OCR Text |
Show loth sides heard at 'disaster' metg City Manager Mike Embley, who opened the meeting with background information, said in order to qualify for SBA low interest loans, the governor has to receive a disaster declaration from the city. It was once believed the terminology defined for a declaration, that of "political subdivision," meant city, county or state, Embley said. But, he added, recent word indicates that subdivision may be as small as a water district, a voting ward or "possibly even a smaller unit." But, he stated, "there does have to be a declaration." Gary Jensen, president of the Redhills Homeowers Association, said the average cost of moving a home from the Highland Drive area, to relocate in Cedar City, adds up to about $20-$25,000. The number of homes affected adds up to about $721,00, he said. Double payments A persons on an income of $800 per month can pay as much as $r40 on their house payments coupled with a loan to move the house. The cost must be combined with the mental stress, Danny Mitchell added. "Those who are opposed to the declaration haven't lived in those homes. It is hard on the families living there. My family helped nit'," he said in response to those who suggested the community rally around the distressed families, "but I didn't see anyone there to help except my G8 year old father." Jack Carter, president of the Chamber of Commerce and a businessman in the community, said he is totally opposed to letting the government into the situation. "It is a Cedar City problem and it should be solved right here," he declared. "Let's leave it out of the newspapers except to say that Cedar (continued on page 5) By Jay VV'amsley In part, Tuesday evening's meeting to discuss the ramifications of a disaster declaration to aid subsidence-stricken homes in Cedar City was a problem of definitions. Words such as: publicty, handout, grant, low-interest loan, impact and reprocussion, free lunch, free enterprise, en-terprise, and, above all else, "disaster." All with there own connotations con-notations and definitions and personal interpretations. The meeting was set up by the city council to receive input before a decision is made by that body concerning con-cerning the possibility of a disaster declaration in order for eligible homeowners to apply for low interest Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. 1'oints of view On the one hand: "The greatest disaster at this time would be to declare Cedar City a disaster area. It would be financial bankruptcy," one speaker, J. C. Hansen, said. "When I visit other areas, where the news of Cedar City has hit, they know about our homes. People will not search out an area that is suspect for a home. Our area demands progressive building and business and we can't have that without people. And people will cease to want to be here if we declare the city a disaster area." And on the other hand: "We have waited for one and a half years, and we can't wait any longer,' longer," Evelyn Dettamanti said. "The government can sell wheat to Russia at no interest, why can't they help us? The longer we sit here, doing mothing, the more publicity that will remain. It will be like a sore that festers. Let's get the sore out and get rid of it. It is more serious to let it sit and rot." Gives background disaster meeting (copntinued from page 1) City solves its own problems. A disaster declaration would affect us for a long time." Alternative Carter suggested a local investment corporation be set up to take investments in-vestments from local people to help the families in need. Then, at the low 1-5 percent interest, the investors could be paid back. "I would be willing to invest in such a corporation," cor-poration," Carter Said. Another suggestion was made by Kirt Soderquist, Cedar City, who broke down the $721,000 figure into smaller units by dividing it by the number of water hook-ups within the city limits. If each water hook-up would pay $264, "we would have what we need," Soderquist suggested. "As a homeowner I would donate $500 in three days to assist them. If we band together we could get the amount in less than a week. Consider that." Not after handout Homeowners affected emphasized they were not after a "handout," but that they, too were taxpayers and desired only a loan with livable interest in-terest rates. "Last year, Utah was declared a disaster area," Gary Jensen pointed out. "And farmers received low in terest money. We are asking to receive what the farmers and businessmen in the area already have." Others said the disaster has already affected the area, and without action, it will get worse. "I don't agree the declaration will put a financial stop to this city," Rod Hammer said. "No one likes to see a $100,000 investment go down the tubes. There are funds available now. We can't wait any longer. This isn't a handout, but without help we won't have any money to support Cedar' s businesses." An attorney speaking for the homeowners association noted that the nation was founded "on the rights of minority groups." He said the disaster area will clean up an eyesore of Cedar City. "Our pioneer forefathers sought redress from the government. These loans are in existence presently. These people are not after a free lunch - they will still owe the money, but with a lower interest in-terest rate." Tom Goodman read a prepared statement from the Iron County Board of Realtors, which said, in part, the group was against a city-wide declaration of disaster. "In our opinion it would be detremental," Goodman said. However, he said the group was in favor of a "neighborhood "neigh-borhood disaster declaration which might avoid future city-wide increases in-creases in construction costs due to government restrictions as a result of the declaration. |