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Show A-20 Sat/Sun/Mon, December 28-30, 2019 The Park Record Meetings and agendas More Dogs on Main TO PUBLISH YOUR PUBLIC NOTICES AND AGENDAS, PLEASE EMAIL CLASSIFIEDS@PARKRECORD.COM Things to ponder in the new year 30 Day Comment Period: Groundwater Source Protection Ordinance December 3, 2019 – January 6, 2020 The Summit County Health Department is issuing a 30-day formal notice and comment period during which the public can provide input on the proposed Groundwater Source Protection Ordinance to the Summit County Code of Health. Public notice is hereby given that the Summit County Board of Health (“Board”) in accordance with UCA §26A-1-121, will conduct a public hearing to discuss and possibly take action regarding Groundwater Source Protection Ordinance by the Summit County Health Department. The Hearing is scheduled for Monday, January 6, 2020; Beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the Summit County Health Department; 650 Round Valley Drive; Park City, Utah 84060. The Board seeks comment by members of the public on its proposed changes to the Summit County Code of Health. The proposed changes can be viewed online at http://summitcountyhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Proposed-O rdinance_Summit-County-Groundwater-Source-Protection-.pdf Comments must be postmarked or received at the Summit County Health Department by 5:00 pm Mountain Standard Time on Friday, January 3, 2020. Comments may be emailed to dsiddoway@summitcounty.org. Public comments will also be taken at the Board of Health meeting held on Monday, January 6, 2020, at 4 pm at the Summit County Health Department Office located at 650 Round Valley Drive, Park City. Or by mail to: Derek Siddoway Summit County Health Department 650 Round Valley Drive, Suite 100 Park City, Utah 84060 Continued from A-18 Scope of problem unknown Idaho Council on Domestic Violence and Victims Assistance to work with Idaho tribes and gather data,” she said. “After the council reports back on what it finds, we can build the appropriate response to the public safety issues affecting Native American women nationwide.” The Idaho Council on Domestic Violence and Victims Assistance is already getting to work on the project. Director Nicole Fitzgerald was en route to Coeur d’Alene to meet with tribal members when the Statesman contacted her. “You are correct that there is not official data tracking by state, tribal or local law enforcement agencies regarding MMIW,” Ferguson said. “The Council on Domestic Violence and Victim Assistance is reaching out individually to the tribes to begin discussions on what is needed in Idaho to address this crucial topic.” Fitzgerald said the Council of Domestic Violence, which receives federal grant money to address domestic violence, has contracted with the Boise State University Criminal Justice Department to gather data on victim services and victimization in Idaho to better prioritize and direct funding. The report will be available in December 2020. Idaho State Police is also reaching out. ISP Director Col. Ked Wills invited all of the tribes’ leaders to ISP in October to discuss how the state’s law enforcement agency can help with safety issues specific to their communities. “We understand there are families whose loved ones are missing and that they need whatever help we can provide,” ISP spokeswoman Tecia Ferguson told the Statesman. The Statesman asked all five tribes if they collect MMIW data, and, if so, what have they learned. Only one tribe responded. “It appears we do not have the data to provide you with the information you are seeking, which is telling and shows how much attention this subject needs so that we can close those gaps and work towards the resolution of these issues,” said Bernie LaSarte with Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s STOP violence program. “That is the exact reason, no one knows an accurate number because no one is collecting the data, until now,” she said. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe on Oct. 17 hosted an all-day seminar on MMIW featuring guest speakers from the FBI, the Idaho Coalition to Stop Domestic Violence, and regional and national human trafficking and MMIW groups. Other obstacles Lack of data is not the only obstacle to addressing MMIW. Saenz told the Indian Affairs Council about some of the other challenges: “Investigation of cases of MMIW is difficult for tribal law enforcement agencies due to a variety of reasons including the lack of necessary training equipment or funding, lack of inter-agency cooperation, lack of appropriate laws in place.” Saenz said there is a “complicated jurisdictional scheme that exists in Indian countries.” Reports have shown U.S. Attorneys have declined to prosecute a majority of violent crimes in Indian country, and tribes do not have the authority to prosecute non-Natives who commit violent crimes on tribal lands. The House Natural Resources Committee on Dec. 5 cleared a bill by U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland, D-New Mexico, to help with that. The bipartisan bill, the Justice for Native Survivors of Sexual Violence Act, would allow tribal courts to prosecute sexual violence crimes committed against tribal members on tribal land by non-tribal members. Adding to this issue is tribes’ deeply ingrained distrust of non-tribal law enforcement. “It goes back to the history,” Begaye said. “It took us so long to become a sovereign nation, which is like a nation within a nation, it was so hard to get to that point because of the history with the United States.” “The historical trauma that comes with it, the