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Show September 3, 1998 Alder - Oliver The Sanpete County Notice of Property Valuation and Tax Changes, or your Valuation Notice was mailed last week to the owners of approximately 26,000 parcels of property. These notices were mailed by the County Auditors Office who is also responsible to conduct the Board of Equalization. The County Treasurer accepts payment of the property tax and the County Assessor values the property. If you own commercial prop- erty in Sanpete, live outside the city limits in North Sanpete or if you have a cabin, chances are your value changed from 1997. This is the last area of homes and improvements to be reappraised in the county under the five year cyclical reappraisal state-mandat- Christy Ann Alder and Matthew Oliver Roger and Shelley Alder of Manti are pleased to announce the marriage of their daughter, Christy Ann to Matthew J. C. Oliver, son of Nancy and Robert Oliver of Ephraim. The couple will be married in the Manti LDS Temple on September 5, 1998. A garden reception will be held in their honor that evening at the Dan Wintch residence from 6 to 8 p.m. All family and friends are invited to attend. Christy is a graduate of Manti High School, Snow College, Seminary and Institute, where she received honors in music and Matthew is a graduate of Manti High School and Seminary, where he was active in athletics and academics. He served as a missionary in the Texas Fort Worth Mission. He is currently attending Snow College and serving on the LDS Institute Council. They plan to continue their studies at Southern Utah University, Christy in the field of music education and Matthew in dentistry. Christy is the granddaughter of Dan and Patsy Wintch and Joyce and Lyle Alder of Manti. Matthew is the grandson of Glen W. Lee of Ephraim and Elmo and Opal Croft of Lindon, Utah. program. Changing market values hav e also made it necessary for other property in the county to be factored in order to keep within the required plus or minus ten percent accuracy range. Senior Citizens Menus Sept. 4: Veg-besoup, cotcinnacheese fruit & salad, tage mon roll Sept. 8: Ham, baked potato with sour cream, sliced beets, fruit dessert Sept. 9: Cooks choice Sept. 10: Baked chicken, Sept. V jf aJ; Vi: 1 1 : Sloppy s, Joes, potato salad, baked beans, Jello with yd Jj Laundry facilities Handicapped-accessibl- fruit, brownie e Utilities included five A-- Recreation hall y Storaee included free Rural Development Rental Assistance 100 N. in Ephraim 283-636- started over again two weeks ago with the mailing of Property Questionnaires to Ft. Green, Moroni and Wales. The Assessor notes that this time through the reappraisal there will not be nearly as much change in valuations. This is mainly because of the better records on file and because we have been able to obtain more accurate sales information. With accurate sales information, we are able to factor values in the computer to more closely match the changing market conditions. Is there a child or adult appraisals. The benchmark ap- praisals were completed using either the Sales Comparison Approach or the Income Approach. A separate cost approach was also conducted for each benchmark property. Once the external depreciation statistic was determined for the benchmark properties, a separate cost approach was conducted for each commercial property in Sanpete County. To complete the cost approach, the external depreciation statistic concluded for the in your family who has a reading problem? WE CAN HELP! Sanpete Rotary Literacy Clinic Call between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday Thursday -- 835-97- 22 for a big new supcrccnter (the store that has it Sanpete County has been chosen by Wal-Maall), w hich plans to locate beside the Ephraim Cemetery, just at the north edge of town but within the proposed new city limits (requiring annexation and zone change), which follows the usual pattern of development in small communities or rural areas. Some citizens consider this a display of tastclessness and insensitivity on the part of the world's largest retailer; others dont seem to mind shopping at their fingercompromising the sanctity of the cemetery as long as they can have big-cit- y life after and environment of all, two of the most cherway tips. As with all issues affecting our tradiished things many of us have - there is controversy over this dramatic change in long-hel- d tions. Surely this matter stands alone in our history, with nothing ever before approaching the magnitude of the impact the world's largest retailer will have in our hometown, as well as in our county. Therefore, how can we think to decide this important question based upon mere precedent, as some have suggested; namely, approving the