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Show SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY AUGUST S7, 1W7 Opinion Guest Editorial Monumental ideas 4 I By Glen Martin tain, Kaiparowits Plateau, Recently the BLM mailed a Kanab, Tropic, Escalante, and questionnaire to persons in the Big Water. There would be saniarea asking them about the new tation facilities at least every 20 GRAND STAIRCASE miles, fully equipped and meet ESCALANTE MONUMENT. all ADA requirements. This There were four categories to be would eliminate urinating and addressed. defecating on the slick rock and PURPOSE: The purpose of this other places along the roads and monument was to pacify A1 Gore trails. Human waste carries and his radical environmentaldeadly diseases and this probist. Clinton went along just to lem would have to be seriously continue his vindictive agenda addressed. There would have to against Utah. MANGEMENT: Should be managed by a small group ofBLM personnel and the majority of local county officials, ranchers, businessmen and citizens from the area. This management team would be paid adequate salaries by the federal government. SCENIC VALUES: About ninety percent of the monument is sage brush, juniper and desert. There are a few sandstone outcropping that are unique, however most of them are not outstanding and certainly does not qualify as a national monument. The area of the Escalante Canyon is unique but for the most part it is only available to healthy hikers. Everything in the monument and adjacent to the monument was already protected by the BLM and the Park Service and there was no need for this new designation. SERVICES PROVIDED BY LOCAL COMMUNITIES: Obviously the private businesses that cater to the traveling public would continue. However, they would also provide search and rescue, police protection and emergency medical facilities and treatment. These services would be GUARANTEED AND PAID FOR BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. CONCERNS: If the monument is to a NATIONAL MONUMENT it should be brought up to the standards now existing in our other major national monuments and parks. All roads would be upgraded to the specifications of B roads in Utah 66 foot right of ways, two lanes paved, adequate drainage, etc. There would be interpretive cen- ters at several locations Skutumpah, Grosvenor Arch, Dance Hall Rock, Smoky Moun be several full service camp grounds and picnic areas for ALL the public to enjoy. There would be numerous view points with adequate interpretive signs. It should not take three years to study the problems, some of them could be addressed and started immediately. After all these things are done the management should be turned over to a private entity to manage. This would eliminate a top heavy, inefficient government bureaucracy. I fully realize this would take billions of dollars to accomplish. SOLUTION: In that this is a National Monument for ALL THE PEOPLE, the government could do the following. 1. Impose an impact fee on every citizen of the United States in the amount of $200. With a population of 260,000,000 this would generate over $5 billion which would fund all the infrastructure, pay the search and rescue, police, medical and other impacts the surrounding communities would have. 2. There would be a $50.00 fee to hike the various trails into Escalante Canyon and other supposedly special scenic sights. Those in violation of this fee would be fined $1,000.00. 3. Hikers would be required to register and carry with them plastic bags for their human waste to be carried out to sanitary facilities. REMEMBER THIS MONUMENT IS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE. THEREFORE, ALL THE PEOPLE MUST PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE!!!! IF THIS PLAN WERE YOU IMPLEMENTED, WOULD FIND OUT JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE REALLY WANTED THIS MONUMENT. R A M S 0 R I PJ 1 0 NIC 0 URSElOFFEHED TEN MONTH TRAINING Required For Entry Into This Specialized Field $20,000 $ 50,000 with experience Employment at hospitals, clinics, health services or contract your own work For course information contact BARBARA COWAN AT (801) 865-824- 3 Letters to the Editor j 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. Letters must be signed and include your full name, address and telephone number. Thank you for your interest. Long hours Southern Utah news AAA Deadlines AAA FRIDAY Dear Editor. Most individuals have a tendency to judge how much people are working by the amount of time they see them resting. What a shame they see things 1 PM See LETTERS, Page 5 this way. Recently, Keith Robinson and one of his regular crew had the pleasure ofworkingon chip sealing all day. Upon his arrival at home that evening, he found a spring was bubbling up in front of his home. He immediately changed hats, made a couple of phone calls for help, and then was back to work. He brought the backhoe down and started digging. He soon found out the leak was not his, but his neighbors across the street. His workday ended at 1 1 p.m. which gave him a work day of 16 hours. How many other workers would have performed in this manner? Keith, Liz and I want to thank you foi- - the excellent handling of a nasty situation. Thanks again. Bob West KancK t, v?, The Southern Utah News (ISSN No. 0049-165is published every Wednesday at 26 N. Main St., Kanab. Utah 84741 . The SUNews serves Kane County, Utah, and the Arizona Strip. Address communications to 26 N. 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