trust issues and betrayal,” Hayes-Begaye added. “All those things tie into the distrust part,” Begaye continued. “Our law enforcement agencies do not want to leave it to someone else. ... I think it is hard to relinquish control because we do not want people from outside our nation to overstep.” But as more and more disappearances and murders come to light, it is becoming apparent this is not solely an on-the-reservation issue. The deaths and disappearances transcend tribal, state and international borders, Begaye said, referring to Canada, which is also dealing with an escalating number of missing and murdered indigenous women. Indigenous women make up 4% of Canada’s female population, yet 16% of all women murdered in Canada between 1980 and 2012 were indigenous, according to a 2014 Royal Canadian Mounted Police report, Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women: An Operational Overview, which identified a total of 1,181 missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. The U.S does not have such a comparable or comprehensive study. “It is tough to say, but at some point there needs to be some communication and working together,” Begaye said. “There needs to be some kind of relationship that needs to be built.” Both sisters agree a uniform reporting database, including Canada and Alaska, is the best first step. “They get reported but where does it go after that?” Hayes-Begaye asked. “In a perfect world, it would be in one database where you can find all these stories that would honestly back up the statistics. People would really see that this really truly is an epidemic, and it is not just being made up.” That is why they started the red dress project, Begaye added. “We forget about these people,” she said. “We do not want them to be forgotten. We want to honor and remember those people. We want their stories to be continued to be heard.” Taking action Just this year alone, Arizona, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota and Wyoming took the first steps to address the issue by enacting legislation or executive orders to conduct studies, create task forces or implement reporting/tracking protocols. Alaska, California, Colorado and Washington have already taken such action, according to the National Council of State Legislatures The U.S Department of Justice and FBI on Nov. 22 announced its new plan to address missing and murdered indigenous persons. The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Initia- By Tom Clyde tive has three parts. First, it places coordinators in U.S. Attorney’s offices in 11 states, who will work with federal, tribal, state and local agencies to develop common protocols and procedures for responding to reports of missing or murdered indigenous people. The states receiving the coordinators are Alaska, Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah and Washington state. Second, the Department of Justice plan calls for the deployment of the FBI’s most advanced response capabilities when needed. The third part of the initiative includes improved data collection and analysis, as well as training to support local response efforts. “American Indian and Alaska Native people suffer from unacceptable and disproportionately high levels of violence, which can have lasting impacts on families and communities,” U.S. Attorney William Barr said during a press conference at Flathead Reservation in Montana announcing the initiative. “Native American women face particularly high rates of violence, with at least half suffering sexual or intimate-partner violence in their lifetime. Too many of these families have experienced the loss of loved ones who went missing or were murdered.” Additionally, on Oct. 31, the Senate passed an appropriations package that includes $6.5 million for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to take a comprehensive look at the issue. The money will go toward investigating cold cases, background checks, new equipment and training. The legislation also calls for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to work with tribal, local, state and federal law enforcement to develop a set of guidelines on how to best collect MMIW statistics. In Congress, bipartisan and bicameral legislation is pending. On Nov. 20, the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs approved Savanna’s Act, which will enhance coordination among federal and tribal agencies and standardize how DOJ handles the cases. Savanna’s Act is named for Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, who was eight months’ pregnant when she was abducted and killed in 2017 in Fargo, North Dakota. A companion bill is awaiting action in the House. All four of Idaho’s congressional members are co-sponsoring Savanna’s Act. “The lack of data regarding missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls is beyond alarming,” Idaho U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo told the Statesman in a statement. “More must be done to deal with domestic violence against Native Americans. I am a co-sponsor of Savanna’s Act, which attempts to combat this MMIW epidemic and directs the Department of Justice to formulate new guidelines for the reporting of violent crimes against indigenous people.” Crapo said he supports Gov. Little. Idaho U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher said his heart goes out to the family of LaFontaine-Greywind and others who have suffered and lost loved ones. “Our office has been in contact with the Idaho Council on Indian Affairs leadership and we appreciate their proactive engagement in this effort,” he said. “With President Trump’s proclamation recognizing the month