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Show Volume XVI Issue III The Ogden Valley news Page February 1, 2009 Guest Commentary Response to Tax Increase Criticism of GEM Tax Increases Coming to Valley if During the last few weeks, the follow- ing capability. More appropriately the term ing criticism of the Ogden Valley Growth should be Special Recreation District.) GEM Committee has Their Way with Excellence Committee (GEM) has Their proposal, presented privately to each been circulated in the Valley, particularly in the Huntsville area. The GEM Committee became aware only a few days ago of this criticism. The author of this printed criticism has not been willing to discuss the paper with GEM representatives, but after some study, the GEM Committee believes he is sincere and has the same values and goals as those of the GEM Committee (see the editorial, “Fight for our Valley”). We look forward to the time when discussion will be possible. Mixed with the text of the criticism, as found below in italicized print, is a phrase-by-phrase response authored by GEM Committee Chair Steve Clarke. The text of the original paper has been modified by un-bolding a few words for ease of reading. We trust those who have read the criticism, and those who have not read the full recommendation by the GEM Committee, or who have not been immersed in the issues for the past few years, will find some balance in reading the following account of the criticisms and the committee’s responses. Please note, the following criticism of GEM was retyped by Steve Clarke on January16, 2009 from a printed page authored by Ruston McKay. Apologies for any new errors that may have been inadvertently introduced. Again, Clarke’s comments are interspersed, and set off by parentheses, between those of McKay’s, which are italicized. Tax Increase to Come to Valley Residents (May only come sometime in the future after public hearings and due process.) Passing themselves off as the representatives of Valley residents to Weber County Commissioner’s and Planning Commissioner’s, (As stakeholders appointed by the County, some members of the Committee have functioned as representatives in some studies… otherwise the Commissioners know the Committee as a citizens committee.) the GEM group seeks to build a “…world-class destination” recreation resort (page 8 of their proposal) (The vision of the County Plan calls for the Valley to become a desirable place to live, recreate, and visit, while becoming a world-class resort region. This plan was debated in 2005 during public hearings on the adoption of the Recreation Element of the General Plan. The Committee is trying to encourage plans and laws which make this possible. using our taxes (among other sources of funding) while ridding the Valley of residents (Making it possible for residents to stay would be more correct, demographics of the population will change but the purpose of the Committee is to make it possible to continue having a family-based community) (page 13) so they can expand their resort. (The Committee has no resort; resorts will establish themselves according to the laws and their own fund- NOTICE County Commissioner to avoid public awareness on Nov. 17th, (Presented privately to permit each Commissioner to question and respond to the rough draft freely.) implied that they represented all Valley residents (Many Valley residents were in fact represented but we have no recollection of implying ALL Valley residents were represented.) and that all Valley residents were in favor of their plan. (We have no recollection of doing this.) The proposal states: “Formation of a valley-wide park system, with a special taxing district, directed by an appointed board” (page 34). “Valley residents will fund(through the Special Recreation District) acquisition of land and construction of facilities.” (page 26) (These quotes are out of context and do not recognize that such taxing districts already exist or the effort to create a sharing of expenses with others in the County.) Strategically placed (This is in the subcommittee report on management and funding… demonstrating the presumed willingness of residents to pay for facilities which they vote for.) on page 64 of their proposal, it states: “…we will instruct the board to raise our taxes to pay for it” – it being the expansion of their resort (Resort is a term without meaning in this context) which includes the parks in Eden, Liberty, North Fork and Huntsville (if they can worm it out of us). They propose to expand all parks to 25 acres (page 26, item 8) (This is a misinterpretation, new parks which would be managed by the District are recommended to be at least 25 acres.) at Valley residents expense. In effect, this means those who live around the parks will literally be taxed out of their property. (We can’t imagine such a circumstance. Liberty and Eden parks need to be expanded according to the General Plan, neither to 25 acres.) GEM also plans to use our school taxes to fund their resort (page 25). (Again, resort is not the right term; this reference refers to a desire to share facilities with the school district, something which would leverage tax dollars. We found strong preference for this arrangement in other communities.) This is ironic since they see the Valley void of students (page 13). (Weber School District forecasts a slowly declining school population in the Valley. GEM would like to see this trend