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Show Emery County Progress Castle Dale, Utah Tuesday April 2, 2002 3A Millsite Continued from PAGE 2A. important. Save Millsite, do anything to save it. I Clyde Conover, former commissioner spoke next, We took a trip to Washington and worked with the GCS and worked with Senator Moss. We worked together. You dont have to fight and argue to make a point. Were not going to close the park. We will work with the state parks board, and with Brad Johnson and the citizens; we will work as a group. I love this area and we will make it survive. will Park Manager Taylor spoke next, Tin not surprised to see all of you here. Its a popular park with a heritage invested in it. Six years ago when 1 first came here. Millsite was on the list for expansion. Many parks have similar stories and the circumstances tear at my heart strings. When the manager of Scofield went to Starvation, Cody Patton, assistant manager assigned to Millsite went to Scofield and Millsite has not been covered as well since this combining of parks. Since the combining of Scofield, Millsite and Huntington I have been spread too thin. Millsite is a reflection of the staff and people 1 Mark H. Williams spoke next, am the OHV chairman for the state parks. Our board worked hard to get the forest service money to develop 370 miles of trail from Perron to the mountain. Development has happened in stages from putting up signs and markers to the maps. We will soon begin advertising this trail. Millsite is the hub on this side of the mountain for access to the Arapeen trail. The Piute trail counters counted in 1995-23,0- involved. The campground hosts say it is a beautiful place. We raised $13,000 in revenue which is not significant. A lot of the 00 people who visit Millsite dont pay a fee because they are young people of 02. We dont gain revenue from this use. But these people are just as impor- riders, in 1998-41,00- 0 riders and riders, 0 in riders. People are looking for places to go, OHV destination spots. In the middle of the week Millsite is usually 70 percent full. I guarantee we can fill the park to capacity with OHV riders which will increase the revenue at the park. The motorized grant money from the state parks is still in place and applications need to be in by May 1. We have plenty of money. Kent Petersen, former county commissioner spoke next, I dopt know, but 1 think Mark just offered us $17,000 in grant money. With the economy down, this is a poor time to take away recreation. We have donated a lot and its not worthwhile to close it. The city built the golf course and a lot of people come down from the Wasatch Front and stay in the park and play golf. This closure would have a big impact on the golf course, it would be hard to keep opera 1999-51,00- 0 2000-55,00- tant. doesnt matter how much revenue is generated. Millsite is It safe, clean and friendly. The fact that it is developed helps keep sedimentation out of the lake. Last winter with someone visiting the park every other day. We had two tables stolen. I am a scout leader and bring troops up here. I hope to continue to do so. We hope to convince the state legislature to save all of the parks, not just Millsite. Its bet- ter to have people come down here to an area thats developed than to have them in displaced camping. I have been overwhelmed by the phone calls, faxes and letters Ive received these past two weeks. But the one that hit me the hardest was written by a little boy from Salt Lake that said, Dear Sir, Please dont close our parks, said Taylor. tional. People in the state have the misperception that Emery County is rich. At one time we were pretty well off but that was when the power plants were new. The trucks you see hauling coal by here are bringing that coal from Sevier County to power plants owned by a multi-nationcompany whose intent Is to reduce their taxes every year by 7 percent and they have been very successful in doing that. We are strapped for money. Our loal cal governments are much worse off than the legislature. I think you need to relook where to find the money to keep this park open. Mayor Glen Johnson from Green River City spoke next, We have enjoyed the relationship we have had with the state parks. We attempted to build a golf course and decided it was way too much money. We formed a partnership with state parks and completed the golf course. A partnership can work. Green River City helped complete a new clubhouse for the state parks which they wouldnt have been able to afford otherwise. Dont close the park or it will go away. Ron does a great job. We support Millsite and if you need help from Green River City. We will support it with our tax dollars to keep it open. Commissioner Sitterud said, I had a lot of calls from people who would have liked to attend the meeting, but had other obligations and asked me to voice their support. I support Millsite and we wont let this close. Rep. Brad Johnson spoke next, I compliment you for being interested. I dont support whats happened and I am committed to keeping it open. There are ways it can be done. This was an unusual legislative session. The Olympics turned out well, but there was a three week interruption. There was a bud- - us and to the people of the Wasatch Front to dose Millsite. W'e have a low' tax base and w e are prodding recreation not only for us but to those up north. Utah had a successful Olympics and those facilities w ill now be available for Salt Lake's use now that they are gone. They get those facilities and what do we get, a closure. We dont deserve a park closure and I want the citizens of Emery County to know well do everything to keep it open. Mayor Lursen said, We have run out of time for comments, if you didnt get to speak you can still send in faxes and letters or to voice your opinion. This show's how much interest there is for Millsite to remain open. I would like to read a letter from John and Sandy Knowlton from Salt Lake. We are writing to voice our displeasure with plans to close