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Show 8 The Magna Times, Thursday, July 2, 1992 Joint action to assist Utahs natural resources Secretary of Commerce Barbara Hackman Franklin and Utah Governor Norman H. Bangerter have announced an initiative to make U.S. Commerce Department resources available to Utahs economic development planners. The Utah Department of Community and Economic Development plans to work with Commerce agencies including the Technology Administrations National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to assess strategies for stimulating new uses for Utahs extensive agricultural and mineral resources. This initiative makes the Department of Commerce a partner in Utahs efforts to develop its resources in a reasonable manner for the benefit of its citizens. Were very pleased to be a part of this program, Secretary Franklin said. Prudent management of our natural resources demands critical evaluation of the costs and benefits of developing them, taking into account the possibilities offered by modern technology. We expect this partnership with the Department of Commerce to be of great value in our economic planning efforts, Governor Bangerter said. The core of the proposed Utah program involves detailed evaluation of the commercial potential of the sta ' s resources concentrating on netechnological developments whi a might improve those prospects. Res Its from the studies would form the basis for Utahs long-ternatural resource management efforts. The first proposed study would concentrate on Utahs tar sands deposits, a resource often considered an alternate fuel source or as feedstock for the production of asphalt and other petroleum products. Utah has nearly 95 percent of the tar sand deposits in the continental United States, but various technical and commercial considerations have restrained full development of this resource in the past. Other possible topics would include the states deposits of high-resi- n coal, precious metals, and other natural resources. Bangerter honors Montoya with service award chief executive officer of the Workers Compensation Fund of Utah, announced the expansion of the funds scholarship program for children of workers insured by the fund who lost their lives in compensable industrial accidents. This year, the fund will award scholarships to the spouses as well as the children of deceased Governor Norman H. Bangerter recently honored Jill Montoya with the prestigious Earl Conder Award in a ceremony in the rotunda of the State Capitol Building. The Governor presented Montoya and six other finalists with a commemorative plaque recognizing their contributions as state employees. Montoya also received a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond. Montoya has worked in the Office of Job Training in the Department of Community and Economic Development since 1985. She is presently serving as the lead staff person for the Job Training Coordinating Council (JTCC). The other two were semi-finalis- ts Pat Rothermich, state program specialist for Child Protective Services in the Division of Family Services; and Jim Stavrakakis, a social worker in the Department of Human Services. Other finalists were: Kerry William Bate, Housing Specialist with the Division of Community Development Services; Mary E. Fraser, program coordinator in the Department of Human Services ; Brad L. Simpson, tax audit manager in the Tax Commission; and A1 Young, a treatment worker in the Department of Human , Services. VThese seven individuals are outstanding state employees, stated Governor Bangerter. Each exhibits commitment to the state and enthusiasm for the service that they render to the citizens of Utah. The Earl Conder Award has been given annually since 1976 to an 'landing state employee. The awa ,if established in remembrance , . '':i Conder, a public 3. employee foi . i - m Workers Compensation Fund scholarships On June 25, Lane A. Summerhays, workers. Summerhays said, Nothing can make up for the loss of a loved one in an industrial accident. But we belifve the scholarship program provides meaningful assistance and recognition to deserving individuals who might otherwise not have the opportunity to pursue a higher education or vocational training. Each scholarship consists of the payment of tuition and fees of up to $1500 at a Utah institution of higher education. A total of $20,000 in scholarships is expected to be awarded in 1992. Recipients will be selected by a panel of three including chairman Ed Mayne, Utah AFL-CIpresident; Cecelia Foxley, associate commissioner for academic affairs for the Utah System of Higher Education; and Dennis Lloyd, fund general O counsel. To be eligible for the scholarship, recipients must be the spouse, or natural or adopted child of a worker who lost their life in a compensable industrial accident covered by the fund. Selection criteria include: grade point average, standard test scores, general character, community involvement, and economic need. Completed applications are to be returned to the funds offices by July 27, 1992. For more information, contact Jackie Faust at The Workers Compensation Fund is it a organization. It is the largest workers compensation insurance carrier in the state of Utah, insuring approximately 24,000 Utah employers and their employees. 538-800- 6. non-prof- Getting married? Put an announcement in the Magna Times and let your friends know! Copper Printing Co. WEB PRINTING Flyers Letterheads Envelopes nvoices Business Cards Newspapers Menus 250-565- 6 8980 West 2700 South, Magna UDOT warns of traffic jams on State, 4500 South The Utah Department of Transportation says that a major seal coating project is underway along State Street from 6200 South to 3300 South and also on 4500 South between 700 and 900 East. Motorists are urged to avoid these areas if possible. Traffic congestion is significant due to the fact that the contractor can only allow one lane in each direction. While the contractor, Staker Paving, is endeavoring to avoid the rush hour of traffic, both streets are busy all day. According to UDOT, the State Street project may last two more weeks. Overson blasts commissioners Republican Salt Lake County Commissioner candidate Brent Overson blasted Democratic County Commissioners for a hastily proposed plan to create a fourth county department. In a letter dated June 23rd, commission staff manager Tony Mitchell announced that after considerable discussion regarding a reorganization of the County portfolios (departments), County Commissioners are to create a new fourth county department, to take effect between July 1st and September 1st. This announcement circumvents the normal channels for discussion of major county policy decisions, Over-so- n stated. Usually, these major decisions are discussed openly in die county Steering and Executive Coun cil meetings. My discussions with other elected officials and department heads indicate that only Tony Mitchell has discussed these changes with others, and those discussions were for not more than five or so minutes. This is a clear sign of back room political maneuvering. If that constitutes considerable