OCR Text |
Show iMilBirwa'f T w 'Wt C ff "TPT'"W"'Ty "1. 111 I th nr'rnn.uij unr fcw hi iwt n'r nr r H I r ifl " 4,07 I Vol. 17, No. 42 Wednesday, October 18, 1995 Km. I 50 cents To subscribe call a single copy 756-766- 9 Candidates tell views on business and economic development Editor's Note: During the weeks leading up to Election '95, the Lehi Free Press will present the views of the six candidates for Lehi City Council on a selected topic We hope this information will help voters make informed choices at the polls on Nov. 7. Lehi City, as well as Utah County and the state itself) held its d breath on the day that the ' V Boise-base- Micron Technologies gath- ered to make their own "This is the right place" announcement to the world. Even before that, however, Lehi had been discovered by business developers as a growing market for their ventures, a fact which has been demonstrated by the coming of Subway, Movie Buffs, Walker's, Wendy's and the Best Western Timpanogos Inn, to name a few. Additional new. businesses are also at various stages of planning or construction that will further increase the tax base to the community. Existing businesses, too, have made their own changes, as seen by the selling of Vittles to Arctic Circle, the remodeling of Wing Mortuary and The Colonial House, and the construction of the Davis Dental Building, for example. City government plays an important role in the development of those businesses, through enacting and enforcing zoning laws and ordinances as guidelines for economic development. The candidates were asked this week to present their views on the business and economic development that is vital to the future of ) ' Frances Comer Our business community is creating many new opportunities for Lehi's citizens. Robert Fox city is determined by the blend of development that occurs within it. A healthy Rod Olsen I feel that by encouraging new businesses and development now our children might have more opportunities to stay here in the Bob Park Before any new businesses are incorporated into Lehi City, we must plan for the areas where they will be located.' Blaine Thomas Richard Smith For every new one built, the others lose business and then we're just like any other city. future. the community. "Our business community is creating many new opportunities for Lehi's citizens," said Frances Comer. "More business ventures are coming here than at any time in the immediate past." Is it possible to welcome new businesses and at the same time protect those already established in the community? She feels that it businesses that will allow our tax base to increase and provide jobs for our young people," she said. "The business community keeps goods and services flowing into the city to keep it vital and vibrant." She also said that there needs to be good communication between city government and the business community, as well as good planning for future commercial growth. "As a community," she said, "we should continue to welcome new businesses into our city, but we should also be realistic about their impact on the services Lehi City must provide." is. She felt that the coming of Micron allows Lehi to be more selective in the types of industry we bring to the community. "We want clean, productive Robert Fox suggested that business development within a city should be carefully monitored and regulated to not only control but to attract business. "A healthy city is determined by the blend of development that occurs within it," he said. "It requires the proper balance of commercial, residential, industrial and agricultural segments to support the needs of the city." He felt that consideration should be given to all aspects of business development, from the giants such as Micron to the small businesses, all of which in-ho- are important. "We must not forget the small business owners who have contributed to the tax base of our city for many years," he said, suggesting that incentives may need to be , provided to keep them viable. Fox also felt that a part of the Master Plan should be an Economic Development Plan that would provide for regulation, incentive and revitalization and would keep the business districts from becoming blighted and undesirable. "We need to keep our tax dollars here in town," said Rod Olsen. "I Johnson, Lambert inducted into Lehi High's Hall of Fame Homecoming took on a new meaning for two Lehi High School alumni as the Booster Club inducted them into the Hall of Fame last week. Eva Colledge t Oxborrow Johnson and E. Jay Lambert were honored by the club at the Homecoming Assembly, which was held Thursday, Oct. 12 at the school. Plaques with their biographies and pictures will be added to the wall outside the school's audi- torium. Eva Johnson Eva was born Sept. 22, 1911, to Thomas and Mary Ann Slater Colledge, the youngest of 11 children. She is the mother of four children and has 15 grandchildren, 33 and four great-grandchildr- en She learned early from her father to appreciate wildlife, birds and hunting. She lived most of her life in Lehi and attended schools here. She currently resides at the family farm in Lehi, where she cares for her old brother. Eva was employed at Evans Cafe, Julian Drug and the Utah State Training School; current, at age 84, Eva is employed as the state brand inspector for northern Utah County. She is an avid collector of antiques and Indian artifacts; she enjoys writing poetry and has written poems for many people for many special occasions, happy or with four boys sandwiched between two girls. They were athletic, hardworking and always engaged in the service of others. These qualities guided Jay's life. Jay started his freshman year at Lehi High in 1941 and played on the junior varsity basketball team and started boxing as a middleweight; he won the AAU Outstanding boxer title in the 86-ye- ar I sad. Eva grew up loving all sports and has been an avid booster for Lehi. In 1952 she was made an honorary cheerleader, an title since she has also had four granddaughters who were cheerleaders. Serving as Stake Sports Director, she expanded the girls softball program from one that barely had any participation, to one which included two teams from each ward. She is particularly proud of the Cedar Fort team that d won the crown especially-approp- riate church-sponsore- v novice division. In his sophomore year, he played football and basketball and participated in track. He quarter-backe- d in football; was on the second Team in basketball; and took region in the high jump and the broad jump, and third in d the dash; and won the AAU regionals in the light-heav- y weight division. When he was a junior, the basketball team took region and Jay was chosen as most valuable player; he also won his third AAU regional boxing title. See HALL on Page 4 All-Sta- te I --- - Eva C. Johnson E.Jay Lambert for the state of Utah. Eva is currently an active member of the Lehi Booster Club and especially enjoys working in the stands. She can be seen regularly at the games, cheering with three of her friends, who