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Show Wednesday. November Salt Lake Unification Issue Comes Under Close Examining - SALT LAKE CITY (LTD The proposed unification of Salt Lake City and County governments has produced some strange political bedfellows and a campaign tarnished by questionable Utah Officers the existing city Sewer bills ami library late notices and county commissions would be recently contained ineliminated and replaced by a "strong" formation and hacker of th plan criv1 foul, saying that was not a fair way to mayor and a council made up of members elected from U districts, use public money. each representing about 50,000 people On the other hand, backers of unificaAlso elected would be tion are spending thousands on an county attorney, an assessor and a recoider. advertising campaign that opponents Backers say unification, which was say leaves the impression that a vote first proposed before the turn of the for unification is a vote for tax limitacentury, will make public officials tion something they hotly deny more visible and accountable; will Opponents say news coverage in the save money and possibly lower taxes state's largest circulation newspaper, by combining services that are now the Salt Lake Tribune, is biased in duplicated; would make the govern- favor of unification ment more representative; and vouhi Neither side has revealed the sources improve the quality of management of of its financing, possibly because the v a r i o u s departments of govern- political reputations are at stake. The ment Deseret News reported that one backer of the plan coughed up his $500 conTo each of those "goodies," the oppotribution in $1 bills to keep his name out nents, under the banner of We the Peoof the campaign ple, say "bull." Both sides claim political threats They say present elected officials are more responsive and unification would have been made. City Police Chief Bud Willoughby, create a more cumbersome bureauwho released a study that claimed unnot cost would that down; go up, cracy; ification would cost up to $10 million in that there are virtually no duplicated conversion costs, was reportedly told services now; and that administrative his action could hurt his career. quality would not improve because Gina Rieke of the League departments are already run by profes- of Proponent Women Voters, said her job with the sional appointed experts. Utah Public Employees' Association To put these points of view across to was threatened by a city official. the valley voters, both sides have Unification is being tried in cities of similar size engaged in some questionable tactics. Nashville, Tenn., and State Rep. Charles Bennett said TuesJacksonville, Fla. Results are mixed. The issue, although hot, is not new. In day he would introduce legislation to ban the use of public money in such 18S9 the mayor of Salt Lake City said he political issue campaigns. He charged thought the governments that using sewer and library notices should be merged to save money. 'as a vehicle to defeat the proposed unification is a blatant miS' use of public monies." ll tactics. At issue is a plan that was put on the Nov. 7 election ballot by means of a petition circulated by the Utah League of Women Voters. If adopted the proposal would combine Salt Lake City and County governments and 25 special purpose districts into a single, unified government that would assume the duties of the former governments. Ten cities, 17 water utilities, four school districts and four y districts would not be part of the merger but residents of the cities could vote later to join the unified government. The issue is hot. Chief proponents are two former Utah Governors who rarely find themselves on the same side of the political bed, J. Bracken Lee and Calvin Ratnpton, of Citizens for Unification. Also for the proposal are Gov. Scott Matheson, Salt Lake Mayor Ted Wilson, County Attorney Paul VanDam and the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, among others. Lining up against the plan are two county commissioners, Bill Dunn and Bill Hutchinson; Salt Lake City Commissioners Jennings Phillips, Glen Greener, Tom Hall and Jess Agraz, as well as the mayors of the 10 cities, South Salt Lake, Murray, Sandy, Draper, Midvale, Riverton, South and West Jordan, Alta and Bluffdale. multi-count- city-coun- In Kicinapings SALT LAKE CITY tUPI Aetna Life and Casualty announced Tuesday A youth it was lowering "its medical BEAVER. Utah (UPD malpracwanted for kidnapping in I'tah and tice prpTrnyrr! rgtpe i Utgh nt th California surrendered to Beaver same tune doctors were applying to set County sheriff's deputies and Utah up their own insurance company. The State Insurance Department Highway Patrol officers Tuesday night Rick Lee Bench, 19, Wasco." Calif . held a hearing