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Show SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS Opinion D 4 WEDNESDAY JUNE 24, 1998 Speaks Hats off E There are many people and organizations who promote Kanab and make it a better place. We've gotten calls recently asking us to publicly recognize the following: Thanks to the Utah Highway Patrol, specifically Trooper Shane Nordfelt, for soliciting the Utah Peace Officers Association convention. The convention brought significant retail business to the community, as well as area promotion and goodwill. An additional thanks to the Utah Peace Officers Association Auxiliary for their large charitable donation of children's items to the Kanab Clinic. Thanks to the Christian Motorcyclists Association for bringing their convention here. You are a and respected organization. We are thankful you selected Kanab, and consider your presence here this ' past weekend a blessing. Thanks to all local law enforcement agencies for working together to complete the Lynn Pierson Training Facility. Your hard work made having the UPOA convention here possible, and will help in future law enforcement training. Congratulations to the Kanab High School senior basketball players who have won three major summer tournaments in the past three weeks. In Hurricane, they beat four teams for the win; in Page, they beat 16 teams to carry home the honors; and in Snow College this past weekend, they bested 12 teams, including Grantsville, state championship team from last year. Good the job guys. Thank you to the Kanab High School boosters, the Cowboy Club, for putting on the second annual Awards Banquet. This is a great tradition they started last year and I know all the student athletes and their parents are grateful. well-recogniz- ed 2-- A 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. Letters must be signed and include your full name , address and telephone number. Thank you for your interest. Adhoc committee recomendation Dear Editor and residents of Kanab and Kane County: On February 3, 1998 the Kane County Commission formed an adhoc committee to determine how the current space requirements of the administrative, courtroom and sheriff offices in the county courthouse could be improved to meet expected needs for the future. Many options were explored by the committee, from renovating the current courthouse, to building a new courthouse with and without an attached jail. Cost analysis were made for various size structures and locations. In the end, the method of financing was the determining factor driving any decision. General Obligation Bonds, which are repaid directly from county taxes, is one method of financing. The new hospital was funded with county GO Bonds, thereby eliminating the amount available for other projects. A proposed new middle school in Kanab would further add to the local tax burden. Because of these facts the committee decided that General Obligation Bonds were not a feasible method of financing the new courthousejail. As the name implies Revenue Bonds are repaid from income sources created by the structure or enterprise. To finance the new courthousejail the main source ofsuch funds would appear to be from leasingjail beds to outside agencies, primarily the state of Utah. The size of new jail would be determined by how much of the cost and operation of the cemed that obligatingthe county with 20year revenue bonds based n on the state legislature funds on a yearly basis was undesirable. Revisions in state prison policy or lack of state funding could also place the county at risk. During the middle of the discussions, it was learned another financing option might become available and offer a possible solution to the problem. The federal government is currently choosing a site for the new Monument headquarters. Kanab is one of the locations being considered. Zions Bank has indicated that lease payments resulting from the city owning the headquarters buildingcould posallocat-ingpriso- sibly provide sufficient income to finance the construction of a new city hall and new county courthouse. The state has indicated that they would be interested in leasing courtroom space in any new courthouse. This would increase the attractiveness of the associated revenue bonds. The jail would house primarily local prisoners including additional space for women, the handicapped and juveniles. We were told by county employees that the county administrative offices, the state courtroom space and the sheriffjail can continue to operate at their current level, without major changes for at least another two years while we wait for a decicourthousejail the county sion to be made on the headwanted to recover. quarters building. conwas The committee Mayor Alvey has indicated very that in her opinion the decision should be made soon. The county commissioners should reconsider their plans to import 150 state and federal prisoners into our community until all other options are explored. This has not been done. Bob Hubbard, Chairman SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS AA Deadlines AAA CourthouseJ ail . Adhoc Committee FRIDAY 1 PM See LETTERS, Page 5 6Q10W COUNTRY'S HEWAPEft HOME-TOW- The Southern Utah News (ISSN No. 0049-165is published every N. Main at 26 Utah St.. Kanab, 84741 . The SUNews serves Wednesday Kane County, Utah, and the Arizona Strip. Address communications to 26 N. Main St., Kanab, Utah 84741 , Fax ortelephone rates available Advertising upon request. Second Class postage paid at Knab, Utah 84741 . Newsstand price is 50c per copy. Yearly subscription rates to Kane County addresses and Fredonia and Moccasin, Arizona, $22; others $30 (out of U.S. $50). The SUNews reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement or submitted items. 9) 435-644-290- 0, Dennis and Dixie Brunner Publishers and Editor 6. Carol SullivanLaurali Noteman Kanab News Myrna Cox Sharlotte Brewer Production Staff Dillon Cunningham 435-644-292- Glendale News Barb KimballLori S. Mohr Corrigan Fredonia News AdvertisingProduction Margaret Sorensen Orderville News Postmaster: Send change of address cards to - 26 N. Main St., . , t. Barbara Pyles . Feature Writer |