annexation of this property simply because petitions for annexation have always carried in the past! This is an historic moment with implicart Wal-Mar- ts - tions. Is Destroying America, which seeks to expose There is a book in circulation, How Wal-Ma- rt the retail Goliath as an unscrupulous, greedy corporation, leading people to believe it is genuinely interested in serving and bettering their communities while it is far more interested in expansion and and often irreparable damage inflicted on its targeted towns. The profit, regardless of the long-teror rural setting such as this, drives many book claims the powerful corporation, in a small-tow- n p businesses to ruin by slashing prices at the outset, which it can well afford to do small for much longer than our small businesses can. Further, the demise of many businesses in surrounding towns (Manti and Mt. Pleasant, certainly) will affect the local newspapers too, who depend sucks away largely on business ads for their income, which ads will naturally diminish as Wal-Ma- rt life such as clothing and the of all the businesses that carry the everyday necessities of shoes, hardware and gardening supplies, paper goods and office materials, drugs and cosmetics, small furnishings and appliances, and so on - yes, even groceries. Moreover, Wal-Ma- rt superccnters often have automotive products and services, hair salons and even a handy restaurant or two so that people can stop and have a bite to cat and stay longer to shop. Traditional small businesses will first try to compete with the giant, but it wont be long until theyll languish and die for lack of adequate patronage. History has shown that once this happens to a small town, it very rarely recovers, and t, once these little businesses die, being the only store for miles around where we can buy the things we need, w ill no longer need to advertise in our local papers; theyll have a monopoly and more power than is healthy for any one entity to have. And when they have killed the competition -and it may take a few years - they will no longer need to keep their prices so low, either. is a favorite shopping place for many people here in On the other side of the coin, Wal-ma- rt in included lot them the a of younger half of the local population and many of them fairly Sanpete, w in and the sentiment and the perspective that many of the seasoned ithout these the new roots parts, residents have. They would welcome the convenience, the saving of time and gas money, lower prices, greater selection, and so on - legitimate things. Our small-tow- n government certainly would welcome also, the increased revenue theyd get from sales taxes, as well as promised community service, charitable donations and some scholarships. locates in Ephraim and many local That all sounds pretty good, but consider this: If Wal-Ma- rt businesses fail because of it, that wont stop Ephraim City from gaining revenue (as long as Wal-Ma- rt stays with us); but what will happen to our closest neighbors Manti and Mt. Pleasant? They will not realize this kind of boost to their sales tax revenue because Wal-Ma- rt will not be theirs, but their tax base will actually suffer because many of their businesses will die out, too. or at least as a calculated method of appealing to city leaders, Wal-ma- rt Possibly as a smoke-scree- n has left with them copies of a rather braggadocio, many-pag- e Community Resource Guide, and its all varied The works. front believes in making touting good many page states, Wal-Ma- rt each of its stores a community resource...; then, In this guide, you will learn about the many ways that Wal-ma- rt stands ready to support your community. Really? If Wal-Mais so beneficial to smalt towns, why then is there so much fuss nationwide? Lets find out. We can see by the above there are two diametrically opposed profiles of Wal-Mar- t, which Wal-Ma- rt a real with Is both be dilemma: us a either. which if to true. believe, presents They cant is that be traditional will a monster environment, or predatory killing parasite, gnawing away on our it a sincere and harmless enterprise that will benefit our communities here in Sanpete? y This is the question of the day, and it needs to be answered - not by emotions or biases, not by ignoring the values of the past, not by blindly going along with what we hear people say about it but by finding out for ourselves what Wal-Ma- rt s record is. Find out what has actually happened to small towns and rural areas when Wal-Ma- rt has established itself amongst them. Remember, to paraphrase an old saying, if we fail to learn from history, were doomed to repeat it. Thomas Jefferson said it well: The people cannot be safe without information. Information is the key to our welfare, and more information will be