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Show uil Volume 32, Number Thursday, Sept. 35 Single Copy 25 c A 18, 1986 Green Sheet Publication F acing Lawsuit , Granite Board Supports Freeze GRANITE PARK. In the face of a lawsuit, the Granite Board of Education here Tuesday night voted to support a temporary freeze of career ladder pay for teachers. Duration of the freeze is three weeks, after which the matter will be brought before the board for consideration again. Filed by the Granite Education Assn, and 10 teachers, the suit is aimed at protecting career ladder pay supplements to teachers who have performed or are in the process of performing the extra duties and obligations to receive them. district in case it is required to slash its current year budget to satisfy a three percent shortfall project in state revenues. The suit contends that teachers have contracts with the district that vest them with rights to the career ladder plan. It also alleges that the district action impairs and threatens to impair the contractual rights of the teachers. Developed as part of the Utah Board of Educations school reform program, the states career ladder plan is designed to pay teachers extra money for a longer contract year and for performing extra duties beyond their regular teaching jobs. It also provides extra pay on the basis of teaching experience. Approximately $5.8 million is Granite districts share of the states total career ladder appropriation of $34.3 million. Because of the districts decision to freeze career ladder funds, the suit further alleges, plaintiffs will suffer and are suffering immediate and irreparable harm. Money in three of the districts funds is being contemplated for account for a three percent cutback to cover the shortfall - career ladders, plus the districts replacement equipment and the continuing building aid funds. Plaintiffs, in addition to the GEA, are teachers Larry Rogers, Donnie Olsen, Steve Sorensen, Sariah Rush, Virginia Pearson, David Bernini, Dwaine Jackson, Louise Bearden, Allen Rasmussen and Kama Petuskey. A ruling is being sought by the educators that Dr. John Reed Calls decision to impound career ladder funds is unlawful, that the payments be made to teachers and that the matter be designated by the court to be a class action so other similarly situated teachers employed by the district are represented also. Dr. Call, district superintendent, said he would withhold part of the state career ladder funs given the Field Is Ready - GHS To Be Home For Homecoming WEST VALLEY. When Granger high schools football team took time out from its busy practice schedule Saturday to line and mark the football field, they werent interested in just making it look nice. They intend to play on it tomorrow (Friday). : Normally, thats what you do with an athletic field, play on it. But Granger, due to a major renovation of the facility, has had been in the unique position of having to play all its home games on other peoples turf. That renovation is now ap- proaching completion and school administrators and district officials have okayed play on the field for tomorrows homecoming game against Taylorsville, set for 4:30 p.m. There were concerns that we would have to have play our homecoming game away from home," commented Granger assistant principal Parley Jacobs. But, the districts superientendent of grounds, Bill Leiter, inspected the field and reported that the turf has matured enough to allow play on Friday. However, Jacobs quickly added field may stand up to one contest, subsequent league home games would continue to be played on the opposing teams field. n Should a playoff contest be scheduled at Granger, a of the fields condition would be made at that time. that while the post-seaso- ' Though not labled as an Magna area residents in audience Friday night clur- ing public hearing respond to a proposal that the pond be "capped" to REACTION . . . Magna Citizens Air Their Views - Tailings Decision Due In Month to announce by Richard R. Adams Green Sheet Staff Writer MAGNA. its decision at its next committee meeting on Oct. 22. We feel threatened of our families and The health friends is in jeopardy. The comment was by Jim Meeks, spokesman for Magnas Community Action Council during Fridays public hearing here on dust storms that emanate from Kennecotts tailing pond. The Utah Air Conservation Committee held the meeting to give Magna citizens a chance to express their opinions about a dust problem. The committee encountered a storm of protest and concern. Harry McSwain, chairman of the committee, said citizens comments from the hearing will be compiled and used in its decisions making process to determine whether Kennecotts proposals to control the dust problem are adequate or if stricter regulations will need to be imposed. He said the committee should be ready Were not said Meeks, but we dont know if they can solve the problem for us. The tailings pond should be capped and sealed or a safe alternative should be found. Its our right to live in a safe community. Meeks presented slides showing the heavy tailing dust storms that occur whenever a wind storm moves into the area. The dust storms aren't new; however they did increase after Kennecott shut down, said Meeks, who warned the storms also blow into Kearns and West Valley City. According to a release from Kennecott, the company