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Show S eat Volume 33, Number v w u tzw Thursday, June 18, 1987 22 Budget For Schools Is $161 Million Single Copy 25c A Green Sheet Publication - Board Passes . 7 1 Drop In Mill Levy creased by the State Legislature. And Jack Olson of the Utah Taxpayers Assn, told the board to expect a tighter state revenue picture in the next few years. We all agree that the state revenue picture is tight, Olson said. And I dont think it will be better in the next few years. This is liable to last for three to four more years in the future. With such a dour outlook in revenue, Olson suggested the board shift its emphasis from capital outlay to instruction. He also suggested that the board try to bring its capacities in schools up to the required 70 percent use in classroom space. But Call said that every school Olson mentioned as having less than by Paula Huff Green Sheet Staff Writer GRANITE PARK. A budget with about an $800,000 decrease in the amount of taxes to be collected was approved by the Granite School Board here Tuesday night. The tax decrease amounts to a .71 mill levy reduction, according to Dr. John Reed Call, district superintendent. The $161 million budget is nearly $10 million more than the 1986-8budget. But Call said that can be attributed to bond sales for the Thomas Jefferson junior high and Hunter high. This years budget has already been reduced by $3.7 million since the weighted pupil unit was not in 7 For Constitution Grove the required 70 percent was heavily involved in special education or youth sale. Board member Gary C. Swensen said, As a board, we have never been so involved in building this budget - its been awful. -- said last year the district started the year with more than $2 million excess. But this year there will be less than $200,000. Call In other business, the board approved issuance of $5 million in tax anticipation notes for 1987. The Morgan Stanley Co. of New York will accept the bonds at 3.93914 percent interest. Call explained that issuance of tax tract teachers anticipation notes is not unusual. In districts and cities there is a problem with cash flow in terms of when taxes come in, he said. We determine how much the district needs, then borrow that money to keep the cash flow going until the taxes are delivered. In other business, the members discussed teachers to instruct half days only. Briant Farnworth of the office of instructional services said several studies show that subjects must be taught consistently rather than in large doses. That way students retain the knowledge better. board The board finally agreed to allow teachers teaching two days and alternate Fridays to continue the mode for another year as long as the principal okayed the action. But all new shared contract teachers must teach a half day every day, the board decided. In one year the board will look at the program and make a determination In the meantime, Call said he will suggest a doctoral student study shar- ing contracts. Eighteen pairs of teachers in 12 schools in the district share contracts. In some cases a teacher instructs two days and alternate Fridays. Other teachers instruct half days every day. The board was trying to determine whether to only allow shared con the two different modes to determine which is most eflective. In other business, the board decided to allow principals in elementary schools to be on the same year-rounlane as junior high principals d Taylor To Discuss Incorporation Issue TAYLORSVILLE Bob Taylor will discuss Taylorsville-Benmoincorporation plans at the West Valley Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon today (Thursday ) Taylor is the chairman of the Taylorsville-BenmoCommunity Council The luncheon will be held at noon in the Jordan Queen restaurant. 45ou So 840 West - Council Magna Donations Sought At WestFest Meets Tonight Following Ouster WEST VALLEY. trees or lilac bushes Seedling will be given donations to to anyone making the Constitution bicentennial tree grove here during WestFest, city officials announced here this week. Rusty Qualls It riter MAGNA A long battle between a group of citizens and the council here is intensifying follow ing the termination last week of three council members Craig Taylor. Marlene Norcross and Charles (Chick) Paris were terminated by the council in a special session last Tuesday, according to Laura McDermaid, council president. McDermaid said these individuals were terminated because You cant have membership that actively works against you while they're members. Once the council makes a majority vote, people should not go out and work against by The West Valley City Constitution Bicentennial Commission will sponsor a booth at the anniversary celebration being held at Granger park. Citizens may make their donations at the booth. Green Sheet Staff For a $2 contribution, citizens can receive either a Lodgepole, Scotch, Bristlecone or Colorado Blue Spruce pine. Lilac bushes will also be given. The seedlings are being supplied by the Lone Peak State Nursery in Draper. Dave Grierson, a Division of State Lands employee at the nursery, said all of the trees were raised from seeds. it Taylor, Norcross and Paris are among a group of citizens w ho do not feel the council is adequately representing Magna. The group met on June 4 and decided to form its own council, according to Liz Taylor, member of the group and wife of Ciaig Taylor Taylor said the fact most of the council members are appointed and not elected is the reason why members of the citizen group do not feel the present council is representative She stressed she personally is not advocating a new council be formed unless the present council members make it obvious they will not change their stance Besides the terminations at last week's meeting, three additional members were terminated at the Grierson said the Lodgepole pine is a native plant, which is often seen in the Uinta Mountains. They are quick growing and usually reach 80 feet, he said. The Scotch pine is similar to the Lodgepole, but has a broader top, Grierson said. It is also fast growing and is commonly identified by its reddish bark. Bristlecone pines can live for 4,000 years, Grierson said. They are a slow growing tree and are used for ornamental landscaping, he said. The state tree, Colorado Blue Spruce, is another slow growing tree, which stands 0 feet tall when mature. It is known for its seedlings which will be given to anyone making a donation to the city's Constitution bicentennial tree grove. . West Valley City employee Conley Thompson, Dave Grierson, Janice Fisher and Jerry Schlief examine some Lodgepole pine SEEDLING , TREES . . $2 chase trees. anyone making a $3 or $5 at the commissions WestFest booth. A three-foo- t wind sock will be given to $3 donors, while a five foot-on- e will be given to $5 donors. Proceeds from the booth and donations will he used