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Show PAID Sdit Uka City. UT permit No. 1039 v A A Mimtf V Volume 33, Number 36 Single Copy Thursday, Sept. 24, 1987 25 c A Green Sheet Publication Report Is Critical Of City's Economic Effort pletion of the West Valley Highway, 5600 West and Parkway Blvd, to provide better access to the developing industrial areas north of 2700 South. One of the major problems West Valley has at the present is the lack of a focal point and cohesive atmosphere. The report claims that the city has an area of concentrated retail and business services, but no focal point. The Valley Fair Mall and the adjacent retail uses along 2700 West and 3500 South would seem to be a logical point to attempt to establish a central retail business area. by Ray Friess Green Sheet Staff Writer David Howick Bill Erskine Arlo WEST VALLEY. Reassessment and a change in the laissezfaire attitude of West Valley residents and city officials is needed if this area is to increase its economic growth, according to a report by the West Valley Economic Development Division. The report, submitted to the Planning Commission and other city officials here, says the citys economic is not development activity presently regarded as one of the stronger economic development efforts on the Wasatch Front. The report also states that competition for economic growth will continue to be intense and that the city can capitalize on that competition if it is willing to make the effort. The report says that West Valley must make the effort necessary to increase employment opportunities, increase the percentage of commerciallight industrial property, increase the per capita sales tax in the city and position the city to compete with other major Wasatch Front communities in attracting economic growth. One of the main objectives of the city, the report says, should be com James KEARNS. Election o( officers to terms on the Council will be held from 7 to 8:45 tonight (Thursday) at the Kearns library. Incumbents seeking are David Howick and Arlo James. Also running are Bill Erskine and Shauna Lee Smith. Howick is a native and lifetime resident of Kearns and has served about eight years on the Council. He is director of Service Area No. 1, vice president of the United Assn, of Community Councils, and a member of the county commission task force to study forms of government for the next century. veteran of the House An eight-yea- r of Representatives, James has served on the Kearns Town Council 14 years, 11 years as chairman. He has lived in the Kearns area the past 35 years, and has been United Way chairman the past 10 years. in light I am seeking of the fact that I have devoted many, many years of volunteer service to improve the quality of life Kearns residents, he said. for Erskine is a former member of the Town Council, having served about six years in that body, and was the Santa chairman for original sub-fo- r the Council. He is employed as an electronic technician with Sperry Rand, and is a member of the Utah Air National Guard. Mrs. Smith has had 25 years of volunteer service in such areas as Red Cross, PTA, scouting, and in many handicapped facilities. She is the mother of seven children, five of school age, and is a crossing guard for Bacchus elementary school, as well as owning and operating a day care center. I feel community involvement helps me and my familys future be stronger and brighter. If my children learn to serve, they will become better citizens and better parents, she observed. All Kearns residents are en couraged to vote in the election, said Kearns Town Council spokesman Marilyn Madsen. In order to do so, they must show up at the library during the hours of the election to mark a ballot. 4-- Yes' Vote On Bond Won't Set Highway In Concrete by Steve Warren Green Sheet Staff Writer WEST VALLEY. A yes vote on the West Valley highway bond issue on Nov. 3 will not set the highway in concrete, say city officials. Many residents have received the mistaken impression that, because the issue is on the ballot, the city will automaticlaly begin selling general obligation bonds if voters approve the measure. Not so, observed Mayor Brent Anderson and other city council members last week. A yes vote only gives the city permission to build the highway if the council at a later date decides that is the best way to proceed. Most council members want to look more closely at state and federal funding for the project. As Councilman Duane Moss noted, some have asked, Why should West Valley build it if its going to be a state road? Another issue the council wants more information on is the commitment of other cities and the county to build their part of the road. West Valleys section of the highway ex- Development staff "S'S'MV. ... - Election Results Go To UES First Kearns Town Council Elections Set For Tonight serve three-yea-r Kearns Town Economic engage in a comprehensive program to visit each established business in the community and to work with them to identify needs The committee also recommends a public relations campaign to get the word out about available services like the closeness to the airport, UPS and other shipping services and promotion programs to diaw new businesses to the area The report theorizes that, a West Valley City downtown commercial area, if capitalized on, could be a significant asset to the community, providing both an identity and an impetus to shop nearer home. West Valley residents spend a lot of their shopping dollars in surrounding cities, resulting in city revenue losses. Keeping West Valley City dollars in West Valley should be of primary concern. Transportation opportunities are also addressed in the report. "The is the transportation industry most significant clustering of like industry firms in Salt Lake Valley. Indeed, the transportation sector of Council Reverses Decision Shauna Smith our local economy has room to develop and expand. As part of its strategy, the committee is recommending that the tends from 2100 So. to 4700 South along approximately 3800 