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Show Volume Tooele, Utah, Thursday, February 2fl, 1981 Eighty-Si- x Cost: Twenty Fise Cents Nurnlier Thirty Fight Police Chief Reports City Crime Rate Up Slightly, Traffic Accidents Decrease Crime in Tooele city increased in the past year, hut not by very much, ms's Police Chief Jesse Petersen in the department s annual report. The rate for major crimes in the city increased 1.9 percent during 19S0 because of increases in homicide, rape and rohlwry classification. IN 1979 no homicides, rapes or rohler-ie- s were reported to the city polite department. Hut in I960, one homicide and. one robbery were reported and three cases of rape were investigated. However, decreases were reported in assault, burglary and vehicle thefts during the past year. Chief Petersen noted that another important aspect of crime in addition to the crime rate is the loss of property. THE estimated value of all property lost because of criminal actions last year was 1170,000. This compares with $199,700 during 1979, a 17 percent decrease. However, not all of this property was permanently lost, Chief Petersen pointed out. During 1980 the police department recovered stolen property valued at a representation of 14 percent of the original amount that was lost. Tooele City Police made 520 arrests last year, with the nurnlier of juveniles being arrested slightly less than that of adults. The report shows 253 juveniles were arrested in Tooele City, compared to 267 adult arrests. NEARLY 43 percent - 114 arrests - of the adults were for driving under the influence of alcohol, while 67 curfew violations headed the list of juvenile crimes. Other areas of crime that several juveniles were arrested for include liquor law violations, larceny, burglary, and possession of controlled substances. During the past year the Tooele City Police Department investigated 438 motor vehicle accidents. Estimated damage to the vehicles involved came to $278,026. FORTY-FOU- persons were injured as a result of these accidents, Chief Peter Chief Petersen said. The preliminary data seems to indicate that it is. AS ALWAYS, speeding violations top the list of citations issued by city police officers. last year's report shows that 524 speeding citations were issued. accidents and estimated damage-onl- y Speeding was followed by stop sign violations, parking violations, expired vehidamage to vehicles. The numlter of accidents dropped from cle registration and expired Mfety inspec536 in 1979 to 471 reported last year, a 14 tion and driving while intoxicated. Other activity data shows that family percent decrease. CHIEF Petersen Mid, It is often haz- problems have increased greatly in Tooele r ardous to make quick judgments from during the past period. FOR EXAMPLE, there were no cases statistics, but perhaps the reasons for this of custodial interference revrted in 1975, decline is our implementaiton of the Selbut in 1980, 13 such aliductions were ective Traffic Enforcement Program. The Tooele police chief explained that handled by city police. this program was developed to target t rafIn 1975, only one case of child neglect fle enforcement efforts toward accident-causin- g was reported, compared to last year when violations, while giving less emeight of those type of cases were handled. The nunilier of assaults reported w hich phasis to those violations which were found to lie less likely to result in accioccurred during a family dispute also dents. jumped a significant 65 percent since 1975. Five years ago, 119 disputes were We would like to think that this program is accomplishing its objectives," reported, compared to 196 in 1980. sen Mid. But fortunately, no one lost their life in an accident in Tooele City during 1980. Drivers operated their vehicles more Mfcly during the past year in Tooele w ith decreases reported in injuries, fatalities, five-yea- sion Tuesday. The commissioners voted to send $500 to help with preliminary research to contest the states claim that its assessment calculations are without flaw. Each county was asked for money following a meeting held Feb. 12 in which the counties pondered a strategy to fight the state decree. A LETTER from the Utah Association of Counties delivered the plea for financial support. Tooele County would be one - zxZrsuai CHIEF Petersen Mid significant management and personnel changes have occurred in the Tooele City Police Department in the last five years, including: The position ol assistant chief has lieen eliminated ami two lieutenant positions have Iteen established to supervise the traffic and patrol division and the investigation division. A four-shisvstem has I seen implemented in the traffic and pat rol division in place of traditional three shifts. - THE investigation division has Iteen expanded to four officers, one of which is assigned to work at the schools. - One officer has Iteen assigned as a t raffle stecia!ist and works in the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program. - The position of administrative sergeant has lieen replaced with that of chief dispatcher. This reflects an effort to place civilian employees into positions which do not require trained police officers," Chief Petersen said. State OKs Viaduct Guard Rails By Hugh Barnes New guard rails for the viaduct north of Tooele have been promised by the Utah Department of Highways if money can be found in the present budget, Rep. said. Beverly White, Highway Department officials inspected the viaduct Wednesday morning and agreed that rails were needed after olrserving where cars had slipped off the structure. THE GUARD RAILS will either Ire the metal type of the concrete Jersey Barrier" type. Installation depends on finding funds, highway officials told Rep. White. A bill to regulate the dumping of radioactive tailings has been reported favorably on a committee, Rep. White said. House Bill 174, which she is sponsor ing, makes the provisions: A county of this state shall not lie required to accept for storage radioactive tailings produced or stored in another county without adequate compensation to and concurrance of the receiving county. THIS IS A revision of a previous bill that the committee refused to accept and Rep. White feels that more legislators are now in favor of the measure. Sen. Karl G. Swan, reports that he will attempt to reinstate funds for the state's Irookinohile service when the measure comes Indore the executive budget committee of which he is a memlier. Rep. White says she has received many letters requesting that the bookmobile service not be cut. She has re- ceived letters from all of the school children in Clover and Vernon request- - ing that the bookmobile service not lie cut. SHE URGES persons interested in keeping the bookmobile service fully funded to write the legislative Management Committee of the Utah legisla- "lure. Sen. Swan says he has received numerous letters on the bill that would remove the requirements of state inspection of automobiles. His