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Show SERVING MOAB AND SOUTHEASTERN UTAH SINCE 1896 Volume 94 Moab, Grand County, Utah 84532 Thursday, March 26, 1987 Number 12 Local water board received state $170,000 grant for pressure line The Grand County Water Conservancy District was awarded a $170,000 grant by the Utah Community Impact Board at its regular meeting held in Park City last Thursday. The grant will cover the costs for installation of a large pressurized pipeline from the Kens Lake project to the Moab golf course, which is presently being expanded to a full 18 holes. Grand County Commissioner Dutch Zimmerman made the presentation to the John board, along with system manager Dale Pierson. The grant was the only one awarded by the Impact Board that day, ( primarily because it used almost all funds available to the board at that particular time. The Impact Board, which administers grant and loan money it receives from its portion of state mineral lease revenues, had $5 million of its funds frozen last week by order of Gov. Norman Bangerter and the Utah Legislature to be held in reserve to cover possible state revenue shortfalls in the coming fiscal year. The Board was created to give grants and loans to communities in the state impacted--eithe- r positively or negatively by natural resource activities. By constructing the line, Board members were told, the Grand County Water Conservancy District can commit all of its available water from Kens Lake. It is anticipated that the water can be sold to the golf course operation for prices higher than for agricultural use, and can still save the golf course considerable money since electrical pumping charges for well water will be eliminated once reservoir water can be used on the course. The line is large enough to serve not only the existing 9 hole course, but also the 9 hole addition. Two other applications from Grand County, both submitted by the City of Moab, include one for funds to purchase some 160 acres of BLM administered land where the new golf course is being built, and another for purchase of a building in downtown Moab to house a Stuntmans Hall of Fame and other exhibits, remained on the Impact Board pending list for action at some future date. Motion to approve the Moab application Thursday was made by Rosemarie Rendon, representing the Utah Division of (Continued Pg. A3) Records set in Marathon inclement weather despite to cross the the first runners total cf A 1,061 woman par- ticipated in the 1987 Half-Maratho- n and 5 Mile Run, Joe Cresto told members of the Moab Chamber of Commerce Tuesday. Mr. Cresto is president of the Rim Rock Roadrunners, sponsor of the event, which is now observing itsT2th year. It is possible, Mr. Cresto said, that as many as 300 more runners would have involved, but did not due to inclement weather. Despite the weather, new course records were set, and 945 of the participants finished the race. Allen Russell of Grand Junction set a new course record by winning the Half-Maratho- n, 13.1 miles, in 1 hour, 7 minutes and 52 seconds. He was competing in the 25 to 29 age bracket. The previous record was set by Jay Wood of Provo last year five seconds slower than the new record. Mary Parker of Montrose was finish line, competing in the age bracket, with a time of 1 hour 20 minutes and 49 seconds. John Brewer of Salt Lake City holds the course record in the wheelchair division with a time of 1 hour 7 minutes and 27 seconds."" When the race was first initiated 12 years ago it drew only 21 runners. With national certification last year, the event is now drawing runners from a wide geographic spread. Mr. Cresto expressed his appreciation for all the volunteer assistance that made the event a despite less than favorable weather. He par40-4- 4 record-breake- r, ticularly thanked the Utah Department of Transportation for closing the river road for the event, and cleaning the road sur--. face prior to the race, and to combined law enforcement agencies who helped with traffic control. Gorgeous river overlook . . . straight into Horseshoe Canyon in the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park viewed from Deadman Point, 740 feet A look tour to the overlook is above the Green River. A this issue. described in a Jack Bickers feature, Page four-whe- B-- HMK will close, personnel to leave to trim1 lean local school budget The Grand County Board of Education, meeting in regular session Wednesday, Mar. 18, approved a budget expenditure reduction plan for the 1987-8school year totaling $307,297. The plan includes the closure of Helen M. Knight Elementary, an altered school year, a reduction in staff of a minimum of seven classroom teachers, one principal, seven classified 8 positions and other items required to meet the anticipated savings outlined in the plan. While the plan calls for significant