discussion, then county citizens are in deep trouble. Commissioners Randy Horiuchi and Jim Bradley campaigned in 1990 on a platform of change. They criticized the creation of the $320,000 a year commission staff. They promised to abolish the commission staff to save money. Instead, they are turning it into a whole new department, said Overson. Community volunteers spruce up shelter Residents of Villa Maria, a transitional shelter for pregnant women, will feel a little more at home, thanks to several community volunteers who recently teamed together to landscape the grounds of one of Salt Lakes newest homeless shelters. Villa Maria, located in west Salt Lake, was recently purchased and remodeled through collaborative efforts by several area agencies, including Salt Lake Redevelopment Agency, Utah Nonprofit Housing, Utah State Division of Community and Economic Development, and Catholic Community Services. Prior to renovation, the home had been boarded up and vacated for several years. Local nurseries and the Utah Native Plant Society donated hundreds of dollars worth of trees, shrubs, flowers, sod, wildflower carpet, and fencing to make the home and its surroundings more pleasant for residents and staff. It is amazing to see the difference that plants can make, said Jean Taua, project coordinator. Because of the generosity of the donors and volunteers, the women will be able to enjoy a quiet, peacefidL-park-lik- e surrounding that most never have had access to before. VolQhteefS included Bill Wagner, a member of the Utah Native Plant Society, who designed the landscaping plans and supervised the project; Rob Rogalski from LDS Hospital Grounds Service who assisted with planning and landscaping; and several employees from Intermountain Health Care under the direction of Suzanne Clow, coordinator of Womens Services for LDS Hospital. Several residents of St. Marys Home for Men tilled the soil prior to landscaping and assisted with laying sod. Prior to Villa Maria, there were no services that catered to homeless pregnant women over 18, said Taua. Sometimes single women are deserted by their families due to pregnancy, leaving them with no other resources. Homeless pregnant women come from all socioeconomic backgrounds. There is no stereotype. Villa Maria was established in January of 1992 exclusively to serve the needs of homeless pregnant women in the Salt Lake area and assure the delivery of healthy babies. Support services, such as counseling and referral to community social and medical resources are provided. Staff work closely with each fmd new resident to help them regain jobs and homes for themselves and their children. The shelter is designed to house four women. Plans are in progress to expand the service to be able to house additional women With dependent children.. Villa Maria is operated byCathblfc COHiniunity Ser-- : vices and serves all women in need, regardless of race, religion, or other factors. y, Utah to begin pilot program 1991 room rents in fed-staelectronic filing increase in te Utah has been chosen to participate in a pilot project that would allow Utahns to simultaneously file both state and federal tax returns electronically to the Internal Revenue Service, the State Tax Commission announced. Utah, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, and Oklahoma will join the pilot project. Other states testing the system on a limited basis are Maine, New York, West Virginia, and two-year-o- ld Wisconsin. In 1993, Kansas, North Carolina, and South Carolina will offer statewide electronic filing. This past filing season, South Carolina offered a statewide test, and 154,000 taxpayers used this option for their 1991 state returns about half of the electronic filers in the state. During the first year of Utahs pilot project, a select group of taxpayers possibly the State Tax Commiswill elecsions own employees 1992 returns state file their tronically IRS to the tax a preparer through computers. The hope is that soon all Utahns who choose to file their returns electronically with the IRS will have the same option with the state returns, said Janice J. Perry, State Tax Commission spokesperson. By consolidating the processing of returns with the IRS, the Tax Commission hopes to save personnel, paper, and administrative costs, and seeks to improve the accuracy of state returns. The benefit to taxpayers will be faster issuance of refunds. Currently, taxpayers who file electronically with the IRS receive their refunds in about two weeks. Elec tronic filing is available through tax preparers who have been tested and approved by the IRS. Due date set for tax examination applications The application forms to take the Internal Revenue Service annual Special Enrollment Examinations are now available from the IRS. The IRS says those interested in taking the two-da- y tax examination must have their applications completed and postmarked no later than July 31. This examination is usually taken by tax preparers who are not attorneys, or certified public accountants who wish to represent their clients before the IRS on tax return audits and other tax matters. For persons who took and passed part of the examination last year, the fee for taking the exam is $40. The fee for those taking all four parts of the exam is $50. More than 8,500 persons applied to take the examination last year. The examination is scheduled to be held September 24 and 25 in Salt Lake City. Those interested in taking the examination can obtain a Package for the Special Enrollment Examination, Publication 1470, which contains the requirements for enrollment and details about the examination. This material can be obtained by writing IRS Public Affairs, 465 South 400 East, SLC, UT 84111 or by calling 524-579- 7. double digits The amount spent on room rent in Salt Lake County grew 12.6 percent during calendar year 1991, compared to a 13.2 percent increase statewide, the State Tax Commission said. Room rents rose statewide in each of 1991s four quarters, with the third quarter gaining 18.2 percent. Growth in the first, second, and fourth quarters also increased in the double digits, rising 12.8, 11.5, and 9.7 percent, respectively. The information is contained in the Tax Commissions annual report, Calendar Year 1991 Hotel Sales, Room Rents, Transient Room Taxes, and Tourism Taxes in Utah. The report is compiled by economist Leslee Katayama of the Economic and Statistical Unit. After adjusting for inflation, real room rents statewide grew 9.2 percent in 1991. Overall hotel sales, which includes other purchases such as in hotel restaurants, gift shops, and private clubs, grew 14.3 percent compared to the previous year. Overall hotel sales grew nearly 20 percent in the third quarter compared to the same period in 1990. Utah County room rents were particularly strong, jumping 26.7 percent during 1991. Room rents in Weber and Summit cotmties edged up 1 and 3.2 percent, respectively. Grand and Washington counties room rents rose 13.9 and 18.2 percent respectively in 1991. The report also detailed revenues generated by the new 1 percent restaurant tax, which was imposed by eight counties during the last half of 1991. |