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Show THE Page 14 OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume XIII Issue VI January 1, 2006 Editor’ s View Letters to the Editor Lack of Education, Ignorance Threatens Freedoms An editorial in the Deseret News on December 15 asks citizens to read the U.S. Constitution so as not to be deceived by those who have a political agenda to take away our rights as Americans. This is a rightly voiced plea—to become aware of what the Supreme Law of the Land is—the law for presidents, congressmen, justices, and all citizens. Question about our current “auth ” war, the debate over the Patriot Act, presidentially “‘authorized” snooping, and many other things are answered in the Constitution. Citizens need to educate them= Se isa — for being free. Is co fecting current government practices? Ifso, . what extent? Do the president and the courts have public authorization to make law? nome we have a major problem in the U.S. 003 report on national literacy (Associated a 12- 15+05) claimed some 11 million adults English skills, some 30 million adults have “below basic” skills in prose, and some 95 million adults (44 percent) have only “intermediate” skills. Sh ly, a percentage of college graduates fall into ce categories. Half of the adult citizens in the U. cannot read and comprehend the Declaration a Independence or the Constitution. Half cannot make informed choices at election time. Half are at the mercy of rhetoric spewed by political and eligious charlatans. it is because the aa do not wish to be challenged? Can the government stand wide spread public scrutiny under the Constitution? Has our nation returned, full circle, to the politics of 1760? Is it too late to read, study, and lean to be free? Last night some teenage young women and men came caroling and left me a small token and a card. When I read the hand written note in the card, I couldn’t help but feel despair. With all of the wars and rumors of wars, content, hatred, and violence, how can we work for the blessings of Liberty when the minds of the people are not even trained and conditioned ‘o read and comprehend, and practice critical thinking skills. Is that why Christians claim righteousness without knowing what the requirements are? They don’t and, worse, can’t even read the bible. Is that why people claim to be patriotic and just while practicing oppres- sion—they won’t and can’t read the Constitution and understand what is says? I have said it before and Ill say it again—the United States is in the same political condition Germany had arrived at in the latter 1930’s. It is a truth that those who do not study and learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Is there nothing we can do to stop the majority of our people from getting what they deserve? Roger Price, Huntsville Season’s Greetings to Our Democratic and Republic Friends First, to my dear Democratic friends: Please accept, with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, nonaddictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. We also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2006, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great—not to imply that (1) America is necessarily r than any other country, nor (2) the only America in the Western hemisphere. This wish is without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, or sexual preference of the wishee. Please note: By accepting these greetings, Jou are cation or witha awal. It is freely pobre with no 7 »y the wisher wishes for Per or himself or others and is void where prohibited is revocable at the sole derarae of the wisher This wish is ranted to perform S expected a per tod £; of one year, or greeting, whichever comes First and warranty is limited the sole discretion of the wisher. Next, to my Republican friends: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! a Ogden Valley is Where Families Come to Play The Lucky Ones Get to Live Here in Paradise. Is Something Rotten in Denmark? By Shanna Francis In William Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet,” an officer of the palace guard states that “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” after the ghost of the dead king appears, walking over the palace walls. Today, the term is used to describe political corruption or a situation in which something is just downright wrong. When considering a December 20 decision by Weber County Commissioners Ken Bischoff, Camille Cain, and Craig Dearden, surely one can surmise that there must be something rotten in Denmark—in Weber County to be exact. Superseding a September Planning Commission decision, the commissioners passed a motion to exempt Ogden Canyon from the recently adopted zoning ordinance amendment designed to protect river and stream corridors, residents of Weber County, and visitors to our great county. Now, these same commissioners, also all members of the Weber — Mor Board of Health, will be deciding the final fate of a long established health department law governing lot size requirements for septic system approval. The River and Stream Corridor Amendment and the minimum lot size requirement for septic systems are two hurdles Ogden Canyon property owner Shawn Bischoff has been pushing to have removed so he can build on property that he has a legal interest in. How successful will he be in