reductions in expenditures, it will still not balance the budget when compared to anticipated revenue from state and local sources next year, according to Superintendent Bill B. Meador. Additional reductions in services or an increase of $160,170 in revenues will be required to balance the total maintenance and operation budget for the coming year. More Reductions If additional revenue is not available from an increase of student enrollment, state support or local taxes, the Board will be forced to implement additional reductions in the instructional program which will be even more detrimental to the overall educational structure of the Grand County school $52,517, primarily in the area of instructional personnel and core academic programs. Even with the additional reductions the budget would remain $120,680 out of balance. After reviewing the Districts financial situation and considering the impact the above reductions will have on instructional quality, class size, graduation requirements, ac- creditation, and programs required for a well rounded balanced educational system, the Board of Education approved a resolution calling for a State Supported Voted Leeway election in the sum of 0.0006 tax rate (3 mills). At the current collection rate a successful elec- tion would generate approximately $176,937 in new revenue. A Plea to Voters As late as February, 1987, the Board had planned to ask the voters for a three mill increase in Maintenance and Operation and was prepared to drop three mills from the Capital Outlay levy so that taxpayers in Grand County would not experience a tax increase while allowing the Board to expend funds in the budget category of greatest need. 1987 The Legislature eliminated that exchange by requiring each district in the state to decrease their Capital Outlay levy by two mills. Under this new funding legislation, the State would recapture the two mills, equalize all revenue generated and return to the districts their share under the Weighted Pupil Unit formula for support of district incentive programs which the legislature cut by half in the regular finance resolution approved by the Board sets the date of the elec- tion for Tuesday, April 28. At the public hearing conducted by the Board on Feb. 16 of this year at Helen M. Knight Elementary, patrons expressed concern about fifth graders being moved to the Middle School. Under the adopted plan, the fifth grade and kindergarten will remain at Southeast Elementary. In an attempt to provide law. teaching stations to accom- Under this plan, the Grand District will provide to the State approximately $117,000 in tax revenue and receive in return, approximately $57,000. The 50 percent cut in special purpose programs will amount to $43,000. This required transfer of millage to a state equalization program eliminates the Boards option to transfer mills locally and forces them to ask for a straight three mill increase in school support. In order to collect tax revenue school year, during the 1987-8the election must be conducted prior to May 2nd, 1987. The modate grades K through 5 at Southeast, one mobil unit from the high school will be moved to that school and some minor remodeling will need to be completed prior to the opening of school next fall. WEATHER 8 system. If these additional reductions are necessary, the District plans to reduce expenditures by an additional Special program set for Sunday on Channel 6 A special television production, How to Raise a Street-SmaChild, will be rebroadcast by United Cable TV in Moab at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, it was announced this week by Jim Corwin, president of the Moab Chamber of Commerce. The documentary, which lasts on Q I o rt by winAllen RusseM of Grand Junction set a new course record in 1 hour, 7 Marathon miles) Half (13.1 ning the Canyonlands age bracket. minutes 52 seconds. He was competing in the 1 57 seconds, and 7 minutes The previous course record was hour, insude. winners of other Photos 1986. in set by Jay Wood of Provo All photos by Mary Plumb. 25-2- 9 Lar - - less than an hour, details steps parents can take to cope with increasing problems being faced by todays youth in this nation, and contains information of real value to todays society. The program, taped by Mr. Corwin, will be aired on local Channel 6. jr -- A . JU c Nyw 'tfc 11 ; Wv. ' - ':K .'.r'Z'M Southeast Elementary School will be retained in next years educational program, it was decided by the Grand County Board of Education last week. Southeast is a newer facility than Helen M. Knight Elementary, which will be closed, and contains more teaching stations than the older school. Southeast will offer classes from kindergarten to grade 5, by utilizing a mobil classroom to be moved there from the high school, and with some minor remodeling to be done during the summer. |