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Show A third billboard welcoming people to historic Mt. Pleasant is now located at the west entrance to the city. This puts similar signs, with representions of historic Main Street, at the north, south and west entrances to the city. Volume 102 MT. PLEASANT, UTAH 84647 - Price $.50 April 13, 1994 Number Fifteen SCRA wins racetrack battle Grazing fees to raise, but reductions offered for following the rules Editors Note: the following is the first part of a news series on range reform taken from a press release submitted by BLM Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt. This week addresses grazing fee increases and guidelines. WASHINGTON, D.C.-- - Grazing fee increases will be phased in over three years with reductions offered for good stewardship; local participation will increase, and standards and guidelines will be drafted at the state level under Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitts new proposal to reform BLM rangeland management. The new proposal calls for fees, currently set at $1.98 per animal unit month (AUM), to rise to $2.75 in 1995, $3.50 in 1996 and $3.96 in 1997. An AUM is the amount of forage required to sustain a cow and her calf, or five sheep, for one month. A fee discount of 30 percent for ranchers who meet higher environmental standards is also being proposed, though details of the requirements will be addressed in a separate ruling. The new proposal includes a provision to postpone the third-yeincrease if the Interior Department hasnt completed the rulemaking to establish criteria and procedures for the implementation of an incentive fee formula. Last August, Babbitt proposed a fee of $4.28 with no incentive clause. The new, lower figure uses the same base value to set the fee but differs because it uses 1996 as the base year for the forage value index instead of an average of 1990 through 1992 as originally proposed. Economic analysis claims to show the fee increases wont force ranchers out of business; however, the proposed rule contains language calling on the Department to analyze the impact of increased fees after each annual phase-iIf die fee does have a significant negative impact, it may be "There were some who said our broad principles might threaten traditional resources," said Babbitt. "In some ways, they were right. By making clarifications and by being far more specific, we make it obvious that our proposals affect only grazing policy. Weve addressed many legitimate concerns raised by Westerners." A number of Western elected officials harshly criticized the August proposal but are now praising the process used to develop the proposed rule. Among them was Nevada Governor Bob Miller who said, "Secretary Babbitt has been here in Nevada three times recendy to deal with grazing. I cannot recall an interior secretary willing to spend this much time with us. He has listened, and we have worked together. He has also worked with the Western Governors Association and staff. I commend him for his efforts to solve a tough problem." ar n. The Sanpete MORONI Association Recreation County (SCRA) has successfully quashed Moroni Citys attempt to declare eminent domain and take immediate occupancy of the Associations racetrack property located outside Moroni city limits, according to copies of legal documents obtained from Association President Nate Christensen. A Notice of Dismissal was filed March 16 on behalf of Moroni City by city attorney Ken Chamberlain of Olsen, Mclff and Chamberlain in Richfield which, essentially, abandons pursuit of the property. The Notice was filed, however, without prejudice which means the city could renew its case at a later date. dismissal The reportedly cancels a May 1 1 hearing in Sanpete Countys Sixth Judicial District before Judge David L. Mower on the SCRAs Motion to Dismiss based on Points and Authorities submitted by their attorney, Michael R. Carlston of Snow, Christensen and Martineau in Salt Lake. The original hearing set for March 2 had to be continued when Judge Don V. Tibbs excused himself from presiding over the case. d. "..public interest and necessity require the acquisition and immediate occupancy of the land. . " It further stated that "..proposed recreational facilities and construction thereof are planned and located in the manner which will be most compatible with the greatest public good and the least private injury.." The Resolution assigned the city the responsibility of engaging services of an appraiser to deter 42-ac- re mine cost of acquiring a deed to the property and instructed the attorney to comply with requirements to obtain and acquire it by purchase or condemnation under the geneial laws of Utah. The Complaint filed with the court contained the Resolution and said the plaintiff (Moroni City) has the power to acquire land foi open space recreational and athletic facilities and public recreation to promote the public good and that construction of the Continued to page 2 Primary run-of- f will determine Republican nominee for sheriff MT. PLEASAN- T- A