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Show laafMnyinsi pm$i A2-T- he riin aa1jMMyMJyiyf-e-- iumjyi'rnffiii . H,!! f !jjp (lj(llj' lg('i'yi"lfl' lj ll.gli jiinr,tw lMnJllilHll"t Thursday, January 26. 1995 Times-Independe- nt, I thought seven months ago, when the Grand County Council denied a zone change to allow for construction of large view" lots on the hillside northeast of the homes on Grand Valley Cemetery, that we hadnt heard the last of that argument. Zoned for grazing (which allows for construction of homes on lots of 5 acres or more), a developer last summer wanted the property rezoned to A-- l, which would allow for homes to be built on 1 acre or more. His application was denied. Now the earlier decision has been overturned by the new County Council. But we still probably havent heard the last of it. A development plan and site plan must still be approved before construction can begin, and rightly so. Theres little question that If development does occur on our hillsides, It ought to be done In extremely good taste. Now, Moab City has gotten into the picture. Invoking a new state law which allows cities to claim development powers over ridgeline" lands within a half mile of their boundaries. This kind of reminds me about the expanding southern Utah rancher who kept buying out his smaller neighbors during the Depression and was criticized for squeezing them out. I dont want all of southeastern Utah, he said. I Just want my own land and everything thats connected to it." Ive said for years that Moab has been too extravagant with the use of its bottom lands for housing. Moab was once tilled with productive, flowering orchards which have now become subdivisions. Now Moab City is studying sensitive" lands within its boundaries. The idea, I suppose, is to protect whats left of the natural, pastoral and riparian areas against future development (or exploitation, depending on your outlook). You can build homes on rocky hillsides, but you cant grow peaches there. A lot of land (beyond the ridgeline) would be Just fine for residential development. Much of it is federal land, but laws exist which allow for the release of those federal lands for community growth. : This weeks county action begins a new ball game. I believe it can be a win for both the city and the county, if they will work together on what kind of development is to be allowed. It neednt become a civil war. sjt Criticism of Utahs legislative leadership for plans to eliminate the state property tax is now being heard. One such piece of criticism which, in my opinion is unjustified, is that if the property tax in Utah is reduced, renters will bear the burden of an increased sales tax, which would be levied to replace much of the lost property tax revenue, now earmarked for the states school system. According to some estimates I have read, the increase of the state sales tax would cost residents an additional seventy or eighty dollars a year. What that criticism doesnt mention, is that ballooning property tax rates the past few years all over Utah, have resulted in tremendously increased rents. An increase from $300 to $350 a month in the rent of an apartment (which is not uncommon) adds up to a whole lot more than a modest increase in the sales tax would cost. Besides, a lot of Utah sales tax is paid by visitors to Utah who dont pay any direct personal property tax in Utah. I still think this session of the legislature is on the rights ; track, J non-reside- nt I tax-wis- e. : Sjt Adrien and listened to the Presidents State of the Union message Tuesday night Frankly, I thought it was a pretty good talk by a office-holdwho has a pretty good grasp on the situation. I wondered how he would be able to cover so much in one talk, but he did. I was surprised when I looked at my watch at 9:30 and realized he had been talking for an hour and a half. Following the talk we watched a lot of analysts telling us what the President had said. That always kind of insults my opinion of my own intelligence. What bothered me most was that most of them talked about the length of the speech not the content. Its too bad when we get so accustomed to sound bites that we cant listen attentively to anything longer than I much-malign- ed er 25 seconds in duration. The T imes-Independe- nt (UPS 6309-200Entered as Second Class Matter at the Post Office at Moab, Utah under the act of March 3, 1 897. Second class postage paid at Moab, Utah 84532. Official City and County Newspaper Published Each Thursday at 35 East Center Street, Moab; Grand County, Utah 84532. Postmaster: Send change of address to: The P.O. Box 129, Moab, Utah 84532 1 5 or FAX (801) (801) Samuel J. and Adrien F. Taylor Dear Mr. Taylor: I would like to correct and supplement the article written by Ron Drake in the Castle Valley Comments section of the January 19, 1995 Times-Independe- First of all, without getting into the merits of the separate POA unit debate, I would like to clarify that my husband and I are not "organizing the effort on behalf of Unit II." We are involved with a diverse association of property owners who are looking for a more positive way to deal with the issues facing our community. We were asked to assist and