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Show Letter To The Editor off the Record taste of government by bureacracy Monday, and the taste was terrible. We got a Dear Citizens of Monticello and San Juan County: On Monday, April 7, we had the opportunity to attend a Bureau of Land Management public hearing on proposed reorganization of the BLM field offices in Utah. I wont go into the details of the meeting because it was well attended; and certainly most people Few of us, if any, knew that public servants were setting the ground rules so completely these days, or that there even was such a position as Department of the Interior Administrative Law Judge. Fewer still would guess that you can't ask questions at a "public meeting if the bureaucrats say you cant, nor applaud, nor laugh too much. The experience was educational, and depressing. There is only one recourse, apparently, and that is to get hold of your congressman and start screaming. And I mean screaming, as opposed to pleading, or reasoning. BLM officials have absolutely no intention of changing their position on the move of already know what transpired. From the bureaucratic idea the BLM had. Isnt that remarkable? It purports to be an inde- district headquarters BLM pendent analysis of the situation. But it started with the premise that District offices must be reduced from eight to four. A five -- district plan, for example, was not studied. Why not? In Southwest Utah there are, under the proposed set-u- p, two District offices farther south than Price, the ONLY district headquarters proposed for all of Eastern Utah, and presented as serving Southeast Utah. How can that be? 4. The economic study displays a chart that ranks communities according to services offered. No one, except the from Monticello to Price. In fact it looks like they will give Monticello a little extra slap on the wrist by taking away a Resource Area office. Of all the towns losing District headquarters, only Monticello is to be honored in that way. The others will all retain at least . two Resource Area designa- tions. Even in screaming, one should resort to facts. So here are a few you might incorporate in the letter to your congressman and senators. I assume you are writing. If you don't see the need by now, BLM and their report-mak- er Dr. Nelson, knows how the nothing I can say will help. 1. The thrust of the local position has been that the move would not be strongly opposed if clear savings to taxpayers were established, without serious harm to management of local resources. In response (maybe) ranking factors were selected. Or why the area was not shown as having a radio station. Or why the reorganization in Wyoming and No answer. Why 2. The Interested Citizens Committee prepared a thorough analysis of the resources, case work, etc. that comprise the BLM's job in this area. they have had a long association. It backs up their initial ideas in every important de- tail. They came to the second meeting with an Administrative Law Judge, effectively muffling adverse comment. Their spokesmen each took about half an hour to detail their positions. No. opposition spokesman was to have more than 10 minutes. They district headquarters, but it intends to cut an Area office out of San Juan County. How come? The Economic Impact Report prepared for the BLM ends up supporting the first 3. ! for w-- retail written by a man with whom It clearly shows the bulk of the work in San Juan and Grand Counties. Yet not only does the BLM propose to move the m-- in while a hospital was not required. Odd. That should be enough statistical incongruity to stimulate your elected representatives. And there is one philosophical point none of us should ignore. 5. There has been from the start a discernible arrogance in the BLMs handling of this business. The first proposal they brought down here was marked Final. They proposed only two weeks to file response to it. They were consistently unavailable to answer questions on timing, people, other factual aspects of the move. They admit receiving heavy mail and comment against the idea, but they have not budged from their initial position. They have an economic report Bureau allows they can save some $23,000 in travel costs under the new idea. Thats statewide. They neglect to mention they hope to add, eventually, about 130 new people. I dont see how that could cost less than $130,000 a year. Thats economy? There is an estimate of moving costs for the people involved in the reorganizaBut no figure on how tion. much it would cost to get physical facilities in shape in the new headquarters cities. Will it be free? The Citizens Committee has asked repeatedly for a report on the costs associated with Colorado. not? $10,000,000 sales was designated a required factor in the community service center class, vlb by I, so-call- ed Sincerely, s Gene Etherington Mayor and Mrs. Gene could ask questions ; the people could not. Since this began, Fve had the privilege of working with intelligent, articulate men and women who feel strongly that this is the wrong move from every aspect. The response to their ar- based solidly on guments, facts, figures, and the philosophy of local control, has inflexibeen a patronizing bility. Perhaps one statement from Mr. Nelsons report, presumably read and allowed to stand agencys attitude. Generally, the quality of the individual who can be recruited for or willingly assigned to a regional center will be better than one to a hamlet, for example. In talking about the quality Some two