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Show i w Lift ) State Press ' jsPOal4-Ecx - - ,w c r,'-'- " ' . - . ' vrtrw' '7?v - Acs-- i T City, Utah S4uc t , MlWl M 11 ' Volume 80, Number 26 Brigham City, Utah, Sunday Morning, June 26, 1977 12 Pages TWENTY CENTS Porch light policy rescinded pipirwi bydget Biroglhiim without mill A record $2,270,435 general fund budget was adopted by the Brigham City council on Thursday evening, topping the proposed $2,203,620 originally proposed to the council in May by Mayor Harold B. Felt. Despite the raised budget total, Brigham City residents will not be paying the proposed two mill levy increase since the net effect of changes made by the council shows a reduction of some $46,000 in has a pretty smile for tourists who stop by the information caboose at 1100 South Main. Not only does the caboose dispense aid to travelers, but is ready to help local folks whore planning to vacation in Utah. ROBBY FARLEY Same service for oil ing. Included in the fee raises are water rates by a ten percent net, sewer rates from Chamber tourist caboose is for BE residents, too Brigham Citys tourist information caboose isnt just for tourists. The booth, located on the northeast corner of 1100 South Main, can provide information from Brigham City folks as well when theyre interested in seeing unfamiliar parts of Utah. Richard McFarland, executive Secretary of the Brigham City Chamber of Commerce, said the booth is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., staffed by four young people. In the past it has dispensed information mainly to travelers, but MacFarland says local residents can benefit from the service, too. If people in Brigham City and surrounding areas are planning a trip to such places as Canyonlands, Lake Powell or Dinosaurland, they can get tour guides and other information right here at the booth. And if we dont have it, we will make an effort to obtain it from the Utah Travel Council or the Golden Spike Empire, MacFarland said. Although the booth is geared to give information primarily about attractions in the north end of the state, it has information about many of the tourist areas in the remainder of Utah, he said. We want to provide the same service to the local people as we give tourists, he added. The booth is staffed by. Betty Baron, Robby Farley, Mark Peabody and Mark Jensen. Theyve been operating the booth since June 6. Some 1,500 tourists have stopped for help since it opened. Most requests for information are routine tourist needs for how far is expenditures from local funds. Much of the increase in the gross figures, it was noted by Councilman Dale monies that Baron, reflects the the city must' handle as both income and expenditures on paper. Although not paying extra property taxes, residents will find their costs increased through the raising of service rates. Some of these were raised through previous city action and other changes were approved during the June 23 meet- per month, electrical with a 7.5 percent raise, refuse collection from $1.05 to $1.50, and golf green fees from $1.75 to $2 effective July 1. A surprise move which added $30,000 to the public utility fund came as the council rescinded a 1922 policy providing free porch light service, with authorization to begin disconnections at once. It is estimated that 68 percent of the homes in the city have this service. Presented in summary form by Roger K. Handy, director of administrative services, the changes which were hammered out by the council in the general fund revenues include: An increase of $10,000 in estimate for ambulance service, which assumes an increase in ambulance-us- e charge; Addition of $14,000 in revenue for John Adams park grant reimbursement expected in 1976-7but not to be received until fiscal year 1977-7Addition of $10,500 in revenue for state share of airport runway renovation offset by similar expenditure increase) ; Addition of $18,000 in revenue for the federal share of the airport master plan grant (offset by similar expenditure increase); Increase of $2,360 in refuse collection revenue due to ten percent increase in charges to commercial customers and Intermountain school. Changes in general fund expenditures included $22,000 increase for purchase of a new ambulance; $16,000 in waste collection salaries for addition of two employes; an addition of $11,800 for contribution to the State Unemployment Insurance fund; and the two airport items previously mentioned to form the larger changes. Smaller adaptions included a reduction of $2,700 in administration travel; decrease of $7,000 in professional services; $2.63 to $3 that town or what route is taken for this place. Occassionally, a funny one crops up. One tourist needed directions to a restaurant and motel located across the street from the information caboose. Another entered the yellow structure and inquired where he might find the tourist information booth. But many are interested in the Golden Spike Historic site and the Bear River Migratory Bird refuge. MacFarland said the caboose contains road maps and a pop machine and outside are restrooms. Picnic tables in the shade are provided. The young workers try 'and persuade travelers to stay and see what the Brigham City area has to offer. Were trying to educate people to what we have hpre and on a statwide basis. Utah is known as a state, meaning people come through here on their way to another destination. Wed like to indpce them to stay in our area or in the state to see what we have, the chamber executive said. Some 15,000 tourists stopped at the facility last year and whether that number will be acheived this summer is a question mark. It appears more people are by passing the city than before, due to the new freeway. But the number of people stopping has been picking up the last week as we come into the heavy tourist season, he added. MacFarland noted that since 1973, there has been a 20 percent increase each year in the use of the caboose over the previous year. The caboose is usually open through Labor Day in September. pass-throug- h 7 decrease of $2,000 for a new patrol car; a decrease of $2,500 for golf course machinery; reduction of $300 for community theatre, addition of 750 for mini-bu- s expenses; addition of $2,000 for operation of travel caboose; addition of $2,000 for Peach Days float; addition of $2,000 for city fireworks display and reduction of $3,975 in the shop department. The public utility fund total showed a change from the proposed $2,342,100 to $2,443,550. There was an increase of $68,690 in electric department revenue which nimeireys assumed a $30,000 increase related to the abolition of free porch lights and $38,690 for commercial share of electric installations costs, with the latter item offset by a similar expenditure. An increase of $32,760 in the estimate for sewer department revenue included $28, 400 for the federal share of the sewer leak study which is offset again by a similar expenditure. Some $4,360 is the estimate for increased charges to commercial sewer customers and Intermountain school. They're among 12,000 Area women