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Show News SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 7, 1996 Municipal leaders stay busy during session While state leaders scurry about on Capitol Hill, Utahs municipal leaders are also busy keeping up with the legislative activity. Most people know that state Fredortia primary leaders, we have the power to positively influence legislation, he added. Keeping up with current legislation is no simple task. Hundreds of bills affecting municilegislators are busy this time palities are presented to state Its bri ta r fcr of year, but few know that mu- leaders each year. For example, 12 thsCily t nicipal leaders are also actively to date, 393 bills have been filed involved in the legislative pro- in the 1996 session. 95 of these cess. Utahs municipal leaders bills have some potential impact often work behind the scenes on municipalities. When a bill is proposed, muto keep up with several hunOS dred bills affecting Utahs cit- nicipal leaders study its poten- flee cat crfcsfbre Februaiy 12, ies and towns. These bills deal tial impact on their communi1CC3, are a reddcnt cf with a wide variety of issues ties and then decide whether or end living: within the not the to to from retirement legislation. support limii3.1f ranging icily you have moved local officials contact their Often, since you. jpfc registered, you public safety. For most local leaders, the state legislators with concerns will ntsd to KHtgister with beginning of the legislative ses- about bills with strong municithe Recorder's Office, or pick sion means the beginning of pal impact. up a registration form at any Although some issues have a local distribution site nidi as weekly meetings with state leaders and other municipal officers, greater impact on municipaliFredonia Justice Court, Public as well as time spent studying ties than others, all are impor- Library, or Dept, of Motor elssSion trj rr.-itc- Fre-doni- legislation that will affect Utahs tant to municipal leaders and their communities. communities. have to We, as local leaders, Regardless of the issue or stay abreast of the issues at its impact, municipal leaders the Capitol because many will always try to keep the best impact our communities, interest of Utahs communiMayor Viv Adams said. By ties in mind, Mayor Adams working with other municipal added. a, Grazing fees drop to $1.35 AUM The grazing fee for Western public lands administered by the Bureau ofLand Management and the Forest Service will be $1.35 per animal unit month (AUM) in decrease from 1996, a the 1995 fee of $1.61 per AUM. The formula used for calculating the fee, established by Congress in the 1978 Public Rangelands Improvement Act, has continued under a presidential executive order issued in 1986. An animal unit month is the amount of forage needed to sustain one cow and her calf;, one horse, or five sheep or goats for a month. Under the 1986 presidential executive order, the grazing fee cannot fall below $1.35 26-ce- nt low-inco- How do I find out more about these programs? Applications are being taken by the. states Division of Human Services, Office of Family Support. These programs and agencies have not been affected by the current budget crisis and are cur- rently funded and staffed. There are local offices throughout the state. How do you know if you might for either SLMB or be eligible . 'i '' land lease rates, beef cattle prices and the cost of livestock production. The fee decreased this year because of lower beef cattle prices and higher produc- tion costs. The $1.35 per AUM grazing fee applies to BLM lands and national forests in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Da- Dakota, Texas and Wyoming the grazing fee will be $1.42 per AUM. The BLM manages about 270 million acres of federal land, most of it in 12 western states, including Alaska, for a variety of public uses, such as grazing, mining, hunting, fishing and camping. help with Medicare and the temporary agreements, the state ofUtah office of Family Support is still open and determining eligibility for the qualified Medicare beneficiarys program (QMB) and for the special Medicare beneficiary program (SLMB). The SLMB program pays the Medicare premiums for hospital (Part A) and medical insurance (Part B). For eligible candidates the QMB program pays all costs associated with Medicare: Part A and B premiums, the yearly deductible for Medicare hospital arid medical insurance, as well as Medicare livestock grazing on public lands in Western states. The figure is then adjusted according to three factors current private grazing kota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. The $1.35 fee also applies to national grasslands AUM. administered by the Forest Serper The annually adjusted graz- vice in California, Idaho and ing fee, which takes effect March Oregon. For national grasslands 1, is computed by using a 1966 administered by the Forest Serbase value of $1.23 per AUM for vice in nine states Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South You may qualify for Did you know that if you are a recipient of Medicare you may be eligible for the state to pay your monthly premium? Yes, thats right, even amid the federal government budget crisis 3 QMB? Basic criteria are: You must receive Medicare part A The Right Touch On Valentine's Is The Gift Of Staying In Touch (hospital coverage). Your assets (bank accounts, stocks, bonds, etc.) need to be less than $4000 for a single person or $6000 for a married person. There are some assets which QMB and SLMB policy does not count. Finally, your income for QMB must be less than $623.00 per month for a single person and $836.00 per month for a married couple. For SLMB, the income limits are $748 per month for an individual and $1004 for a married couple. Youll need to speak with a case manager for more specific infor- mation in determining your eligibility. Additionally, Medicaid and other assistance programs are also administered by your local Office of Family Support. If you have questions about applying for QMB or SLMB or any other available programs, contact your local Office of Family Support. There are offices in St. George, Kanab, Cedar City, Beaver, Richfield and Panguitch and phone numbers and addresses can be found in the phone book under the state government section. The Office of Family Support is open Monday through Friday during business hours. TeleTac 200 CELLULAR 1- - 381 -- 2355 800 Wayne Grosz Terry Tucker V. 644-242- 4 Rctriftinnc Sound Room 235 S 100 E Annlx i i t i i i , |