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Show u ,i T f I.7)'! j L.nrc-oo- 7 r-'- ri-MIG- 3 if; qo;6 ? 'H 1 5l AN f I . i i that he and councilmember 1 f ( t , , , , l- 277 -i VOL 112 19 FEBRUARY 2004 NO. 8 50 CENTS Moroni City Council discusses police duties MORON- I- Moroni City Mayor Scott Robertson said that he would not relinquish his power of the police department during the regular city council meeting held Feb. 1 1 . Robertson told the council 1 O OF T h b 2atty&Hcrot& YOUR TOWN, YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOUR NEWSPAPER $ 1 irUQ cflb i3 EDITION C 4 Paul Bailey disagreed 100 percent over the direction of the police department at a meeting they had recently. Robertson explained that the discussion was about revenue issues and where the police were spending their time. When we had several officers, we had high revenues but they have dropped because people have become familiar with the laws, Robertson said. The mayor also noted that burglaries have fallen since he ordered officers to spend more time patrolling at night. We tried to do the best with what we have, he continued. Robertson also stated that it is against the law for him to tell a police officer to get a certain number of driving under the influence arrests or to write a certain number of speeding or traffic tickets. He also defended the officers attending training meetings because that is the only way they can remain certified. Where do you want the emphasis of our police officers? Writing tickets or on burglaries? We have a motto, To protect and serve. I think they are doing that, Robertson said. Police officers using the police car for their own private business or for driving to and from another job did bother the mayor. He referred to the city handbook for his evidence saying that officers who need to be disciplined are to follow the handbook. I cannot relinquish my power of the police department by law. I am the responsible party. Im not delegating my authority over the police department, he concluded. Councilmember Bailey had no comment during the open meeting. David Crosland made a motion to go into executive session to discuss the matter further. The council agreed and convened to another room. Opera House grants Earlier in the meeting, Councilman Paul Bailey quoted statements from the office of the Utah State Auditor and City Auditor Gary Keddington saying that all grant funds received by the Moroni Opera House Heritage Development Commission should be accounted for by the city. Bailey also told the council that the contents in the Opera House belong to the city and should be on city records. However, any money raised by a non-prof- group it using the facility belongs to that organization, but if it helps the city raise money, then money earned belongs to the city and Crosland agreed. The mayor then asked what if someone allowed a family heirloom to be used by the Opera House but did not want to give ownership of it to Moroni. Robert Morley answered that the donor would have to sign an agreement to that effect. Councilman Bailey also from asked that $13 the security deposit be paid to after Renee Hart for clean-u- p an event. The council decided per-ho- ur that the contents agreement and clean-u- p agreement both be turned over to the city attorney for his review. Other business When Barbara Gordon brought up the rental fees charged for the city hall and seniors building, the council also referred that to the city attorney. The council approved by consensus to buy 15 shares of irrigation water from residents first-serv- e baon a sis. Concerning the city budfirst-com- get, e, councilman David Crosland told the council that the city is $18,000 short even with revenues of over $45,000 going into the General Fund. Crosland suggested cutting mayor and council funding, wages that were improperly budgeted, police, fire and zoning funds, Justice Court allocations and Parks and Recre- ation along with cemetery funding. Animal Control and the Heritage Development. Commission monies should stay at their present levels. Mayor Robertson recom- mended placing the cell phone franchise fee on land line phones. That would bring in about $6,000 additional dollars. That issue was tabled but the council did approve $8 per-howork for skilled part-tim- e and $6.50 for unskilled part-tim- e work. In trying to define what is ur in the high school with less open drug useabuse than in years past. As part of the program, DARE graduates make a pledge to themselves to remain drug-fre- e. The DARE program includes a program in 10-we- which students practiced appropriate resistance to peer pressure, filled out an educational workbook, and wrote an essay including what they learned, plus their pledge. 92-7- skilled and unskilled work, councilman Milton Larson asked, ?Does it depend on which end of the shovel the workers gets hold of?" The mayor said it was determined by whether or not they could run a back-hoThe council set the Fourth of July celebration for Saturday, July 3 and moved the Mudd Boggs celebration to Saturday, June 26. an American flag west of the service station sign at the crossroads. Irrigation news Darin Robinson, Jones and DeMille, explained to the council that phase two of the irrigation project will include work on the lower and upper ponds along with further work on the citys distribution pipes. The third phase will be work on the middle pond. One Moroni Feed Chevron to place project will be going through e. The council allowed other consideration of the the Utah Department of Transportation and making sure all archeological agreements are signed. The spotted frog population is causing problems for the M and M Irrigation pipe improvement project, according to the mayor. The Environmental Protection Agency told the irrigation company that they must make sure there will be places in the pipeline that leak water in the frogs habitat area. Suspects still at large in turkey farm destruction MANTI-- - Sometime during the night of Feb. 7, several suspects entered a turkey barn owned