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Show Action Salvages Some Services - County Relents, Opts For Tax Hike SALT LAKE. Following a pair of often heated public hearings last week, the County Commission here Monday voted 1 to seek a tax increase to fund a $230 million operating budget which the three commissioners unanimously approved. Outgoing Commissioner Tom Shimizu opposed the tax increase, although he did vote in favor of the total budget package. The proposed tax increase will be in the countys municipal services crisis mode. Budget proposals had drawn fire from both the Sheriffs office and the supports police, Sheriff Pete Hayward said the proposed budget cuts would force him to lay off 40 officers and that he would hold each of the commissioners for the personally responsible safety of the people in the valley. 2-- fund, which County Fire Dept., however,' because the trimmed back budgets which the commissioners seemed to favor would necessitate layoffs in both departments. The safety of citizens will be compromised if the proposed cuts were to have been approved, firefighters local union president Jack Homen said last week. firefighting and other municipal-typ- e services in the unincorporated areas. Were facing a crisis of equal proportion to the floods a couple years back, Commission chairman Bart Barker told those assembled y Friday morning in the Building. The county truly is in a THE WELLS EMPTY . . . Truman Cop uses cardboard bo to the County Commission Friday. In spite of widespread opposition, the Commission voted to increase taxes to fund public safety departments. his point before City-Count- O Barker explained Friday, however, that surveys, hearings, telephone conversations and letters along with our impressions of -- public sentiment - weighed heavily against raising taxes. This is definitely not the year to raise property taxes, he said. While that sentiment was repeated again and again Friday, citizen comments during both the public heary Building and ing in the that in the Salt Palace in the evening ran in favor of maintaining current levels of service for fire, police and mental health rather than deep cuts in public safety budgets. Apparently attempting to strike a balance between comments during the public hearings and sentiments which had earlier been indicated in a countywide survey, the proposed tax increase would only fund current or near current service levels of police and fire protection. The proposed tax increase will require another public hearing before City-Count- it becomes final, however, which has been scheduled for Jan. 14. The increase, which could add another $1.2 million to the county coffers, would translate into an additional $9.64 on the tax bill of the typical $70,000 home. About $1 million of the increase would be divided between the Sheriffs Dept, and the Fire Dept., with another $200,00 beeing added to the Public Works budget. The newly adopted budget also includes a $652,000 subsidy for the fine arts, which will allow the Capitol Theatre to remain open the entire year. g increases and incentive raises for county employees would have added nearly $7 million to the overall budget - were not included in the final proposal. Cost-of-livin- V w Single Copy 25 c Volume 31, Number 46 Thursday, Dec. A 18, 1986 5600 Annexation $20,000 In Fire Damage Is Traced Schools To Kitchen Stove In Apartment All-Ye- ar Favored GRANITE PARK. Many parents said they would prefer a year-roun- d school calendar even if the capacity concerns were not a motivating facChuck Keilman informed tor, members of the Granite Board of Education Tuesday. The year-roun- d option should help us to survive for two to three years without adding relocatables, Kathy Thee told them. The major objection we found came from mixed families also having students in junior high or high school. If its economically feasible for schools on the west side to do it, it should be economically .feasible for east side schools to do it too, Scott Steenblik added. Keilman, Thee and Steenblik, representing committees studying alternatives for housing students in overcrowded elementary schools on the west side of the valley, addressed the board concerning possible changes in student housing which may come as early school year. as the 1987-8Year-rounschool surfaced as the overwhelming recommendation of all three committees. The reports - half of the six schools facing critical housing pro8 d blems because - of burgeoning were developed by committees from community-baseContinued on page 4 populations Green Sheet Publication d Street Claims 3rd Life Michael S. HUNTER. Lee was struck by a car and killed Tuesday while on his way to school here at Orchard elementary here. West Valley City police said that at about 8:20 a.m., the Lee lad