this effort? Very successful if his dad, Commissioner Ken Bischoff, is dad’s peers continue to flex their political muscle. The commissioners are the primary decision makers on both issues and both boards. Even before Shakespeare’s time, it wasn’t uncommon for political leaders to use their position and privilege for personal gain and that of their comrades, so why should it be any different today? Partially, it’s because of what is at stake. The Commissioners’ December decision boils down to really poor planning, and discredits the credence of Weber County. I also question the legality of the decision and the future legal ramifications and precedent it sets. I also awed | A a] ramifications this zoning decision may have on unty and, more specifically, Ogden Valley. Why was the decision to exempt Ogden Canyon from the River and Stream Ordinance Amendment a poor planning decision? First of all, the commissioners arbitrarily struck down a valid and beneficial amendment without rational or valid cause. Where does their decision place the credibility of the River and Stream Corridor Amendment if they can arbitrarily decide where it should or shouldn’t be applied? How important is this ordinance if it can be capriciously rescinded in one neighborhood and not another? Commissioners, please, make up your mind; if the ordinance amendment is important enough to adopt, shouldn’t the law be administered equally throughout the county? In a desert state such as Utah, is the responsible protection of such a limited and vital resource as important or not? The importance of protecting river and stream corridors is well researched and documented. “Buffer Strips to Protect Water Supply Reservoirs and Surface Water Intakes: A Model and Recommendation” by G. H. Nieswand et al. provides extensive scientific rational for establishing and maintaining buffers along waterways. Protected stream corridors are beneficial i s A Gt < di: d 1) Tor ig ig p tants; reducing sheet, bank, and stream bed ero- sion by providing a stable stream bank; and minimizing detrimental activities at the water’s edge that could represent potential sources of pollutants. Undisturbed corridors also often provide shade for surface waters—an important component in maintaining ecologically healthy water temperatures. Protected corridors maintain the genetic diversity of native plant and animal populations by providing a contiguous migration corridor, especially in areas that are quickly becoming urbanized. They also provide a source of food foraquatic ecosystems. As a natural floodplain, corridors also prevent flood related tlamage to the community by providing flood storage capacity and undisturbed critical groundwater recharge areas. ttom line—the Ogden River is a primary water source for Weber County, and the best way to protect it is to protect the river’s watershed higher up in Ogden Valley, and the river’s corridor as it flows westward through the county. According to an article entitled The Model Stream Corridor Protection Ordinance and the Basis and Background, A Project of the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, “The destruction or the improper use of one or more elements in a stream corridor can lead to the deterioration of the entire system and can result in significant regional environmental degradation. Problems could include water quality degradation, stream bank erosion, excessive sedimentation in streams and lakes, flooding, and loss of wildlife and plant habitat. The sensitivity of stream corridors to human interference is heightened when features such as steep slopes and highly erodible soils are present within the corridor,” as is the case in Ogden Canyon. le also recommends additional commonly accepted planning practices: ~ The delineation of a CONTIGUOUS stream corridor of minimum width so as to buffer the surface waters from pollution impacts by providing a transition area from developmen: Protection from alteration of stream coon flood plains, wetlands, and steep slope: ~ Protection of the buffering ability ofstream corridors. ~ Protection of ~— i plant life habitats within stream corrid ~ The control of antivities that may increase flood damage by restricting or prohibiting uses within the delineated stream corridors—including residential and commercial development. Legally, the commissioner’s decision makes no sense, and looks too much like spot zoning. Illegal spot zoning normally infers that a zoning dment was created for the benefit of an individual or individuals at the expense of the community at large. In this case, however, Weber County Commissioners rescinded a zon~ EDITOR’S VIEW cont. on page 15 orthodontics WEG: RESORT PROPERTIES Barry J. Van, CRS,GRI, ABR (800) 853-7414 Visit our new Junction Office location in the Eats of Eden retail plaza. Our team is made up of three friendly professionals with more than 25 years of combined experience selling resort properties.We'd love to help your family find your piece of paradise (or find a buyer for Jacqueline “Jaci” Hoff (801) 920-8853 the one you own if you're moving on.) Open daily except Powder Days!! Carolyn McLean pa (801) 745-3738 www.ogdenvalley-realestate.com [oseroa B esa )etare UT 84310 801.745.2519 Riots aeltna gery XOOPS) UT 84405 (801) 528-8742 2595 N. Highway 162, Eden Eden Prof. Cen 2580 N. 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