attend Salt Lake meeting Approximately 140 women from the Brigham City area attended the first statewide Womens Meeting held at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City on Friday and Saturday, June where some 12,000 women convened. Some left Brigham City as early as 4:30 a.m. on Friday in order to stand in line for registration and to check into overnight accommodations in the city. Much of the interest generated in attending the meeting came long after the initial local mass meeting, which attracted some 25 local women on May 17 to help 24-2- identify issues for the statewide meeting. Women in the four LDS stake area organized workshops to Inform members of the issues to be discussed at the upcoming womens meeting, and over 100 indicated that they would attend. Prior to the LDS workshop, some 25 women had from the area. s A crowd estimated at packed into the Brigham City North stake center for the workshop held June 22. Barbara Poelman conducted the general session, with the meeting growing from a (Continued on Page Two) 250-plu- Proposed public utility expenditures a reduction of $9,740 in water department supplies as an indication of a decrease in the estimate of the cost to repair water leaks, a reduction of $17,355 in the electric power purchase related to completion of the new 138KV tap, along with the matching funds mentioned under revenue. In addition to the general fund budget, the library budget was approved at $80,000 as initially requested although the board had later asked for the full allowable of 3.75 mills to bring in $96,000 to $99,000 in total revenue. This budget sets the tax at 2.92 mills with a .92 raise from the previous year. With the current value of a mill set at $23,500 that will include revenue of $68,000 with the remainder to be made up from county funds. This added levy will make up for cutting the library from the general fund. Motion for adoption of the budget was passed by a four to one vote, with Councilman Tolman Burke explaining his negative vote as a disagreement with the rate increases and adding that he was a radical when it came to continual cost increases. Mayor Felt responded that the budget reflected the general inflationary state of the economy as it relates to the operating costs of the city, and felt that the higher budget was necessary in order not to jeopardize the services provided to residents. He added that these services are still less than in most communities of similar size. Final financial business for the current fiscal year was the transfer of funds from department to department to balance the closing budget as follows: streets department to the court, $2,000; streets department to city buildings, $2,000; parks to city hall bonds, $25,000; engineering to tax anticipation notes, $5,049. include Final school budget hearing A final hearing on the Box Elder School district's proposed $12.9 million budget for the 1977-7school year will be held Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the board offices at 230 West Second South, Brigham City. Also to be considered is the revised 1976-7budget. A copy of the full agenda for the meeting appears on page 2 of this issue. 8 7 final consideration and adoption of its Fiscal 1978 budget didn't pack the residents in to Thursday's council meeting, as these empty seats will attest. More news media representatives, shown on the front BRIGHAM CITY'S row, attended the hearing than did the public. The city council adopted $2.27 million budget with little fanfare and only minor adjustments from the proposed figures. State code 'more advantageous' Brigham decides against own pornography statute Brigham City wont adopt a law against pornography at the present time, but that doesnt mean that they are in favor of pornography, according to Mayor Harold Felt and City Attorney Omer Call. Attorney Call was first on the agenda at city council meeting last Thursday to report on his study of the state pornography statutes, investigation of other city laws, and discussions with other attorneys knowledgable in pornography cases. His advice to the city was that prosecution under the state laws adopted by the 1977 Legislature would be more advantageous to Brigham City for several v. 1) Penalties for a first offense under state statute are up to $1,000 in fines and r sentence and for a second offense r up to $5,000 in fines and a sentence. The citys maximum allowed fine is $299 and a sentence; one-yea- five-yea- 2) The state statute includes a long-arprovision which allows prosecution a nonresident corporation, destruction confiscation of receipts, and injunctions against both the leasor and leasee of property. The city would have no authority in these matters; 3) State law violations go directly to district court where city law violations going to city court. Call noted this would not be a problem, except that most city convictions in such matters are immediately appealed to district court which is not only a more lengthy process but also more costly. 4) Uniformity of state laws makes it less likely that businesses will move from location to location to test various city of laws. of goods, He noted that it appeared adoption of city pornography laws would actually weaken rather than strengthen enforcement, since city police can act to enforce all state laws. As to the use of zoning as a control measure, Attorney Call noted that such laws tended to either concentrate or diffuse businesses but give pornography businesses the idea that they might be accepted in the right area of town. Licensing law changes are unnecessary, he added, since the city already controls the granting of business licenses. Mayor Felt noted that a thorough inspection is made concerning individuals seeking a business license. Several councilmen and the mayor expressed the opinion that no one would ask the city for a dirty book store license, anyway. It would be more likely that an established business could begin such sales, or that a business begun under other pretenses would bring in pornography. In either case, the city has the right to revoke licenses on the basis of creating a public nuisance. Councilman Knudsen asked for a clarification of the procedures of enforcement of the state law and was assured that it would be similar to any arrest for a felony such as robbery, rape or murder which are also covered under state statutes rather than city ordinance. Max Hamilton and Fred Forsgren of the city pornography committee questioned the report concerning licensing and questioned the time involved in trying a case in district court. Attorney Call noted that criminal matters have priority in calendering, and that a city court and appeal to district is a slower process. Mayor Felt finally closed discussion on the subject at 8:15 p.m. with the statement that the subject was well covered. The city council agreed that no action seemed necessary at the time and that they would follow the legal advice offered by the attorney. However, the mayor added that there would be no objection to reopening discussion on another date if a reason arose for such action. |