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Show Page Eight - The Pyramid - September 1 1 , 2003 County considers abatement district by Ray LaFolIette MANTI- - On Monday, Sept 8, a special meeting was held to discuss the possible creation of a Mosquito, Grasshopper, Cricket, Insect, and Fly Abatement District and to announce the determination of which engineering firm would be selected for the county fairgrounds future planning. County Commissioners Claudia Jarrett, Bruce Black-haand Greg Dettinger discussed the proposals for engineering services which they have received regarding the future improvements and changes to be made or conm templated for the Sanpete County Fairgrounds. After some discussion it was to accept approved Sunrise Engineering as the firm to do the study. The commission also met with Jan Furner, executive director Utah Association of Special Districts, Jay Olsen, Farm Bureau; and Brody Keisel, assistant to County Attorney Ross Blackham to discuss the proposal of a district abatement special which has been in the works for the past year. Jay Olsen told those present that agriculture needs a program that will handle grasshoppers, Mormon crickets and mosquitos as a first priority and then deal with those other insect pests such as flies. Commissioner Dettinger indicated that it should be a district with taxing authority to generate funds because the county does not have the funds for the project. Furner stated that it would have to be a totally district with independent those who are in charge appointed by the commission with a expectation that those appointed would have some expertise in the special district needs. He told the commission that there are several steps involved in creating this type of special district and recommended that the project should cover the entire Sanpete County area and include all 13 municipalities in the county. He indicated that the amount of time required to create a special district depends on when the process is begun and he stated that Washington County completed theirs within about six months. Commissioner Blackham expressed an interest in what types of equipment would be needed. Furner indicated that a lot of the abatement is done via aerial and truck spraying such as with crop duster-typ- e equipment. He also stated that there is a mosquito abatement association in Utah which would provide a lot of the technical expertise in how to handle the problems. There are liability issues which will have to be worked out. Commissioner Dettinger told those present that in California, specifically Los Angeles, the issue of liability was addressed by heavy notification to the public about what was to be done in abatement their mosquito district, when it was to be done, and what to do during the spraying. Residents were told with o two weeks notice, then hour notice, then again with hour notice, then they did the spraying in the middle of the night between midnight and five a. m., and they told all residents to keep their pets inside during the spraying. Commissioner Dettinger did not recall any deaths or law suits during the four years that he dealt with it some 12 years ago and further stated that the methods used back then have probably changed. It was agreed that with the rapid changes in technology the techniques used have possibly changed immensely since then. Olsen stated that the spray they now use on grasshoppers only affects the grass72-tw- 24-fo- hoppers. Of course one of the reasons those issues will have to be considered is because of the turkey industry and others which raise animals. Furner indicated that the special district w'ould have its own liability insurance funded from the tax collect- ed. Costs needed to support the district would depend on the needs to be addressed. Some of the districts have hired Olsen told the group that in the past he has helped spray an area as large as 8,400 acres and the cost to do it was $17,000. Based on Olsens example, it is felt that the amount of $64,000 is a reasonable amount to raise at this time to fund the abatement of problems for the entire county- One of the first things to address is whether the 13 communities in Sanpete in being part of an abatement district. It is hoped that they will see the need and be willing to participate for the good of all residents living in the municipal and county areas. The district would be overseen by a board of an estimated 14 members which would include one representative from each community. Furner stated that Box Elder County is similar in many ways to Sanpete County and he will provide information to the commission regarding some of the costs involved in that county for comparison purposes. The necessary steps required to create the special district include an initial resolution, followed by public hearings, and must eventually be put to a vote on an election day. e managers. Historically it seems that most districts will identify the project needs and will then contract out the projects to enterprises that have the equipment and abilities to deal with the problems, instead of trying to purchase part-tim- $64,917.00 which is a more reasonable amount to be allocated for the abatement district. For example, a home taxed at a value of $100,000 would pay $10 per year towards the abatement district to control the mosquitos, grasshoppers, crickets, and other insects which might decide to infest the county. Santiago is shown here with master puppeteer Mark Pulham, who put on a wonderg ful puppet show for the crowd in attendance at the library event. Santiago Sarmiento was the grand prize winner of a CDcasseette player and Harry Potter 5 tapes in the Mt. Pleasant Library summer reading program drawing. record-breakin- Jenkins to run for city council MP elementary Back to School MT. PLEASAN- T- Mt. Pleasant Elementary will hold Back to School Night on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. The sixth grade classes will sing at the beginning of the general meeting. Come and meet your childrens teachers and the new principal, Mrs. Sheryl Andersen. Elections for the School Community Council will be held. The PTA will also hold elections for its board positions as well as read and submit its budget for approval. Mt. Pleasant Elementary PTA would like to express our sincere appreciation to Wal-Mafor donating green ribbons for the students to wear during Green Ribbon Week. Also, everyone who is remembering to use the lane closest to the school for short-terparking and the other lane only for quick drop off and pick up, you are very much appreciated. Recognition goes also for planning your drive to school on 100 so as to avoid MANT- I- Mitch Jenkins was inadvertently left ott the list of candidates published in The Pyramid, Sept. 4. Jenkins, employed by Snow College, "wants to have a South. The PTA Membership proactive approach to recreation along with water, power, sewer and economic Drive recently began when the Utah PTA visited our school with guest artist Eric Dowdle. issues, sign is The on oP rt www.moronifeedcu.org asvTJE&x Moil be (lifiblc foi nembtiibip. Member NCUA. Where to find their own equipment and hire their own staff. But some of the needs may be ongoing and forever a problem and it may be to purchase some of the needed equipment and train those which would use it. The maximum tax rate that can be implemented is .0004 cents per taxable dollar in the county. The taxable value of all taxable property in Sanpete County is currently figured as $649,178,275. If the maximum tax rate was implemented it would raise $259,671.31 which is way more than what is thought to be needed. A tax rate of .0001 cents per taxable dollar would provide cost-effecti- The ical care physicians at the IHC Health and Clinics in Sanpete offer a full range of medincluding Obstetrics. With the opening of several new practices, getting an appointment to see a physician has never been easier. And when you call for your appointment, our additional staff means waiting times are much reduced. Call today and see how weve expanded to serve you better. 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