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Show r- "- naijnr ! MW' Th Vol aim Joan HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER 68 No 52 1 : :...: u: 1..- .- Getting trash picked up in Blanding is going to cost more. Private garbage collection or a hike in city collection rates were options discussed in the regular Blanding City Council meeting last week. City Manager Norman Johnson told the council the city is facing a 50 percent shortfall in garbage collection revenues if rates are not raised. Were looking at a 50 to 60 percent increase just to break even, Johnson said. He said depreciation of equipment, wages, and benefits are the reasons for the needed rate hike. Johnson said an alternative to increased rates is private collection services, adding that a Colorado firm has made such a proposal to the city. Councilman Richard Pincock voiced concern about private collection, citing city layoffs and lack of competition as potential ;,... Bronco Chris Singer displays his skills in the BroncoBuckaroo See game Saturday evening in Blanding. The Broncos won 92-7page 9 for story, including half-tim- e ceremony honoring Shane 6. Dan Black photo Shumway. Blanding contemplates resolution to transfer city interest in pipeline by Stan Byrd The Blanding City Council is considering a resolution that will transfer the citys ownership of the Recapture pipeline and water lease to the San Juan Water Conservancy District. The resolution calls for the district to pay the city $20,000 per year for 15 years and makes provision for the city to suspend the lease in a time of water emergency. Essentially the city of water is leasing 500 acre-fee- t back to the conservancy district, says Councilman Francis Lyman. According to the resolution, the city will turn over their interest in the pipeline to the district. In turn, the district will maintain such or transmit water as they see fit for a return of the citys cash investment... The resolution, as proposed, not only allows the city to lease MARKETS Wheat Beans $3.00 $14.50 feet of water in Recapture Reservoir to the conservancy district, but provides for suspension of the lease if the city experiences a water emergency. The lease would automatically reinstate after the emergency ends or at the end of the water year. The resolution does not preclude the city from pursuing other water development projects, such as enlarging Dry Wash Reservoir. Improvements at Starvation Reservoir and the city feeder pipelines on Blue Mountain are included in the resolution. The city will submit the resolution to water conservancy officials for approval. City Manager Norman Johnson noted that the second phase of the Recapture pipeline project is underway. He said that with the exception of one property owner, the conservancy district has acquired pipeline easement rights in exchange for 10,000 gallons of water. 500-acr- e February 4, 1987 25 cents Rates charged for garbage j FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH problems. After a lengthy discussion, the council approved a plan to solicit bids from private firms. Mayor Jim Shumway says a comparison between the bids and proposed city hikes will be studied before a decision is made. In other business, City Engineer Phillip Palmer presented a 1987 schedule for street improvements that will be paid jointly by San Juan County and the city. According to Palmer, the city will pay 30 percent of the cost for street renovation, new sidewalk, curbs and gutters. The county pays the remaining 70 percent. Palmer says the plan is unique. This may be the only place where a cooperative agreement between county and city is in operation. He says the 1987 schedule, if approved, will bring a wide not covering expenses pick-u- p range of street improvements to west of Blanding. Mayor Jim Blanding. The proposed plan Shumway deferred the discuswas presented to county offi- sion until a formal meeting on cials on February 3. the subject can be scheduled. Palmer and the council also The mayor indicated that a discussed plans for airport joint statement on the land sale modifications required by the from city and county officials is Federal Aviation Agency. The forthcoming. Council woman Clea Johnson changes include a new location for gas pumps and a new taxi reported on a proposed camplane. ground near Dry Wash ReserTwo San Juan County resivoir. She said the U.S. Forest dents voiced opposition to a Service is interested in working proposed land purchase of with the city and county to Bureau of Land Management develop the site, but has stated land by the Navajo Tribe. The no funds are available until the sale involves 120 acres of land next federal fiscal year. Jurisdictional questions holding up quick purchase of BLM land Jurisdictional questions are holding up a quick purchase by the Navajo Tribe of 120 acres of BLM land west of Blanding. s On Monday, county reviewed the proposed sale with Wesley Oshley of the Blue Mountain Dineh. Commissioners Black and Bailey pushed for resolving the basic issues of tax status and services before the land is sold. Commissioner MarkMaryboy concurred, with the stipulation that the negotiations should not be used merely to delay the sale. He urged that action be taken immediately to expedite the transaction. BLM is interested in moving forward on the matter. In other business, the commissioners denied Jerry Guthcomis-sioner- rie, employee in the sheriffs department payment for back holiday leave. Guthrie had accumulated 23 days of holiday leave, usually taken as compensatory time off, over a Sheriff reports stolen capsules lethal The San Juan County sheriff has issued a warning to the person or persons who took nitrate trace capsules from Farabee Automotive in Blanding during a robbery on Tuesday, January 27. a grayish-whitThe capsules e powder encased in white are lethal if swallowed. Skin contact with the contents of the capsule is dangerous. plastic period of five years with the sheriff s department. The coun- ty employment policy in effect for the past two years stipulates that holiday leave be taken within two weeks of the holiday. Guthrie asserted that as the sheriff s office is an emergency unit, the holiday policy should be more flexible. He said there was an unwritten rule giving department employees rr ore flexibillity than othf r county workers. The commissioners took the position that as the formal leave policy had been in effect for two years, Guthrie had time to take the leave. They pointed out that other personnel had been forced to eat untaken leave from time to time. For that reason, they said, it would be unfair to pay one person for leave accumulated against the county policy. The commission also established a policy for contracting with independent truckers. The new policy specifies that truckers currently working with the county shall be given priority. Sheriff Claude Lacy has desiring hauling conasked anyone with information Others tracts will be placed on a roster about the capsules to call the and additional work shall be sheriffs office at The divided among them. Hauling identity of callers will be held in time will start when the truck confidence. intersects the hauling route. The county will not pay deadBecause of the head time. nature of the capsules, the Commissioner Bailey came sheriff urges the person or into the limelight on road persons who took the capsules matters. Martin Risselle, engi- to turn them in so they can be (Please turn to page 7) disposed of properly. 587-223- life-threateni- 7. |