of November as National Native American Heritage Month, it is an important reminder to highlight and check on efforts to protect the diverse culture and heritage of Native Americans throughout the United States.” With the start of the New Year, it’s always appropriate to pause to reflect on where we are. Things are on the messy side nationally. The very stable genius in the White House has been impeached for running what amounts to an amateur mafia shakedown of Ukraine. He blocked Congressionally approved military aid to an ally, engaged in a shooting war with Russia over seized territory, and would release it only if Ukraine concocted some Fox News conspiracy theory about Joe Biden’s (sort of slimy) son. People died while Trump was trying to trade military aid for dirt. So now the House has impeached him. The Senate, run by Moscow Mitch McConnell, has promised to have a full and fair trial, just as long as they don’t have to hear from any witnesses and can acquit him in time for lunch. It’s possible that Santa Claus left spines under the Christmas trees at Republican senators’ houses, but that’s not the way to bet. The only part of this that has any suspense is whether the House will actually advance the impeachment to the Senate, or decide that sit on it, preventing the sham trial, and the inevitable claim of complete exoneration from a complete scoundrel. Lindsey Graham, who was overcome with a case of the fantods over the Clinton impeachment, has said he doesn’t need to be bothered with evidence in the case of Trump. He can do no wrong. The editors of “Christianity Today,” a leading evangelical magazine, said Trump lacks the moral qualifications to be President and should be removed from office. About damn time. Apparently Trump’s moral deficiencies had escaped notice during the campaign, the “grab ‘em” tape, porn star pay-offs, and the general graft and corruption of the last three years. Somehow the evangelicals decided that the ends justify the means, and embraced Trump as the Adulterer in Chief, as long as he packed the courts with anti-abortion judges. There’s nothing in the Ten Commandments about hypocrisy. Not specifically. So we enter the new year with the President of the United States being blessed with a new title befitting his impeached status. George Conway christened him “IMPOTUS.” Maybe that’s enough. It’s possible that Santa Claus left spines under the Christmas trees at Republican senators’ houses, but that’s not the way to bet.” On a local level, another year has passed without any action taken on improving traffic flow on Highway 248. After an expensive environmental review, the City convinced UDOT to shelf the mega-widening project, and instead, repaint the lanes to make 2 lanes inbound. Then they courageously delayed doing even that for another couple of years. With so many problems that are simply unsolvable, you’d think that when they find a solution that could be implemented by two guys on a Sunday morning, they might actually do it. High fives all around. But you would be wrong. We plan, we don’t actually do. The existing Richardson Flat parking lot doesn’t work because to get to it, you have to first go through the entire traffic jam, park, then wait for a bus that will never come. That can be fixed. With a half mile of new road turning off 248 east of the rail trail crossing, the increasing traffic from the Kamas/Hideout direc- Sunday in the Park tion could be diverted into the lot. An off ramp from US 40 would put Heber traffic in the lot. The building they are trying to boot the senior citizens out of, a former Union Pacific Depot, could be moved out there and converted back into a transit building with a coffee shop, bathrooms, waiting area, and even a convenience store. Maybe even a replacement for the Maverik gas station that will be gone if the much studied Arts District moves forward. For about what they have spent on studies, the problem could be solved. The resorts could run direct shuttles, non-stop, to the ski hills. But if you’re looking for action, you’re in the wrong place. Eventually paralysis becomes policy. Safer to do nothing than risk something that isn’t Park City/World Class perfect. While we can rest assured that that 2020 (and 2021 and 2022) will be a lot like 2015 when it comes to implementing traffic improvements (except the traffic volume is growing exponentially), there are cosmic changes in my world. Once the next page on the calendar turns over, garbage day at my house is changing from Thursday to Friday. I’m not sure what that means, or how it’s even possible. For my entire life, garbage day has been Thursday. I haven’t moved a lot, but every place I’ve ever lived, garbage day was Thursday. Thursday being garbage day is one of the few constants in life, ordained from on high. It’s part of the planetary cycle. If garbage day moves, what else moves with it? Will I not go to church on Monday, instead of not going on Sunday? Something to ponder while stuck in a quite fixable traffic jam for another year. Tom Clyde practiced law in Park City for many years. He lives on a working ranch in Woodland and has been writing this column since 1986. By Teri Orr The rat approaches... This year had the makings to end in a complete implosion. One thing piled atop another — the “best” Christmas decorations were missing — my favorite ornaments, the elegant, handcrafted, velvet-wearing Santa that stands on the mantle, the good LED lights, decades-old trinkets. Those have yet to reappear. I meant to shop for gifts in a thoughtful, all-year-long fashion, so I would not have any last-minute “just buy something” moments. The success of that goal was evident — this year’s gifts included movie theater gift cards and sweatshirts from Whole Foods for the teenage Grands ... purchased on Dec. 24. Ten days ago my youngest grandson, age 15, pointed out the obvious when he was spending the weekend — “You know,” he said with that deepening voice to match his growing 6-foot-plus frame — “Christmas is about 10 days away. And you have no tree.” It was a rather epic Oma fail. I have so many Christmas decorations because decades ago when I lived at Lake Tahoe and I had a children’s clothing store — right next door there was a “Christmas all year long” shop. It was owned by this much older couple — in their 50s — and they had just moved to Tahoe from Jersey. They were involved in some other business venture in Tahoe. It was about six months before I learned their “other business” was Alpine Meadows Ski Area. The locals’ favorite — great for families and much less snotty than Squaw Valley. The family decided in 1976 to buy another ski area — a locals’ favorite in another state — Park City Mountain Resort. That was how I first met the Badami family — at Tahoe ... as business neighbors. Nick ran the ski resorts and his wife, Avis, ran the Christmas store. Except on Sundays — Nick ran the store. So we would talk when there were no customers and in those days — at all resorts in the West — there were few customers shopping on a Sunday. They were headed (in our case) back to the Bay Area. I learned about Nick’s former life in the garment business — BVD underwear, Maidenform bras, Botany 500 and National Shirt Shops — the Rapid American Corporation. We’d talk and I’d find some little Santa felt mouse and he’d throw in another one and I started to grow a collection of Christmas decorations. In time, there would be Swiss music boxes, crystal bells and so much more. When I left Tahoe in ’79 — running away from my life there — I managed to pack all the Christmas stuff and escape with my kids to come here. Decorating the house for the holidays since I moved to Park City was always about more than the holidays. It is about memories of those people who became the parents I never had and who believed in me all those days I doubted my ability to single parent. Or edit a newspaper. I love pulling out the decorated felt mice and the Swiss handcarved music box. But about a week ago I declared a personal defeat. I’d have a tree up with whatever decorations presented themselves by Christmas Eve. Even though (former Parkite) Debbi Fields — the cookie magnate — used to say ... “good enough never is” ... I decided this year it would be. All that was going “good enough “ and work suddenly needed attention. It needed attention that I hadn’t planned on during the holidays. So I dropped the cedar berries and switched gears. By the time I refocused it was Christmas Eve and all the things that were not done — were not happening. As it turned out — it turned out just fine. There are no small children with great expectations in my world right now. I knew the teenagers would be good if I had enough food. And we had a pretty glorious afternoon of breaking off icicles and building a fire and laughing. We somehow used every dish I own. They filled the dishwasher with the first quarter of those dishes and then drove off into the snowy night. The next day I tried to continue the dishwashing and the damn thing wouldn’t work. I tried the simple tricks I knew. The appliance is a Bosch — known to be the workhorse of dishwashers. This horse was stuck in the gate. I broke down and called the hotline listed on the dishwasher door. I admitted I had opened the device — mid-cycle — more than once and now its electronic brain was stuck. He finally said it sounded terminal and he could send a service representative out ... on Jan. 15. I looked at the piles of dishes stacked around the kitchen. One more hour was too long. Then I called a local repair place — explained my problem — as I understood it. She said they were kinda busy — but someone could come on Jan 5. I don’t think I cried out loud. I did come unglued. Was there any chance of anything sooner? “No, so sorry,” she said with a genuine sympathetic tone, ”but I have an idea — did you turn the breaker on and off? Sometimes the control panel needs a reset but that can’t happen until the breaker goes all the way off and the machine can reset itself.” So I went into the control panel and flipped all the switches — on and off — the washer and dryer, the fridge — the lights on the tree. I finally found the right button and the dishwasher sprung to life! It had been that simple. Reset. It wasn’t broken at all — it just needed a reset. And in the same way I considered a few other problems in my life — a reset had probably been in order all along. So I sat down to write by the light of Christmas tree with the fire roaring and the tiny felt mice dancing all over the room. I wound the music box and it played “Silent Night” with Swiss precision. I thought about what had made me go from desperate to temperate. It was the whole concept of reset. Walking away from the drama of the drama of things — or thinking things were stuck. Reset. That’s what I needed to start the New Year coming — the Chinese Year of the Rat. I’m not sure what all this means except ... The next time I feel a meltdown coming on I‘m gonna try to remember to first turn off the emotional breakers. Give life (and appliances) a reset ... Which seems resolution enough for this Sunday in the Park ... Teri Orr is a former editor of The Park Record. She is the director of the Park City Institute, which provides programming for the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Center for the Performing Arts. |