mail is running Heavily in favor of retaining the present law, he says. He added that a 304 page bill which regulates the Department of Health came in for heavy debate in the Senate Wednesday. TESTIMONY WAS heard from doc- tors wishing to have the certificate of need for specialized medical equipment (Continued on page three) County Continues Property Tax Battle by Conrad Walters Another step toward bucking the state mandate for upping local property taxes was taken by the Tooele County Commis- W of the counties heaviest hurt by a forced revaluation, the commissioners have previously said. While some other counties face larger percentage jumps in the local assessments, Tooele would feel the pinch more because it has a heftier reliance on properties, like railroads and mines. state-assess- In Tooele, this means homeowners would pick up taxes saved by those entities. state-assess- PROPERTY taxes for locally assessed properties, like homes, will increase by 78.4 percent in Tooele if the state gets its way. The research will determine if the counties would have a chance in a legal battle. If the state wins, Tooele homeowner taxes increase by the amount. If the counties win, properties would be revaluated, making the load on state properties more like the counties prefer. state-assess- Tooele County Attorney Ron Elton said he believes the best defense for the counties rests with the fact that the value of homes has increased over the years, but the value of the state properties has managed to decline. Inflation should have affected both equally, he argues. ELTON said the difference makes it look like the state has not been assessing its properties accurately. According to the letter from the Association of Counties, a good basis for legal action exists. Then it makes is plea for help on legal research, a 100 hours worth. The funding for this comes from the county assessors budget at the suggestion of the association because the entire county can be forced to repay that. THE PAYMENT does not obligate the county to engage in the legal suit, if that outcome is selected. The money only finances the study. No coimty was forced to pay the request, but simply asked, said L. Brent Gardner, an administrator for the association. Five have already sent their checks, and another 10 to 15 have said they would, Gardner noted. He said he did not expect every county to join, explaining that some do not think the states work is in accurate. THE associations legal staff is investigating data, figures, facts and laws to find evidence that the counties have an arguable case. Whether the second phase, court action against the State Tax Commission, will occur has not been made, Gardner said on Wednesday. A court case, he stated, would try to show that inequities in the state assessment program have been going on and compounded over the years, making homeowners pay too much, the administrator said. It would try to prove the state methods of valuating property are faulty, Gardner said. IF THE research gives the association support, the association would return to the counties for more money, Gardner said. Job Service To Move Ken Martinez, a Job Service interviewer, checks an application form in his county courthouse office. Job Service will move Friday to the first floor of the Executive Plaza and will be open for business Monday. Job Service will share the first floor with the Executive Mens Shop at 7 South Main in Tooele. Strong wings failed to deter Shaun Pannun.io and Bridgett Baum from celebratrites as they enjoy the swings at East Elementary Wednesday ing afternoon. pre-sprin- Zions Wants To Enter Local Financial Market Zions First National Bank, the state's second largest bank, has filed an application to enter the Tooele City financial market. If approved by the Regional Administrator of National Banks, Zions would set up a full service banking operation, said Jerry Dent, from the bank's public relations department in Salt Lake City. APPROVAL would mean the corporation could compete with Tooeles established four banks and credit union. The bank would lie constructed around 150 North Main - which is in the vicinity of the old Safeway store - according to the application. No particular site has been firmed. Dent said Wednesday. Asked alxnit the existing banking facilities, Dent said his company has a thick volume of research done by the University of Utah that shows the project is feasible. AT THIS point, Zions is only asking for permission to set up in Tooele. Persons who want to comment on the proposal can write to the Regional Administrator at 1405 Curtis Street, Suite 3000, in Denver. The zip code is 80202. Dent said typically no comments, pro or con are made, but the public has 21 days from publication of the intent which was given Feb. 24. The bank is looking at a delay before construction would liegin on the new branch, and it would lie another 10 months liefore the bank opened. Dent said in a telephone interview, Wednesday. IIE SAID Zions would provide checking, savings, loan, bank card and all other services of any commercial bank. Tooele is currently served by Commercial Security Bank, First Security Bank, Walker Bank and Trust,. Prudential Federal Savings and Loan and the Tooele Federal Credit Union. Mrs. Averett Two Tooele Scouters Earn Silver Beaver Again, the payment would be voluntary. He said he could give no estimate on what the cost might be, saying the attorney preparing the case are not even willing to guess. Gardner speculated that the financing for the second round might be done differently than it was ofr the research protion. He said it may be based on population more populated counties paying bigger Two Tooele Scouters received Silver Beaver awards last week in Salt Lake City. Ruby S. Averett and Bruce J. Hanson received the highest award given to adult Scouting leaders on a council level and were honored with 34 other leaders in the Great Salt Lake Council. MRS. AVERETT, who was one of five shares. women receiving the coveted Silver Beaver, has worked with the Cub Scouting Or counties who would benefit most from a successful court fight might be asked for more. He stressed, however, that the decision is down the road and will not be made until the research is completed. program for numerous years. She is continually trying to better prepare boys for leadership demands of the future, says BobGowans, Deseret Peak District scouting executive. Cowans says Mrs. Averett demonstrates an unfailing love and devotion to each and every boy. MR. HANSON has been continuously involved in leadership positions serving young men in many areas of Scouting during his service of 28 years. He has helped many young men find goals to challenge them into love. His troop has always came away from camps with more than their fair share of high awards and merit badges earned while enjoying the camps, Cowans said. This is where his boys learned of the importance of having an outlined program with proper leadership. 1 |