plans to revegetate the pond in order to stabilize the soil. The plan calls for planting 60,000 tree seedlings this next year along exterior slopes of the tailings pond. Meeks presented a petition with some special inaugural activities have been planned by the schools studentbody officers. Utah Governor Norm Bangerter will say a few words prior to kickoff, as will West Valley Mayor Mike Embley. We wont have them sticking a shovel in the field, noted Jacobs, but, we could have them throw a shovel of dirt on it or something. Barring any rain, well be ready for play, he added. So long as the field stays dry, the footing is pretty solid. But, if it rains and the water soaks into the top soil, it might be too soggy. Bennion Reservoir Site Is Target Of Meetings First, residents stress that they do not want a park developed on the property. Also, they feel the CUP should be obligated to landscape the entire reservoir property as was directed by the County Commission earlier this summer. CONTENTION . . . Donald Johnston, noting he suffers from asthmatic condition, displays filter which he says has been darkened from dust which blows from tailings pond. Update Of Master Plan Is Approved WEST VALLEY. Handling a four-iteagenda, the City Planning handed perty covered with gravel. Commission hereon Thursday its public hearing Residents contend that the gravel down a decision surface is unsightly, as well as a of two weeks ago concerning the nuisance, producing dust under win- West Valley master plan update. The updating process is the result dy conditions. of a series of public hearings held in various sections of the city the last couple of months, getting input from citizens on how the master plan should be updated and what plans should be considered for various MAGNA. Candidates for politital parts of the community. office in the November general elecMore than 20 changes were protion are scheduled, to appear during posed and considered during the a program at Cyprus high Monday public hearing, with the largest number proposed for the southwest night. The candidate forum will begin at part of the city, planning district six. 7 p.m. in the schools auditorium,, In other business Thursday, the 8623 W. 3000 South. commission approved a zone change Candidates or their represen- requested by Wayne Sandall, 1668 W. and Shelley Ave. Sandall asked that the tatives in the Garn-OlivShimizu-Owens races are expected zoning on the property be changed 2 to to to be on hand, along with those inform the current volved in numerous contests for allow commercial development in the future. county and legislative offices. Candidate Forum Slated At Cyprus WELCOME foe looms . . . Smiling clown to dolivor the menage of mony Green Sheet area schools that are participating in their annual fundraising carnivals. Some of them are publicized in Section this weeks Green Sheet. B of member fo the Community Council, recognized the tailings problem and wants to make watever efforts necessary to help find a solution. Magna resident Diane Dempinger agreed, saying something needs to be done about the problem because of the impact it is having on the health of children breathing the dust. She said her own son started having health problems as soon as they moved to Magna. Her husband Ross said he takes him indoors everytime a storm comes up because hes afraid it could damage MAGNA. Brent C. Bradford, executive secretary of the Utah Air Conservation Committee, explained that last weeks meeting was set up for a discussion of the issues and possible solutions. He said that they heard some suggestions about what ought to be done, but the overwelming concession of opinion was Lets do whatever can be done to take care of the dust problems and keep KCC in operation. With regard to the suggested solution of capping the tailings pond, Bradford said he is not sure it is possible or whether or not it is a feasible solution to the findings, which is being compiled into a report that will be made during a meeting of the committee on Oct. 22, he said. In a letter to the County Commission for Dr. Harry Gibbons, director of the Health Department, some findings of fact about the tailings show that the total area of the pond is 5,000 acres, with about 80 percent covered by water. The other 20 percent is where the fugitive dust is coming from, the tailings. There have been three major violations of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter during 1986, including May 21, June 7 and July 4. While there are health effects associated with the particulate matter, it appears that based on sample analysis done by both Kennecott and the state, there are not levels of heavy metals (i.e. lead, arsenic, cadmium etc.) that would pose adverse health effects. City-Count- y The CUP has indicated its plans are to leave the surface of the pro- Carnival Time! Chris Eldredge, Magna by LaRee Pehrson Green Sheet Staff Writer According to Jacobs, along with the lining, the football players also spread some top soil around areas with the sod had taken root. The goal posts are set in, the fencing is going up and a new rubberized asphalt track has been installed. BENNION. The status of property called by CUP officials. atop a Central Utah Project reserThe first session was held last voir is the focal point of a series of while another is set for 7 night, meetings being held here