reversed by seeing homes built that young couples can afford.) GEM made a carefully crafted presentation to the Weber County School Board (The same presentation made to Huntsville Town Council and other partner groups) on November 5th which was basically a bribe. GEM hopes the School Board would help them get control of the old Valley Elementary School (We didn’t think of it as a bribe, it was encouragement to share with the Special District. The recommendation to have the County negotiate on the old elementary school property as a senior center, visitor center, or museum has been changed COMMENTARY cont. on page 1 Passing themselves off as representatives of Ogden Valley residents to the Weber County Commissioners and Planning Commissioners, the GEM group seeks to build a “...world-class destination” recreation resort using our taxes while, at the same time, getting rid of the Valley residents(3) so they can expand their resort. Their proposal, presented on November 17 privately to the County Commissioners to avoid public awareness, implied that GEM represented all Valley residents, and that all Valley residents were in favor of GEM’s plan. The proposal states, “Formation of a valley-wide park system, with a special taxing district, directed by an appointed board.”(4) “Valley residents will fund (through the Special Recreation District) acquisition of land and construction of facilities.”(5) Strategically placed on page 67, it states: “....we will instruct the board to raise our taxes to pay for it.” “It” being the expansion of their resort that includes the parks in Eden, Liberty, North Fork and Huntsville (if they can worm it out of us). They propose to expand the local parks to 25 acres at Valley residents’ expense.”(6) In effect, this means those who live around the parks will literally be taxed out of their property. GEM also plans to use our school taxes to fund their resort (7). This is ironic since GEM plans the Valley to be void of students (8). GEM made a carefully crafted presentation to the Weber County School Board on November 5, which was basically a bribe (See WSB minutes Nov. 5, 2008). GEM wants to “partner” with the Weber School District in planning and funding”(7) for “A Four Season Community and Sports Complex”(9) near the Snowcrest Jr. High School that the school might use until the residents can no longer afford to live here. This was offered in exchange for the School Board’s help in facilitating GEM’s effort to acquire the old Valley Elementary School so GEM could include Huntsville residents in their resort and more importantly get access to Huntsville’s TAX base (WSB minutes Nov. 5). GEM further wants to tax us by the implementation of an enforced parking system. Yes, that means Valley residents will have to pay a fee for each vehicle to park at our parks (10). This pattern of resort development through local taxation can be seen in other resort communities, but a good local example is Trappers Loop Road to a “worldclass” resort. Cost to tax payers: 100%. Cost to resort owner: 0%. There are many more things that the Chairman of GEM and his accomplices are doing to further their plans to take over the Valley. For evidence on this, check the minutes of the Weber County Planning Commission for November 20, December 4, and December 18, 2008. All of those work sessions were in response to GEM’s additional proposals of Transfer of Development Rights (TDR’s), Limitation of Development to five spots in the Valley that they would control (Nodes), Mandatory Valley Sewer Systems, etc. Unfortunately, through very crafty planning on the part of the GEM committee, most Valley residents are unaware of these activities. Residents, school board members, commissioners, and others have been given only selective information. Since the Commissioners and others have not heard any opposing views from any other residents, they assume that these “pseudo representatives” are as they claim—representative for all of us! Those of us who have a deep love for this Valley and a rich heritage sustained by it, believe strongly in a familybased community, one that our forefathers worked so hard to establish. We feel that this family-based Valley is something worth preserving. We strongly oppose GEM’s false inference, and hope that other Valley residents will voice their true opinions to the Commissioners (801-3998400) as GEM will make their formal proposal on February 3 at 10:00 a.m. at the Weber County Commission office. Sincerely, Ruston McKay & Lewis Johnson, Huntsville (1) GEM - Ogden Valley Growth with Excellence Mandate Committee (www. ogdenvalleygem.org) (2) pg 8 of proposal; (3) pg 13; (4) pg 34; (5) pg 27 (a); (6) pg 27, item 9; (7) pg 25 (8) pg 13; (9) pg 33; (10) pg 28, item 5 physical poet, verbal acrobat, professor of fantastically useless inventions, RECEIVE A 20% DISCOUNT On Your Total Check Mouth of Ogden Canyon Ogden, Utah 84401 (801) 392-1777 with this Coupon! Valid anytime on Sunday thru Thursday only. Not valid with other offers or gift certificates. This offer expires on Thurs. Feb 12, 2009. You must present this coupon at the time of purchase . Certified Lunatic and Master of the Impossible Mouth of Ogden Canyon Mouth of Ogden Canyon Ogden, Utah84401 84401 Ogden, Utah (801)392-1777 392-1777 (801) Open Daily at 11 AM Come Make Your Valentine’s Day Special With Us 508 Ogden Canyon 92-6775 Call for reservations. 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