on the application of the who was being held in Iron County Jail Utah State Medical Association to esin Cedar City on $100,000 cash bond, altablish a new company to serve aslegedly kidnapped three people, one in sociation members California and two in Utah, said Doctors have been protesting that i - Parowan. Utah Police Sgt. Joe large underwriters have charged them Mickelson Bench was scheduled to appear in Ninth Circuit Court in Cedar City today Bench allegedly abducted a 19 year-olyouth in Wasco at gunpoint late Monday night and drove to Utah where a woman was abducted in St. George at about 9 45 a m Tuesday The first victim was released in Cedar Canyon, six miles east of Cedar City The second victim was driven through Brian Head ski resort and released in Parowan. Mickelson said law enforcement officials were first alerted when the woman called the Parowan police shortly after she was d excessive rates and more than 700 physicians have applied for coverage with the new association firm. Medical association officials told new company Edwards took the application under released. advisement, along with a request from A third victim, Rulon K. Hardy, 19, Aetna agents to extend the hearings Parowan, was abducted at gunpoint Immediately after the hearing Aetna while driving his car in Parowan at circulated a press release announcing about 12:50 p.m., and forced to drive that it was lowering its malpractice north toward Salt Lake City, Mickelson premiums for Utah physicians an said. Parowan police were contacted average of 15.3 percent next year Docshortly after the third abduction, he tors had been told about the reduction said, and they asked other police agen- earlier. The company also said participating cies to watch for Hardy's car. Bench was stopped and arrested at a medical association members will roadblock near Beaver. receive a $1.2 million dividend "repre No. Oberhansley also said Salt Lake County District No. 1 has already printed up fliers and plans to mail them out this week with its regular bills. Oberhansley said, "I wonder if they (the county employees) should be doing this with taxpayers' money." He said he was checking on the legality of the mailings. The deputy county attorney says the main question centers around county employees, working on county time, mailing out political fliers at county ex- City-Coun- ty are the District. Sewer Improvement ing into the legality of mailed municipal water bills that include fliers supporting or opposing Salt Lake unification. The governmental unification issue appears on the Nov. ? general election ballot as Proposition 1. Deputy County Attorney Kurt Oberhansley said Tuesday at least two water-sewe- r districts in the county have mailed out political fliers, with their regular bills, asking residents to either vote in favor or against Proposition 1. He said the districts Cottonwood 1 Salt Frovo. I tan Page 15 senting premiums charged members but unused to pay claims and expenses, excluding this year's dividend " iii auiiiUUii, .trWtd aaiU H eliminate a 5 percent surcharge for physcians practicing in partnerships, and a 25 percent surcharge for doctors working for salaries Edwards said the Medical Associa tion had met the minimum financial requirement of establishing a $650,000 reserve and signing at least 25 subscribers He said 731 doctors had signed up Fitzpdtrick said the number of subscribers was more than half the doctors who had previously bought insurance from Aetna under the group plan Aetna claimed it had served 1.275 doc- tors Fitzpatrick said if the Insurance Department approves the request, the Utah Medical Association would become the 21st state medical society in the nation to operate its own insurance company. "They have all been successful." he said. Fitzpatrick said the fact that Aetna was willing to pay a large dividend was evidence that it had been overcharging. "A dividend is really a refund of overpaid premiums," he said. Aetna said its basic malpractice plan would provide full coverage for a Class I doctor one with the least risk for $942 annually. Fitzpatrick said the Utah company could offer similar coverage for $790 a year. "All of the premiums will cover losses in Utah. There will be no profits.' ("' city-coun- The Salt is look- In- surance Hearing Officer Jack Edwards they could provide coverage for Utah physicians for less than Aetna, which has offered a group policy through the state association since 1971 "We feel we can do it as well, and we can do it cheaper than commercial insurance companies." said Dr Knox Fitzpatrick, a Salt Lake surgeon who is chairman of the board of the proposed Legality of Mailed Water Bills Coming Under Study Lake City Suburban Santitation (UPI) District office and the SALT LAKE CITY Lake County Attorney's THE HELALD. Utah Doctors Seeking