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Show ) 2 Iha.Sglinq Sun Wednesday. June 15.1988 Problems at City Hall weeks Salina City Council meeting a question concerning retirement benefits to the police chief was raised that needs some explanation. In 1 983 the Utah State Legislature passed a law it stating was legal for members of the Utah Public Safety Retirement System to discontinue making payments to the system, draw retirement benefits and still maintain their present employment. In 1985 Police Chief, Gordon Kiesel, elected to During last exempt himself from the Utah Public Safety Retirement System but still remain employed by Salina City. Because of the policies of Salina City that provide retirement and insurance or equal benefits for it's fulltime employees the money that was being paid into Gordon's retirement was switched over to an annuity program and he has thus been paid since 1985. In last week's council meeting Councilman Roger Nielsen felt this situation was morally not right.' He explained that once someone was retired (defined as using their retirement money) it wasn't right forthat person to still be receiving "retirement income' from the city.(ln this case in the form of annuity payments.) Other Councilman commented that this was "double dipping' from taxpayers funds. There are a few things needing explaining. Since that law was passed in 1983,the state legislature changed it's position and reversed the law in 1986. At this point in time the State Retirement Board refused to pay benefitsto those who opted to pull from their retirement funds.early and continue to be employed for the same entity. They were sued. In the case the courts basically told the State Retirement Board they had no choice but to pay the benefits explaining that the retirement money belonged to the employee no matter when they retired. This is the situation the Salina City Council needs to address. Who does the retirement fund that Gordon has built up over the years belong to? What is so morally wrong of Gordon choosing to stop paying into his retirment fund, start using the funds he has set aside and remain employed? guess that hiring a person using retirement funds I no matter their age is morrally wrong. This is nothing that what Gordon choose to do in 1985. In any case benefits are paid to employees because of their employment status, not because of their outside incomes or lack of them. What is being paid to any of the city's employees is paid to them because they have earned that salary and benefit structure. Salina City has policies saying that fulltime employees are guaranteed certain benefits and as far as know Gordon is still working for the city and is deserving of these benefits no matter if he is receiving retirement benefits. Why then would the council discriminate against an employee, go against court decisions stating that what Gordon is doing is legal, and reduce his salary by the exact dollar that is being paid into an annuity program in leu of retirement? And to top it all off . the counicl didn't once during the meeting ask the advice of their attorney who was present and afterwards describe their actions as totally illegal. don't feel the council thought this problem through as completely as they should have. They can't legally discipline an employee in the manner in which they voted to last week. If they felt Gordon was overpaid for his duties then this should have been brought out in the meeting and acted on. If they don't like paying Gordon's annuity or retirement benefits they had better look at all of the city's employees and the benefits paid and not discriminate against one. If making moral decisions is their desire why not look at the less than forty hour per week employees working for the city who receive full insurance or annuity and full retirement pay and ask if this is fair to the taxpayers. Being a city councilperson is not always as easy as we it to be. This issue is complex and as councils like would change actions of past councils are not always known by existing councils and this complicates the avenues of staying informed. The voting on this particular issue was slow as most struggled with the decision they were about to make but the vote passed just the same. This issue needs to be addressed again if nothing more than to correct the issue legally. different I I Redmond tentative budget The bond to complete the new water system for $15,000 was discussed. The bond would be for $15,000 at 0 percent interest and would be payable in 2 1 years, 2009 in one payment. The council voted to accept this and to pursue the money. Carla Wilkins reported that Redmond had received approval for a $58,000 grant from the Community Impact Board to fund fully the completion of the new city hall and to build a new 28 ,000 square foot metal storage building. This grant was approved in the June 2 meeting of the C.I.B. meeting and will take about three weeks to process. She also discussed the activi- ties planned for July 24 which will be celebrated on Saturday, July 23. It was decided that the town would be awakened with their traditional dynamite blast at 7:00 a.m. The parade will start at 10:30 with concessions and games to follow into the afternoon. Abarbecue and program while you eat will be held in the evening prior to the fireworks. Willis Hales reported they needed to build another bridge in town at about 370 south 100 west on the lake road but would hold off to assess the availability of money. Also there was a little money that could be used to fill chuckholes. If it rains they would also try to get some grading done on the roads. Non residents using the dump was also discussed along with ideas of lim iting the area used for dumping to facilitate covering and controlling the dump better. Gene Honeycutt reported some of the activities of the local Economic