work with these property owners, numbering in excess of thirty property owners in Unit II alone. As a result of our legal background we have been able to review technical documentation and discuss the concerns of property owners with the current POA Board and the POA attorney, Steve Russell. However, it should be noted that we are not acting alone, nor are we acting at our own direction. Rather, we talk regularly and discuss plans for the future with property owners and at the request of these property owners we have assisted in scheduling an informational meeting to discuss various issues facing Unit II and brainstorm solutions with the entire Unit. I also wish to clarify comments made by the POA attorney relative to Unit II. We met with Mr. Russell for several hours prior to his meeting with the POA Board. During the meeting he did state that he did not feel that the formation of a POA Unit II was "such a bad idea - it might be good thing for the community if It serves to benefit the majority." I feel that the comment quoted in the article was incomplete and as such it could result in some confusion. I believe it is also important that readers understand the purpose of the meeting with the POA Attorney. Many individuals have attempted to work out resolutions directly with the POA Board, however, there has been a great deal of misunderstanding with respect to the legal obligations of the Board and the rights of the property owners. It was hoped that a meeting with Mr. Russell would bring about a better understanding of the concerns and would facilitate resolution. 0) Utah's' CentenMal Faces of to be a part of as the end of January Utah project are dwindling day by day. is the soft deadline for taking part. Centennial Commission would like to have in this project and we a wideTspectruni of residents take part all of the Grand County archives local preserve for on to the state stuff the fnd before sending Sports artwork and far away the majorSo far. the schools have generated to Me. which is Means Utah in ity of reports on What LivingIn order to generate a little more the theme of Faces of Utah. of the reports from our interest. I am reprinting here a few school students. age 9 and a student at Red Dominique Linnet Hunsaker, to Delicate Arch at I Rock Elementaiy, said: My mom and go the night there. We look for night in the summer. We spend or we look and see Arch Delicate shooting stars through the We do this one middle. the in be will right when the full moon I go hiking by Lion s Back. My and Ya Ya night every year. My and now Ya Ya likes Lions Back so much she drew a picture its onP a shirt. Dominique and all of her classmates accompanied their reports with colored drawings. said: I like to go to Dead Ashley Harrison, also age 9, there. There are not so works dad Horse Point because my I like to climb mountains with my other as places. many people cousin. I like to go to Lagoon to go on the Colossus. Ashley did ride to go with her a drawing of Lagoons famous for researchers material report. I believe this will be interesting in the future. photoKindergartners did self portraits (accompanied tobyFaces contributions of their as real faces), copies of their Utah. Appropriate. Another report: My name is Lark Anderson. I live in Moab Utah. I am seven years old. Living in Utah means freedom. No wars. And camping almost anywhere you want. Lark s drawing shows a camping scene. rocks. It is I Logan Rae Key. age 8, says: enjoy Icollecting like because of Utah bike. fun to make a fort. I love to ride my to fun It is to go campmy friends. I especially like play pogs. with my family. ing. I love to go fishing So, the schools have made their contribution. I am solicitthe picture of living ing the adult community to help round out few moments in the in this place at this time. Please stop for a middle of your busy lives, and jot down some thoughts. We have forms here at The Times office (and I promise not to print what you write if you ask). Come in and get one. Put in your quested open forums with the Board to present their concerns. However, despite all responsible steps to seek to open the lines of communication and work towards resolution, 'owners are met with opposition from the Board. It is the stated mission of the POA to further and promote the community welfare of property owners in the Development. When this does not occur, and when the POA places itself in an adversarial position with the property owners, the owners have the right and the duty to take all reasonable and legal steps to protect their rights and protect and promote the community welfare. i are at an information gathering stage and are seekWe ing to explore all options to improve our community and protect our rights and those of our neighbors. Theresa Anne Carey Tram annexation Dear Editor, Just a reminder. . . At 7:00 on January 31 at the Civic Center, the Moab City Council will hold a meeting concerning the decision on whether to annex the property where the proposed tram is to be built. Those wishing to voice their comments and feelings on the appropriate use of this site should write to the City Council before this meeting. The council's decision will be based largely on written