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Show 1 DAVIS NEWS JOURNAL JULY 24, 1980 NORTH DAVIS LEADER, JULY 23, 1980 WEEKLY REFLEX Utah Near Top In Residents Who Mark The m For Biscay rt B GARY R. BLODGETT Im not saying that all collection agencies act in this matter, in fact dont know if any others do, but to me this call was nothing but personal harassment and for no good reason. Now 1 was with a friend of mine the other da .just sitting and chatting in his business olfice located in North Salt Lake. Suddenly realhis telephone rang and immediately ized something was wrong. 1 1 AT FIRST, my friend tried to be calm to lationalize with the caller. But after a lew minutes 1 could see that this was not going to be possible. He motioned for me to take the extension phone so that could hear both ends of the conversation. couldnt believe what was hearing. 1 1 1 THE OICE on the other end a harsh male voice was reading the "riot act" to mv friend, accusing him of failing to pay a bill on time and that he ( person on the other end) was going to sue my friend "for payment of the bill and anything else that he could get. I he caller was from a collection agency. IT DIDNT take long to get the drift d of the conversation a conversation. at that, with the caller doing all the talking, cussing and threatening He didn't want to give my friend a chance to explain. one-side- EEN THOIGH my friend tried (repeatedly) to explain that he had never received a final billing from a certain comm fact was looking for it pany the caller insisted that he (my friend) had received the billing and refused to pay. As the conversation (thats putting it mildly ) continued, w ith threats and counter threats, my friend finally persuaded the caller to tell him where the billing had been sent, to be certain the address was correct. AS IT TURNED out. the address was not my friends business address not even close to his address. Whomever got the billing undoubtedly threw it aw ay w ithout a second thought. "But thats the address the company gave us, the caller explained. "Its been in our computer for the past sev eral months and you have refused to honor our billings and notices that legal action would be taken if the payment was not made." HOW MANY people fall into this categ ory? Have you ever been questioned, or harrassed, about something ov erw hich you had no control simply because some computer made an error? And, unlike humans who correct previous errois, a computer just goes right on kicking out the same old mistakes! I can even computer accept errors errors if the persons involved are decent when an attempt is made to correct the error or resolve the problem. But I cant accept persons, like the one w ho called my friend, and begin a conversation with a chip on their shoulder. soph-isicate- d w ithout a THE CALLER'S first w ords were:I have an question or explantion overdue bill here from and Im calling to let you know that we are starting legal action against you." That would put anyone on the defensive, and in my opinion is a very poor, unprofessional manner in w hich to conduct business even for a collection agency. IN THESE days of tough times ecothere nomically, socially and otherwise is no room for discourtesy and harrass-men- t. We need to do all we can to work things out together, not create unnecessary 1 MOST PERSONS today are basically honest, citizens so lets try to treat others as we would like to be treated. Just a note of thanks to the Bountiful City Council for its action to revert back to the uniform recreation fee schedule. I know there were a t of pros and cons to the subject and I appreciate each council members opinion on the matter. There, too, was a lot of pros and cons to the subject and I appreciate each council member's opinion on the matter. There, too, was a lot of as well as new s media pressure public put on the council and it took courage for them to do what they did. AS I COYER the council meeting each Wednesday night I try to put myself in their a thankposition. They have a tough job less job but in my opinion they are doing a great service to the community. I. and I hope you too, appreciate their efforts even if you dont agree with all their decisions. BOUNTIFUL - the generosity of councils board in their recent monthly meeting in Bountiful. Through a newly-opene- d department store and the United Way, Davis County senior citizens will soon have a van equipped to meet the needs of the handicapped. $5,000 gift from a new clothing apparel store that has just opened its doors in the Layton Hills Mall, helped clinch possibilities for the van. Some $3, (MX) in United Way monies and transportation fees collected in the past also helped. bi addition, some juggling of state transportation funding A Mer-vyn'- s, totalling $15,500 