this week oclock tonight (Thursday) at 5899 and next. Hills Dr. The third meeting Country 5800 of in the vicinity Residents to 7 p.m. on Wednesday. South and 3800 West are being in- is scheduled of three one to attend vited meetings This week, during a meeting of residents prior to the series called by the CUP, residents came up with two main objectives to pursue in dealing with CUP. 1,300 signatures demanding immediate resolve of the tailings problem. Weve been famous for having the worlds largest open mine copper pit. Lets not become famous for having the worlds largest tailings dump or for being the next location for an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) superfund cleanup project, he said. him for life. Phil and Dawn Faber asked the committee whether the pond has d to determine been whether hazardous materials have been dumped there in the past. The committee said only low amounts of toxic materials have been found in the soil, but there is concern about the large amounts of particulate matter being inhaled by residents during the storms. core-drille- Donald Johnston, who said he suffers from asthma, showed the committee a filter he uses in his humidifier which was black after only three months of use, he said. What good is working and living in this community when you are only going to be poisoned? he asked. Connie Giblon said if the problem Come hell or high water, my family is getting out of here, because we cant stand the isnt solved, State Is Addressing Tailing Alternatives official dedicatory ceremony, prevent particles being picked up by the wind. State officials hope to arrive a a decision on the matter next month. C-- In another zoning matter, the commission approved the request of Robert Moore, who asked that .18 of an acre at 3270 W. 3600 South be changed from 8 to C-- Looking at conditional use permit requests, the commission denied the request of Alpha Tiore Warehouse, 2315 So. 7200 Wet, to operate a scrap tire and rubber reclamation operation. In turning down the request, commission members felt the operation was neither necessary nor desirable in providing services to the community and also cited it has a highly unattractive use in view of its proximity to 2100 South and to 7200 West. James Cook has indicated the decision would be appealed to the City Council. The commission approved another conditional use request, that of Franklin Institute. The firm wants to construct a building for office, conference, store and warehouse use at Parkway Boulevard and Decker Lake Boulevard. Candidates The Green Sheet will accept announcements of candidacy for public office during September for publication no later than Oct. 2. The offer applies only to those candidates who were not involved in the August primary election. The paper also plans to run statements of candidates of all candidates involved in the Nov. 4 general election during late October. In addition to this space for which there will be no charge, candidates may wish to make arrangements for rounding out their political campaigns by contacting the Green Sheet Advertising Dept., 262-668- The problem occurs when a dry weather cold front, associated with high winds and no precipitation, sweeps through the valley. Action taken by Kennecott to date has been to increase the amount of water being poured on the tailings, establish a peripheral pipeline to get better water distribution, build a series of small ponds on the dry elevated areas, and the firm is currently experimenting with different An area along the dike (called the beach) must be kept dry to maintain the integrity of the dike and KCC is trying to control that through vegetation. The tailings pond is 48 feet higher on the west end than the east end, so in order to cover the entire surface water depth with water, the on the east end would break the dike, it was explained. Approximately 30,000 gallons of water per minute is now being pumped onto the tailings pond. When KCC was in operation, the tailings entered the pond in a slurry which had a physical characterisic that caused them to spread evenly over the surface. Kennecott anticipated the problem of the drying of the tailings, so continued to pump water on the pond after operations ceased. The firms officials did not, however, anticipate the problem of the water trenching on the pond rather than spreading over it like the slurry did. And, since the consistency of the tailings is much like that of quick sand in some areas of the pond, it prevents standard heavy duty equipment from being driven on chemical and stabilizers, vegetation along hydromulching the beach areas. To date KCC has spent in the neighborhood of $3.5 million for chemical stabilizers, construction costs to build the pond and importing special heavy duty equipment that can operate on the tailings pond, as well as for water and pumping costs. Kennecott is evaluating the trial procedures taken up to this point in time (increased water flow, peripheral water distribution, diking, chemical stabilizers) and will be moving head to implement long term procedures to control the dust. The firm presented its plan to the Utah Air Conservation Committee on July 29 for review and approval and updated the vegetation program with the state on Sept. 1. Kennecott has been requested to give a status report to the Utah Air Conservation Committee on a monthly basis. |