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Show C-1 B-1 BIG BAD FOX EYES THE PARK CITY FILM SERIES EDUCATION, A-7 RESTAURANT GUIDE Check out our restaurant guide on page B-6. Learn more at parkrecordonline.com/restaurants RACER ROUNDS GATE INTO RETIREMENT Park Record. COLUMNS, A-12 BUDGET TIME FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD CAMPAIGN AMY ROBERTS SEES FOOD TRUCKS AS A TASTY OPTION The PA R K C I T Y, U TA H | W W W. PA R K R E C O R D . C O M Wed/Thurs/Fri, September 5-7, 2018 Serving Summit County since 1880 Vol. 138 | No. 61 50¢ The Treasure vote looms Summer’s in the bag over city election season Fate of land deal makes fall campaign unlike any other in the community JAY HAMBURGER The Park Record The top of the ballot on Election Day in Park City is, ostensibly, the U.S. Senate contest between Republican Mitt Romney and Democrat Jenny Wilson. But many Park City voters could instead be absorbed by a down-ballot decision that may be seen as the top of the ballot inside the municipality: whether to acquire Treasure in a $64 million conservation deal. The City Hall ballot measure enlivens what would otherwise be seen as a docile campaign season in Park City with uncontested County Courthouse posts alongside Statehouse and congressional seats long seen as reliably Republican. As the season starts in earnest, much of the politicking in Park City could center on the ballot measure for Treasure. City Hall needs to raise $48 million of the overall cost through the ballot measure after the remainder was earmarked through budget maneuvering like reductions or other funding sources. At $48 million, though, it is, by a wide margin, the most expensive of City Hall’s conservation ballot measures, nearly doubling the $25 million voters authorized to fund most of the cost of the acquisition of Bonanza Flat. The Treasure land is located on a hillside overlooking Old Town along the route of the Town Lift. A partnership involving the Sweeney family and a firm called Park City II, LLC owns the land and spent years in talks with the Park City Planning Commission about a development proposal encompassing approximately 1 million square feet. The Sweeney family in the 1980s secured an overall development approval for the Treasure land and nearby parcels and later sold a stake to Park City II, LLC, creating the partnership. The Planning Commission and project critics, many living on nearby streets like Lowell Avenue and Empire Avenue, over the course of more than a decade expressed Please see Buyout, A-2 TANZI PROPST/PARK RECORD Zealand Spencer, right, races Hugo Sattelmeier during the Miners Day sack race for boys ages 6 and 7 in City Park on Monday afternoon. Spencer placed first and Sattelmeier came in second. The sack race was one of many events held throughout the day, which celebrates Park City’s mining heritage. No shock: e-bikes are unwanted Basin man wants to unseat state legislator Survey finds Parkites prefer pedal power on the trail system ANGELIQUE MCNAUGHTON BEN RAMSEY The Park Record Two weeks ago, the Mountain Trails Foundation closed its survey seeking feedback from trail users on a variety of topics, including opinions on e-bikes and the presence of dogs on trails. The local trail-managing nonprofit has shared the results of that survey, many of which confirmed the organization’s assumptions about the community, according to Charlie Sturgis, the organization’s executive director. Who responded Sturgis said the 1,200 surveys completed were primarily from those over 36 years old, meaning a large contingent of younger users didn’t share their input. Of those that responded, 67 percent said biking was their primary activity on the trail system, while 14 percent said hiking, and 13 percent said running and six percent were equestrian and other participants. Sixty percent identified as male, 40 percent identified as female and just over 50 percent of people who responded said they use the trails between two and four times a week. Sturgis said there are still more than 800 comments that the organization has not sorted yet. Please see Pedal, A-2 3 sections • 34 pages Classifieds .............................. C-8 Columns ............................... A-12 Crossword .............................. C-4 Editorial................................ A-13 Education ............................... A-7 Events Calendar ..................... C-6 Legals ................................... C-11 Letters to the Editor ............. A-13 Restaurant Guide.................... B-6 Scene ...................................... C-1 Scoreboard ............................. B-5 Sports ..................................... B-1 Weather .................................. B-2 The incumbent from Morgan County runs on first-term record The Park Record Incumbent Logan Wilde and political newcomer Chris Neville are facing off for a seat in the state House of Representatives, with both candidates bringing varied backgrounds to the race. Wilde, a Republican, is hoping to gain enough support from voters to retain his seat as House District 53’s representative, while Neville, a Democrat, is mounting