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Show MOAB, UTAH Volume 111 500 WEATHER FORECAST Thursday Partly Cloudy High 96 Low 70 JAt M' Friday Partly Cloudy High 97 Low 67 Saturday Partly Cloudy Low 66 High 96 Sunday 'rj' Partly Cloudy High 98 Low 67 Weather forecast courtesy National Weather Service Grand Junction office. Undine. Learn about this historic boat on page . B1. ft ?. i Grand Red Hatters gathered to enjoy a tea. See page B5. wvv.moab times . com Number 28 tual data tb the contrary to share their by Michelle Wiley contributing writer Moab City Hall was swamped Tuesday evening with members of the public who turned out for the public hearing on the proposed Main Street medians. Of the approximately 50 people who attended the July 13 meeting, 15 spoke, ten in opposition, four in support and one undecided. As well, a slurry of letters on the subject were sent. Of the 21 letters received, 13 voiced opposition and eight were in support. Mayor Dave Sakrison opened the public hearing by saying that the first mention of the medians was in a public meeting in December 2002 and that the city chose to seize the opportunity to turn Moabs downtowm corridor into a street rather than a highway. Moab City Manager Donna Metzler provided visual information for the meeting that conveyed the specifics of the medians, as well as answers to a list of frequently-aske- d questions. The city is not here to make the case for medians, said Metzler, but to provide information and answer questions. She emphasized that no Main Street parking spaces will be lost due to medians and that there will be an overall increase in width of traffic lanes. Traffic lanes will be approximately 11 feet wide, the raised part of the medians will be eight feet wide and eight inches tall. The first median is designed to run from approximately 150 feet north of Center Street and will continue for about 190 feet. The second median will run from approximately 150 feet north of 100 North and continue for 190 feet. The citys main reason for wanting the medians installed, according to an information sheet, is to help create an pedestrian-friendl- y downtown area. The other reason is safety. Research shows that medians placed in areas with relatively narrow streets reduce speeds and traffic conflicts. Metzler invited anyone with fac Business Directory: BIO Classifieds: B9 Community Calendar B10 Editorials, Letters: A4-- 6 Historic Photo: B1 Notices: B4 Region Review: B1 TV Guide: B2-- 3 LAST WEEK'S WEATHER High Low Precip. Date - July July July 7 102 62 8 100 66 9 100 65 -J- uly uly 10 100 73 -J- July July 12 105 65 - 64 11 102 13 104 76 findings. Most people who spoke or wrote in opposition to the medians expressed concern for traffic and pedestrian safety, fearing that medians will bottleneck traffic and cause accidents. Bryon Walston, a UPS deliveryman, says he is an expert in downtown traffic. My main concern is truck traffic and I have seen a lot of close calls and have had my mirrors broken on Main Street. Ron Georg, who spoke in opposition to the medians, stated, UDOT doesnt suggest medians as traffic calming alone only when you narrow the road. He suggested eliminating Main Street parking and instituting wide bicycle lanes to accommodate traffic. The best part of this plan is that its reversible if it doesnt work. Ronald Dolphin wrote, If the city wants a blood bath then go ahead with I your city gardens on Main Street. have been down on Main Street a lot lately just to watch traffic and it is pretty threatening right now at any time of day. Others who wrote letters suggested spending money on nicer trash cans, water fountains or to simply to give the money back. However, there are two funding sources for the Main Street reconstruction project. The first is for overall reconstruction, which will cost approximately $6 million. The second is by Lisa Church contributing writer Jim Collar and John Andrews say Grand County Administrator Judy Bane passed the word to a Footprints employee during a conversation in a local grocery store over the July 4 weekend. Collar says Bane told the employee that the county would not use Footprints services in the future. The inference was that it is because of our ads, Collar said during an interview last week." The incident was Footprints second run-i- n with county officials over the Tr. . Zephyr ads, Collar and Bane said. Their April advertisement in the alternative newspaper suggested the Top Ten things a wealthy local conservationist could buy with her money. One item: the Grand County Council. The list prompted an admonition from Bane and Grand County Chief Deputy Sheriff Doug Squire, who worked closely with Footprints to solve problems with the countys computer network and emergency services backup systems. Collar and Andrews later wrote a personal letter of apology to each council member. The most recent flap centers around the companys June ad, an irreverent spoof on endangered species. The Footprints Endangered List includes items such as tattooed missionaries and A job in Grand County that pays enough to support a family. But Banes objections center on two items - elected of- Grand County Economic Development Coor- dinator. Groups Its really hard to do business when youre bashing your employer, Bane said. I was just disappointed more than angry that Footprints To subscribe to nt This news-pap- is Footprints owners John Andrews (left) and Jim Collar pose in front business. They say the county will no longer hire them for computer work because of a pair of advertisements they ran in the Canyon Country Zephyr. Still, they see some humor in the situation. The irony is we lose money for every dollar we make from the county, Collar says. If the county wants to hurt us financially, they Photo by Lisa Church should give us more work. of their nt er 7 X) DS printed on recycled paper and is recyclable. 