or three years later, there was a real room made of wood, but still only one room. Albert R. Lyman was the teacher. He used to enforce his rules by having the students march around and around the room, hopefully thinking of the infraction thay had committed. It was pretty rough on some of those kids, but they still respect that o tance lends enchantment, but would you care to go back? r" teacher who insisted on law and order. Its true, they say, that dis- - BLM (Contd. from page 1) Monticello, including both pro- fessional and clerical, and claimed this would place BLM employment here at about the same as in 1973. However, his chart on current employment was disputed by some of those commenting, based on their knowledge of staffing in Monticello. Several speakers took on Dr. Nelsons assertion that the pot-belli- ed BLM would have an easier time recruiting and assigning quality employees to a cen- ter like Price. Bruce Halliday, appearing for the Interested C it ize ns Committee, again emphasized the Committees position that the move would not be opposed if a clear and sensible savings to taxpayers was proven, but contended it had not been, and suggested possible legal action, at least on the grounds that an Environmental Impact Statement had not been pre- m, as pared. Others appearing in opposition to the move included Don Barton (Cattlemens AsMonticello City sociation), Manager Clyde Christensen, Ken Summers, Loyd Young, Bruce Adams, DeMar Perkins, Pearl Whittaker, Terry Hunt, Brent McAllister, Commissioner Eddie Boyle, Miles Turnbull. Gary Tomsic, Ad- you just put on the fire made the stove smoke. At recess time, the snow is so deep, the teacher advises that everyone stay in and play games in the tent. You wind up entertaining the little kids or looking on while they try to entertain you. In spite of all this, you like both the shcool ministrative Assistant, Price City also appeared. and the teacher. Lucretia Ly Winner of 1973-7- 4 Newspaper Contest The San Juan Record of others, BLM officials and their consultant have said it all about theirs. MWT Miles & Jane Turnbul 1 Publ i shers Entered in the Post Office at The book COWBOYS, INDIANS AND HOMESTEADERS is the autobiogra- Mr. McCabe ! it. walked through the halls of a modern high school and marveled at the many rooms from the nurses room and the janitors room to the kitchen and the many class rooms for every purpose. I was amazed and overwhelmed at the advantages the kids have today. I couldnt help but think how apropos it would be if when they complain at the ghastly hardship of attending school, they could be shoved back in time to a school where they might have some room for complaint. It was the winter of 1907 or 1908 when the families in Grayson decided their children could not wait for their schooling until a schoolhouse could be built. They pooled their money and bought a tent, possibly 10x14 feet. Homemade benches and tables, a black stove board and a were the furnishings. Dried kernels of corn and dried beans were used to teach arithmetic and they were lucky if they had chalk and crayons. Textbooks were shared with three or four using one book. All that was taught, was taught in that one little room. Every class from the first to the eighth had to listen to every other class. Even so there was no rush to get out of study by going to the rest-roofor that there precious necessity--an- d was only one for everybody to share--wout in the back. You tromped through the deep snow to get there, found snow all over the seat, and wished you had not come. Likely as not, the teacher would ask you sweetly to bring in an arm load of wood while you were out. By the time you got back to your place on the bench, you were more or less numb from cold, and the snow on the wood I - camp. 19, 1975 man was the teacher and loved Casse Lyman Monson by BLM officials, sums- up the tween Monticello and Dove Creek when Dove Creek was just a cow the 8 to 12 p.m. April Promenade at 10:15 Couples $3.75 with tickets; Singles $2 with tickets $4 at the door they conducted their public hearings. Urge your congressmen to obtain transcripts of these hearings, in order that they may judge for themselves. Then, if our elected officials are unresponsive, we should let them know that they can be replaced in coming elections. If you have already written your congressmen, write again. If you have not written them, make sure you do. We simply cannot quit on these issues at this point. phy Monticello High Junior Class ! the present BLM proposals, but also the manner in which of Henry McCabe. Henry ran cattle be- itu "Color My World presented standpoint this meeting represented oppression and intimidation at its worst. People have long been saying that this could not happen in America; but, it has happened right here. Regrettably, it has probably occurred to greater or lesser degrees elsewhere throughout the United States. Each of us has the moral obligation to speak out on incidences such as this. If not, we will be selling our children and grandchildren into bondage, little by little. We can ill afford to remain apathetic regarding our basic freedoms. We should all write our congressmen, opposing not only By will be in Monticello to autograph books on Thursday, April 17 at the Clement Johnson home. Monticello, Utah, as Second Class matter. Published every Thursday at Monticello, Utah. Subscription Rates: $6.00 a year in San Juan $7.00 a year everywhere else Post Office Box 428 Monticello, Utah, 84535 Phone 801587-227- 7 Better Awards: O 2 c Q |