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County Watch

Kamas man plans '09 mayoral run

Kamas resident A. Jason Barto claims harassment from city officials is pushing him to run for mayor in 2009.

And the campaign is heating up already.

Barto contacted the Summit County Sheriff’s Office June 22 to report that someone stole his political signs.

"I’ve had two incidents of campaign signs being stolen," Barto said during a telephone interview last week.

Barto says he ruffled the tail feathers of some Kamas politicians when he accused a Kamas City councilor of having a conflict on interest when he voted on a land-use decision.

"It’s all a threat," he said, adding, "instead of running and hiding, I’m going to take a stand."

According to Barto, he reported the allegations about Kamas City Councilor Rodney Smith to the Office of the Utah Attorney General in May.

"Unfortunately, the concerns you raise are not specific," a May 8 response letter from Assistant Attorney General Sheila Page states. "If you are aware of any specific instances in which Councilman Smith may have benefited financially from action he has taken in his capacity as a [city councilor] please provide that information to us."

Smith did not return a telephone call seeking comment. Kamas Mayor Lew Marchant won a second term in 2005.

Mobile home charred in Henefer

Two people were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene of a fire that burned a mobile home at 75 S. 100 W. in Henefer on July 11, North Summit Fire Commissioner Tyler Rowser said.

"It was contained to one bedroom," Rowser said, adding that an unattended candle started the fire.

Roughly 12 firefighters responded to the blaze in six engines around 10:30 p.m., he said, adding that paramedics treated a neighbor and resident for minor injuries at the scene.

Man not charged in alleged domestic-violence case

Prosecutors in the Summit County Attorney’s Office won’t charge a man from Evanston, Wyo., who was arrested after allegedly beating up his wife in Coalville, Summit County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Sherm Farnsworth said.

"There was a report of a woman walking on [Chalk Creek] Road who appeared to have been assaulted," Farnsworth said about an incident reported to a dispatcher July 4 at 11:35 p.m. "We came across her and she was bloody."

The married couple reportedly had an argument and the husband "ended up punching her in the face," Farnsworth said, adding that the woman then allegedly hit the man.

Inconsistencies in the accounts from the parties prompted attorneys not to prosecute, Farnsworth said.

New Public Works deputy discussion begins

Summit County commissioners have began mulling a proposal to hire a deputy to assist Public Works Administrator Kevin Callahan.

"No organization of any size should function through one person," County Commissioner Bob Richer said, adding that Callahan is a key player on matters of transportation, transit and waste disposal.

Summit County Commissioner Ken Woolstenhulme insists most Summit County Public Works staffers have enough expertise to handle all but issues related to transit and transportation.

"I don’t see what another top echelon is going to do to help that," Woolstenhulme said.

A Public Works deputy could help develop a more "robust" staff, Callahan countered.

"Looking three years ahead, here are things I think we need to do," said Callahan about hiring a deputy director. "It’s just good institutional planning."

Sewer district gets national recognition

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) has recognized the Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District with two awards for complying with environmental standards, said Michael Luers, reclamation district general manager.

"The Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District is an outstanding example of environmental efforts," said Ken Kirk, executive director of NACWA.

Reclamation facilities that comply 100 percent with their permit requirements for a calendar year receive the awards, Luers said.


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