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Show Utah 4 67 Press Association East Third South Salt Lake City, Utah 841 1! j' 5! J) Vol.1 No. 35 Thursday, September - P0 "I , ' - Attempts to trim $77,000 from the cost of Lehi's proposed municipal pool are being made by city officials, says John Daly, city recorder. Following a meeting with federal representatives of the Bureau of f) i &.M p T 15' Single Copy Coste ui Crowe PorpgiDr Kit i, 13, 1979 "N. - J federal people would not renegotiate the participation contract, we were happy to lern that they would if it were necessary." He also said the city hopes to be able to reduce the pool's cost, and eliminate the need for a new contract. Asked about the present contract's expiration date, he explained it will run out December 31, 1980. So, to meet the projected completion date of May 14, 1980, Daly said construction would have to begin soon and continue through the winter. Since the water line is lower in the winter than at other times, the pool can still be dug then. Daly emphasized that although Aqua-Tec- h gave the apparent low bid, the commission still wants to review the contractor's figures before awarding any contract. Daly responded to criticism about the pool's outdoor construction and location. He said it's possible that the pool could be covered later. "We'll do anything the people of Lehi are willing to support." Outdoor Recreation, Daly said engineers are looking over the $677,000 complex with an eye to economizing. The need to cut costs arose in consequence of last week's apparent low of base bid of $677,000 by Aqua-Tec- h Salt Lake City. That was $77,000 more than the city had planned to pay for the pool. In spite of the need to trim costs, Daly said the city wants to keep the pool's original design. As an example of the cuts that will have to be made, Daly said $30,000 would be saved by redesigning the bathhouse's heating. A member from National Guard Co. B, Lehi, unloads gravel used in the pool construction. Speaking about his meeting last week, the recorder said he was very encouraged. "After hearing that the $ teste Orders Training School Population Cut The American Fork Training School has been ordered to cut its resident population from its 839 level last January to 750 by this coming January. The legislature had a difficult challenge to meet during their last session, Dr. Anthony Mitchell, executive director of the Utah Department of Social Services, told some 300 parents of residents at the Utah State Training School last Thursday evening. The electorate told the legislators it wanted a tax cut but still wanted to maintain full, quality programs, Dr. Mitchell said. This was almost an impossibility, but the legislature did the best it could. Dr. Mitchell, along with leaders of the training school and other state agencies, met with the parents to present - . ' facts regarding the legislative mandate for the population of the training school to be reduced to 750 by January 1, 1980. Dr. Gary Nakao, acting superintendent of the school, said this goal was set by state officials in accordance with a plan to make the training school a specialized facility for the care, training and habitation of mentally retarded persons who require a comprehensive and specialized form of resident care. However, the original goal date of the reduction, July 1, 1980, has been speeded up due to recent budget cuts asked by Governor Scott Matheson. The training school had 839 residents at the beginning of 1979, Dr. Nakao said, with about 795 at the school at the present time. Council Threatens To Cancel Contract The City Council took action it hopes will stimulate construction on n Trin-namo- Lane Tuesday night. A letter, written to Van Staveren Construction Inc. of Salt Lake City, says the city will terminate its contract with the firm if it does not provide adequate men and equipment to complete the current work. The letter sets a 10 day deadline for all leaks to be stopped and a Sept. 21 deadline for paving to begin. Lorin Powell, city engineer, said yesterday the end of the asphalt season is near and paving will have to be completed within the next month. At least three back hoe crews are called for in the letter for the leak repair on the new sewer lines serving that area. Powell said the letter's intent was not to force contract termination, but rather to urge the contractors to complete their work. Water Treatment Land Sale Raises Questions No protests were made Tuesday at a meeting to discuss the sale of city properties around Lehi's old water treatment plant. The city earlier announced its intent to sell the unfenced property which it now considers surplus. Three issues arose during the meeting which council members were not able to resolve immediately. The question of the necessity of closed bidding was discussed. City Attorney Kenneth Rushton proposed bids be accepted with provisions for bids to be changed at the time of opening. Essentially, that would result in an auction. Another problem still has to be worked out concerning the property's northern boundary. There is a d acre border which is claimed by two property deeds. Rushton said Tuesday he would meet with the property owners in an attempt to settle the question. A third question considered was water rights to a four-incwell located in the disputed northern border area, Councilman Arnold Pope, who was absent for the property discussion, said he wasn't concerned to hear the council wasn't able to answer all questions at the meeting, "This is one of the few surplus properties we've had to sell and wc just haven't had much experience at it. " He said all questions would be resolved before the property's final disposal, however. one-thir- h JNSIDE""""" Fires Continue To Plague Volunteers Lehi Scouts Earn Eagle Badges 3 Coates Celebrate Golden Anniversary 5 Major Ford Attending Course In Kansas 5 Pioneers Victorious Over Bears 6 Coaches Honor Allman As Player Of Week 6 Lehi Giants Edge 7 Alpine-Highlan- d Bears 2 Jacobs Warns Electorate g High Cost Of Low Funding Cited 8 Lehi Schools Show Additional Enrollment 10 Those residents being transferred from the school are being placed in alternative settings, such as nursing homes closer to their parents' homes, in foster homes, or in group homes, based upon their needs, Dr. Nakao said. He said those being moved are classified i by a state evaluation team as those requiring intermediate care facilities. "Hopefully, if the placement doesn't work out, we can bring the resident back to the school. At least, 1 have some leeway at the present time," Dr. Nakao