the total property taxes paid in the PRWID employment office s area are those assessed to 1980 for projections (the only year the UBER made commercial, industrial, and mining interests predictions for) with 1060 utility thus and would pay 63.2 students projected to be enrolled at Carbon H:gh percent of any principle and interest on any general School bv 1980: 380 bonds issued by obligation at Junior projected Helper the district. High and 500 projected By contrast, the comenrollment at Sally Mauro mercial, industrial, utility Elementary. 1976-'7- 7; 1978-7- 9 893 in 1977-7- 937 1979-'8- 0. and mining interests pay only 38.3 percent of the total property tax in Helper and 35.9 percent in Price and would only have to pay those percentages of the principle and interest of any V rTir- - . Nil... irkiM general obligation bonds that the cities could issue for their own water projects. This, he said, shows the great advantage to the residents of the district that building this project on a basis would have as industries in the district would be expected to participate in a major way in the repayment of these bonds. district-wid- e Litizzette said the residents of the water district held the future of this area in their hands. Without this district water project, he said, the unincorporated areas of the county face zero growth and the cities face either overtaxing already critical water supplies or clamping a moratorium down on new hookups within their corporate limits. "I'm tired of seeing our young people having to move out of the area to find employment", said Litizzette. "If we adopt this project, we will at least give our young people the chance to stay in the area if they want. Personally, I would like that very much." I. -J L-J- Lit mAt Helper Mining Museum curator Fred Voll moves a laree hospital sterilizer which was obtained from the old Castle Gate hospital in preparation for receiving the !l,ea,lanu i'a,'ey11s.t04ne.an!1 st.one bear,ing Historical Society marker mvt :M mlML&k which is attached to the old company store. After moving the heavy piece of hosnital eouinmpnt. Vnll still rnnlH nnt find enough room ofr the stones which will H-- J be arriving soon from Castle Gate. Photo Bicentennial project planned Citing the needs of Helper in expanding the Helper Mining Museum facilities, improving park facilities and generally cleaning up the town, the Helper city council began a movement last week to obtain part of a $39,000 American Revolution Bicentennial grant that was recently made available to Carbon County for bicentennial projects. The council started the action by directing councilwoman Mary Rebol to begin investigating the criteria for the projects and told city recorder Albert Fossat to contact the local bicentennial committee and inform them that Helper would be interested in obtaining some of these funds. The funds are being made available on a matching basis and all projects must be approved by the local bicentennial committee. Helper Mining Museum curator Fred Voll, said a great strain is going to be placed on the museum to provide space for artifacts coming in from Castle Gate and said the museum could use some of these funds for expansion and for purchasing new display cases. Voll said the museum probably contains enough floor space to hold all the new Castle Gate items but said his greatest need was for display cases that would compact exhibits and provide space for more. |