public comment. Write to: Moab City Council TRAM two season of for Christmas proves that a lot of people giving a little can make a big difference. This year, children and adults throughout the state opened their piggy banks, Alison Kennedy ' . Dear Editor: Just a reminder. . . January is Human Kindness month. This is a good time to do something nice for someone for no apparent reasoni We humans must coexist on Earth and its our mutual advantage to celebrate what we have in common, Publlshen and Editors When signments on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee were ratified today, Senator Bob Bennett a new member of the commit- m Read All About o j- as- f (R-Uta- your home town in tee, walked away with a seat on each of his top three subcomall key slots mittee choices for Utah issues. The Times-Independe- nt As requested, Bennett received a seat on the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development; the Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies; and the Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent Agencies. He will also sit on the Subcommittee on the San Juan $24 per year outside area $16.50 Green River, Grand & $5 discount for persons 62 and older upon request for 52 news-fille- d issues in your mail once a week local news TV guide Legislative Branch and the Subcommittee on the District of Columbia. "These new assignments will allow me to keep a close special features lots of ads Now! Subscribe niaiito: I The Times-Independe- nt, P.O. Box 129, Moab UT 84532 I Name, I I Address. I I Phone. enclose $1 6.50 or $24 for one year or $32 and $47 for two years Utah interests. As federal dollars are allocated to agencies an states, I'm glad that I will have an opportunity to ensure that Utah's needs are include din the equation. I also welcome the opportunity to tbe part of the process to downsize eye on pockets and hearts to provide thousands of needy children with shoes throughout 1995. over the next 10 years. The subcommittee also approves funding for the Department of Energy and energy-relate- d projects. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior approves funding for interior-relate- d agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Forest Service and the Division of Fish and Wildlife. It is extremely significant for a state like Utah of which 70 percent is publicly owned. Utah's space industry will get added focus with Senator Bennett's seat on the subcom- rather than despair over differences. In the eyes of God, whatever your concept of God is - Great Spirit, Creator, Infinite source, Our Father in Heaven, Omniscent Overlord of All Universes - in the yes of God, we are holy sacred beings, divine sparks of His (or Her, Its) creation Lets start behaving as such. Have a nice day. -- Sandra Fielden The subcommittee also funds the Environmental (NASA). Protection Agency, National Science Foundation and Veterans Administration. The Utah Republican also will oversee funding for the legislative branch of the government. From this post, he will have a role in congressional attempts to limit the size Energy and Water Development oversees funding for all water projects in the U.S. including the Central Utah Project (CUP). Completion of the CUP was authorized in con1992, however, on-goi- struction requires annual appropriation of funds. The massive public works projects promises to bring over $700 million dollars to the state of government. He also will oversee federal dollars going the District of Columbia. dren." Working with the Utah State Human of Department Services, KSL absorbs all administrative costs to ensure that every cent goes toward the purchase of shoes for children. Certificates in the amount of $30 will be distributed three in January, times this year in the fall for and just before the holiday season. Whatever the reason for giving, the amount, or the source, KSL's Quarters for Christmas continues to make a difference in the lives of children. - back-to-scho- ol Stop by or call today for price quotes on all your printing needs : letterhead, stationery invitations etc., etc. The Times-Independe- nt 35 E. Center - 259-752- 5 G000G (gS?GQ cnltu.- - UtKl! lliMMikfttifi' cfmumtuu o Nothing to Do This --Winter ? Watch Satellite TV Over 200 Channels Many FREE! 801-259-71- 30 our government as we review and approve funding for the legislative branch," Bennett said. The Subcommittee on coins came letters of love, including a note old from Jamie, and girl who said she wanted to give her money to buy shoes for 'little kids like me' rather than using the money to buy Christmas presents for her ' r $ family."' Another donor said her gift of love was given in the name of her deceased teenage son who she "knew would want the money to be used to warm the feet of less fortunate chil- mittee which funds the National Aeronautics and Administration Space Bennett "three for three " on subcommittee requests subcommittee 259-774- 259-752- cents worth! for Christmas Quarters KSLs 28th Along with the Quarters 115 West 200 South Moab, UT 84532 Kindness month op loop-dee-lo- Times-Independe- p ''''tm,mvi f't General Instrument Free Estimates Site Surveys 200 Channels, Xntluuval ilu.iiur t n |