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Show SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY MARCH 13,2002 Opinion 4 Letters to the Editor What is your opinion? This newspaper welcomes opinions from its readers concerning any subject. Anything of a libelous nature or defamation of character will not be considered for publication. Please limit your letters to 300 words or less. We reserve the right to edit for clarity or length. Letters must be signed and include your full name, address and telephone number. Limited to one letter per person per month. Fredonia Middle School is failing Amazing how shortages work. I thought it was interesting to note where the money went- - .... the money stayed in the pockets Dear Editor: of the ratepayers in Kanab. It seems there is a problem at I was saddened by the the Fredonia Middle School. intense criticism of the mayors past adAbout seventy percent of the stu- ministration and particularly dents are failing. the past mayor. I thought it was Thursday , February 28, a meet- the new administrations uning was held at the school to ad- written responsibility to heal old dress the problem. The school wounds and move forward. I wanted the parents to come to the hope Mayor Lawson will soon meeting and give their input as to realize his unique position and what they feel the problem is and opportunity. how to rectify said problem. Nyle Willis The parents were informed at the outset that, if the name of any teacher was mentioned the The real story about Kanab City Power meeting would immediately be closed. So much for that old idea of school and parents working together to solve a problem. Maybe the parents should get together and have a meeting of their own and by all means invite the teachers and other school personnel, but tell them in advance what they will and will not be allowed to say. One parent at the meeting stated that her child is ridiculed and criticized by his teacher when he asks questions in class. Dumb me, I thought it was part of a teachers job to answer questions. The principal arrived at this meeting late. Apparently, having 70 percent of the students fail is not of any great concern to him. Dear Editor: It has been said that conviction is a convenience for those www.barryscartoons.com who stand on the sidelines. There is no statement, in my opinion, that better reflects the BEST FRIENDS DONT LET BEST FRIENDS DRIVE DRUNK, current discussion and accusation surrounding the Kanab City Energy Department. I decided to write this article to respond to those who for years have chosen to stand on the sidelines and only until recently has decided to direct Kanabs future through a process of narrating its past. I speak as one who was in the middle of this power game for a number of years in Kanab. The facts of the matter are that upon completing a very times less than market prices. We also were able to buy additional energy, that when not needed we could market for a higher price than we paid. This resulted in a few months of very good supplemental in- throughout the whole process. They included John Williams from Washington, Matthew McNulty from Salt Lake, Doug Hunter with UAMPS, KR Saline and Associates and Jim Matson. We brought these procome for the department. fessionals on for particular exShortly thereafter, the Fed- pertise. It would be ridiculous eral Energy Regulatory Com- to think, or even suggest, that mission (FERC) stepped in and any one of these individuals placed price caps on the marSee LETTERS, Page 5 ket to stop wide spread bankruptcies. This dropped the bottom out of the market and we now, within a matter of months, found ourselves with a higher than market contract Kent Mason difficult contract Fredonia with Deseret Generation and Transmission, one that resulted in lawsuits and Pondering power countersuits, Kanab Energy Dear Editor: found itself in a unique posiI read Mayor Lawsons ex- tion for the first time in its again. Kanab was not unique in pose of the Kanab City Power energy history. We were grateDepartment with much alarm ful to have this contract com- finding itself caught in a and much sadness. It is obvious pleted, as it brought higher squeeze play. Most of the inthat mistakes were made. Those than market rates for our com- creases in power costs across mistakes included too much op- munity and little flexibility in the state are a result of this timism that power market con- our power acquisition. widely swinging market. From would ditions The market during the early St. George to Springville to change along with a hesitancy to make the bold 1999 period was very good for Logan, cities and consumers move of raising rates. From our citizens. We knew, however, find themselves facing the what Ive read in the newspa- that we needed to secure a power same dilemma that Kanab curpers, Kanab is not isolated in contract and we began intense rently faces. these circumstances. St. George, discussions with a number of I bring this to your attention, all-powe- Washington City and Hurricane have all had to raise rates in recent months. Power- issues are hard to understand. I remember calling my brother-in-lalast summer who manages a unit ofan oil refinery in northern California. I asked him if they were affected by the rolling blackouts that took place last year in that state. He said that after the kilowatt hour rate exceeded $ .20 per hour, they had the power they wanted. - w rs firms to provide it. Our discussions were making very good headway, when the summer of 2000 hit and the power market went crazy. Kanab found itself still in the market and facing steep wholesale power rates. For three or four months Kanab paid very high prices, but we continued on with our negotiations. Finally in December of 2000, ' we firmed up a deal that provided rates in. some cases 10 so that you will not be mis- guided by those who really dont know the facts and are simply looking for an opportunity to promote their own political cause. The decisions made at that time, I believe, were the best that could have been under the circumstances. I further believe that given the same situation today, we would have reacted exactly the same way. I had great confidence in the team of professionals that advised us CQtORPOMNTBVt - HOME Southern Utah News A A A D e ad I es n i A A FRIDAY -TPWN NEWSPAPER- - PM 1 - The Southern Utah News (ISSN No. 0049-165is published every N. at 26 Main Utah 84741 St., Kanab, . The SUN serves Kane Wednesday County, Utah, and the Arizona Strip. Please address communications by mail to: 26 N. Main Street, Kanab, Utah 84741 , telephone 9) 435-644-290- fax 435-644-29- 26 or 0, sunewskanab.net. e-m- ail Advertising rates available upon request. Second Class postage paid at Kanab, Utah 84741 . Newsstand price is 600 per copy. Yearly subscription rates to Kane County addresses and Fredonia and Moccasin, Arizona - $25; others - $35 (out of U.S. - $50). The SUNews reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement or submitted items. Dennis and Dixie Brunner Publishers and Editor Michael Evangelista Carol Sullivan SaiesProduction Rachel Tueller Sharlofte Brewer Reporters Myrna Cox Valley News Postmaster: Send change of address cards to Receptionist -- 26 N. Main Street Kanab, UT 84741 . |