West. The city feels it is important to have the bond option available in case other funding sources dont materialize. They point out that the worsening transportation outlook in the city likely will be exacerbated by failing to act soon on the highway. The city also believes that having the bond issue on the general election ballot now could save the expense and delay of calling a special election next year. Based on past council actions, City Manager John Newman expects the city would issue bonds only if everything else fails. I think the city council has a proven track record of expending tax money only where he there is no other alternative, said. Newman also observed that from the time a property tax was initially established in West Valley, the city council has never raised it and on four occasions has lowered it significantly. In October, Councilman Leland DeLange will spearhead a volunteer effort to distribute to all city residences a neutral informational brochure about the highway. to prohibit election judges from calling UES before they take election results to city hall. Dunton told the council that this decision would be a disservice to voters who want prompt reporting of election results. He WEST VALLEY. It took Jerry Dunton of Utah Election Service a while to find his way to city hall Thursday, but once he got there, it turned out to be worth his while. Dunton, who told the West Valley City Council "I had a difficult time finding my way to West Valley because I looked in the phone book and there was no map, persuaded the council to reverse an earlier decision which UES opposes. On Sept. 3 the council had voted In April predicted that anxious voters might converge on city hall after 8 p.m. on election day to get results Dunton also noted that the councils earlier action would make West Valley the only one of Utah's 227 municipalities not to participate in the election service. Counciiwoman Janice Fisher, who voted against reconsidering the matter, said, I do not feel it is right for this information to be reported to the news media before the candidate knows who won Dunton replied, Does the candidate have any more right (to this information) than the people who voted for him? n Mayor Brent Anderson and Leland DeLange, Pete Winder and Duane Moss voted to reverse the Sept 3 action, thereby allowing judges to phone the election service. Fisher w as joined in opposition by Councilman Claude Jones. - Tree Grove Will Honor Colonists Coun-cilme- VALLEY. How many residents of West Valley City will ever come to be recognized as pioneers of the city? WEST In most cities, the answer to that question is not many. But with West Valley still in its infancy, a commission created by the city is offering city residents an unusual opportunity to have their names remembered for generations to come. Heres how it works. A group called the West Valley City Commission on the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution plans to plant a Constitution Grove next April at the citys new park at 4400 W. 3500 South. The grove will consist of 13 trees in honor of the 13 original colonies. . . . Susie Neff was named Granger high attendants are Jenny Grahm, first, Her homecoming queen Friday. GRANGER HOMECOMING and Jerry Gibbons, second. Royalty Is Named At Granger High GRANGER. Royalty was announced and Sir Lancer was knighted during the Homecoming assembly held Friday at Granger crowned queen knighted Sir Lancer, Doug Broke, and charged him to uphold the honor of the school during the coming year. high. The royalty paraded the field at Susie Neff was chosen queen, with during the Homecoming Jenny Graham and Jerry Gibbons half-timas attendants. game, and were introduced to specAs her first official act, the newly tators crowding the bleachers. e Three Want To Be 'New Face On Council by Steve Warren Green Sheet Staff Writer WEST VALLEY. One things certain about this years city council races in West Valley - - the next city council will have at least one new face. That guaranteed new face will come from District 3 where Jeff Beck, Gordon Evans and Doug Ben-nio- n are vying for the seat which incumbent Pete Winder has decided to Instead of asking the city council to appropriate taxpayer money for the grove, the Bicentennial Commission has launched a drive to raise contributions from individuals or families in the amount of $10. All who contribute not only help commemorate the U.S. constitution, they also will have their name (or a name they designate) engraved on a plaque at city hall. With the date on the plaque being comparatively close to the incorporation date of West Valley City, it is easy to see why such a plaque might have great historical significance to future generations who are descendants of those whose names are engraved there. vacate. District 3 is located between 2100 And 4700 South, from 40th to 48th West. A portion of the district extends to 5600 West. Todays article on District 3 is the landlocked. He wants a community park setting. Benmon, likewise, is not happy third installment in a series focusing on West Valleys municipal elections. The primary election is Oct. 6. All candidates in District 3 say there is a need for a new city hall. Beck is extremely pleased with the architectural design of the building, but he feels the Market Street site is with the location. He prefers building farther west. Evans, however, strongly supports Market Street. He said putting the new city hall there will revitalize the area. The three candidates also agree on the need for West Valley highway. Beck said, I m 100 percent for it. I Continued on page 3 Doug Bennion Gordon Evans After hearing a progress report from the commission last week, Mayor Brent Anderson and members of the city council praised the project and urged residents to take advantage of this opportunity to become part of it. Those wishing to do so are invited to send a $10 check to: WVC Con- stitution Bicentennial Grove, co Miriam Farnsworth, 5378 W. 3500 South, West Valley City, UT 84120. Jeff Beck i . JLJt- - tiU |