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Show WASATCH COUNTY COURIER A6 FEBRUARY 21, 2001 Keep an Eye on Your Cash| news that CLM Inc. had squandered approx- imately $6.5 million of i its investors : money should serve as a reminder is” cliché. CLM was offering investors a 10 percent return on their money at a time when you could get 6.5 percent to those who were lucky enough not ‘to have money invested with CLM. Keep an eye on your money and demand accountability from those to -whom you entrust it. No matter if that person is a business, civic or church. leader, money society people and feel comfortable with would never defraud us. CLM has clearly shown that is not true. And this isn’t a case where you can blame the investors with the old, “if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably you need to ensure that your isn’t being misused. In our it-is all too easy to feel that we have known for a long time . in a money market account or double your money in the stock market. In the context of the times 10 percent doesn’t seem unreasonable. We can’t even begin to i imagine the despair that losing your life savings to this scheme would cause. We feel truly sorry for all those who were taken by this sham and hope justice will be served to those responsible. _ Utah has terrible a track record of financial scandals because the crooks play off our well-knewn tendency to t the recent Public Hearing regarding the ‘proposed | Youth/ Family LDS Camp adjacent to the — Lakes | Subdivision, _ | Timber it seemed that many folks had ques| : tions, yet it appeared they felt com. - pelled to sit on their hands. It’s hard | to question own church. - concerns the leadership of your In fact, openly one of the few expressed about increased fire crime in the Timber danger and Lakes Yeah, as if the church send a bunch were area. is going to of gang-bangers up there. I am completely in favor of a youth camp, it can only do well for the people that use it and we should welcome them into our valley with open arms. But there are some important questions that need to be asked and answered. So I'll ask them. 1. Water: There isn’t enough water on the East Side for current development, muchless 7,500 campers. for The the impact Church’s of own Environmental Impact Statement says so. What it doesn’t say is where this necessary additional water will come from and at whose expense? The study proposes? the State required ‘aininie “water foqiirement. Look folks, this is no primitive camp. There are toilets and showers. These campers aren’t going to use are great, but show us the documents | (if they exist.) If we (the press and the citizens). don’t question how our trust our friends and neighbors. Court records show that at least some CLM investors were to be given an accounting of where their money was being money is being spent, the ability to misuse it is almost absolute. We may — think highly of the people that handle spent and our documentation that the underlying financing had been perfected. Had these investors insisted that this information been produced and then reviewed and questioned it, this sham may have been ee ear~ lier, That is why we at the Courier take no public officials word that our tax dollars are being wisely spent. We (LDs Youth Camp OPINION BY DAN STEPHENS have found too many cases where our tax money was being misused. Words funds, respect always question how our money is being spent and insist on proof to back up the words. In a perfect world we could rely on trust and honor, but that’s not the reality of world we live in. i The CLM debacle should serve as a wakeup call for us all. Juestions © the Aly Sestits the biggest peHEtiG: ary of the sewer line is Twin Creeks Special Service District. The losers are - the irrigation companies, who will see their water dry up and the residents, _ who. already: have too little water:for indoor use, much less landscaping. | ‘Gibstdies to service the camp. The church leadership has always claimed that it neither needs nor wants the _ government to subsidize its’ activities. LDS Church President’ Gordon B. | only a quarter of the amount of water they use at home. The water figures “Hinckley, when' recently quéstionéd are unrealistic and don’t address “about Président Bush’s "proper for. where the required additional water 3. Access: The Environmental federal subsidies for “faith based”. will come from, when it will be develImpact Statement claims there are ten - social services, said the LDS Church — __ oped or who will pay for it’s acquisientrances to the camp from the ‘didn’t need the subsidy and preferred tion and delivery. And that’s assumTimber fakes Subdivision that the to use its’ own money. Of course, this ing there is any church has a legal proposed subsidy begs all kinds of additional water lam completo right to use. On the 4in favor _ other hand the state- questions. Why should the citizens of available on the the county who are not LDS be forced East Side, and ment says there are ~ to subsidize, with their tax dollars, a of a youth camp, it can that’s a very BIG LDS Youth Camp? Can the county offino legal rights for question. cials making the decisions for the only do well for the ve Timber Lakes resi2. Sewage: The _ dents or anyone else county separate their religious beliefs | plan is to build a ple thatt use it and we _ to use the roads in “from their’ ‘governmental, ‘fiduciary sewer line all the the proposed youth responsibilities? I have a hard time — way to Midway to should welcome them into camp. Doesn’t sound believing that the church wants any handle the sewage very neighborly and kind of government subsidy. That our valley with open from the camp. ignores the fact that runs contrary to church teachings - However, this begs the residents. of and beliefs since the church’s, begina bunch of ques- arms. But there are some Timber Lakes have nings. I respectfully suggest that the — tions. First the cost only one entrance church employees responsible for this important questions that and exit. If a fire or project consult with 47 East South of the — sewer pipeline. Who is— other emergency Temple for further guidance on the need to be asked and going to pay for it? blocks that entrance, subject. Second, in an area the residents of I fully support the concept of a LDS answered. with too little water -.Timber Lakes are Youth Camp. I have no concerns about already, why are we trapped. How about crime, or the influx of 7,500 additional sending the wastewater to Midway? a little reciprocal respect and at least people during some summer periods. An on-site sewage treatment plant can allow the residents of Timber Lakes to It will only help the local economy and be built for far less than it would cost use the roads in the camp? ‘showcase the beautiful area we live in. to run a sewer line to Midway. In addi4. Cost:. The Church’s own > But I do hope that church and county tion the on-site sewage treatment plant Environmental Impact Statement esti- - officials take the time to fully study the would discharge its’ water back into mates what the fiscal impact will be. plan, and that the plan they agree upon the local aquifer allowing it to be According to the study, the first year is in the best interests of the citizens of reused for agriculture and landscapthe county gains $442,280. However, the county (even those who are not ing. This water can be reused to furafter the first year it will cost the counLDS) as well as the best interests of ther benefit the East Side, assuming of ty $989,061 per year, each and every the church. This can be a win-win projcourse its not piped all the way across year (not counting inflation) in public ect. I wish it the best. Be our Guest Commentator The Courier is looking for guest commentators. If there’s something that fires you up, send it to us and we might print it. ¥ Speak out. Let Wasatch County know how your feel. _ Wasatch County Courier PO their business sense, socialize with them and go to church with them. But we should Box 1030, = UT 84049, (435 ) 654- — fax or email: editor@wasatchcountycourier. com | et recent Oe ean T he |