4 a recent editor's column that noted Salt Lake City as having installed medians along State Street only to tear them out a few years later Hoveer, he said that the reason was to put in the light rail system. He also referred to an online poll conducted b KCYN as to whether or not people supported the Continued on age A2 I and so the money to construct the medians cannot be used for beautification or enhancements. However, city officials noted at the meeting that financially the cost of the medians are a wash whether concrete is laid or a median is built. Those who spoke or wrote in favor of the medians shared a concern with those in opposition: that traffic on Main Street is dangerous. Many median supporters touted the medians resulting in traffic calming, which they believe will enhance First Place In Four Categories The Times-lndepende- Transportation Enhancement funds, from which the city received $490,000. Medians fall in the latter funding source and call subscribemoabtimes.com street. He also referred to . serve the public, Times-Independe- pedestrian travel downtown. Joe Kingsley, who spoke in support of the medians on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, provided a letter from the Chamber, which stated, After a thorough research of this issue, we have determined that medians will make Main Street safer; they will help slow the speed of vehicles and will serve as a protected refuge area for pedestrians crossing the non-motoriz- ficials who actually The 2004 - Some public officials take umbrage at ads; was company threatened with loss of business? The owners of Footprints Technologies, Inc. say Grand County will no longer do business with them because of the companys advertisements in the Canyon Country Zephyr. Obituaries: 43 15, Decision of Main Street medians still to come attractive, identifiable, Inside The T imes Thursday, July would go there. On Tuesday, acknowlBane edged discussing the June ad with the Footprints employee but refutes Continued on Page A 1 Sarah Heffron and David Svendson are surrounded by the beauty of fields of flowers and Photo by Marjorie Miller Moab's red cliffs. What could be better? Surround yourself in beauty; Karuna Farm Moab couple connects with community through plants by Marjorie Miller contributing winter Flowers are a joyful crop, says Sarah Heffron as she carefully trims a delicate spray of sea lavender from her garden. I love growing them, and they offer me a joyful way in which to connect with the community. Sarah Heffron and her husband, David Svendson, grow their flowers in the rich soils near Mill Creek on a small acreage they call Karuna Farm. The word karuna is Sanskrit and roughly translates into caring for all life. Their joy in their work seems to radiate throughout the peaceful surroundings theyve crafted around their cozy house plantings of thriving flowers and vegetables that seem quite happy. David came to Moab in 1995 and Sa- rah arrived a year later, both hailing originally from Colorado. It wasnt long after her arrival that Sarah founded the Youth Garden Project, and with her lifelong love of horticulture, Sarah has been growing things in the Moab climate ever since. Karuna Farm is the result of Sarah and Davids commitment to providing Moab with not just beauty, but with health, for the couple also grows a rich abundance of vegetables and herbs, with a harvest of peaches and pears to complement it all. Karuna Farm is one of Moabs two CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture), the other being Manzana Springs Continued on Page A2 Trail Canyon fire may keep burning late into month The Trail Canyon fire is burning on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land on the west side of Desolation Canyon. The fire is at an elevation of 8,000 feet and it spreads over 250 acres. As of Tuesday morning, fire resources include one Type 1 (carrying 1500 gallons of water), one Type 3 helicopter for moving personnel and one fixed wing plane for reconnaissance. There is no road access of any kind in this Wilderness Study Area. The fire was started by lightening and reported to dispatch on July 10. Terrain is very rugged and hampering Heli-tank- er 1 according to Dave Engleman the fire management officer for the BLM. There are several natural barriers around the fire such as rocky outcropping and mountain ridges. These natural features in the terrain should keep the fire from growing. Presently, no structures or private land are threatened. Because access is such an issue this fire may continue to burn into late July. However, the BLM will continue to monitor the fire and use the helicopter resources until it is contained. ground access, |