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Show Happy Birthday Daphne Page 17 VOLUME 71 NUMBER 29 6O0 Zions customer service to locate in Kanab Scenic southern Utah route under construction By Rachel Tueller Southern Utahs natives and touring travelers share at least one common thread; frustrations e comover a six hour, mute to Salt Lake City. Many motorists prefer scenic byways, venturing along tranquil landscapes, while prolonging the precious commodity ofsolitude. But expectations along one such road may be dashed and travelers might consider a change ofplans. Near the southern reaches of the state, connecting Highway 89 to Interstate 15, lies Highway 20, a cozy Country road that turns and twists its way through 20 miles of narrow gorges and mountain meadows, filled with high desert grasses, wildflow-ersage and cattle. The narrow mountain pass knownior its tranquil setting is used and favored as both shortcut and sanity mechanism. It is along picturesque Highway 20 that drivers soak up the last rays of southdesert ern Utahs before getting on But the refuge motorists find along Highway 20 has temporarily been disrupted with recent construction efforts. Drivers anticipating good old reliable route 20 should now expect significant delays. According to Myron Lee, Southern Utahs Region 4 Involvement Coordinator for the states Department ofTransportation (UDOT), Highway 20 will be closed in 2003, Monday through Thursday from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., with the exception of holidays. UDOTs contractor Ames Construction came to the Hwy 20 project highly recommended by a neighboring DOT. team. We feel really fortunate to have a contractor committed to completing the contract in one season said Lee. But meeting that goal means Ames will need to run three shifts. The road will be closed entirely on the weekday evening shifts from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Week- 300-mil- , ': - V m V: . 1- H - J v: : ' By Carol Sullivan Kanab City Council member Tony Wright, who also serves as chairman of the Joint Economic Development Council, requested .R ..3 : f- - ' y . ; that the commissioners select . 35,- ' . - : . s, sun-splash- WEDNESDAY MARCH 5, 2003 COLOR COUNTRY'S HOME TOWN NEWSPAPER which one will serve on the committee at the February 24, 2003, Kane County Commission meeting. In 2002, two commission- ers (Crosby and Judd) served with one Kanab City Council member. In 2003, two city council members (Wright and Hainsworth) and one commissioner will serve with local busi-nes- s representative (Matt Brown) and the county position which has yet to be selected. Serving as ad hoc members are Karen Alvey, Craig Baird and Dirk Clayson. Karen Alvey sits on the Utah State at-lar- ed Cool cat 5. This snowcat was seen outside the staff cafeteria at Best Friends animal Sanctuary last week . Photo by Clay Myers. New Citizen Committee to evaluate city power proposals Hinton and Hall. By Rachel Tueller On February 25, 2003, the The citys resolution and acKanab City Council passed a tions outlined therein stemmed resolution relating to the ap- from recommendations from the RFP law firm Chatman & Cutler who, pointment of the Selection Committee and the according to Mayor Lawson, profive-pers- on three person resident taxpayers of municipality for the purposes of evaluating proposals to acquire or lease the city owned electric distribution system. The three resident taxpayers of the municipality shall cause and supervise the appraisal of the electric system assets under Utah Code (lXa) and to serve on the five person RFP Selection Committee. Two additional members shall be selected, one from the engineering firm KR Saline and Associates, and the other from the See TJDOT, Page 24 accounting firm Kemp, Burdick, 10-7-- ex-offic- io 15 vided a blue print to ensure legal compliance with state and federal laws. The firm Chatman & Cutler assisted Kanab City in the bonding and refinance ofelectric bonds at the time of purchase. Recommendations for n Kanabs citizens three-perso- committee included Robert Houston as chairman, Bruce Thomas and Wally Thompson. They all were approved by the city council. ge Economic Development Committee, appointed by Governor Leavitt, a position which has been helpful to local economic efforts. Chairman Wright reported that Zions Bank call center, a customer service center, has committed to come to Kanab. They plan to employ 70 - 100 people within three years. They will start hiring by April with a starting pay at $9 an hour. With that good news, Commission Chairman Ray Spencer asked Where are we going with economic development? What do we want and who will oversee once established? Jim Matson replied that business retention is a key part of economic development. He offered several examples of what had been done to keep local businesses here. Matt Brown suggested that we need to continue with public relations with companies once they are here. The Kanab City Council Commissioner Dan Hulet to hold executive an asked, How long do we conplanned tinue to offer resources? Hulet See POWER, Page 3 said there is a point where we , need to wean off. Matt replied, We are already there with ACS and others. In the package, they know how much we can and cannot give. They know that up front. However, the committee did make the point that smart sites are a new thing. To get them to consider this area, theyve had to provide incentives. The economic committee said their goal is to increase technical skills. The skills required for the Zions Call Center are different skills than ACS requires. They also reported on several small businesses who are currently looking at locating in Kanab. The committee has generated some great contacts, commented Brown. When the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) by Vermillion Services was presented, Commissioner Habbeshaw said Mayor Lawson and I have looked at this and believe it needs amendments. I want to study more about the work of the committee. For example, Habbeshaw asked how much committee members are paid. All ofthe committee members chuckled and said nothing. At this point one of See COMMISSION, Page 3 KANAB WEATHER FebruaryMarch February Precip. - 4.77 Courtesy. Frank Swapp Family |