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Show SL.VPbA 1 1 1 Mill Levy Hike Mulled For County Fire Program TROPIC County commissioners may decide to levy a one mill tax Increase In order to carry out plans to more adequately provide fire protection county wide. The proposal met with the approval of the majority of elected officials in the county who met together Thursday in the third of a series of meetings designed to improve fire protection. Additional discussion will take place at Monday's county commission. Few counties have problems comparable to Garfield's because of its immense size, small clusters of inhabitants comprising the incorporated towns, scattered homes throughout the county, and increasing numbers of homes in a few resort areas which are not designated towns. County commissioners had offered to spread 140,000 among the communities to help purchase f iref ighting equipment in return for each community agreeing to battle fires within a ten mile radius (or, in some cases, less) of their borders. Included in the plan would be the unincorporated areas around Panguitch Lake, Bryce Canyon and Ticaboo which would be organized into districts by the residents. Commissioner George Middleton, who chaired the meeting, noted that Panguitch Lake residents had forged ahead and had placed an order for a portable pump for mounting on a pickup and were proceeding with plans to sign a contract with the county. Some towns in the county presently access mill levies for fighting fires but most do not. Under the proposed plan county residents would participate through their property taxes where they have not in the past contributed directly to a fire-fighting budget. Those towns which choose not to add to current assessments may reduce their present levies by one mill. The county has paid $4,000 annually under a State Foresters Contract for fire protection in the unincorporated areas and will continue to do so under the plan. According to the plan Panguitch Lake, Bryce Canyon and Ticaboo areas would each receive six percent of the total funds available for fighting fires, with the incorporated areas receiving allotments from the balance based upon assessed valuation. In each case monies accruing to towns would amount to move than is currently available. Towns and districts could gradually build up their equipment and their capacity to fight fires. Some areas, such as Hatch have many homes situated outside town boundaries which also require fire protection under the proposed plan. When such towns have no operable fire truck, accepting the additional responsibility of fighting fires outside their boundaries by contract with the county might have serious consequences. Hatch Mayor Mervin Barnhurst expressed his reluctance to make a "promise we can't keep." Under the law, according to county attorney Russell Mahan who was present at the meeting, obligation exists only to fight the fire according to the best of their ability to do so. The contract with the county states that towns will "use all diligence in answering fire calls and extinguishing fires" and their "best efforts to protect life and property." The town would also agree to "keep its fire fighting equipment in good order and repair, readiness and working condition." For the balance of the year and until the county can legally levy the one mill it was proposed that the towns enter into a temporary contract. Town representatives present agreed to discuss the issue in their regular town board meetings where they would assess the county's proposal and vote upon it. Attending the meeting were Commissioners Middleton and George Thompson, county clerk Edra Miller and attorney Mahan. Representing Cannonville were Roy Willis, Joe Thompson, and David Evans; from Hatch, Barnhurst, Bob Evans, Garth Heap, and Leland Riggs; from Escalante, Bill Griffin, and Dale Marsh; from Panguitch, Bruce Fullmer, Jon Torgerson, Frank Houston, Jim Hatch, Rick Bur-ningham, and Wallace Lee and from Tropic, Reed LeFevre, Paul Mangum, Doug Ahlstrom, Rick Bybee, and Katie Thomas. |