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Show t State Press Cedar City to sue county? The Cedar City Council is "quite serious" about a possible suit against Iron County to bring to the fore problems surrounding "double taxation." The issue was brought out by the council earlier this month when Councilman Arlo Larsen cited a number of instances where he felt Cedar City resident are supporting some services open to residents outside the city limits.. City Manager Mike Embley confirmed con-firmed this week the council does intend to send representatives to the County Commission meeting July 12 to discuss the problem. "There are some definite areas where it has become apparent," Embley said. "In my mind there is no question we can save money through cooperative efforts." Plus, the residents of Cedar City itself are paying for things they shouldn't be." Two issues of concern, he said, are recreation and garbage collection. "If Iron County is going to institute a garbage collection district it sould include Cedar City and they should provide us with the service." he said. As established, funds to operate the garbage district are handled from the county general fund, but service is only offered to those within the limited district. Concerning recreation facilities, Embley said: "For county residents to expect Cedar City to provide all the facilities is wrong. The county is not obligated to provide it, and if they don't, fine. But we are already bursting bur-sting at the seams." Embley said three options are presently facing the city concerning recreation facilities, such as ballparks; to build new facilities; to restrict use to only Cedar City residents; or to cooperate on new facilities, the location of which could be negotiated. The city attorney is presently researching the city's approach to the problem, Embley said. The city manager also said he hopes the outcome of the taxation issue will not be a "political one." "County government has to mean more than roads to stockman," Embley said. "The county may have to start passing ordinances restricting restric-ting those who move into scattered areas and then demand municipal services." Embley said he would agree to cooperating on landfill operations with the county, but that he preferred to fill up the city's site before using the Smith Pit, site of Iron County's operation. Commission Chairman H. Grant Seaman said he feels the city is "way off base" if they plan to sue on the basis of double taxation. "The county is right," Seaman explained, "in using revenue sharing money and federal monies to give a subsidy to the garbage program. I'm really still in the dark as to what their contention is." Seaman also said he wished the council had contacted the commission concerning the problem "before making it a public issue." Seaman also noted that funds have been put into the Cedar City recreation program this year, after a two-year span of non-involvement. |