forthcoming. Check your local newspaper in coming weeks and listen for updates on KMTI. Paid for by Citizens for Responsible Communities m Each completely electric one bedroom apartment can house I or 2 people. Small pets are permitted. E. The commercial reappraisal-bega- specific property type and area over one ear ago with the was utilized, thus equating to the request from County Assessor final assessed value for each speSteven Kjar to the Multi County cific property in the county. Appraisal Trust. This group was Mr. Kjar would like property in the counties the organized by owners to know that they are instate similar to Sanpete that re- vited and encouraged to call or quire assistance the first time v isit the office if they have a questhrough some special property retion about their property value. appraisal. The last time all comThe amount of tax is determined mercial property in the county w as by the taxing entities, but we are reappraised was 1983 for the 1984 required to keep a fair and accuear. rate market value on all property To accomplish this task, the in Sanpete County,: Mr. Kjar said. Cook Group inspected each propThe reappraisal process has erty indiv idually, including acant land in Sanpete County. Forty separate properties were selected on which to conduct benchmark ef whipped potatoesgravy, pcascar-rotlemon banana cake, rolls Rent based on income, government subsidized 3 Expect some changes in Valuation Notices mailed recently by Assessor Weddings 45 Page Messenger-Enterpris- e mom-and-po- The musical directive prestissimo means in the fastest possible tempo. 3 life-blo- An Open Letter To Ephraim Residents. . . says its coming, but we say hold on a minute, Mr. Glass, sir. According to this last Thursday, Mr. Glass, CEO of release t, news Inc., announced that Wal-Ma- rt paper's is coming to Ephraim. All this boldly before the public hearing on annexation and zone change, which is still several weeks away. Are they taking us Swedes and Danes for granted or are they just plain arrogant or both? Of course they have already exhibited a great deal of insensitivity to us and our sacred cemetery by wanting to create urban sprawl just across the fence from our to cemetery. This closely parallels a case when some patriots of our country asked Wal-Ma- rt donate a targeted location to historic preservation because it was George Washingtons old Ferry 's Farm and the site of the fallen cherry tree. A very brutal response came from Jay Allen, Vice President for corporate affairs, saying This is very naive. Were going ahead. So why should we be surprised if they announce their coming before they know if they are welcome? We have our dander up and plan to fight back. Our mayor, Gary Anderson, has assured us that if there is a just cause for not annexing, then it will not take place. Councilman Cliff Birrell stated that the announcement was somewhat premature and there are no guarantees. We as Citizens for Responsible Communities, are pleased to know this and are dedicated to informing the public concerning the plan to build a Wal-Ma- rt next to our cemetery. We believe this to be a just cause! Our cemetery stands as a monument to our deceased ancestors. The grounds are peaceful and provide an atmospheere of solitude and intimacy where one can spend quiet minutes or hours in communion. Our cemetery, with its tall trees and well-kegrounds, has served as a warm welcome to our small town. Now, according to Mr. Glass, they want permission to build a 109,000 sq.ft, box with a sea of black asphalt directly to the north. This size building is called a supercenter, one of their largest buildings. We ask the citizens of Ephraim Is this what you want? To further will have on our small community Mr. Glass continues to state, We stress the impact Wal-ma- rt want to make Ephraim a strong retail trade center. Citizens of Ephraim, think about these words. A strong retail trade center dictated not by the citizens of Ephraim, but by the totalitarian retail from the discounter that eventually eliminates choice. This is big time! A letter to Wal-Ma- rt 1 Provo-Orein Commerce Chamber the ft. in Orem of to store of 14,000 sq. regards president has greatly enhanced our goal of becoming a regional shopping center for states in part Wal-Ma- rt wants to make our small town a regional shopping the central part of Utah. So now Wal-ma- rt Is this what we want, Ephraimites? Think about it. center and do it right next to our cemetery! We will be coming out with more information. In the meantime, please give this issue careful consideration and if you find that your thoughts are in line with ours, please help us spread the Wal-Ma- rt Wal-Mar- - Wal-Mart- pt - m message! Sincerely, Citizens for Responsible Communities 1 Wal-Mar- - rt er run-awa- - |