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Show t City leaders discuss Seep Ridge road feasiblity Tryouts begin for Basketball at all local basin schools, High Schools list their best students in honor roll achievements -- See -- See Page 9 -- See 11 Page page 13 lyJm G&ilto 79th Year No. 46 Tuesday, November 17, 1992 Roosevelt, Utah The CUP bill and Ute Tribe: potential economic benefit interests and wants concerning By Mike Ross Both pros and corn can be found in discussion with Ute Tribe officials when talking about the passing ofthe CUP bill. But asfar as the Tribe is concerned, a ratification of their Ute Compact is next on their list before any projects can begin. Over 25 years ago, water officials met and discussed how water from the Uintah Mountains could be used in the best possible way in order to serve the people of the Basin and people throughout Utah. "All tribal waters and proposed projects included in the CUP. According to Stewart Pike, tribal business eommitte, The Compact has been changed and amended over the last ten years. A referendum vote date has not yet been set The passing of the CUP bill by congress, and its signing by President Bush (called The Completion Act), has made it necessary for the Ute Tribe to ratify their Revised Compact of 1990. The purpose of the CUP bill and these years that the CUP has been ' underway, we have been overlooked. The reality is we have not yet received storage projects promised to us. The only project completed was Bottle Hollow Reservoir, and that was built on a dump." Luke Duncan, Ute Tribe Chairman Also, discussions were held with Ute Tribal officials concerning their water rights and future projects concerning that water. Some of the Uintah Basins projects under the CUPhave looked incompletable. The same goes for the Ute Tribes water projects. "All these years that the CUP has been underway, we have been overlooked, said Luke Duncan, Ute Tribe Chairman. "The reality is we have not yet received storage projects promised to us. The only project completed was Bottle Hollow Reservoir, and that was built on a dump. And before tribal projects are to begin, tribal members must ratify what is called the Ute Compact in a referendum vote. "It is up to the membership, said Duncan. In 1965, Ute tribal leaders drafted a document stating their Man on the propoeed Revised Ute Indian Compact is intended to quantify the Tribes reserved water rights; allow increased beneficial use of such water; and put the Tribe in the same economic position it would have eqjoyed had the features contemplated by the September 20, 1965 Agreement been constructed. How do tribal members react to the Ute Compact and signing of the CUP? "I hear both pros and cons, said Duncan. "Some people believe our water has been given away. Stewart Pike indicated that a large number of members that he contacted said they would closely scrutinize the water bill. "These decisions will effect us forever so we need to be aware ofthe pros and cons, benefits and risks of such an important bill," said Pike. "My concern now is whether it will pass with the Tribe, stated ET Duncan. According to tribal officials, if the Compact is ratified, then projects included in the document will be put before the appropriations board for review. If the Compact doesnt pass ratification, then funds will have to be litigated a difficult and tedious process. Troy Holzworth, Assistant Project Director, (for the Uintah Basin Projects) ofthe Central Utah Water Conservancy District explained that "it would be very beneficial for the projects in the Uintah Basin ifthe Ute Tribe ratified their Compact so that our efforts can be coordinated. Holzworth also said that if the Tribe doesnt ratify, then the District plans to go ahead with the rest of the provisions in the bill. Both Duncan and Pike noted that it would take billions to build the projects that were promised, and thatmoneymust be appropriated each year to be used for economic development. If the Compact is ratified by tribal members, not only the economic outlook for the tribe will improve, but the Basjn as a whole will benefit immensely. "This means more jobs for local residents and improvement of schools, said Duncan. Duncan said that negative elements might include more lose of our own water, use of aqueducts, and problems with water gates and trace minerals. A. According to Don Christiansen, manager of the Utah Water Conservancy District, the Completion Act includes a settlement of some $200 million to the Ute Tribe in the Uintah Basin for the use of its water rights in the Bonneville Unit and other portions of the CUP. Christiansen added that the settlement also includes $125 million for the Tribal development, fund, $45 million for a Tribal farm, andsome$27 million for small water Continued on page S What are your feelings about the passage of the CUP bill? irnmm i .v ' S TIME TO DUMP7-- A dumpster on Crescent Road is illustrative of an ongoing problem in the area, as sanitation companies attempt to keep up with the volume of refuse going into dumpsters that was formerly hauled personally to the dump. Note the signs on the side of the dumpster "Bag your gartage...pick up the pieces that escape. Rest