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Show THE SAN JUAN RECORD Wednesday, May 28, 2003 333jQ() "Cost - Page 6 this state more than it can afford Dear Editor: The San Juan Record welcomes letters from our readers. Letters to the Editor must be: No more than 350 words Signed Include the authors address and phone number The San Juan Record reserves the right to edit letters for length, clarity and to eliminate libelous or tasteless 'The Son Juan Vecorb State. Apparently, these people dont believe that Utah has sacrificed enough on behalf of the things of interest to them. The fact is, everyone in Utah has sacrificed plenty for these people but no amount of sacrifice is enough so long as it is made by someone else. The Grand Staircase National Monument was created by Clinton at the behest of this type of people and certainly dedicating land to national monuments is good for their retirement portfolio. But what about the people of the State, and public services in Utah and education? The Utah Geological Survey estimates that there are 62 billion tons of coal in the monument, of which 11.3 billion tons are considered recoverable. Since this is a big number, UGS breaks it down. One hundred million tons at $19.50 per ton would gross nearly $2 billion. This would produce $160 million based upon an eight percent royalty. If this production was on federal land, the State of Utah would receive approximately 50 percent of the $160 million, or $80 million. If all the recoverable coal was available for present and future production, this $80 million return to the State? of Utah would be multiplied $9 billion over the life of the reserve by 113 times, or a and this is at a steady price of just $19.50 per ton! These figures do not even begin to consider the wages and taxes of all kinds paid by the companies associated with mining. It is no consolation that school trust lands were traded out of the monument and now produce revenue for schools elsewhere in the State. The resource in the Kaiparowitz desert is gone and the present and future1 benefits to the local and State economy went with it. So if the outdoor recreators are in a pout about stopping an illegal act by their grand champion Babbitt and want to leave, let them go. They have already cost this state more than it can afford. Bill Redd mind-bogglin- HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH SINCE 1915 AN AWARD WINNING NEWSPAPER Publisher Those who have a profit motive in the annual Outdoor Retailers convention are threatening to move their annual get together to another State because Utah was instrumental in compelling the United States Department of Interior to stop illegal management practices on public lands. Their threat is that they will move their convention and the estimated 24 million that it brings into the States economy to another - Editor BILL BOYLE Office Manager TERRY CRAMER - Ad Design Office Assistant Paste-u- p 0 Jensen Orthodontics Alan C. Jensen, D.D.S., M.S. 570 West 400 North Moab, Utah 84532 g PAT RICHARDSON Call for an appointment Toll Free 877-322-73- 60 SPECIALIZING IN BRACES J Blanding Proofreader DAWN BOYLE Writers NELL DALTON MAXINE DEETER MARY LOU HOGGARD LEO PLATERO GARY TORRES TERRI WINDER News Writers ANNA THAYN PHIL MUELLER SCOTT BOYLE PHONE & FAX 435-587-22- 77 435-587-33- 77 IL sjrnewsCdfrontiernet.net (tron'ior net) SUBSCRIPTION RATES San Juan County Outside County - USA APO or FPO address Newsstand Sr Citizen Sr Out of County $18 $26 $26 50c SI 7.50 $25.50 Dear Editor: It seems that when the public County Commission meetings are reported in the local newspapers, that issues and questions keep coining to the surface that need public clarification and answers. This is true of the last public meet ing involving Blue Mountain Medical representatives. These are some of the issues I would like to see clarified. To the General: What is your perspective of Private Enterprise? When I took Economics 101 in college, Private Enterprise meant that private individuals going into a private business invested 100 of the money and took 100 of the risk of gain or loss from the enterprise. But maybe the Army has changed that concept. To the General again: What is your responsibility as an elected County Commissioner to protect the investment of the county taxpayers? This would include the investment we have in San Juan Healthcare District. Would that include protecting our county tax investment in the county hospital against federal tax money that may come into the county and compete with county tax mom1' and may and I say may cause us to lose our investment in the facility we already have in place? Remember when the new hospital was first promoted it was promoted as Free Enterprise then changed to Private1 Enterprise ami if I read the last reporting correctly, it is now represented as an Indian Hospital facility. If this is the case1, and it is controlled by the Indians, is it going to lie1 a taxable1 entity? In either weirds, is the facility going to generate1 tax revenue1 for the City of Blaneling anel San Juan County? Or will it be tax exompt? To Mr. Morgan: Since- you are- represemting that this hospital is lor and it appears from what I read of your remarks that your your people is your only interest, whv are1 you not pushing tei have1 the facility built in a location closer to your people, like1 Montezuma Creek, Bluff or Mexican Hat? This woulel save them much more driving as this seems tei concern you verv much. To San Juan Healthcare District: Why dont you have the dialysis equipment operating in the county, particularly in Blanding? It appears from everything that I read that this is a major contention. One last comment. I am for improvements and development as long as it makes good economic sense, but I can only see from my perspective that the promoters of this proposed hospital will line their pockets real well. The contractor that will build the facility should do very well financially but the rest of it after it is built seems to be very ques- To have a sample copysent to a friend, send us his other address. Write to PO Box 879, Monticello, UT 84535. Copyright, The San Juan Record, 2003. All rights reserved. Reproduction, reuse or transmittal of all matter herein is prohibited without prior written permission by the publisher. ISSN omDryi'u Issues I would like to see clarified Office Assistant JULIANNA REDD 0894-327- 3 Published weekly at 49 South Main, Monticello, Utah Periodical postage paid at Monticello, Ulah 84535 (I SS N 08 94 - 32 7 3) Postmaster: GB3G0GB 0QOEE03 GEXffi your convenience, the Monticello Landfill open two days a week beginning June 3: 1 - 7 PM TUESDAYS SATURDAYS 9 AM - 4 PM For will ity of iHotUtcello Get a turbo-charf- Basic Cableltmr ius sports net: csrn mt wm.ifM - mm and Newspaper Association National wmn e pe-eipl- Why is everyone racing to get Precis Cable TV? Our now low cost Broadcast Basic Serve c offers the simple basics foi just SO 9Smo Standard Cablt is now just SAl 95 mo anti includes popular networks FX. Fox Sports Rocky Mountain. Disney, Fox News. ESPN & TNT Watch dittercii! programs in different rooms without Buying extra equipment No equipment to buy1 No credit check' i ,iw cost Digital Value' Packages (S79 95ino S 74 95 'mo )' iN DEMAND Pay Per View offeung top box office hit movies and special events 30 channels of common iai fire Digital Music More Hollywood movies with up to ?6 different premium channels like HBO, Showtime and Over 150 total video and music channels available John Star! PRECIS tionable. communications W. Skouson FREE - FX RACING CAP when you Blanding i subscribe all address changes to P.O. Box 879, Monticello, Utah Association WF. : Send 84535. The San Juan Record is a member ot the Utah Press offer p today! -8- 00-924-7662 OFFER 0 3' T - 9 ? wai tkt s'' y)f ' - kmt ia- 7 - r.m e tr. 9 . '" i ; !. ', s J k first 9 to Of mi ts v Ia ft . W v ,t.i y.! 5 f? hm ,. It it OHuvr i !' cr ; Jumr f hi : fc w rm ng f riC . t;s . ate c rr j: : ' k '? luv- ) o !'? i k, jv- w i 4c jf 53103 EXPIRES 3 !. ? - |