was walking on the north side of 3785 South when he darted into the roadway in front of an eastbound car being driven by Rachel L. Martinez, 4885 W. Pavant Ave. (3735 South), Officer Fred Mattfeld explained. Mrs. Martinez had just dropped off her child at the school and was taking other children to the nearby Hunter junior high when the incident occurred. Analysis of skid marks showed her car was traveling within the 25 mph posted speed limit, police noted. The boy was flown by helicopter to Primary Childrens Medical Center, where he died at 3:01 p.m., according to hospital records. The fatal accident is the third in four years to have occurred within a block on 3785 South. Some residents contend that the street is a problem because cars exceed the speed limit, traveling at 50 to 60 mph. Green Sheet production and publication schedules are being adjusted for the holidays. The next editions will be delivered on Monday, Dec. 22. Deadlines for news items will be noon, while classified and display advertising must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19. Following that, the next edition will be delivered on Friday, Jan. 2. Deadlines for that edition will be noon for news items, while classified and display advertising must be in by 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 29. WEST VALLEY. A burner on a kitchen stove has been blamed for a fire here last week which caused an estimated $20,000 in damage, Fire Marshal John Blundell explained this week. The West Valley Fire Dept, responded to an alarm at 2:57 p.m. on Friday for a fire in a four-ple- x apartment at 3893 W. Dean Dr. (4380 South). Upon arrival, we found a lower apartment well involved with fire, Blundell noted. Firemen arrived withing four minutes of receiving the alarm and the fire was contained in 15 minutes, he said. The apartment was one in which Charles Moore lived with wife Judy Mr. Moore and two children. discovered the fire when he returned home to find smoke pouring from bis. Blundell explained. apartment, No one was home at the time the fire started. Alma Eskelson, 25, a resident of the apartment complex, assisted with evacuation of the other three apartments in the fourplex. He also assist in extinguishing the fire with a garden hose, Blundell pointed out, but in doing so, he was overcome with smoke inhalation. Eskelson was treated by firefighters at the scene and was transported to Pioneer Valley hospital, where he was treated and released. Through his efforts, lives and Blundell property were saved, said. He wasnt being a hero - he was genuinely concerned about the situation. Were grateful for his assistance and always appreciate citizen involvement such as he demonstrated. While expressing thanks for Eskelsons assistance, Blundell stressed, though, that it is important that citizens recognize the dangers involved under fire conditions. One other resident of the complex - Three Choices Offered WEST VALLEY. You basically have three choices," City Manager John Newman told members of the City Council here Tuesday. You can continue the public hearing for more study, or you can accept or deny the policy declaration, he added. Newmans comments concerned a public hearing which will be held tonight (Thursday) over a proposal to annex 85 acres on the southwest corner of 4700 So. 5600 West. Because the land is within a half mile of the West Valley City limits (and, in fact, abuts West Valleys border), developers were required by state law to petition for annexation into the city. Arnold Development, w'hich proposes to construct homes on the site, sought and was granted a zone change approval from the county from agricultural and gravel pit uses to 6 and (6,000 and 7,000 square foot lots respectively). Both city fathers and Hercules personnel, however, have expressed feelings that the Hercules Hill area on which the property lies would be better suited for large lot homes or other uses. Tonights public hearing will allow' those interested in expressing opinions on the matter the forum to do R-l-- TREATMENT . . . Engineer Rob Knighton and firefighter Steve Hermanson give oxygen to Alma Eskelson who suffered from smoke inhalation while assisting in putting out a fire. Eskelson was subsequently taken to Pioneer Valley hospital where he was treated and released. so. -- a woman not even involved in electric stove, Blundell said. The fire, he noted, accentuated a fighting the fire - was also treated for smoke inhalation, he noted. problem which the Fire Department The fourplex suffered an often observes. People living in estimated $20,000 in damage, he apartments who dont have renters said, with the heaviest fire damage insurance often find they lose to the one unit where the fire everything in a fire, he noted. Generally speaking, insurance originated