of county has 911 service in Roosevelt waits total data verification 1 E-- 91 Karla fy a Cox well. Roosevelt phone customers and anyone on the 722 prefix will have to wait until January to eijoy 911 emergency service. But at that time, everyone in the Basin will benefit from Enhanced 911 service. Laoonna Davis, Central Dispatch Supervisor in Vernal, indicated that Duchesne County is ready to implement the emergency three-dig- it number, but Uintah County does not have their data base ready for Enhanced 911 service. Davis said the entire area must go on line with at the same time, so 722 prefix numbers will have to wait until Uintah County is ready. But Duchesne County Planning and Zoning Director Jack Wood said much of the data for Duchesne County is still being adjusted as E-9- - STEWARTPIKE-- T think its a joke. It only finalizes the non-Indi- portion an of the CUP. As far as the tribe is concerned, ffe, fisu rt i f. -- Roos. City rates up for Neola water use for locals..-.durin- the next week. Citys water system has been subsidized by the sewer operation. The water Bystem has had an average loss of $124,191 over the five year period. The pattern of losses plus the desire to have the water system operate in the "black" without being subsidized resulted in a three dollar increase from $12 to $15 per 8000 gallons for Roosevelt City residents. Overall, Roosevelt citizens only experienced a $1 increase as the sewer rate was reduced from $12 to $10. "We had to increase the fees to Vi Hancock, Roosevelt City Administra- tor. Hancock added, "We feel good about our wells. The source is there-ev- en in the sixth year of the drought. We still have adequate water." One of the Neola officials preswith ent at the Roosevelt City, said, "We have more people percentage wise on fixed incomes than it is here in Roosevelt" "We want to keep our water rates as low as we can," said Council person Darrell Mecham. However, another coundlperson, Beverly Hansen said, "Will it cover Continued on page 3 Escaped prisoner eludes local law m.vj 'A'' .11 By Mike Rose The Duchesne County Sheriffs not opposed to the projects being built, but Im afraid the water won't stay in our area." ILENE pay for the cost of the water. We have to be in the "black" to be in compliance (according to a previous city audit). We havent been able to recapture the cost of operating the fund in the past. Wells are aging-so- me are eight years old. We see an increase in maintenance," said Brad ., ftr ft". ' .i time and money to get it they still have to ratify the Ute Tribe Water Compact. I intend to hold roundtable discussions take longer, but the extra caution will pay off in the long run," he declared. Most Duchesne County residents are enjoying regular 911 service now, including Duchesne City (US West customers along with Roosevelt). Uintah Basin Telephone customers have benefitted from the quick-dia- l 911 for over four years. But the Roosevelt areas 722 prefix is shared by the Ute Tribe, who has their own dispatch service. The Tribe has 911 service, so signals would be confused if 722 Continued on page' 3 First Increase since 87 Roosevelt City approved increasing water rates in an agreement with Neola from 66 cents to 77 cents per 1000 gallons during a Council Meeting, November 10 due to increased maintenance costs and coverage of water wells. The previous price was set in 1987. For the past five years Roosevelt vV BRUCE WEATHERSTON-"I- ts better than nothing, but I feel like we are still being shortchanged. "Were currently going through and verifying existing addresses," he explained, "and making sure all number grids are correct. We were planning for November first, but we are nowhere near where we thought we would be. The process is a lot slower than we thought" Wood and his office, assigned to prepare thf data base for Duchesne County, are working with Uintah Basin Telephone and US West to make sure everything is accurate. "Its a situation of fix it now or pay later-w- ed rather fix it now. It may By Aldon Rachels kI: KAY SMITH-T- ts very valuable economically, but I think it's a shame it took so much ' - the Street MARTHA MURRA- Y- We liveinadesertoutherc. I haven't been able to figure out why other people think they need our water more than we da r viriiu JOHNSON-T- m DALE ANN LINDSAY-- Tf they take too much of our water, I hope they drown in it FLOYD WYASKET-"I- ts good for people in the area, and definitely means more money for rural Utah." - STEVELINFORD-T- m all for it We are in great need of water (projects)." office, and other state law officials are on the lookout for escaped prisoner Harold Dean Butler (42) of New Mexico. At approximately 11:30 a.m., Thursday, November 12, Butler escaped from the Duchesne County Jail in Duchesne. He reportedly was wearing a sweatshirt, blue jeans, black shoes, and may have had access to a brown Toyota truck. The six foot one inch Butler was in jail serving out a two year sentence for auto theft, escape while being arrested, and felonious fire. Anyone seeing a person who fits Butlers description is asked to report to Duchesne County Sheriffs office at The 200 pound man with brown bushy hair and brown eyes should be approached with caution. 722-444- 4. |