Millsite. get shortfall and in the final hours a mistake was made. It didn't go through the regular process. Ive talked to others today and visited with them and I know we'll have some influence. Well think of ways to fix this. The state parks board does a great job and Id like to thank them. I totally believe this park should be kept open. Millsite has a great record and is really popular; it stacks up pretty well. I am committed to help you find a way to keep it open. The legislature never did intend that a park like Millsite be closed. It was done to balance the budget. This is not a done deal. Im almost scared to ask, but wiiat if we didnt give an exemption in park fees for seniors. Most of these people can afford these fees better than young families, said Johnson. The next citizen said her family uses the facility a lot and Ferron needs to pull together as a community. I would be three or four times a j ear to camp, golf and fish. It is an imxrtatnt asset and closure for a few dollars is ridiculous. If Utah is a pretty, great state then the park system must find a way to save it. We have heard from many We come to Millsite people like that. We provide coal for the power plants. The fetate of I tah depends on these power plants. We pul up w ith the coal traffic so Utah can have electrici- ty. The power plants are centrally assessed which provides tax dollars for all of 1tah. The coal mines contribute mineral lease money to benefit the whole state. Keep our park open. Fay us back for what we give. The whole Wasatch Front benefits from our great rural setting, our park and our mountains. What we need now is for the state parks and the legislature to help us keep it." will- ing to pay more for a day use fee. One complaint w'e have is there is very little grass on the west side.For a higher user fee, you could use the whole park and generate more money Also, the younger generation could msrocj) Cabinet Hardware become involved in volunteering at the park and servo an internship working free of charge to Guardian Guaranteed Lifetime Finish gain experience and possibly explore careers in the forest service and other related fields. Kent Larsen, Ferron City Hnilccts cabinet hardware From eimtael with household i lu lineals Used lo ell ill llie kitelien abrasion and nuinlams the and beauli of cabinet hardware boose from a Knal selection Kesisls shine councilman spoke next, We appreciate the board for coming down and discussing these important issues. We have to scratch to make the budget on the golf course. I dont think we can make it without Millsite. We ask people at the golf course what brings them to Millsite and they say they love coming here because it is out in the open. I think it would be an injustice to ( 20 OFF On Selected Styles Visit us Store Hours tor jtora specials on 71 0 East Main Price 00 1 Speed Limits Continued from PAGE 1 should be done at all hours. The validity of the study would be in question if only taken duringthe day. She also hoped the study would include no passing zones. Citizens had signed the paper with her recommendations. The citizens expressed their concern for the safety of children, animals and wildlife. One citizen also said that Ferron does not have a noise ordinance. The noise from the trucks can be heard two or three blocks up the street. One citizen said the coal trucks are not the only problem, but traffic problems occur on the side streets as well. One child addressed the citizens saying she fears for the safety of her t t . red lights. Her sister will be using this bus stop next fall. A citizen further described the situation at the bus stop saying at least once a month a car comes upon the school bus and skids to a stop. The bus stop is on a blind turn and 200 ft. around the comer is the bus stop. At least once a month a car or truck runs the school bus. The bus driver will not let the students off the bus until she is sure no one is coming, then she watches while they crofcs the road. Another bus stop with approximately 15 children using it, is also in a 55 m.p.h. zone and is dangerous to the children at the stop. One citizen expressed their opinion that the truck drivers know when the cops are out and radio each other to watch sis- ld Kent Larsen from the Ferron City Council asked Sheriff Guymon how many officers are out patrolling on a given night. Sheriff Guymon said, There are three out every night. With cars in the north, south and central parts of the county. They could be here all night if someone calls and complains. If they see the cops they slow down. That was a stupid study. Mayor Larsen said we need to voice our opinions and get a hold of our legislators. We need to change the law and give local ,, V A Jf ji 7 v 'Hi. 9 J A BEFORE DIGGING, rOR IN AN EMERGENCE j "'ilj.i 'i, .V 4 wSv BEFORE DIGGING, FOR IN AN EMERGENCY CALL CALL Pipeline Questar TELEPHONE NUMBER Gas TELEPHONE NUMBER WARNING GAS PIPELINE WARNING GAS PIPELINE Questar the road. Continued on PAGE 4A. Scouting For Auto And Homeowners Protection? Get Met. It Pays. fall. One day at her bus stop as they exited the bus, a truck blew by and didnt heed the flashing ll jt. government authority. Sheriff Guymon said, The traffic will continue to increase. You need to change the components of your study and take into consideration who is traveling for them. ter when she begins school next "i.m m-- k A. and passing on double yellow lines. One citizen who has written to the governor wants something done before school is out in May. She has also called and voiced her opinion that the study ; TST 8:00 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sun 9 a m. - 5 p.m Mon-S- THEY MARK HIGH PRESSURE UNDERGROUND NATURAL GAS LINES OF QUESTAR PIPELINE COMPANY AND QUESTAR GAS COMPANY. State law requires that if you are doing any excavating, seismic work, road grading, building or other construction, you must notify the appropriate company two working days prior to commencing your project. CALL BEFORE YOU DIG. 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