by Jason Sunderland south of Fountain Green on Cedar Hills road. Sanpete County Dispatch was notified by Jason on the morning of Feb. 8. At this time Sanpete County deputies re- - 6th DARE graduation held at FV elementary FAIRVIE- W- Sixth grade students at Fairview Elementary recently held their sixth annual Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program graduation ceremony. DARE has been taught in the North Sanpete School District for six years and with children in the high school, middle school and elementaries having graduated the DARE program, according to Sanpete County Sheriff Kay L. Larsen, there has been a significant difference North Sanpete Hawks Chris Hansen takes a jump shot surrounded by Emery Spartan defenders. The Spartans beat the Hawks 5 on Tuesday, Feb. 10 which left the Hawks finishing the season in third place in Region 8. Many parents and family members turned out to watch their students receive their graduation certificates and enjoy refreshments provided by the PTA. Speakers included DARE Officer Greg Peterson, Sheriff Kay Larsen, Deputy Kevin Holman and Principal Avrin Brotherson. Students who read their essay were Shelby Earl, Heather Anderson, Kiera Lembke and Tucker Morin. sponded to the area to conduct an investigation. During the investigation, it was learned that 1 198 turkeys had been killed by use of sticks from dead trees. Several shoe impressions were in the snow that started at the road and lead to the turkey shed where the criminal mischief had occurred. During the course of the investigation it was learned that Snow College students had taken two live turkeys from a volved with the Sunderland turkey incident. Reports from the student housing incident have been forwarded to the Sanpete County Attorney for filing of charges. A reward of $5,000 is being offered for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals involved in the Sunderland turkey incident. Anyone with any information may contact the Sanpete County (435) 835-219- Sheriffs office at 1. RDA approves new tenants at MP Industrial Park bv Phyllis Yardley Mf . PLEASAN- T- Rural Development Association (RDA) Executive Director Monte Bona gave his report, stating that the grant application for Phase II of the Industrial Park had gone through and a school of cosmetology will most likely be built in the park. Bona also stated this will not have a negative impact on the business people engaged in the field of cosmetology, but will in all likelihood have a positive one.' Head Start The Head Start program has asked for two lots in the Industrial Park area to build and headquarter their program. These lots would be located next to the Food Bank. Between the Head Start program and the cosmetology school, this should create more jobs for the Sanpete area. Chairmans report Chairman Chesley Christensen stated that certified letters had been sent to overdue accounts and that if payments are not made in a timely man- ner, these accounts will be turned over to a collection agency. Chairman Christensen in- formed RDA members that the budget is in the best shape it has been in over 20 years. World Debate Tournament Monte Bona informed Fairview Elementary Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) graduation shows Jordan Pace and Tucker Morin as they go through the congratulatory line to receive their DARE certificate. Adults shown left to right are Principal Avrin Brotherson, Deputy Holman, Deputy Mondragon, Sheriff Kay L. Larsen, Deputy Peterson and sixth grade teacher Jane Anderson. turkey farm south of Ephraim that same night. The subjects took the turkeys to student housing where they released them into the housing area. At that time it was believed that the two incidents were related. Three male students were interviewed and confessed to the student housing incident. Because of evidence recovered, the Sanpete County Sheriffs Department does not believe these three subjects are in RDA members that the World Debate Tournament will take place at Wasatch Academy in March and approximately 400 people will be involved, in cluding students from all over the world, such as England, Germany, Pakistan and many other countries. Mt. Pleasant City will host a dinner for attendees and government officials on Thursday, March 25. Discussion ensued regardthe ing feasibility of the Recreation Center as opposed to the LDS Stake Center for holding the dinner. It was unanimous that the LDS Stake Center had the better capability of handling such a large group, but questioned whether coffee and tea could be served with dinner in the Stake Center, considering that the tournament will host worldwide debaters and judges. Wool growers meeting Feb. 24 MANTI-- - The annual Wool Growers Association meeting will be held Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 9:30 a.m., in the Sanpete County Courthouse, courtroom on the second floor. The meeting will break from noon to 1 p.m. for a light lunch. The meeting is expected to last into the early afternoon. Invited speakers include representatives from the Utah State Department of Agriculture (USDA), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Forest Service, Utah State University Extension Service. Animal Damage Control,. Utah State Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), Utah Wool Marketing, Regional Livestock Specialist, FSA and others. The guest speakers will Manti-LaS- al . present relevant and current information and respond to producer questions and concerns. Paul Frischknecht will present a national international view which will help members to understand the sheep universe in which they operate. Time will be made available to discuss membership issues and other business. A financial report will be presented. Membership dues for members and associate members are now due and can be paid at the meeting or through the mail. Membership is open to all interested in the sheep industry. If paying dues by mail, send them to Kenneth Palmer, Manti-LaSWool Growers Association, Co Bank of al Ephraim, Ephraim, UT 84627. |