to pur sharp, rigid needles and bluish tint, Grierson said. Anyone making a donation of $10 or more to the Constitution grove will have their name engraved on a plaque. Wind socks will also given to The West Valley tree project began in 1985 in honor of the citys In fifth (wood) anniversary. three years, nearly $13,000 has been donated to the fund. last regular council meeting foi conand two other sistent members resigned. McDermaid said There is some dispute regarding whether or not the council voted to or terminate these send them a letter warning them they would be terminated if they did not start attending According to the and in the eyes of council's the council, these people have been terminated, however, the president said These former members are Bill Bates, Brent Huish and Ralph Bnmley. The members who resigned from the council are Lloyd .Mitchell twho represented the VFW "non-attender- s and Harold represented mhn Bullock the Chamber ut Com- merce). They have taken away a1! the we had' representation laylor said McDermaid said the members who were term. nated wnl be replaced "as unselfishly .aid fairly and honestly as possibk '' She also said the present council e a truly representative group because groups throughout the community have representativ es on the council We're interested in the health and welfare of the community We have participants from the residential area, business and industry, she said Council past presiden' LaRee Pehrson added the council has been successful in. among other things. Continued on page 5 Calls Concert Tour Girl, Planning BodylnQuandary But Sister Opts For Wedding Can't ; Okay, Deny, Postpone to exercise their option on it. When it came time for a vote on by Ray Friess Green Sheet Staff Writer WEST VALLEY. A tense drama was played out by the City Planning Commission here Thursday as commissioners found themselves with an item they were unable to approve, deny or even postpone for a while. After more than an hour of consideration, the commission voted to reject a request from Kent Norton, president of Consolidated Capital, to amend his previous conditional use permit to allow conhome lots instruction of stead of the originally approved 280 lots. Citing a downturn in economic conditions, previous problems and a new marketing plan, Norton told the commission that he was now operating under his third financing plan. The latest plan includes a requirement from his bank that the 41 homes be 80 percent occupied before the bank will provide money for the rest of the project. The commission, however, expressed concern over the possible effect on the future of the area if the 41 homes were not occupied to that level, saying the city would be stuck with a mobile home community without any amenities, because the clubhouse and pool were now being planned for the second phase of the project. It was also revealed Thursday that the land for the project, located at 3000 So. 6400 West, would be sold at a trust sale at the end of this month, giving Norton and his partners only until then to come up with the money 2 the request, the commission was against granting the amendsplit ed request. In order to pass or reject an application, at least four votes are required. With the split, the commission was unable to deny the application, and at the same time with only two commissioners in 2 2 Covering 85 Acres favor of granting the application and none of the three no votes willing to change, the application could not be approved either. Unsure of what to do at that point, the commission was told by staff members that the application could be continued until the next meeting when enough votes might be present Continued on page .5 - Hercules Annexation Before Council Tonight by Paula Huff Green Sheet Staff H riter WEST VALLEY. Annexation of 85 acres within the Hercules pressure zone will top the City overCoun- cil agenda here tonight (Thursday). Almost a year ago to date, the Arnold Development Co. petitioned the city for annexation of property at about 4800 So. 5600 West. Such an annexation petition is required by law. The City Council then requested a study be Conducted on the Hercules overpressure zone. Two weeks ago that study was released. Layne P. Long, a Brigham Young University student who conducted the study, recommended the area be turned into a golf course with 150 half acre higher income homes. A public hearing concerning conditional uses on a proposed mobile home park called Southfork will also be addressed. Kent Norton of Southfork Associates is requesting the council allow him to built an initial 41 rather than 280 lots in the park. Norton would also like to postpone construction of a clubhouse and swimming pool until phase two of the project. In other business, the council will consider approving distribution of $140 million in taxable revenue firm Funbonds by the Texas-baseding, Inc. The revenue will then be used to purchase Metro Business Park in West Valley. City Manager John Newman said West Valley would not be liable for the sale. d The council will also consider change in several ordinances, including clarifying offenses of prostitution; regulations on control of vicious dogs; defining library thefts; and changes in the citys Continued on page 5 I by Helen Glissmeyer Green Sheet Staff 11 riter KEARNS. It was a big decision for her to make, but Wendi Johnston chose to travel with the Granite Youth Symphony to California this summer instead of staying home to attend her brothers uedding. The Kearns high student is the third member of her family to play in the symphony. But all her 12 brothers and sisters are into music. Most of them play more than one instrument and have had a significant place in their school bands and orchestras. The parents, Edward and Sandra Johnston, 4129 W. 5050 South, are musicians themselves (Dad plays trombone, Mother teaches piano) and feel music gives discipline and builds Says Mrs. Johnston, "We didnt have a dairy farm, so ne needed something to keep them all busy. If children have too much free time and not enough organized activities, they may get into trouble. At first the family started singing around home together and soon were asked to present their two-pasongs at church and other gatherings. Then they developed a four-pachoir of their own. As the children went to elementary school, they started to play instruments. Mrs. Johnston attributes much of their success to outstanding instrumental instructors at the self-estee- rt rt schools. John Loutensock, a Utah phony violinist, has been "a fine strings teacher, she Mary Kay Davis and Mary Bryan have been marvelous" on page 5 Sym- really noted Ellen in Kelli and Wendi Johnston hod a hard time choosing between attending their brother's wedding or trovelingjdh the Granite Youth Symphony to California. Wendi decided to travel with the symphony while Kelli will attend the wedding. HARD CHOICE . . . |