ar said. "The training school has always, ari' will always, maintain the position that we will not 'dump' residents into unsatisfactory placement and, as much as possible, will try to offer the training school as an alternative if the placement fails," he emphasized. He said the placement process includes discussions with the parent, guardian, or other family members as an integral part of the planning. Parents who are concerned with the possible placement of their child are invited to talk with officials concerning it. "My office is always open," Dr. Nakao said, and "if you don't get satisfaction from me, 'I'm sure Dr. Sagers (Dr. Paul Sagers, former training school superintendent and now director of the. Division of . Family Service Mental Retardation-Developmentall- Disability y Depart- ment) or Dr. Mitchell will be glad to talk with you." Dr. Nakao said no resident will be moved without the parents knowing of the changes. Parents expressed concern that staffing at the school is also being reduced by the cuts. Dr. Nakao said the staff ratio by January 1, as recom mended by the Division of Health, is 812.35 staff members for the 750 residents. He said he recommends 856.9 for the 750 residents, and noted he is currently negotiating with the Division of Health over the 44 employee difference. "In view of the budget cuts, I have had to reduce staffing in - every building," Dr. Nakao said, and "am asking for the minimum required in order to meet certification (for federal funding)." (Continued on Page 2) SB fly As far as the locating the pool at Lehi High School, he said the park which surrounds the pool will extend to Main Street immediately west of the school, making the pool easily accessible. City Says Trees To Stay Trees which the city had earlier decided to cut down along 200 West will remain standing - for at least another year. Councilman Arnold Pope said the decision was reached after a neighborhood meeting with concerned citizens. The trees, located between 400 N. and 600 N., stand in the way of the city's curb and gutter project. The project would necessitate the trees' removal, replacing the existing sidewalk and constructing the curb and gutter. Pope said as far as he's concerned, if the property owners on the block don't want the curb that's fine with him. "My concern is that others aren't inconvenienced," he said. The councilman said a condition which would force the tree's removal would be water standing on the road and freezing to form a traffic hazard. Along the same lines, if the trees uproot the adjacent sidewalk too badly and create a hazard to pedestrians, something would have to be done, he said. Asked about the citizens' meeting, Pope said, .things went real well, "We had a gentleman from the block to the north who was able to explain the drainage problem he might face if the curb and gutter by the trees was not put in. It was a good meeting." Horseback Riding Used! &s Physical Therapy For Handicapped Children In the morning shade of Mt. tiny Tanya Larsen sat in her wheelchair, her upper body too weak to sit erect without a body brace. Her chest lay along her knees, and she twisted her head sideways to look up into the soft brown eyes of a pony named Mike. She squealed and laughed and jerked away as his velvety lips pulled a carrot from her outstretched hand. Within half an hour, Tanya set erect on the pony's back. Her laughter was brighter than the morning sun as she raised both arms to the sky, following the instructions of her therapist Linda Smith of the Cervantes Equestrian Center in Pleasant Grove. Negotiations are pending for Linda to provide her special services to the barrier-fre- e Adventure and Learning Park being built in American Fork. Riding for the handicapped began in Scandinavia after Liz Hartel won a silver medal for dressage at the Helsinki Olympic Games, although she was chairbound following polio. Her example stimulated a Norwegian therapist to establish a riding facility for a group of children disabled by you work at it. That's a good thing; that's how you grow." Brinkman had come with Dennis Butterfield, the project's head of handicapped awareness, to become familiar with the Pleasant Grove facilities. The Cervantes Equestrian Center has been set up in donated stables there. "We'll be outgrowing these facilities really fast," Linda stated. "We'll need an indoor arena, room to house special equipment and a resource and learning center." Each child will be evaluated by physicians and physical therapists, with specific lesson plans to overcome specific disabilities. "All riding is recreational and therapeutic," Linda stressed, but with an organized medical approach, the benefits skyrocket." Benefits of riding for the handicapped are set forth in a bulletin put out by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association: "Riding is widely recognized as one of the most beneficial forms of V IV i j recreational therapy that the handicapped - children in particular - can receive. Horseback riding develops builds and improves concentration and It also strengthens and relaxes muscles, improves coordination, and increases joint mobility. "Riding is particularly beneficial to wheelchair cases who have no natural means of locomotion. The action of the horse relaxes and stimulates unused muscles, building muscle tone and (Continued on Page 2) e. . polio. The experiment spread to England in the late 1950's, culminating in the building of the first center at Chigwell and the establishing of the National Association of Riding for the Disabled in the early 1960's. Linda Smith is one of three fully certified therapeutic riding instructors for the handicapped in the U.S. She graduated from BYU in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science degree in therapy and minors in psychology, agriculture and zoology. She has independent study of stable design, methods of stable management, stable curriculum and modifications needed in stable facilities for the handicapped. She has studied therapeutic horsemanship, successfully completed a national certification exam and has 10 years experience in the selection, training and showing of horses, eight years managing stables, five years teaching horsemanship, and has owned and operated her own stable. "Linda's tough," laughed Curt Brinkman, an amputee and Olympic gold medal athlete. "She really makes Ycj EXCITEMENT An unexpected surge of strength enables Tanya Larsen to sit almost erect without her accustomed body brace as she reaches out to brush the pony. Linda Smith, riding instructor, gives encouragement. |