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Show A-2 The Park Record The Park Record. Serving Summit County since 1880 The Park Record, Park City’s No. 1 source for local news, opinion and advertising, is available for home delivery in Summit, Wasatch, Salt Lake, Davis and Utah counties. Single copies are also available at 116 locations throughout Park City, Heber City, Summit County and Salt Lake City. SUBSCRIPTION RATES In Summit County (home delivery): $56 per year (includes Sunday editions of The Salt Lake Tribune) Outside Summit County (home delivery available in Wasatch, Salt Lake, Davis, Weber and Utah counties; all other addresses will be mailed via the U.S. Postal Service): $80 per year To subscribe please call 435–649– 9014 or visit www.parkrecord.com and click the Subscribe link in the Reader Tools section of the toolbar at the bottom of the page. To report a missing paper, please call 801–204–6100. 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Phone: 435–649–9014 Fax: 435–649–4942 Email: circulation@parkrecord.com Published every Wednesday and Saturday Continued from A-1 Teardown planned two years ago determined the Star Hotel was dangerous and issued an order for the owner to abate the problems. “A good wind and snowstorm will make a mess of that place,” Erickson said. The planned teardown will follow lengthy discussions about the building at City Hall. The municipal government’s Old Town panel, the Historic Preservation Board, in 2016 voted to maintain the Star Hotel’s designation as a significant building as part of an inventory of historic sites kept by the municipal government. Buildings that are designated significant cannot be torn down under most circumstances. Another City Hall panel, the Board of Adjustment, in early 2017 supported the designation as well. Park City officials, though, eventually agreed to allow the demolition based on the dilapidated condition and danger to the public. Brian Brassey, the general contractor, said the work necessary prior to the teardown has started. He said a crew has removed and disposed of asbestos that was inside. The teardown is anticipated to start just after New Year’s and be completed prior to the opening of the Sundance Film Festival, he said. If the crews cannot meet that timeline, the work will be delayed until after the festival, he said. Continued from A-1 Shutdown possible years. Deer Valley elected not to renew its contract with the Institute and instead created its own concert series. The nonprofit held last summer’s concerts in two temporary locations — the recreation complex field at Quinn’s Junction and City Park. Having to build and take down popup stages for each of the nine shows cost a total of $100,000, according to Orr. “The city also mandated we hire buses to accommodate the concert-goers, and that total cost was $80,000,” she said. Lower attendance at the organization’s events is another reason Park City Institute needs the public’s help, Orr said. “There has been an increase in large stadium-style concerts and Broadway touring shows in Salt Lake City that are drawing ticket buyers and supporters away from small local presenters like ourselves,” she said. “Many of the people who bought tickets and drove up the canyon from the valley to attend and enjoy our shows don’t do that anymore because of those opportunities.” Park City Institute’s annual budget is $3.2 million, according to Orr. Three-quarters of the budget is for programming — split roughly evenly between winter and summer — and the other quarter is for administrative costs, she said. Orr said there are a handful of common misconceptions people hold about the organization. The organization doesn’t receive large gifts from anonymous donors to fund deficits in the budget. And ticket sales don’t cover the cost of presenting performances Direct Importer of the World’s Finest Rugs A t t h e H i s t o r i c Vi l l a T h e a t r e 3092 So. Highland Dr., Salt Lake City (801)484-6364 888.445.RUGS (7847) Mon.-Sat. 10 am to 6 pm “We want to get it down before something negative happens,” he said. Brassey said the demolition will involve tearing down the building toward the center and then hauling away the rubble. Some of the historic pieces of the building, such as the chimney, will be salvaged and incorporated into a new project at the location, he said. The owner plans to start to rebuild on the parcel as early as the spring. Brassey said a dining service of some sort is planned on the main floor of a new building. Options remain under consideration for the upstairs, he said. The Planning Department said a new project will include the historic wall on the west side of the Star Hotel, the stairway on the south side of the building will be incorporated and Spanish revival-style arched windows like the ones on the current building will be included. The historic foundation on the Main Street side of the building will also be retained. A small addition is planned on the west side. The executive director of the Park City Historical Society and Museum acknowledged the deteriorated condition of the Star Hotel. Sandra Morrison, a key figure in Park City preservation issues, noted the danger of a collapse and said the new building will resemble the historic one. She said a building “that’s about to fall down” cannot be kept standing. “It’s not the first replica in town,” she said. She said if a new building would have been designed with modern architecture it could have been jarring. “The fact that the city is requiring a replica . . . means that we’re maintaining the flow and rhythm” of Main Street, Morrison said. — particularly as the Institute distributes a portion of tickets to students, senior citizens, military members and underserved individuals. “We have tried to make arts accessible to all the community, and we do that by giving away more than $450,000 in tickets to the community,” Orr said. “We believe we create community by inviting our underserved neighbors as our guests into the theater, and we also believe we have changed the trajectory of students’ lives by presenting free student outreach classes and workshops with emerging dancers and musicians.” On average, ticket sales cover about 1/3 of the cost of a single performance or appearance of an artist or speaker, Orr said. The organization also relies on grants. But a large source of funding comes from donors, most of whom contribute moderate amounts. “In the past 20 years, there has been one multi-year, million dollar match campaign,” she said. “And 10 years ago, a donor helped us by with a donation of $300,000, which front-loaded the costs of the performers for that winter season. Since then, we have received no single gift greater than $100,000.” The public can help the Park City Institute by buying tickets, donating, sponsoring seats and underwriting shows, Orr said.. “Every dollar from ticket sales and donations will help,” Orr said. “We also have a program where people can buy a seat for $500 and their names will be displayed on an engraved brass plaque.” Asking for donations is part of Orr’s job as executive director, but this year’s request is the most important one she has made throughout her career, she said. “We’ve never asked for donations like this before, because we have been self-sufficient for more than two decades,” Orr said. “I think we’re one of the few ski resort towns that has a performing arts organization. It’s one of the unique attractions that people love to talk about, but it needs support to continue.” Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, December 22-25, 2018 Firefighting requires a large hike in taxes South Summit agency plans a new station, staff stipends ANGELIQUE MCNAUGHTON The Park Record The governing body of the South Summit Fire Protection District unanimously approved a nearly 150 percent increase to the district’s tax rate Wednesday, despite receiving pushback from the community. More than 60 people crammed into the fire station in Oakley for a Truth-in-Taxation hearing. About 10 members of the Fire District were among the crowd. While most people made it clear they supported the Fire District’s operations, they overwhelmingly opposed the significant hike, with many questioning why it wasn’t done incrementally. It did not require voter approval. The Fire District’s tax rate will go from .000264 to .000649, about a 145 percent increase in 2019. It amounts to $129.80 annually on a primary residence with a taxable value of $200,0000. Fire officials said the revenue will be used to provide a stipend for members of the Fire District and pay for the construction of a new fire station. Lorie Leavitt, who lives in Peoa, said in an interview the increase caught her off guard. She admitted she hasn’t paid attention to the meetings the South Summit Fire Protection District’s Board has held over the last several months. But, she said it was still a surprise when she received the public notice 30 days ago. The new rate will have a significant impact on Leavitt’s property taxes because she owns several properties. Leavitt estimated the increase will cost her roughly an extra $2,000 a year. But, like many who attended the meeting, she commended the members of the Fire District for their service. “They do a great job and I know they need new equipment,” she said. “If I call 911, I expect someone to show up and I expect them to have the proper equipment. We can’t keep growing like we are and not putting money toward these services. That’s just what it is.” The Fire District has not increased its rate since 1980. Chief Scott Anderson said in an interview the board has discussed raising the rate for the last five years, while considering several other options, including a bond or loan. Some of the people who spoke at the hearing strongly urged the board to consider a bond. “I know they were looking for a bond and we did seek counsel on a bond, loans Continued from A-1 Deal was elusive was transferred to that firm as part of the acquisition. Gallivan said the Silver King Mining Company and Vail Resorts negotiated a one-year extension of the lease as talks continued about a long-term agreement. A long-term deal, though, proved to be elusive. “We just accepted that we’re too far apart and we’re moving on,” he said. PCMR closed Scott’s Bowl and West Scott’s Bowl as a result of the loss of the lease. The resort said the closure is in place “until further notice.” The closure also includes terrain located between Scott’s Bowl and a nearby ski run called Constellation. Terrain that is open off Pinecone Ridge is accessible from the Quicksilver Gondola midstation. The resort said other terrain off the Jupiter lift will remain open and tax increases. We looked at all kinds of things,” he said. “The tax increase just fit our needs and such. It is the best option at this time.” The Fire District has operated on a roughly $500,000 annual budget over the last two years, with the largest portion coming from taxes, impact fees and grants. Under the current tax rate, the Fire District collected $260,000 in 2018. The new rate is estimated to bring an additional $600,000 of revenue a year. Information about the budget was not available on the district’s website prior to the hearing, which did not sit well with many of those who were at the hearing. Anderson said the money will be primarily used to support the construction of a new fire station and to provide a stipend for the 33 members of the Fire District. The stipend would range between $400 and $700 a month for members, with their cut depending on years or service and training. He said most members would receive about $600. The Fire District purchased a little more than 2 acres near S.R. 32 in Oakley to build a new station. It will cost at least $2 million. “The two main purposes are for compensation and to build a new fire station,” Anderson said. “That is what it will be going for. That was our whole goal, but apparently we didn’t make that clear enough at the beginning. I know many people wanted to see a draft or a written plan, but we have goals and we have wants. Doesn’t mean they will happen.” Community members encouraged the Fire District to be more transparent with the budget, as well as the district’s plans for allocating the additional revenue that will be collected. One of the reasons people favored a bond is because it would, they said, require accountability. Larry Harward, who lives in Pine Mountain, said he would have preferred a bond over the tax rate increase. “Taxes are forever and bonds are paid for when they are done,” he said in an interview. The new rate falls in line with some of the other fire district rates in the area. The Fire District’s new rate will be reflected in the 2019 property tax bills, with the revenue streaming in toward the end of the year. Anderson said construction could likely begin on the station in 2019. “The hearing went about how I had expected it,” he said. “I understand their frustrations. It’s always been our intention to keep everyone’s money in their pockets rather than in ours. We didn’t want to go through a continuous process of increasing the tax rate each year. Maybe we should have. But, we are at a turning point in our department. We couldn’t do it anymore on what we were getting. It’s just the way it goes.” as normal for the ski season. PCMR has said an agreement had been in place for the terrain for longer than 14 years. The resort has also said it is unlikely the acreage will open for skiing and snowboarding during the current ski season. The land is located in a spot that is seen as strategic to the ski industry. The resorts and the state’s tourism industry have long desired a link between the Park City side of the mountains and the resorts in the Cottonwood Canyons. The link is known as an interconnect. Gallivan said the acreage is envisioned as a potential location of the connection between the Park City side and Big Cottonwood Canyon. The tourism boosters see an interconnect as something that would offer a European-style skiing experience stretching for miles that would be unique in North America. He said a portion of the property, located in an unincorporated area of Summit County, could be developed with houses. The Silver King Mining Company, though, does not have immediate plans to proceed with a project, according to Gallivan. |