brought together a total of $29, (XX), just enough to purchase a van. Council on Aging Director Alice Johnson told the THE BOARD gave unanimous approval to the project, a vote required by state officials before they would okay use of their funds, she explained. The van will be extra wide with two seats on either side of a center aisle. It will house 14 passengers plus two wheelchair patrons. An automatic lift that can also be operated manually will be used for handicapped riders, she said. And a raised top will make for eiasier walking inside the van. have proposed to use it on the regular system. Vans currently transport patrons to the weekday noon luncheons at each center and for other activities including a now, were very hard pressed with the regular van (to meet that need). We're not going to have time to provide more than what were doing now. weekly shopping trip from each center, Mrs. Johnson THE VAN must be purchased by October to allow for use of the state funds, Mrs. Johnson said. That would bring the fleet to five station wagons and five vans, but she said. ITS NOT a taxi service but we hope we can help. There are some who live in north Davis who want transportation to their doctor in Salt Lake City or Ogden but wwhy cant they use a local doctor? You're supposed to provide transportation to the hand- icapped (under government CURRENT PLANS call for utilizing the van for seniors 60 years of age and older. "The transportation committee is going to have to determine where it will be used but we regulations) but no one says how much, she said. Golden Years Center Director Joyce Smith said, We want it available so people can at least come to lunch. Right fln She added that any van purchased would have to be renovated to fit the program needs but several routes for inexpensive modifications were mentioned, including the countys two Job Corps, Davis Area Vocational Center and county shops. COUNCILMAN Bruce Watkins told a Thursday night gathering that the city needs someone who can represent the council and give legal advice where it is needed. Attorney Steven Bailey, a native of Sunset, was unanimously accepted for the position and will work for the city on a retainer fee. MR. WATKINS emphasized that there are many times when the council needs legal advice at the meetings. Bailey agreed, as part of the contract, to attend both the city council and planning meetings on a regular basis. Mr. Bailey is currently employed at the law firm of Richards and Richards on Riverdale Road in Ogden. Sunset City Census Shows Less People SUNSET The Sunset City Council told a gathering Thursday night, that unless the people of the area demand a recount on the 1980 census, there is a good chance that the whole community will lose money from the federal govCOUNCILMAN Bruce Watkins said a preliminary census evaluation shows the town with a decrease in population. The U.S. Census Bureau has agreed to make another spot check of the area, but according to Watkins, the area seems pretty much in tact with the current census figures. The only other recourse we have," he said, "is to actually do some leg work ourselves." MR. WATKINS mentioned that several local ladies have agreed to help the city by rechecking the census reports at a cost of $300 to the community. This may or may not change the feudal funding problem. The census. Watkins said, effects us in a lot of different ways." He and Councilman Clayton Petersen informed the others that revenue sharing, city road funds, sidewalk improvements and state liquor allotments will suffer if the population figures are down. WE'VE GOT more homes in the area than in the 1970cen-suWatkins said, but the thing thats happened is the number of household mem-ber- s s, has decreased." The number per home now is about 2.8, as opposed to 3.8 in 1970. Sunset is one of the few cities, according to the council, that has shown a decrease in the last ten years. Most all of the other Wasatch Front towns are adding thousands more people per year! 1. A LONG history and tradition of citizen involv ement in civic affairs. 2. Strong encouragement by political, church, and community leaders for citizen participation in the political process. 3 A HIGH level of educational attainment by adult citizens. 4. A smaller proportion of resident aliens w ho are not eligible to vote than most other states. 5. A LOWER percentage of minority individuals than most other states. 