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Show LDS Officials Still Not Decided on Site TROPIC The location of Bryce Valley's proposed new LDS chapel is in the hands of the LDS officials who make final decisions and recommendations for such building sites. Controversy arose when the site for the new chapel, originally set for church-owned property in Tropic, was changed to a location just outside the town's boundaries in1 county jurisdiction. Tropic's officials have expresed their opposition to the new location in discussion at their town board meetings and in a letter sent to Elder George Allen, LDS Church building committee, with copies to Regional Representative William Pratt and Escalante Stake .President Richard Crawford. , Twn Board Members indicated that they do not want to encourage development outside the town's borders until considerably more in-town growth has taken place in order to maintain property values. The town placed a moratorium on all out-of-town hook-ups early last summer when a serious water shortage developed and it has never been lifted. Town officials argue that the cost to develop at the new site would exceed the cost at the former in-town site by as much as $48,000. The town officials also pointed out that both Cannonville and Henrieville suffer from similar water problem, and, in their opinion, can ill-afford to encourage out-of-town development with culinary water furnished by the town. The Bryce Valley chapel, under the LDS Church's new policy, will serve all members within a 15-mile radius. Tropic officials pointed out that a Tropic location is more nearly centrally located both for those living at Bryce Canyon and for those living at Henrieville. In its letter the Tropic Town board indicated its support for an in-town location for the LDS chapel, citing the many cultural, moral, and stablizing benefits associated with the Church. It said it would welcome in-town development. A church official said that a rejection of the new site by Tropic officials would result in the chapel being built in Cannonville. I.DS Church members from Tropic, Cannonville, Henrieville and Bryce Canyon met in a special meeting Sunday afternoon in Tropic. Church authorites asked for a sustaining vote for the new site adjacent to Tropic on the Dean Wintch property. The greater majority of members sustained the selection, with only a few dissenting votes. |
