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Show The Thursday, November 3, Times-lndapande-nt, Meeting held to discuss fees for use of Sand Flats area Mark Sundeen, Community Sand Flats Team Member The Sand Flats Citizens By , Stewardship Committee, chaired by Kim Schappert, held its first public meeting Oct. 25 at the County Courthouse. Because the committees first major task is to devise a fee structure for the Sand Flats Recreation Area, discussion focused on that issue. Fees will be collected for operations and maintenance on the Sand Flats, beginning March 1, 1995. The Committee is now working on alternative proposals of jamounts and procedures for public . discussion at a Nov. 10 meeting All revenue generated will be used on Sand Flats for new toilet facili-- ; ties, revegetation and protection of damaged terrain, trail maintenance, and community and visitor education. Unlike other public land recre- ation areas where fees are collected and for the managing agencies, by t Tees on Sand Flats will be collected ' by representatives of the community and deposited in a separate Maintenance and Protection Fund. This arrangement was made possible by a Cooperative Management 'Agreement signed by the Bureau of "Land Management and the Grand County Council. The county then received a grant from the AmeriCorps national service pro- gram to fund the Community Sand ' Flats Teamthe nine local people who are now at work on the site. five jThe member Citizens .Stewardship Committee, appointed oy the Council to oversee the agreement, includes local business owners, recreationists, and a Red Club member. Rock Fee No Thru-Access Present at the first Committee meeting were representatives from the BLM, members of the AmeriCorps team, and several local residents who have don research and user surveys at the Slickrock Bike Trail. The primary items for discussion were: who should be charged, 3 what they should be charged for, and c how the money should be spent v According to the Cooperative Management Agreement land own- ers with property on the mountain and people accessing the mountain via Sand Flats Road will be exempt from the fee. The exemption extends to government officers on official business and persons involved in ?hergency actions such as search and rescue and firefighting. Additionally, licensed tour groups and outfitters who have already purchased a commercial recreation permit from the 7 BLM need not pay the fee. Century 21 real estate sales rally Tina Real estate agents Lopez, Suzan Martin, Annie Crain, Julie Bierschied, Norma Nunn, Jan Flynn, Sue Shrewsbury and Paula Angeli attended Regional Century 21 Sales Rally held in Salt Lake City October 26. The featured speaker was Steve Woodruff, North America's leading expert on real estate listing presentation, who presented a one day class on Sellers "Consulting Successfully." The agents from Moab enjoyed the class and learned new training ideas in the "Job Interview" with sellers. Century 21 Quality Realty, Inc. is proud to see their agents continue to improve their skills and education. Trust me for . all your life insurance needs... permanent, term, universal and retirement 5? lEriT CALL ME. Jim Englebright Agent SOW. Center 259-516- The committee agreed that visitors to Sand Flats should not be charged for use of the land, but rather for services, such as maintenance, toilets, and search and rescue that facilitate such use. Thus the fee should apply to mountain bikers on all trails including Slickrock and Porcupine Rim, jeepers and motorand overnight cyclists, day-hike- rs campers. Local Discount Discussed One point of debate was whether or not Grand County residents should pay the fee. Proponents of a locals exemption noted that county taxpayers already shoulder some of the operational costs by providing road maintenance and search and rescue. Others maintained that because the Sand Flats is federal land not county land everyone should pay the same. One committee member suggested a compromise by which locals could g pass at a dispurchase a counted rate, or could get the pass free by volunteering on a maintea nance project at the Sand Flats work day, for instance. The idea and will be diswas cussed further at the next meeting. year-lon- well-receiv- ed Carpooling Encouraged The specifics of collecting fees proved to be a complex issue. Surveys of mountain bikers, who comprise the largest user group at Sand Flats, indicate that the majority of bikers would be willing to pay two dollars per person to ride at Slickrock. However, it was pointed out that charging per person was perhaps not as practical as charging per vehicle. Vehicles are more easily tagged with a decal or permit than people. It was further suggested that charging by vehicle, as is done in most national parks, would encourage carpooling and reduce the amount of automobile congestion in the area. By this plan, a separate and much smaller fee would be charged to individuals who cycle from town. The committee also discussed length of visits to the area. It was suggested that