and primarily smoke on an apartment complex still damage to remaining three units. "The cause of the fire was a covers the building itself, but not the v. burner left on in the kitchen on an contents, he pointed out. - -- Bullock Chosen For Second Year To Lead Magna CofC MAGNA. In an election Thursday at the Copper Golf Club, Magna Chamber of Commerce members re- secretary-treasure- x belingings. I hate to sound like an ad for the insurance industry, but people living in apartments ought to look into the costs involved in insuring the contents, he said. r. If the council accepts the annexation policy declaration, more than a dozen affected entities - including everyone from the Kearns Town Council to the Magna Mosquito -- Abatement District to the Hansen Planetatium Fund - will have five days in which to lodge a protest before the Boundary Commission. Another public hearing scheduled to take place tonight concerns the creation of a special improvement district to install and operate street Continued on page 5 -- Hunter High 'Obvious' Choice For New School GRANITE PARK. Its now official the new high school in she Hunter area will be known as Hunter high. Ever since I moved to the Hunter area -- 1 have to think for a moment, but it must be 34 years ago now - the dream of the people in that area has been for a high school, retiring board member Miriam Farnsworth told fellow members of the Granite Board of Education Tuesday. Its always been known as she said. Hunter high school, Over the years Ive never had a conversation with anyone about it when it wasnt referred to as Hunter high school. Long-tim- e Hunter residents, she noted, were not the only ones using the term. When new people moved into the area, they picked up the name Hunter high school. It only seems right to me to make this my recommendation to this board tonight. Naming the new school, she noted, - -- Wall, who grew up in Magna, has been with the County Sheriffs Department since 1965. He holds the rank of corporal. Wall has been involved with the Chamber the past three years, is married to the former Sheila Moore and has two children. Richard Kenny, a new member representing Union Carbide, will sit on the board for a two year term. A resident of Sandy, Kenny is plant manager at Union Carbide and is married to the former Mary Lombardi. A native of Pennsylvania, Kenny has a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from Penn State. Before coming to this area he was stationed in Buffalo, N. Y.; Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Mich; Houston and Big Springs, Texas. Continued on page 5 He noted that insurance coverage would most likely on the four-plecover replacement of the building, but the people living there would be responsible for replacing their own -- tained last years president and named two new directors to sit on the board. Retained as president was Harold Bullock, manager of the West Valley Division of Utah Power and Light. Ron Wall, a Salt Lake County Sheriffs deputy, is the new vice president, succeeding Jim Potter, Magna postmaster who was transferred to another area. Richard Burrows, who is also with Utah Power, will remain as 7 was not a difficult task. I feel very strongly about it, Mrs. Farnsworth noted. It has been - and will be known as that. The districts ninth high school, to be built on the southwest corner of 4100 South and 5600 West, will see groundbreaking next spring and is expected to house students for the 1990-9- 1 school year. Names for the new facility were solicited from a variety of sources, including the PTA organizations from schools which will feed into the new school, assistant superintendent Loren Burton pointed out. -- After review and input of the names submitted, the choice was narrowed down to three possibilities - Hunter, West Valley or West Bench high. Hunter high school, by far, was the most popular choice of the three, Burton noted. The board unanimously agreed with that choice. Asphalt Batch Plant Rejected WEST VALLEY. Agreeing with staff memebers that it did not belong in one of the major entrances to the city, the City Planning Commission here Thursday rejected u quest for an asphalt batching piant at 4100 W. 2400 South. Harold Bullock (seated) was elected president of the Magna Chamber of Commerce. Assisting him will be Richard Burrows (left) and Ron Wall. CHAMBER LEADERS . . The application, filed by Central Valley Asphalt, called for the plant to be built west of West Valley Highway. Commission staff members pointed out that the design of the west half of the highway through this area is not complete. The biggest issue is that the land use is generally considered a heavy industrial intensive use and that the area is the key window to West d Valley City from Salt Lake on page 5 Interna-Continue- |