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Show PRESS ASSOC. UTAH 300 467 E SALT O ' f, LAKE. SO. UT 84111 w ' Volume 33, Number 47 , Thursday, Dec, y A 10, 1987 Green Sheet Publication J Be Licensed W Must orkers Care Day by Steve Warren Green Sheet Staff Writer WEST VALLEY. Opponents of employee licensing at child care facilities in West Valley had their say last week, but they didnt get their way. After hearing its proposed attacked by four .ordinance representatives of child care centers and one state official, the city council passed the measure on a 2 vote. 4-- The new law requires owners and all employees, paid and unpaid, of child care facilities to receive a police ID card, to be fingerprinted and to pay $8 annually for a background check done on the National Crime Information Computer. The law was sponsored by councilman Duane Moss. Although support for the ordinance appeared to be waning in November when strong opposition caused the council to delay its decision until last week, Moss and Fisher Councilwoman Janice meathe vigorously supported sure. Often during the hearings, of Moss challenged claims opponents. But the battle may not be over yet. Connie Millecam of ABC Preschool and Day Care, 3424 So. 3600 West, told the Green Sheet this week that she will ask the American Civil Liberties Union for help. She said the measure is unconstitutional because it violates due process and equal protection by allowing police to take an ID card away without a hearing. 'Well abide by it until we can remove it," she observed. Millecam told the council that could better serve the "you parents of the community by sponsoring parenting classes." Scott Nielsen of Tender Touch Learning Center, 3950 So. 2700 h of one West, said only percent of child abuse cases occur in day care facilities. "Let the one-tent- state handle it," he said. called it however, Moss, impossible for the state, with only three full-tim- e employees in its child care licensing section, to centers monitor adequately statewide. Moss was backed up by police detective Welby Scott, who said, "the state admits it cannot do an adequate job of background checks on these individuals." Pat Kreaher of the states licensing section said that this type of enforcement in other states has been shown to be fiscally prohibitive and has not produced satisfactory results. also Mayor Brent Anderson criticized the ordinance. He called it "premature 1 dont put a cast on my arm until its broken." Others who spoke warned that the measure might have a negative business impact and would drive up day care costs in the city, thereby causing parents to take their children to centers outside the city. One speaker predicted that passage of the ordinance could cause West Valley City in five years to become known as "the armpit of the state," at least in terms of day care centers. In spite of opposition voiced at the hearing, city licensing director Joan Perry said most day care operators who called her office favored the ordinance. There are about 30 licensed day cares in the city. Although city leaders have said that the police department needs more manpower, enforcement of the ordinance will be a police Chief Dennis responsibility. Nordfelt, while observing that he does not intend to request more funding to enforce this law, said the extra responsibility "adds to the case." He noted that eventually, unless resources keep pace, "at some point programs or would have services to be reduced." Voting in favor of the new law councilmembers were Moss, Fisher, Pete Winder and Claude Jones. Anderson was joined in opposition by Leland DeLange. Annexation, Soviet Inspection Team Spotlight Hercules by Steve Warren Green Sheet Staff Writer Frustration For Some, Welcome By All ... Hamiltons stand making bypassers wonder whether it was actually a graveyard. More snow Is expected through the weekend. Are they or arent CHRISTMAS TREE GRAVEYARD they Christmas trees is the question. A hearty snow storm tipped over hundreds of evergreens at Stephen Public Works Plan Magna Tour Granite Board Says MAGNA. County public works officials will spend Saturday afternoon getting acquainted with this community. Area Council member Marlene Norcross said the visit is part of a new county program to foster better with community communication councils. Its a vehicle for sharing information, she said. The busload of seven county officials, including Commissioner Dave Watson, and 11 Area Council members will make seven stops within the community. "The route goes along items we want to discuss, Norcross said. The tour will take in the Recreation Center which was remodeled with community development funds. Officials will also visit the storm drain project on the Riter canal. Mayor Okay After Clicst Pains WEST VALLEY. Mayor-elec- t Brent Anderson, 54, was admitted to Pioneer hospital Saturday Valley chest after experiencing pains. were All test results negative, according to a city spokesperson, and Anderson was released at 9 a.m. Monday. Anderson has been a city councilman in West Valley since 1982. In the Nov. 3 municipal election, he 59 percent of the citys mayoral vote. Anderson will be sworn in as mayor in claimed January. Viewpoint, pg. 2 - Education Report Is Thoughtful, But Invalid by Paula Huff Green Sheet Staff Writer MURRAY. A report on public education in Utah by the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce has Granites Board of Education up in arms. document which recommends changes