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Show w -aLi' - .& '-:c i ,":---r!' jl ' I Lj ''l'li'Siij Jill . I ' .'S Bond Issue Financing Considered For Hospital, Field House Plans Park City voters may have the last word on the future of proposed plans to renovate the Miners Hospital into a library, construct a community commun-ity recreational field house, ' and make improvements to the city park system. A public hearing has been called for March 26 at 7 p.m. to gain citizens' input into a proposal to finance the projects by issuing between $2 and-$5 million , in general obligation bonds. The bonds would be secured and retired over the years by the city's - - taxation authority and would result in slightly higher taxes for all Park City property. Should City Fathers receive re-ceive favorable input at the hearing, a general election could be held as early as May 19, at which time voters would make the final decision decis-ion on the proposal. Although a specific financial finan-cial package has yet to be agreed upon, councilmen hope to have a concrete proposal for the public's inspection by the. March 26 hearing. So far the field house plans represent a fixed cost of $1.5 million. The restoration of the historic hospital alone will cost an estimated $300,-000, $300,-000, which does not include landscaping, parking nor the equipping of the facility as a, library. It is thought an additional $200,000 will be needed to supply "the essentials es-sentials to the library which include furnishings, equipment equip-ment and the purchase of Please turn to page 5 -mm- -m- i Continued from Page 1 More Bonds much the same situation. Its present limited facilities cannot sufficiently meet the outdoor recreational demands de-mands of the expanding Park City community. More parking park-ing is needed as are new playing fields, more acreage, new restrooms, more tennis courts and many other recreational improvements. Park City currently has a total bonding capability o f $9 million which makes the bond issue entirely feasible. Also with interest rates projected to increase, now could be the most optimistic time to consider such a . proposal. a new middle school scheduled sche-duled for groundbreaking in May. . Since the project represents re-presents a cooperative effort between the city and school district, the cost of the facility is expected to be one-half the cost of the city constructing its own complex. com-plex. Because of the middle school construction schedule, sche-dule, it is imperative that a decision be made soon on the city's possible participation in the project. Briefly the $1.5 million expended by the city would double the size and add many improvements to the gymnasium and sports facility faci-lity proposed for the middle school. Since the city is paying one-half the cost of the complex they would receive legal title to one-half of the center and assume responsibility for one-half the maintenance cost. The city would oe guaranteed at least 50 percent use of the bui'diiig which would always be available for the use of the general public. A committee representing the community and school district would govern the use of the facility and compile programming and joint use schedules. With the city's participa-1 tion, the gymnasium would contain four playing areas capable of being partitioned off to facilitate simultaneous activities. When opened up, the specially treated gym floor could be used for rollerskating, hockey, soccer and rugby practices and matches. The facility is also large enough to support four regulation tennis courts. Apart from an overhead running track, weight, gymnastic gym-nastic and exercise rooms, the complex would house six racquetball courts, recreation recrea-tion offices and two locker rooms. The facility is large . enough to supply the community's com-munity's recreational needs for many years to come and according to Councilwoman Tina Lewis, it represents a cementing of a healthy working relationship between be-tween city and schools for years to come. The city park system is in Park City is joining other Utah communities in fighting a controversial sales tax redistribution bill passed during the recent session of the Utah State Legislature. The bill proposed by REP. Carl Saunders passed both houses in a watered-down form, but has yet to be signed into law by Gov. Scott Matheson. Thelegislation calls for 90 percent of a community's entitled sales tax revenue to remain within the municipality at the point of sale. The remaining 10 percent would be redistributed state wide on a per capita basis. The bill benefits rural areas and '.penalizes communities which have developed healthy commercial economies. Park City could lose as much as $25,000 in sales tax revenue and Salt Lake City close to $1 million The opponents of the billincluding Park City are attempting to file suit challenging the constitutionality of the measure. They argue that it is unlawful to take revenue away from the community in which it was generated and award it to another municipality. MayorJack Green who is spearheading Park City's efforts to oppose the measure adds that the bill "Discourages a community from developing a healthy economic climate and penalizes those who already made that effort". several thousand needed new books. Additional funds may be required for parking and landscaping. The hospital-library plan is expected to cost a minimum of $500,000, bringing the total package to $2 million, excluding the park improvements. Additional Addi-tional expenses at the library plus the park improvements represent a variable which could increase the dollar amount of the proposed bond issue from $2 million to as high as $5 million. It will essentially be ;up to the public to decide how many of the improvements are necessary and how much should be spent in their realization. City Manager Arlene Lo-ble Lo-ble estimates that a $5 million, 30 year issue at 10 percent would cost the average taxpayer an additional addi-tional $32 per year. She notes, however, that the $5 million is extremely high, as is the 10 percent interest figure. "Most likely it would cost the average taxpayer much less," she said. All three projects are vital to the community welfare and are surrounded by a certain urgency in their inauguration, she continued. When the historic Miners Hospital was moved to city park from the resort area two years ago, councilmen made a commitment to the people of Park City to restore the important public building. Councilmen also recognized the need for an expanded library facility in Park Citry and have committed to that goal as well. Since the hospital is not ecnclosed and exposed to the elements, it is felt that unless construction begins this spring, the building could be hopelessly damaged if it sits unprotected unpro-tected through another winter. The field house on the other hand represents a solution to an extreme shortage of recreation space in Park City. City Recreation Director Bruce Henderson says the Memorial Building (the community's current recreation center) has neither nei-ther the present facilities nor expansion capabilities to satisfy the demand. Many recreation activities may have to be cut due to lack of space and right now many sports groups have no place to practice nor play their scheduled games and matches, matc-hes, he added. It is a well-respected theory that recreation is a strong deter-ent deter-ent to juvenile delinquency, drug abuse and other social ills, Henderson noted. Specifically the field house is proposed to be constructed con-structed in conjunction with |