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Show HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH Volume 87 Number 27 50 cents SINCE 1915 March 31, 2004 Toni Turk to be the next Mayor of Blanding Distinguished Service Award for Nell - See Dalton page 7 Replaces Balch April 15 By a unanimous vote of the Blanding City Council on March 23, Toni Turk was appointed to become the next Mayor of the City of Blanding. Funeral services for Barney Dale Walker are Wednesday March 31. 2004 at noon at fne Monticello LDS Stake Center. A Turks appointment was made necessary when current Mayor Calvin Balch retired from a long career at Wells Fargo Bank and announced he and his wife would be serving an LDS mission in Canada. Turk will take over as the Mayor of Blanding on April 15, after the resignation of Balch. The City Council is required to appoint a mayor to Fill an unexpired term within 30 days of the previous mayors resignation. Four Blanding residents submitted applications to be considered for the award and Turk was the unanimous choice of the City Council. In addition to Turk, other Blanding residents who signaled an interest in serving as Mayor include Gerald Gappmeyer, Keele Johnson, and Dale Slade. Blanding Mayor will be the first political office for Turk, who administers federal grant programs for the San Juan School District. He and his wife Barbara have lived in Blanding twice, most recently returning to the area in the early 1990s to assume his current position with the school district. The Turks have three sons and several grandchildren, all of whom live in the Blanding area. viewing is from 1 0 30 to 11 30 a.m. and interment at me Monticellc City Cemetery. Xochilt Socorro girl Eduvijes & Pedro Coronado March 12 Carter Dam Black Catherine Begaye & Dennis Black boy Monticello Council to consider electric system tonight by Anna Thayn To purchase or not to purchase? That question has been hovering over the emotional and volatile electrical system issue in Monticello for several years. The answer to that question may be determined sooner than anticipated after the Monticello City Council voted to hold a spe- cial meeting this evening (Wednesday, March 31 ). At that time, the Council is set to vote on a proposed resolution that would rescind a 2000 resolution to purchase of the electrical system from Empire Electric. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in Monticello Council Chambers. The issue generated a great deal of discussion at the March 24 meeting of the City Council. Mayor Scott Pehrson startl'd the discussion by stating that the purpose was to identify a direction for the city in case a lawsuit opposing the previous City tribution system costs, including capital improvements, operation and management, may not be high enough at $850,000. Councilman Doug Allen said that the new analysis includes a figure for these costs that is higher than the original engineer estimate. He added that a new wholesale power rate, which was received by the city on the day of the meeting, showed an additional $100,000 a year of potential income if the City purchased the system. Former Mayor Dale Black said that hi' had a problem with is the logic that the flawed. He said that there pro-form- a art-ver- few knowns in starting a tions other than the purchase. City Manager Trent Schafer said leaving the resolution in place does not stop the City from exploring options, lie said that the council had always been free to research any and all options. Councilman Bleu Freestone said that if the resolution was repealed and lawsuit dropped, then the council would be free to act on whatever decision they make. The possibility of the lawsuit being dropped was mentioned brietly during discussion. Black shared his concern that if they cancel the resolution, it may destroy any future possibility of purchasing tin system. Councilman Pete Steele said business hut the city couldn't that people should have more ask for a more sound business say in government, which is why because much of the he initiated the referendum. information, including use and Steele said that if there would have been a vote, it would have power costs, are known. Mayor Pehrson agreed with been over and dene. He said he has always felt, and still does, Black that it is a good A city resident asked if the prothat the people should vote. He Council decision was dropped. Pehrson said the Council was forma is so good, then why are said the City cost the people over advised at a February 11 meetthey saying that the costs for $300,000 when they could have had a vote and cost nothing. ing to wait to make a decision distribution are too low? until the lawsuit was resolved, Young presented a resolution Mayor Pehrson said he is still a proces that could take up to which would repeal the 2000 in favor of a referendum. He 18 months. Pehrson said the resolution establishing the city said assumptions were made reCouncil feels a need to have a intent to purchase the electrical garding the purchase because direction and plan, instead of system. He said, It is time to those opposed were very vocal sitting and wondering what to get going instead of just sitting and those who were for the purdo for the next year and a half. chase were not. He also shared here wondering what to do. concern about putting the deciCouncilman Steve Young said Young said the new resolution he put the item on the agenda would give the City a chance to sion to a vote of the people, statbecause he is still uncomfortable ing that the council was elected explore other avenues, includr contract to make decisions and it would with a new feasibility study of ing a possible the project prepared by City with Empire or a vote to deter- be hard to close the door to once it was opened. Manger Trent Schafer. Young mine public sentiment. added that he is comfortable The council tentatively deMany city residents were prewith the level of service from cided to put the item on the April sent and questions were raised Empire. He also is unsure if city 28 agenda, hut said that they on both sides. After a great deal pockets are deep enough for the did not want to wait another of discussion, Freestone made a venture in case of an unexpected month to make a decision, so the motion to hold a special meeting. Allen asked that the counproblem. In the event that the special meeting was scheduled. cil wait one month to make the There is concern from the counproject goes had. Young worries in that it could break the city. Spe- cil that the current resolution is decision but the vote was favor of the meeting. keeping them from exploring op cifically, Young said that the dis pro-form- March 13 g rl Jaydea Vilate DeAnn & Tyler Price March 14 girl Maridon Morgan Amanda & Levi Howell March 23 Ethan Adam boy & Nathan Nanai March 24 Candace mr Monticello Blanding Monticello had a trace of snow on March 27. I nbe 5 a pro-form- a. News Roundup Letters to Editor Society Sports Community News Legals Classified Real Estate 2 4 8 10 12 16 18 19 ten-yea- ref-erendu- New Blanding Mayor Toni Turk will take office after the April 15 resignation of Mayor Calvin Balch. Courtesy photo 4-- 1 March 29 snow report 9.2" of water in 21" of snow 13.8" is multi-yea- r average low 2.0 in 1996 is multi-yea- r 29.0 in 1993 is multi-yea- r high Current snow is 670 of normal La Sal snow Is 410 of norma! |