The in education does not use any Utah board members for information sources, Granites Lynn Davidson told fellow board members during the Dec. 1 17-pa- tool if a businesses expresses concern about Utahs education system," he said. Granite board member J. Dale Christensen said the report is "a wonderful effort," although many of the conclusions and recommendations are "invalid." Conducted by the chambers education reform subcommittee, the first recommendation in the report is to develop and adopt a strategic plan and mission statement for education. Christensen said at Granite there are "volumes of data" outlining mission statements for specific programs. The district has also been placing teachers in areas which they are qualified and revamping student qualifications for graduation. second subcommittees the Concerning recommendation that there be no tax increases for education since enrollment should approach zero by the 1990s, Christensen said the projection "isnt even in the ballpark." "We are seeing no noticable decline in population," he said. "I dont think their figures are right." meeting. "There are 202 local board members and not one was contacted in this survey," he said. "I think we should register a protest with the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce for totally overlooking board members." The other four board members unanimously agreed. And so did Superintendent Dr. John Reed Call. "I think it is a well thought out report; it is obvious there has been substantial thought given to it," said Call in an interview later. "But if the chamber had included school board members it would have been The third recommendation says school districts that much better." should adopt a curriculum philosophy placing But Chamber President Fred Ball said the on reading, writing, mathematics, subcommittee did interview board members, greater emphasis science, literature, history and social studies. although none of them were from Granite. When Christensen said this is a "mute issue" for Granite. asked why the board representing the largest school "We dealt with this two years ago," he said. district in the state wouldnt be used as a source, the subcommittees recommendation Anyway, Ball said subcommittee member Jim Peacock would have to answer that question. He was unavailable concerning greater emphasis on basic academic courses isnt what the public wants, he continued. for comment. "The information we are getting is that the public Ball said the chamber has distributed the report to whole body education," he said. "That means wants "We every Utah superintendent and legistators. teach the whole child and dont limit it to just said. he to as a utilize you it lobbying tool," plan The report will also be shown to businesses reading, writing and arithmetic." interested in locating in Utah, but concerned about its education system. "We will use this as a positive Continued on page 3 Sports, pg. 4 Crossword, pg. 11 Television, pg. 12 WEST VALLEY. With the proposed annexation of Bacchus East by West Valley City stirring controversy, and with talk of a Soviet inspection team coming to Utah, attention continues to focus on Hercules Inc. The Magna Area Council last week delayed a decision on the proposed annexation until its evening meeting Tuesday. On the same day, Salt Lake County has scheduled a morning public hearing on its Hercules Area Master Plan. Nevertheless, council president Steve Harris said he personally the plan. Although opposes has failed to incorporate Magna in the 74 years Hercules has been located there, Harris said that if Magna ever does incorporate, "we would hate to lose that tax base." He also echoed sentiments of some county officials that West Valley may be unable to finance $10 million in land purchases around Hercules without raising taxes. "If we were West Valley residents, we would be scared to death." A statement in the Magna Gov. Norm that meeting before becoming Bungerter, governor, developed a subdivision in the danger zone around Hercules is completely false, said Reed Searle and Francine Giam of the governors office. David Nicponski, Meanwhile, Hercules government affairs manager, read the following statement to the Green Sheet relating to verification reauire-mentunder the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty: "The only program under the INF treaty involving Hercules Inc. is the Pershing program. The Magna plant produced rocket motors for Pershings from August 1982 until June 1987 when the last Hercules unit built for deployment in the field was delivered to the U.S. government, s Continued on page EARLY GREEN SHEET The Green Sheet will arrive on your doorsteps Tuesday, December 22. ADVERTISING DEADLINES DECEMBER 18th ONLY Classified . . . . 5 p.m. Friday All Zones . . . . 5 p.m. Friday j Split Zones . . . . Noon Friday Inside UPS AND DOWNS: Green Sheet force during the week sampling much of the holiday theatre fare. Their impressions0 area critics were out in Seepage B-- l IN SESSION: Both the Magna Area Council and the Magna Community Council were busy during the week. See reports of their activities inside this section. YULETIDE SPIRIT: Students at schools throughout the valley are busy with their Christmas activities. We can cover only a sampling. See Green Sheet Schools FOUL!: Murray and West Jordan scrapped in a prep contest where officials whistled 58 fouls on the two clubs. See details In Green Sheet Sports Milestones, pg. 14 Happenings, pg. 2-- B 3 1 j |