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Show j . - . , - ' Mill - ' - :-:: nv iT"- -. iv-'."" ; .f : ' r -r- V; tr ' - .1 I MnMaMMMMMOMi . .:......,.,.,.. John Williams with Five County Association of Governments traveled from St George to Pan-guitch Pan-guitch last Tuesday to present the coveted Bronze and Silver 21st Century Award to Panguitch City. PANGUITCH Panguitch Mayor Jon Lee Torgerson proudly accepted the Bronze and Silver 21st Century Award presented by John Williams of the Five County Association Asso-ciation of Governments (FCAOG) on behalf Panguitch City. Williams was representing Governor Gov-ernor Michael O. Leavitt's 21st Century Communities Program and traveled from St. George to be on hand for the regularly scheduled city council meeting to give recognition to the council for their support of this project. The award is in honor of achievements by the city in response to a challenge from Governor Mike Leavitt to rural cities and towns to prepare for growth and development in the 21st Century. Panguitch Named 21st Century City Williams said, "this effort was initiated through the city council's endorsement and working with a local lo-cal team comprised of citizens and community leaders." Mayor Torgerson was quick to point out that it was Merle Prince who initially took the ball and ran with it, then upon his retirement, Janet Oldham and many others in the community took up the challenge. chal-lenge. "So to those folks, I give the credit," stated Torgerson. The 21st Century Communities Program is an invitation and chal lenge from the Governor's office to rural cities, towns, counties, Indian tribes and other communities. The challenge is to prepare rural Utah for unprecedented population and visitor growth, create new jobs and reduce unemployment, diversify local lo-cal economies and protect the quality qual-ity of life. Also included in the challenge is a call for rural leaders to develop a game plan for community commu-nity prosperity and success in the 2 1st Century. (See 2 1ST CENTURY Page 6 A) 21ST CENTURY (From Front page) A local team made up of community com-munity residents, through a series of public meetings, has identified the cityls strengths and needs. With' this assessment the community commu-nity will develop and implement plans and programs designed to address ad-dress growth anticipated in the 21st Century. The Five County Association of Governments, acting as a liaison between the Governor's Rural Part- , nership Office and local communities, communi-ties, is involved with the program on a regional level. John Williams, Wil-liams, Executive Director of FCAOG, chairs a Regional Technical Techni-cal Assistance Team. The team will act as a resource for the community com-munity and the local team in applying apply-ing for the program, assessing community needs, developing work plans, and implementing policies for success. The plaque the city received displayed dis-played a bronze and silver mounted hockey puck, a representative symbol sym-bol for Governor Leavitt, based on the premise of hockey great Wayne Gretsky who, when he was asked the key to his success, stated that he skates to where the puck will be. Governor Leavitt picked up on Gretsky's remark, endeavoring to say to the state of Utah, this is where we're headed in the future. The plaque leaves a blank opening open-ing where the final "gold" puck will be mounted when Panguitch City achieves it's endeavor. "Not many communities have met with the challenge of doing self-assessments and being available to meet the needs of their constituents.." constitu-ents.." Williams said. "This recognition recog-nition is in light of Panguitch City's efforts to meet that challenge." chal-lenge." "In the state of Utah," Williams pointed out, "about two dozen communities out of over one thousand, thou-sand, have been able to achieve the silver level. And only two of those, Salina and Beaver, have reached the gold. So Panguitch City you've got another challenge before you!" |