his first political campaign in a district that has historically favored Republican leadership. Wilde succeeded longtime incumbent Republican Rep. Mel Brown in the 2016 election. Wilde is a rancher with a sheep and cattle operation in Croydon. He was involved with Morgan County government, serving as chair for both the Morgan County Council and Morgan County Health Department before winning his seat in the House. While trying to get his feet wet during his first term as a legislator, Wilde became involved with various COURTESY OF LOGAN WILDE PARK RECORD FILE PHOTO House District 53 Rep. Logan Wilde, R-Croydon, left, is hoping to retain his seat over Democratic challenger and Summit County resident Chris Neville. agricultural programs, as well as the conservation efforts of local nonprofit organizations such as Summit Land Conservancy. He said he also explored the issue of moderate-income housing and participated in discussions about creating policies that could help provide housing in the $180,000 to $340,000 range. “We have been working with Summit County to see what we can do to incentivize the building of homes to target those ranges,” he said. “I know housing is difficult. But, we have to be able to provide moderate housing. Otherwise teachers, law enforcement officials and firefighters won’t be able to afford to live within our communities. What we are seeing in the state of Utah is the price of housing is outpacing salaries and we are very concerned about it.” Another issue that Wilde sees as important is what he referred to as the “road-tax problem.” He said the funds from gas taxes for maintaining the state’s roads and highways are shrinking. “It’s partly because of electric cars, but there are a lot of other factors,” he said. “Cars are getting more efficient gas mileage, and we want those things because it provides better air quality. But, we also have to figure out how we are going to get the taxes to maintain our roads.” Some of the ideas that have been considered include a charge for miles driven, which Wilde said would be “very beneficial to the state.” The question, he said, is how to implement it and not overtax certain people, such as those in rural areas. He added, “It’s something I’m looking forward to discussing further.” Throughout his tenure, Wilde said, he has attempted to reach across the partisan divide to form working relationships with Democrats, particularly in Summit County. He said he is ready to pick up where he left off and continue improving those relationships. “I try to listen to their concerns and take into account how what we are doing will impact Summit County or the cities in that area,” he said. Neville, who lives in Hidden Cove, admits Wilde has a more extensive poPlease see State seat, A-2 Arson blamed for fire just off the interstate Blaze scorches at least 585 acres just east of the Echo Reservoir ANGELIQUE MCNAUGHTON The Park Record More than 100 firefighters from multiple agencies spent Tuesday battling a blaze that charred 585 acres of land in eastern Summit County along Interstate 80, prompting officials to warn residents in nearby homes to be ready to evacuate. The Tervels Fire, located near mile post 170 in Echo Canyon, just east of Echo Reservoir, started around 2 p.m. Monday. It was 5 percent contained as of Tuesday morning, according to Krachel Murdock, a spokesperson for Summit County. Residents in Echo Creek Ranches, four miles east of the fire, were still on standby for evacuations. Investigators believe the cause of the blaze to be arson. No details were available Tuesday about what led investigators to that determination. Crews from three Summit County agencies, including the North Summit, South Summit and Park City fire districts, were fighting the fire. Summit County Fire Warden Bryce Boyer, as well as firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, were also on scene, along with representatives from Summit County, the Utah Department of Transportation and Utah Highway Patrol. Crews were concentrating on establishing a line along the south and west flanks of the fire. Helicopters dipped into Echo Reservoir for water to battle the blaze. Murdock said the reservoir was still open to boaters, but was “launch at your own risk.” One lane of eastbound traffic on the interstate remained closed from mile marker 169 to 171 Tuesday morning. “If you don’t need to go through the canyon, stay away from the area if possible,” Murdock said. “If you do need to go through there, slow down and use caution.” Anyone with information about the start of the fire is asked to contact the Summit County Sheriff’s Department. VISITOR GUIDE Historian prepares a profile of the mountain men COURTESY OF KRACHEL MURDOCK Firefighters from multiple agencies battled a fire that has charred 585 acres of land in eastern Summit County along Interstate 80. Historian Dorian DeMaio will give a lecture about mountain men from 5-6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6, at the Park City Museum Education and Collections Center, 2079 Sidewinder Drive. The event is free and open to the public. For information, visit www.parkcityhistory.org. |