Own Insurance Company - ,SuSpec' Under consolidation, 1, 1978. pense. Convicted Murderer Files Lawsuit for S.S. Payments the December convicted (UPI) Kelbach victed killer Walter slayings SALT LAKE CITY B. 1966 in 1967 of of two of six people killed in a Holiday death spree. They were both sentenced to die, but escaped the death penalty six years later when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that state capital Con- Tues- day filed suit against the Health, Education and Welfare Department, seeking eligibility for Social Security payments. The Kelbach, convicted of two 1966 Utah murders, claims he should be receiving Social Security disability insurance benefits because his "mental" condition prevents him from "engaging in any substantial gainful emDlovment." punishment statutes at that time were unconstitutional. Both men were ings requirement for receiving benefits. He first filed for payments in January of 1977, but his application was denied and later turned down on three separate appeals. U.S. Magistrate Daniel Alsup Monday allowed Kelbach to skip the normal filing fee, since he is paid only $29 monthly for prison work. Kelbach's suit claims his "mental impairments include a personality disorder." He is seeking disability payments from April of 1965, about two years before he was placed on death row in the Utah State Prison Kelbach and Myron D. Lance were social-sociopath- eventually resentenced to two consecutive life terms. In his Social Security suit, Kelbach claims he has met the minimum earn- ic SI. Police Chief Issues Prediction on Court Action informed must questioning (UPI) remain silent until his that says he before be he could lawyer was present, had the right to a fair and speedy trial, and had a right to bail. The Salt SALT LAKE CITY believes Lake City police chief the Supreme Court will lift the requirement for police to read a suspect his rights when he is arrested. Chief E.L. "Bud" Willoughby told a Willoughby said police agencies now prevention conference that have developed a system to make sure things have changed since the Miranda a suspect's rights are not violated and decision by the high court which overas long as those procedures are folturned the conviction of a man whose lowed the statement should not be rights they said were overturned. necessary. The Miranda statement arose from that statement and required that law enforcement officers read a prepared Kills More Men statement before questioning a suspect. MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (UPI) -"I predict that before the end of this Almost twice as many men as women will withdraw Court the year, Supreme to a study the Miranda Warning Act." Willoughby are killed by fire, according smoke detectors. said. "Now the pendulum has swung by a manufacturer of The survey suggests three probable back the other way people are saying officials report. 'we won't jail ourselves and allow causes Honeywell more male 25 are There percent streets."' on the criminals to run free and female smokers, than If the decision is struck down police smokers of fire. cause a is of major statement smoking read the would still rights with highly but not necessarily before the suspect Secondly, men work oftener combustible materials, such as paint is questioned, the chief said. The Miranda decision said a suspect and gasoline. crime - ' Funds Bill FINANCIAL ANALYSIS SUITE SALT LAKE: Filing Set FUNNING SALT LAKE CITY Utah House (UPI) Minority Whip Charles Lake, Bennett, a bill says he will pre-fil- e with the 1979 legislature to ban use of public funds in political issue cam- - lt 2230, M UU an, SOUTH STATE, SALT 533 - 06I1 UTAH UTM INCOME MUS JUMS MCTOH KS. INttST. Mwsa UUS ESTATE TAXES (AMU Hill VAlLiY: iincrr ' INSURANCE COUNSELOR INVESTMENTS MTEJHUTKMAL NSUMJKX ASSOC ' ION OLSON ML00 WHO NELDS FINANCIAL PLANNING? Sow people hire til problem, M dnttsl tl hire pull He thil Uterolith plmmnt cm turn into reiMiet. Whether row took tnehre Mpinf eWtVwwtk inisiom, ete, tr tmincijl wdepmdnn, thorenth phmiinf so cm oJmoJj bud(et dottart Mch cm Help hntnee temibte tnd proliUNe (ImikW pImi hi He. - FINANCIAL ANALYSIS MUST, NOT a litre1 In New A "OIJICTIYI (Oi'NCIt CONCH" IMi VBtT Htm Utk yritw tm fl inx If nmua desitned to meet fools - ll po. I I BF FMMCUL CONSULTANT City-Count- piilllB LICENSED SECUMTV BUSINESS paigns. Bennett said, "The use of sewer and library notices as a means of defeating the proposed y Salt Lake Unification Proposition 1 is a blatant misuse of public monies." A' S 7 I I ' SAT- - R I ft If H soft silhouettes our regular 16.96-19.9- .. . 6 Dresses take on a soft line ... and drape it into a full, flowing look. . .sophisticated and - delightfully flattering. See our entire collection in toclay,s colors and holiday hues. In junior and missy sizes. i |