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Show Wasatch PAGE 8 In an attempt to solicit donations, five state law- makers, including our own Beverly Evans, sent a letter to an estimated 100 lobbyists and corporations. Sen. _ Evans was primarily responsible for the solicitation. The letter, on official Legislature letterhead, asked for dona- tions to pay the costs of a “fact finding” trip in sponsorships available for this outing. You can be one of the major sponsors as follows: Gold Sponsor donations of $5,000 or more Silver Sponsor donation of $3,000 | : Bronze Sponsor donation of $2,000 portation, meals, special events, postage, printing, packets, breaks, hospitality gifts and related expenses”. _ General Sponsor donation under $2,000 ut their staff’s. travel, lodging and meals on these yearly “fact finding” junkets. meals or other activities.” Checks were to be | mailed to the chambers of _ commerce in Park City or Heber City. This is a new and troubling twist in influLegislature. It is bad enough when lobbyists try to buy access by passing out Jazz tickets or golf passes. It is even more troubling when Lawmakers are also paid legislators shake down these one or two day’s salary same lobbyists. By offering while on these trips. Perhaps _ different levels of “sponsorthese donations were intend- ship” the letter seems to offer different levels of _ ed for the “family members ~ and guests” who-are to tag ~~ access, depending on the amount “donated.” For along-on the tips a FF. The letter goes on to say “There are several types of ‘see GIFTS on page 11 Source for News JULY 7, 1999 County needs full time commissioners here is one major benefit to having parttime politicians: it’s much harder for them While it would be nice if county government could always be run with part-time managers, there comes a time when they are more of a hazard than a benefit to the community. The story Surrounding the construction of the new Jordanelle fire station is a perfect case study in What the letter didn’t say — ence buying in the State pays for lawmakers’ and ON - to regulate the lives of citizens. | | Event Sponsor, breaks, Wasatch, Summit and Morgan counties. The funds were to be used for “trans- was that the state already there is a risk, albeit a small one, that the residents of the county atlarge may get stuck with the bill. While the commissioners By SAM ALLEN will get some crit, WasatcH County Courter icism for their Pourricat Cotumnist lack of planning, it is not entirely their fault. If they have to take on a second job as water master or business manager in order to make ends meet, they will not always have the time they need to take care of the people’s business proper- why the county needs full-time commissioners. Last December Commissioner Laren Provost signed an annexation agreement with Park City that obligated Wasatch County to provide emergency services to the Deer Crest development. Since there were going to be other developments in the Jordanelle Basin, it made sense for Wasatch County to build a fire station in the area that ly. If they are forced to make a choice between would eventually serve them all. providing for their families and serving the counUnfortunately, the County Commission did ty, the county will come second. not arrange financing for the project before they This is unfortunate since there are many matstarted construction. Instead, they decided to use ters that urgently require the full-time attention of money from the county’s general fund to cover the County Commissioners. initial construction costs. Once they arrange alterBob Mathis, the Olympic Coordinator for native financing, they intend to reimburse the Wasatch County, has already asked for a general fund. | $330,000 loan from the County to cover some of _ The problem is that poor planning often leads the under-funded construction projects of the new to creative accounting. The county may not be Olympic venue. Nobody knows where the money able to isolate the debt obligation of the new fireis going to come from. : house without doing some clever debt structuring. In principle,I don’t like deals that are that clever. _ There is also a looming annexation negotiaIt would have been much more prudent for tion with Park City over the Bonanza Flats area that needs to be closely scrutinized. — them to arrange a way for the wealthy property owners in Deer Crest to pay for their own fire sta- — tion before they started construction. Otherwise, There are also many other concerns relating to See PAY on page ll i 8 . we ee i | Oe ML L| dd HL LQTS County’s Editorial - ‘Time for Total Gift Ban 2 La LL UW _Oprni COURIER DOUG | MURDOCK > “The county jumped way ahead of itself. BRIAN | _ ROUST “I think that’s a bunch of crap.” They agreed with things that were absolutely rediculous.... the only resident up there is a ranger. Justifying 2.5 million dollars? Give me a break.”’ KATHY | SCOTT LOVELESS BROADHEAD “TI didnt know that “IT dont know was going on.” — | | | what to think.” : | | Ta kine pri a in our community! Have a topic you would like to see discussed? Call The Nasatch County Courier at 654-2661. KO Electric 654-5453 |