6. A strong system that usually results in political races in most elections. two-part- y 7. OTHER ballot issues, such as proposed constitutional amendments, initiatives, etc., that some- times attract added voter interest and participation. The Foundation estimates that there wall be over 900,0(X) persons of voting age residing in Utah during November, 1980. This represents an increase of more than 20,000, or 15.5 percent, since the 1976 elections, and a gain of 202,000, or 28.9 percent, since the presidential elections of Mr. Conger's recommendation and his department will have two Dodge Diplomats for use in a couple of weeks. Fire Chief Arnold Satterlee told the council that the city faces a severe fire danger if residents are not told to get rid of their weeds. He said the weeds are getting out of control, and that a local ordinance requires people to take care of the problem on their property. COUNCILMAN Watkins recommended that the violators be contacted and given 15 days to comply without penalty. mdm 1972. OVER THE past four years, the rate of growth in Utah's voting-ag- e population has been fifth fastest among the ty states. fif- RUMBACHER ART SUPPLIES IN SOME related business. ernment. held population casting ballots for U.S. Representatives during the I960. 1964. 1968. 1970, 1972, and 1976 general elections. The report attributes the high participation rate of Utah citizens in the election process to the following factors: e UTAH ACTUALLY led the entire nation in voter participation during the 1964 and 1968 U.S. UTAH LED the entire nation in the prercent of its voting-ag- e e EOL R EARS ago, approximately 69.4 percent of Utah's voting-agpopulation cast ballots for presidential electors, compared with an average of 45.4 percent throughout the United States. Only Minnesota with 71 .4 percent had a higher voting percentage. Foundation analysts point out that Utah's voting participation consistently has been better than that of the nation as a whole during the past five presidential elections. in Congressional elections throughout the nation. voter participation Aomey SUNSET For the first time in city history, the Sunset Council has decided to hire an attorney to represent them. indicated one van should be retired. According to the study. Utah's record of voting in elections also is much superior to that of most other states. In the general elections held between I960 and 1978. Utah's participation rate was 28 percent to 55 percent better than the record of THE REPORT notes that November's vote is expected to be about 72.000, or 13 percent freater than the number of ballots cast in Utah during the 1976 presidential elections. Historically. Utah has ranked at or near the top among the fifty states in the proportion of voting-agpopulation who actually vote in a general election. Sunset Council Approves Hiring IFm n7?2(7flg)o)(7 By TOM BUSSELBERG presidential elections, and was either second or third during the other three elections. If past performance is any guide, approximately 620.000 Utahns will be casting ballots in the 1980 presidential elections to be held in November. This was the prediction made by Utah Foundation, the private research organization in a study of Utahs participation during recent elections. problems. Now thats not to say that theres not a place for collection agencies, small claims courts, etc., because there is. I used a small claims court once, to collect on a long (year and a half) overdue bill. hated to do it, and did only as a last resort. )( Police Chief Daryl Conger asked the council to buy two more cars to be used by his department. He suggested that the automobiles should not be Oil new, but used cars, and Paints Acrylics offered several bids from local car dealerships. Brushes Canvas Picture Frames Bids ranged from over $10,000 from Olson Chevrolet to the accepted offer of $7,600 from Hinckley's in Ogden. Conger said the police department would rather have two used cars with low mileage, than one new car. THE COUNCIL accepted Who Knows? 1 Define Anthropology. 2. Who was the first Secretary MN of State? 3. Who is the of State? current Secretary 4. When did Wyoming become a state? Answers: 1 . Science dealing with the origin, development and customs of man. 2. Thomas Jefferson. 3. Edmund Muskie. 4. July 10, 1890. A WfTH THI9 Fort Lane Shopping Center, Layton 116 So Fort Lane - 376-485- 5 AD:f2QOfFALl 51 FABR'05 V WILD NU) imwem FIRE CHIEF Arnold Satter-le- e summed up the reason for the decrease. "All the kids have gotten married off," he said. "We don't have as many of them home anymore." mdm U6imS7RW(r ATto'40Off NoJWMKme ft IC65 Responsibility ROYALTY Standing in front of the retiring Miss Davis County royalty. Donita Townley, queen; Dawn Rasmussen, first attendant: and Debbie StrebeL are the new little princess and prinee. They are from left: Princess Shaelyn Stanger, her attendant Julie Bon and Prince Jerimiah Sparks. Whos the responsible man here? asked the caller. If you mean the fellow who always gets the blame, answered the office boy, you are speaking to him now. custom UPHOLSTZRinG, 2447 North Main, Sunset OOVQLfi S 825-070- 0 QiTfSoJj tljfiWHiGH fQ Jj |