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Show Church Location Still Hot Issue in Tropic TROPIC Several citizens attended the March 24 Tropic Town Board meeting where the issue of the location of the proposed new LDS Chapel continued to dominate discussion. On hand for the meeting were Escalante LDS Stake President Richard Crawford and First Counselor LaMar Feltner. Some confusion existed early in the meeting when Mayor Evan Chynoweth stressed that items for board consideration should be submitted in writing. Some citizens took his remarks to mean that they could not comment verbally on agenda items. After clarification, open discussion proceeded slowly and cautiously. President Crawford indicated that the LDS Church was interested in hooking its proposed new chapel onto the town's culinary water system. The site for the proposed chapel is out-of- town adjacent to the town's boundaries. He said that the LDS Church would be willing to work with the town in any way to accomplish the hook-on. Mayor Chynoweth outlined the procedure for making application and indicated that it would be necessary for the church to make written application to the town before the town could take any action. Board member Katie Thomas said that she was concerned that a potential applicant might construe the mayor's words as encouragement and did not want to see any applicant invest in further engineering or architectural costs when the town may ultimately give a negative answer. Discussion between Chynoweth and the LDS Church official centered on the (Continued on Page 2) ! 'I Church Location . . . (Continued from Page 1) moratorium the town had placed on out-of-town hookups during its water shortage last summer and the possibility of lifting the moratorium after the town's current spring development is completed. Board member Doug Ahlstrom said that the spring development would simply restore the culinary water supply to its original amount and that plotting present hookups indicates that the town does not have sufficient water to serve any but in-town properties. Mrs. Thomas said that her primary concern was not water supply, since donations of water shares could be sought from applicants for water service. She said her concern was encouraging out-of-town development when so much space was still available in town. Board member Ferrell Brinkerhoff stated that the board needed to look carefully at out-of-town development and he was not in favor of it. Mrs. Thomas said that building a chapel out-of-town would mean that future development would occur adjacent to the chapel as has occurred in other communities and that the board's first obligation should be to the town and the protecting of its properties. Tropic resident Rick Bybee said that prices on in-town property were too high and would tend to keep people out. Former mayor Reed LeFevre noted that as a general rule, only fully developed properties are annexed to a city. Discussion continued about possible location of pipelines engineering probelems and pipe sizes. In other business, Mayor Chynoweth presented plaques to former m-yor Reed LeFevre expressing the town's gratitude for his lengthy service and to former board member Rick Bybee for the contribution he had made. Former board member Eaul Mangum was unable to attend the presentation to receive his plaque. Bids were opened for the position of water-sewer supervisor with the position awarded to Rick Bybee for his bid of $85 which the town will pay him on a monthly basis. Bids in the town's irrigation water were also opened with one hour awarded Garn Haycock for his bid of $55 and one hour awarded to Rachel Ahlstrom for her bid of $54. Tropic will participate in the Green Thumb program once more this summer with Green Thumb employees Royal Alvey and Sherman Baugh to start April l on the program. The problem of non-functioning security lights in town was discussed and the board will check with Garkane about repairs. Mayor Chynoweth outlined his discussion with the project engineer on the spring development and said that he expected plans to be forthcoming within a few days. Copies will be sent to Bryce Canyon National Park Superintendent Bob Benton for his approval, after which they would be submitted to the Denver office for final approval. Mayor Chynoweth discussed with board members new legislation pertaining to small towns. Board member Ella Adair reported that Tropic's participation at the Garfield County Fair this year will be to maintain a cotton candy booth. Work is continuing, she said, on the cemetery where a flagpole will be constructed. She said she is seeking help on upgrading the files and needs a complete list of veterans buried in the cemetery. The board voted to accept preliminary plans for Scout House remodeling. Plans will be put on display and suggestions sought from townspeople. |