with her, are 100-yar- affectionately know as "The Silver Foxes." E. Jay Lambert The fourth son of Joseph and Vera Lambert, Jay grew up on a farm at the Point of the Mountain. The Lamberts were a large family, Wilson ends 23 years of service as Lehi volunteer fire fighter ByRUSSDALY City Editor If he had to limit his advice to two things, Bert Wilson might suggest not going to a fire in bare feet, and getting involved in the Scouting program. The foot episode is one of many memories he garnered during his 23 years of service with the Lehi Volunteer Fire Department. When the call came for firefighters to respond to Lehi Floral, owned by Melvin Hartshorn, Bert was in the shower at the time. He donned coveralls, but did not have his boots, which he thought he could put on at the station. Having no time to get the boots, he responded to the fire and was assigned to hook up the hoses to the hydrant, which happened to be located in a patch of sticker weeds. When the fire was under control at one point, he returned to the station for his boots, but rejoined the crew as the blaze flared up twice more. On the morning of the fire at Take One Video and Pizza, formerly home to Laney's, Bert's duties on the crew were a little ' different, yet no less important. Serving as the dispatcher for that call, he was the one to call the Highway Patrol for assistance in blocking off Main Street, a tate highway; to notify the utility companies to turn off service; to alert the owners of the neighboring businesses about possible threat to their buildings; and to take calls from the various media sources. He saw many changes during his service, including much modernization of equipment, which he said must continue, "Because the town's growing so fast," he said, "they need more." Although he saw his share of tragedies, he also saw fires in which the residents of homes were able to escape safely. About the same time he joined the fire department, he also joined the Civic Improvement Association. From his first assignment selling programs at the rodeo, he is now a member of the board of directors and chairs the assignments of programs, concessions and outdoor advertising. "There's been a lot of hours at the rodeo grounds, but it wasn't me," he said modestly, at the same time praising the efforts' of George Tripp, Blackie Harris, Don Peet and others who have served as well. His commitment to service is also evident in the many different positions he has held in the LDS church. Following a mission to Finland, he served in the Elder's Quorum presidency and in a bishopric, and was the High Priest's group leader, and for the last eight years, has been serving as the second counselor to President Russ Felt of the Lehi Stake. But perhaps his greatest love has been for the Scouting program, where he has served as scoutmaster on more than one support the existing businesses in town whenever possible and feel that Lehi City should do the same." He also said that he supports home businesses that are in compliance with zoning laws and do not interfere with existing neighbors. He felt that many successful business people of today had started in the basements or back rooms of their own homes. Citing the number of roads that need to be improved, parks that need to be expanded and the infrastructure that needs to be rebuilt, Olsen feels that Lehi needs a See CANDIDATES on Page 4 Lehi gives quiet okay to Micron RDA By RUSS DALY City Editor With all of the television cameras rolling, yet with neither fanfare nor objections, the Lehi City Council last week approved the redevelopment agency (RDA) for the billion $1.7 Micron Technologies currently under construction north of Lehi. The tax increment package will provide $71 million in monies to Lehi City for improvements to the city's infrastructure; $10.4 million to Alpine School District to construct a new elementary school in Lehi and to add on to existing facilities at Lehi Junior High School and Lehi High School; $2.5 million to Timpanogos Special Services District to help with a new sewer treatment facility, and $11.5 in improvements to roads, which include 1100 West, 300 West and 1200 East in Lehi. Councilmember Knollin Haws, who was also named as chairman of the Redevelopment Agency, made the motion to adopt the tax increment package, which is officially known as the "Alpine Highway Economic Development plan." a second from Following Councilmember Wayne Carlton, property within the approximately site had presented written or verbal opposition to the project. Likewise, he said, none of the property owners within 300 feet of the proposed RDA site had hundred-acr- e Having attended Utah Valley State College and Utah State University, Bert completed his four-wheeli- the approved. William Oswald, attorney for the RDA, reviewed the proceedings of previous meetings concerning the proposal and its budget. He explained that no owners of "That's a good, rewarding program," he said of Scouting. "I wish more people were in it. I think the boys deserve the best." degree in consumer money manfrom agement Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wise. He joined Capital Financial Services in American Fork, first as branch representative and later as manager. After 10 years there, he became branch manager at U.S. Bank in American Fork, and is currently manager of the American Fork branch of Zion's First National Bank. Bert, a native of "Roosevelt, Utah, is the son of Flora Wilson and the late Melvin Wilson. The family moved to Lehi when Bert was seven years old. He is married to the former Taunya Turner. They have four children Wade, Brad, Shelli and Drew and are currently expecting their first grandchild. In his spare time, he enjoys remodeling old homes and fixing up old cars, as well as and horseback riding. By expanding economic base, all citizens of Lehi benefit by keeping the tax rate lower and by being able to provide better services. the motion was unanimously occasion. . fTfA objected. Oswald did point out that Larry Newton, acting on behalf of the State School Board, had objected to the tax increment In 1 I Photo ! by Russ Daly Bert Wilson, a member of the board of Directors of the Lehi Civic Improvement Association, prepares for a comedy routine with Lecile Harris at the 1993 Lehi Roundup. Wilson recently retired from the Lehi Fire Department after 23 years of service with that organization package because of the potential impact to school districts other than Alpine School District, none of which will receive any financial tax benefit from the project. Finally, Oswald pointed out the a number of persons affiliated with the United We Stand organization had verbally objected to the proposal, although, he emphasize, none of those parties who had spoken in opposition to the proposal had submitted any suggestions as to how it could be amended to as not to be objectionable. Dee Councilmember Ray Russon asked attorney Oswald when the RDA would take effect. Oswald told him it would become effective with the 1997 property taxes to be paid. |