Development Committee. The city reported they still had land around their sewer lagoons that could be used to increase the size of the Growing carrots, onions could make money for farmers Letters to the Editor We welcome letters to the Editor. Letters must be signed. All letters will be printed with name. Unsigned letters will not be printed. We try to print all letters as they are submitted but at edittina for length at times is necessary. The Salina Womens Organi- - r Bank; V & S Variety; Zions First zation would like to thank all those ib National Bank, We would also like to thank who helped with the Miss North A summary report released by including equipment depreciation, Sevier Scholarship Pageant those who donated gifts, such as Data Resources, Inc notes that onions wages, interest paid and other exArea sponsors were Aurora Salina Area Chamber of Commerce; and carrots could produce many penses. e Paulettes Smart Shop; and City; Aurora Welding; Barney While a farmer may have made times the profit of conventional crops Food Video. Barretts Town; Trucking, Inc.; in grown in central and southern Utah. enough to live on growing barley A special thanks to all the Bastian Trucking; Bums Saddlery; than more his made he nothing The report shows carrots could 1987, Cox Rock Products; Daves Glass; contestants and their parents, own wages, and the farm actually about have $144.29 profit produced CounDraperies by ReNonne; Ellis judges, statisticians, ushers, Kent per acre in 1987. Onions would have operated at a net loss. Nielsen, Ivan Hendrickson, Paulette try Auto Salvage; Encore Realty; at least $1 ,079.92 per acre. Garys Body Shop; Generator Keller, Terry Nordfelt, Principal produced The report is part of an On other the hand, the study shows Starter Service; Hales Sand and Tim Smith, North Sevier High alstudy being made by that the average farmer growing Gravel, Inc; Hollys Pantry; Holts School, Salina Sun, Kent Jacobsen, Corp, Utah Power and Light, falfa made $20 profit per acre and Brett Shepherd, Manual Porras, Hunger Hut; Ivan Hendrickson, Power and Light The barley farmers actually lost $1 1 per and Pacific DDS; Jans Kitchen; Johnsons Drive KMTI, KSVC, Carol Ann Curtis, the of study is to determine purpose acre last year. Diane Dicker, Don Flora, Pryce in; Jones and Sons Roofing; Karens of the building a vegetable feasibility The report says that the figures Komer, Lins Country Store; Lions; Hales, Brent Hales, Best Western in Richfield. plant are based on profit after all costs, processing Maxwells Country Classic Carpets; Shaheens Motel, Best Western Muggins; North Sevier Gun Club; Branding Iron Motel, A & J CaterRedmond City; Redmond Clay and ing, Salina Laundromat and Dry Salt Co; Robinson Transport, Inc.; Cleaning, Virginia Stewart and NiSalina City; Salina American Lecole Mickclsen. Thanks to all these businesses gion Post 36; Salina Drug; Salina Fire Department; Salina Motors-Chevroland individuals and everyone else coming year. The big differences in and is set at $35,775 this year and and Oldsmobile; Salina who helped to make this Miss North this amount come in the debt service because of the money that was spent Video; Sevier Pageant possible. Riding Club; Shot-Tim- e last was last year to extend sewer services which $42,408 year payment Southern Utah Fuel Company; The Salina Womens Organiunder the freeway interchange South $19,166. The increase comes from Stubbs, Inc.; Utah Independent zation for a cost of $69,923 last year that needed equipment and supplies does not appear on this years budget. which will increase almost $2,500 Raises for city employees had for the next year. been worked into this tentative The pressurized irrigation play a country number and he said To the Editor had played to and just ignored fund, water fund, sanitation fund, and budget but were not given discussed they The street dances we have in by the mayor because they had not and after the Southeast improvement district Salina are great and provide a means my request. During determined for each employee been I heard numerous from last dance, complaints funds remain unchanged of getting people together and enjoyabout the majority of the music being year. The big change comes in the as of yet ing themselves and they provide a rock. Final budget will be passed and Many said that if it was going Sewer expenditures which will be means of raising money for different to be all rock, they would not attend down from $188,000 last year to a approved in the next council meeting organizations, and I am all for them future dances and I certainly will be budgeted amount of $116,000 this on Monday, June 20, at 7:30 p.m. and enjoy most of them. one of those. The last one, on June 4, was a We pay our money like everydifferent matter. one else and expect to hear at least Off-highw- ay I realize that a lot of our some of the music we like. I believe like rock than more younger people it is.only fair to check into the type of they do country, but there are a lot of music a band is going to play before us who can stand a little rock but are they are hired, and make it plain to mostly country music lovers. The them that they should play half and band at this last dance played maybe half, and not dominate the dance with three country songs from start to one type. finish of the dance that thats not fair. Sincerely, I even asked the vocalist to Lloyd Mullican . Sho-Tim- th nt Salina tentative Budget et Dissatisfied with street dance music vehicle education program trict Court June 22nd that the crimes were likely committed, and that Trent Taylor, and Troy Taylor, both 23 years of age, had committed the crimes. The men are charged with possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) with intent to distribute which is a second degree felony; and with possession of a controlled sub-- stance (prescription drugs) a