passes for one day, one week, and one year be available. The day pass, though popular in the bikers survey, was characterized as impractical in that it would require bounteous paperwork and Possibilities for of repeat-usera yearly pass included a vehicle window decal, a wallet-size- d card, and a similar to a ski-lipunch-pas- s ticket that would be valid for a certain number of uses. It was generally agreed that campers should pay an additional fee, either by the site or by the vehicle. However, the committee indicated it did not want to collect a camping fee until improvements such as toilets are made in the campgrounds. There was little discussion of specific dollar amounts, and no final decisions were made about the fee structure. The committee plans more discussion with the public at its next meeting and hopes to have a draft proposal ready in December. sanitation codes. Other priorities were discussed, , with state to: Sand Flats Citizens Stewardship Committee, co Grand County cluding addition of a chip-secoating to the paiking lot1 once the BLM has completed the paving. This measure will increase the lots durability and aesthetic value. No cost estimate was given Council, 125 E. Moab, Utah 84532. Center Street, tan-color- ed s. HEATING & al ft Use in- AIR CONDITIONING for this work. The Stewardship Committees next meeting will be held at 7:30 .m. Thursday, Nov. 10, in the Council Chambers and is open to the public. All concerned residents are invited to voice their opinions. Written opinions may be addressed REPAIRS SALES INSTALLATION Furnaces Boilers Water Heaters Humidifiers Gas Piping Refrigerated AC Air Cleaners m&Fdms) " i1 of Funds The committee then discussed how to use the money that is collected. BLM officials announced plans to construct a contact station this winter and to enlarge and pave the Slickrock Trail parking lot next summer. These projects have already secured funding, labor, and materials from government agencies, and will neither affect nor rely on the Sand Flats Fund. Craig Bigler, director of the Community Sand Flats Team, stated that the teams goal is to collect $50,000 in 1995. Half of this money would constitute Grand Countys match for the AmeriCoips protection of grant for the land, maintenance and visitor education. The committee agreed that beyond the match, its first priority is to install more toilets in the camp- If t?;! Si 151 it Milan Djurich, D.P.M., D.o. The private practice of Dr Djurich is now open at 267 North Main. Family Practice Podiatry Osteopathic Medicine Obstetrics New patients welcome Office Hours 8:00-5:0- 0 grounds. The committee discussed two types of toilets: a class A concrete and stucco roofed building like those currently at the Slickrock Trailhead, and a class C simple vault enclosed by a wooden fence. A class A toilet is estimated to cost $11,000, a class C approximately $900. The committee tentatively agreed to install the class C units once the money becomes available and provided that the class Cs complied M-T-T- h-F (closed Wednesday) For an appointment or information call 259-413- 4 LETS MAKE SURE GRAND COUNTY WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. need to put the brakes on rising county taxes by Sometimes it seems like Grand County works better We investors than for people who live and work here. Many of our for out-of-tow- n friends and neighbors live on fixed incomes, and they are feeling the squeeze as growth brings higher taxes for all of us. Working families are being priced out of the housing market, but our economy keeps low-wabringing more of the same jobs. And every year, rising land prices and government regulations make it harder for local people to go into business for themselves. ge Our new council has accomplished a lot over the past two years, but many of our most serious problems remain. There is much to do in the coming years if we want the people who live in Grand County to have a future here: making cost effective decisions on the landfill and other county issues. We need to make sure that future growth and development pays for itself and does not raise our taxes. need to diversify our economy for better jobs and We better economic security. Quality of life is our greatest economic and community asset. Lets not destroy it with tourism. out-of-contr- residential development land, lets make sure its for local housing, not vacation homes. up-zo- ne Will Petty is a Moab busi- nessman who provides over forty jobs in Grand County. He is committed to making sure that the people who built this Community have a future here. ol need to make sure there is always a place for the We small businessperson in Grand County. Lets make sure our children have the same opportunities we did. need to put affordable housing incentives in our subdivision rules. And if we We 1 State 'arm Insurance life Company Home Office Boocagtnn, ESads VOTE FOR WILL PETTY IN DISTRICT 1 I good neighbor, Stas Farm is there. Like Because Grand County Residents Deserve a Future in Grand County. (Paid Political Advertisement) MMURMIHT-- |