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Show 4 - MERRY TIMES - DECEMBER 1992 HEDDEN, from Page 2 Through the years of his political work, Bill and Eleanor shared the task of raising two daughters, Chloe and Sarah. Maintaining their five acres has been a formidable and time-consuming task. Eleanor, along with her tasks as wife and mother and CV Planning Commission member, works steadfastly in the gardens three seasons a year. She recalls her fantasy of eventually being able to make a living from cultivating their land. New to “farming,” she had no idea of the amount of labor involved. Bill cites two reasons why five acres is a difficult amount of land to own. One is that the land is seen by owner and neighbor alike as an both standard effects of the tourist Eleanor is nostalgically about the industry. Bill suggests that developers acceptance of diversity which once also provide financial support for the introduction of light industry that could “produce real wage-paying jobs in this prevailed here. She sees oure popula- tion as dividing as it grows, and misses the days when “hippies and rednecks” worked side by side at places like Atlas Minerals. She sees peOple who live and work in the same town as the back bone of vital communities. She acknowledges that her appreciation for this diversity has grown over the years, and she fears its loss. expression of the owner. People don’t Bill sees this and other potential care about what you do for work, Bill losses as due to some of the poor decisions the County Commissioners have made in recent years, and which have led Grand County to increasing debt and potential disasters. Bill cites the Keystone Pits, the Court House, and the Book Cliffs Road as out-of-control projects that will have to be dealt with suggests, only about what you do with your land. And Bill suggests that owners perceive five acres as a “frefdom"—a place where they can do anything they want—without realizing the impact they have on their neighbors. The Heddens and I agree that where visual and auditory effects on neighbors are concerned, there is a big difference between five acres of open desert and five acres of woods. This Christmas give the gift of MASSAGE to someone you love. C Gift certificates $25, good for one massage. developments should pay up front for their impacts on the infrastructure of Moab and Grand County—like sewage hook-up fees that accuratley reflect increased usage, and the building of low income housing to shelter an Bill has decided to run for County Council, representing our district. What has made Bill take the plunge into an active political life again? And why as County Councilman? ”I love this community (referring to all of Grand County),” Bill replies. He appreciates the diverse characters who live here. increased low wage-eaming population, community.” Bill cites as another example of damaging and unfair decisions the recent sale of 660 sewer hookups in Spanish Valley. “We only had 600 left. And there are 20 new subdivisions proposed in Spanish Valley.” The burden of a much needed new sewage plant is already being foisted off on Moab’s residents, who have seen a recent 100% increase in their sewage bills. Our economy is based on tourism at present. With tourism growing 20% to 30% each year, Bill feels we may not recognize this community within a few years. “The feeling that you could live by whomever is elected. a slow peaceful life here, that money He also cites therecent "dictatorship” quality of County decision making. “The public was not invited in, so the leaders came to what I think are a whole lot of predictably bad decisions. The Council should make their decision-making process a very public business where they talk about their objectives, their options, and their reasons for choosing particular options.” Bill believes that some of the clean-up process needs to be an “active community healing to make people feel didn’t need to be your primary objec- tive when you woke up every morning, that you could take long periods of time to go out and enjoy the countryside, that you could know your neighbors, deeply and who want to be involved can be heard and can effect the process.” This would be “giving control back to the people who live here,” a principle Bill strongly believes in. During his campaign he plans to care about them, and work with them— this will all be lost.” Bill sees the tourist industry well represented in the County through the Travel Council and Economic Development Department. “That is their job, and they work full time at it.” Bill believes the County Council should create a balance by representing and working for those who already live here. In other communities where tourism and development have been given top priority, without concern for the effects on its residents, those people who gave the town its appealing “color” have been forced out, leaving a more sterile and homoge- there are prospects for a vital community life here, where people who care Offer available conduct neighborhood meetings to neous community in their wake. “Those through December. learn the needs of this district’s diverse Can be redeemed through February population. Bill sees this forum as one in charge of the developments stuffed their pockets with money then moved Laura May, MsT Certified Massage Therapist 259-8702 he would continue were be elected. Bill sees the next four years as decisive in the future of Moab and Grand County. “We’ve been discovered,” he says. “Every publication mentions Moab." Bill feels we are now in a position to hold out for the best, and to begin to make demands of developers. Bill suggests that incoming out, after they had ruined their town.” Bill doesn’t know of a better place to live than Castle Valley; there’s nowhere else he wants to go. “I want to protect this place,” Bill affirms. Protection includes improving education. Bill sees supporting education as essential to increasing the quality of life for Grand County’s |