class B misdemeanor. Trent Taylor is also charged with the use of a controlled Continued from Page 1 Sales Tax: $20,000 compared to $25,000 this past year. Licenses and Permits: $950 compared to a budget amount of $900 last year. CIB Grant ( to be used to finish the city hall and outbuildings): $58,000. Class C road funds: $10,000. With all the miscellaneous lagoons and for an industry that revenues the total revenues for might use the property. Redmond will total about $120,510 Kirk Rasmussen asked when it would be best to invite the Sheriff over to a council meeting to discuss this coming year. Administration, including the dog control. Council members stated utilities department should spend they had received no official com$4 1 ,900 this year with $2,100 about plaints but had seen many stray dogs on Accounting, legal and around. They discussed publishing to be spend With the contingent of engineering. the names of all those in the town who of $45,430 will be total a $1,430 had purchased a dog license and in this department spent encourage local support to help conThe Public Safety department trol this problem. They invited to will spend $830 in the coming year. public to call the Sheriffs office with This money will be divided between complaints. fire deLisa Learning discussed the Liquor Law enforcement, control. animal and towns efforts to improve and beautify partment still and that these efforts were $10,000 will be spent in this ongoing. years streets. Culture and recreation The council instructed the will spend $6,000 between recreamayor and Carla to meet with their tion, parks and Cemetery spending accountant to iron out some problems the most with $4,500 budgeted. with the new way of doing the books. Community and Economic DevelThe tentative budget for the opment will receive $250. Capital outlay for the new city was passed with the following building will be a one time $58,000. budgets set The council is still working on Revenues: General Property Taxes: their final budget, trying to iron out $20,000 compared to $16,600 re- accounting techniques and how they relate to council understanding. ceived this year. substance (cocaine), which is a third degree felony. The two were arrested April 1 1 when they were stopped at a routine roadblock at the. junction of State Route 4 and U.S. Highway 89, south of Sevier. , The roadblock had originally been established to look for a homicide suspect. The search was later called off when it was learned that the report had been a false alarm. Sheriff John Meacham testified he told his officers to continue the roadblock, checking for license, registration and equipment Salina Sun USPS Two Salina men will appear in Sixth DisTwo Salina brothers will appear in Sixth District Court June 22 to enter pleas to three separate drug charges. Judge David L. Mower, at a preliminary hearing June 1, said he was satisfied that the state had shown The viola- tions. The Taylors were in the 1988LincolnCOntinental. Aftertalking with the two men, Sergeant Bill Brewer said he became suspicious they might be carrying illegal narcotics. Further investigation revealed several containers of cocaine, marijuana and prescription pills. Brewer reported. The Taylors were represented by .Richfield attorney Marcus Taylor! Preliminary hearings do not determine guilt, but are meant to determine if there is sufficient evidence to warrant a trial. The Taylors will be arraigned in Sixth District Court, and a trial date will be set if they plead not guilty. Second degree felony charges carry a possible prison sentence of one to 15 years and a fine up to Third degree felony $10,000. charges carry possible prison terms not to exceed five years, and a fine up to $5,000. A class B misdemeanor carries a possible six month sentence in the county jail and a fine not to exceed $1,000. The state is attempting to have the Lincoln Continental awarded to the state for being used in drug trafficking. road-blocki- The Utah Division of Parks and Recreation has implemented the first stages of the Utah Off Highway Vehicle Education Program. Because the off highway vehicle education requirement is new and the education program required more time to develop than was expected, classes will be offered on a limited basis. The Division has requested law enforcement agencies to issue written or verbal warnings until July 1, 1989. The Off Highway Vehicle Education Program is the result of a law passed by the Utah Legislature in 1987. All off highway vehicle operators must have either a valid motor vehicle drivers license or an off highway vehicle education certificate to operate ATVs, snowmobiles, and off highway motorcycles oa public lands or roads in Utah. If you would like information on classes sent to you, please call 538 - 7323. Leave your name, address, and type of machine you wish to be certified on (ATV, motorcycle, or snowmobile). Information will be sent to you telling when classes will be available in your area. New Self-Propell- ed 4780-800-0 63 East Main Salina, Utah 84654 Phone 529-783- 9 The SECD is Sun, publ- ished each Wednesday for $12.00 per year in Utah and $ 14.50 per year out of the state of Utah by the Salina Sun, 63 East Main, Salina. Utah 84654. Second class postage is paid at Salina. Utah 84654. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to the Salina Sun, P.O. Box C, Salina, Utah 84654. Single Copy $.35 Publisher: Kevin Ashby Editor: Carol Jensen Correspondents: Aurora: Kathleen Lloyd Redmond: Tammy Johnson Salina: Evelyn Kiesel 21-in- ch Mowers Our new John Deere mowers feature p engines with overhead valve model also available. design. A All have transmissions with shift. Bagger and other attachments available. 4V2-h- 4-- le Gunnison Implement Gunnison Bananas breathe. They inhale oxygen, exhale carbon dioxide and generate their own heat. Salina 4780-800- 0 |