primary election will determine the Republican nominee for Sanpete County Sheriff. Delegates to the county convention April 5 at North Sanpete High School cast 47 votes for incumbent Wallace Buchanan and 85 for challenger Stan Anderson. Had either candidate received 70 percent of delegate votes, he would have automatically been the Republican nominee. Anderson, the leading vote getter, had 65 percent of delegate votes, reportedly just seven votes shy of 70 percent. The winner of the Republican primary will face the Democratic nominee. Democrats Claude A. Pickett, Ephraim, and Mt. Pleasant Police Chief Kay P. Larsen, will be seeking delegate votes during the Democratic county convention April 28, at 5 p.m. at the County Courthouse in Manti. Should one of those candidates receive 70 percent of Democrat delegates he will automatically become the Democratic nominee. If not, the two Democrats will also face a primary run off. Nominated by acclamation during the Republican convention were: Sanpete County Commissioner A: incumbent J. Keller Christenson; Sanpete County Commissioner B: Eddie L. Cox; Assessor, Ilene B. Frischknecht; Audotir, Ryan R. Anderson; AttorClark, LaPriel TreasurRoss C. Blakcham; ney, er, Earl D. Clark; and Reed D. Hatch. N Sanpete Sterling Scholars take region Dye-Otte- n; Record-erSurvey- RICHFIEL- D- According to or Delegates also selected 20 state delegates to represent Sanpete County at the May 6-- 7 State Republican Convention at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on the University of Utah Campus. selected included Those LaMar Cook and Terrie Green, both Ephraim; Jene Beal, Carolyn Bessey, John Keeler, David Cox, Barbara Jensen, all Manti; J. Keller Christenson and Bruce King, Gunnison; Nancy Jensen, Centerfield; James Noorlander and JoAnn Turpin, Fairview; Christensen, Penny Chesley Hamilton, and Kenneth Palmer, Mt. Pleasant; Boyd Sunderland, Chester; Dean Hansen, Fountain Green; and Leonard Blackham, Jim Christensen, and Joyce A. Westenskow, Moroni. Sanpete Republican Central LeAnne Committeemembers, Beal and Mark Anderson, Manti; and William Way, Jr., Mt. Pleasant, will be state delegates at large. Superintendent Dennis Mower, two North Sanpete Sterling Scholars placed in Central Utah competition recently. Courtney Pope, in the Visual Arts Category, took top honors, while Josie Shields was a runner-u- p in the Business and Marketing Education category- Stewardship The proposal would require ranchers to meet standards and guidelines, written and implemented at state level rather than at national level, when grazing livestock on lands controlled by the BLM. BLM state directors are to work closely with Multiple Resource Advisory Councils in drafting the standards and guidelines, which must be approved by Babbitt before becoming final. National grazing requirements that regional standards and guidelines must meet are: or maintain properly functioning ecosystems; or maintain properly functioning riparian systems; practices must be implemented to protect public health and welfare, and must help maintain, restore or enhance water quality. Water quality on allotments must meet or exceed state water quality standards; and to the extent practicable the maintenance, restoration or enhancement of habitat for threatened or endangered species and give consideration to those species which are candidates for listing. State grazing standards must address soil stability and watershed function, the distribution of nutrients and energy, and plant community recovery mechanisms. In cases where existing management practices fail to meet national requirements and state standards, the BLM land manager would be required to take action prior to the start of the next grazing year. Next week: State guidelines and water rights-horange reform will affect individual, state and region use of public lands. signed by Mayor David Cros-lanThe document declared that During the Dec. 8 city council meeting, apparently upon the recommendation of Moroni citys recreation committee, the council authorized attorney Chamberlain to draw up a resolution to execute condemnation of the SCRAs property so they could annex it and construct a multiunit ball field, along with equestrian facilities and other public recreation amenities. The Resolution was adopted and approved during a special meeting on Jan. 5, and was Weather news MT. PLEASAN- T- The Weather Station reports that for the week of April 6 through April 10, the low temperature was 24 degrees on April 8 and the high was 57 degrees on April 6. Precipitation included .20" April 7; .26" April 9; and .28" April 10. Wind speeds were 18 mph W on April 6; 22 mph NNE on April 7; 12 mph NNE April 8; 17 mph ESE April 9; and 10 mph SE April 10. The barometer registered a low of 29.64 and a high of 29.90. ch w Josie Shields Pam Aime and Anita Bailey recently received recognition for three years service with First Security Bank. Pam, a customer assistant, received a card holder with a calculator. Anita, a secretary, received a lapel pin. Both are employed at the Mt. Pleasant branch. |