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Letters to the Editor

Say YES to open space

Editor:

Once again Park City residents have the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to open space and recreation by voting Yes on November 7 to the resolution authorizing the new $20 million open space bond. Lands acquired with bond proceeds enrich recreation, view sheds, animal habitats and watersheds.

Past acquisitions with bond proceeds more than amply illustrate the impressive success of this program; Round Valley; two hundred plus acres adjoining SR 248; the Richards Ranch parcel on S.R. 224, portions of the Rail Trail and numerous others. Each proposed acquisition is carefully reviewed and analyzed by COSAC, a Citizen Committee. All recommendations go to the City Council for approval.

Open Space, Recreation and Access to Recreation are core values to our lifestyle and the drivers of our resort economy.

Please Vote "Yes" on the $20 Million Open Space Bond. The benefits are immediate and will extend to our children and future generations.

Richard Sheinberg

Park City

Another vote for council/manager

Editor:

We don’t have very many ballot questions here in Utah, so when the letters to the editor began and news reports of change in governance appeared, I took interest in the proposal. To my surprise, there are people who actually oppose improving the way we run county government. I just can’t understand their logic.

I have discussed Proposition 1 with friends and neighbors, and we cannot see a "down side" to the proposal. Having five commissioners rather than just three, gives us more people to debate issues and come to a broader consensus. Having a full-time, trained county manager gives us coordination, continuity and onsite leadership.

Since the current commissioners say there will be no tax increase if we do this — why not? I support Proposition 1 and hope that the majority of voters will do so, too.

Pam Dion

Park City

Vote for Bob, protect the Basin

Editor:

Our County Commissioner Bob Richer is running against an opponent supported by many of the large landowners who are currently suing Summit County. (Just look at the properties upon which his opponent’s signs are located.)

Bob has a long history of standing up for the community’s rights. Naturally, these landowners don’t like him. He has made our local government responsive to the thousands of voters who pleaded for more land-use restrictions.

All this can all be undone in November. It’s happened before.

It only takes a majority of two commissioners to change everything. We already have one commissioner who consistently votes against the Basin’s zoning laws. See for yourself. Come to any public hearing where a zone change is being requested in favor of more density, and you’ll see this commissioner simply ignore our land-use protections. Add Bob’s opponent to this mix, and our collective cry (which Bob has championed relentlessly) for protected local open space, protected water supply, protected ridgelines, small classroom sizes, dedicated trails, etc., will go unheeded. It’s happened before.

Don’t let this election turn the clock back 20 years, when land-use protections were non-existent. In a county our size, every single vote counts. Vote for BOB RICHER Nov. 7.

Debi Scoggan

Snyderville Basin

Crime and punishment

Editor:

So Jeremy Nobis gets 62.5 days in jail for his third conviction for drunk driving. And he gets to do half before ski season and half after ski season. Is this fair? What happened to the other charges? He was in a high-speed chase with the police. He hit a tree and an officer’s SUV. How lucky are we that he didn’t hit a person? He should be in jail for a long time, not 62.5 days. His sponsors (if there are any stupid enough to still sponsor him) should know that a lot of us have very long memories.

Sincerely,

Ted Keane

Park City

In response to Ron Perry

Editor:

I sat on the Study Committee. We on the committee wanted districts. Those on the East Side didn’t because through large voter turnout, they felt they had control. Districting would actually marginalize them by lumping the entire East Side into one district that could elect only one commissioner/councilor. But the funny part is, who has ever asked for districting? Did you know that the present commission, without voter approval, can establish districts now, if they want to? Districting is independent of the form of government.

A manager would not "channel" grievances. Citizens can call who they want, and probably will. But by design and necessity, the present system does channel responsibility for various aspects of county government to one of three commissioners who, without approval of at least one other commissioner, can’t do anything about it. Indeed, under the present system we have Ken Woolstenhulme throwing expletives at the other commissioners because they didn’t direct a citizen concern regarding Public Works through him. Is that a better form of government?

Vote YES on Proposition 1.

Sincerely,

Steve Dougherty

Park City

Cunningham for school board

Editor:

In a comparative dialogue with other candidates on KPCW earlier this week, Charles Cunningham spoke refreshingly to educational issues. In an age of relativism, Charles maintains a strong set of traditional values — values that have successfully allowed him and his wife Gretchen to raise four incredibly bright, articulate, compassionate and engaged children. While many candidates can profess the beliefs in positive values and progressive views, Charles exhibits, in the lives of his own kids, the evidence of a really successful approach to education. I heartily commend him in his bid for Park City School Board, Precinct 5.

Tim Dahlin

Park City

Nobis’ fame has its perks

Editor:

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 100,000 people have been killed in this country in alcohol-related automobile crashes since the year 2000, (103,213 to be exact). That means every year, more than 15,000 people are killed by drunk drivers. In Utah alone, during 2005, an average of three people each month lost their lives in alcohol-related traffic accidents.

I wonder if Judge Bruce Lubeck considered these statistics before sentencing a "famous" local skier, and two-time convicted drunk driver, to 62.5 days in the Summit County Jail, allowing this "famous" repeat offender to split his sentence so as not to miss any of the upcoming ski season.

I wonder if the residents of Park Meadows and Prospector are at all concerned about the fact that "famous" skiers/convicted drunk drivers can careen through their neighborhoods at 50 miles an hour, crash into trees and police vehicles without fear of missing the season.

It must be nice to be famous.

Finally I wonder how many of those thousands of alcohol-related fatalities were skiers, looking forward to their next season on the mountain.

Jon Green

Park City

Field House expansion

Editor:

I attended the recent Basin Recreation Open House and I would like to inform the climbing community and the rest of the community to seek information on how the board of Basin Recreation is planning to utilize your money. During the last bond election that built the Field House you, the voters and the community, approved the bond with the request that a climbing wall be built. There were more than 25 percent of you that made this request. It now seems that the board at Basin Recreation is trying to sweep the climbing wall out the door if the public does not speak up. We live in a community with world-class recreation. We have the opportunity to have a world-class pool, gym and climbing wall for our use. Please e-mail Bonny Park at Basin Recreation and show your support for a climbing wall. Thank You

Sincerely,

Ron Palmer-Leger

Park City

Resort connections

Editor:

The story on connecting the Wasatch resorts has its share of mixed signals. Other than much-heated debate about protecting the environment of the canyons and how to deal with more vehicular traffic, more people appear to be in favor of this and the recognition of the benefits is obvious. Instead of worrying about resorts losing their individuality and having concerns about the environment and traffic we should look at resorts such as Les Trois Vallee, Val D’Isere Tignes, Zermatt-Cervinia and St. Anton-Zurs-Lech to see how this has been accomplished and what the benefits really are. Europeans have enacted tougher environmental laws than the U.S. and have been successfully protecting their open spaces far more efficiently than we have. Additionally they have built a rail system that brings people from major cities directly to the base of the trams at many resorts.

Before we succumb to our fears and naiveté, let’s look to where this has already been accomplished and take some of the proven solutions and put them to practice here. It is not inconceivable to envision a light rail system from SLC International to the bases of some of our resorts. Intelligent growth does not necessarily translate to sprawl and pollution. Look to a resort like Zermatt that has banned automobiles. The only in and out is via foot or electric train. Don’t we have the vision and intelligence to see that most of this has already been accomplished?

Ken Block

Park City

Dave Edmunds for Sheriff

Editor:

I support Dave Edmunds as Sheriff of Summit County. During his first term as our Sheriff, Dave Edmunds transformed the Summit County Sheriff’s Department into one of Utah’s premier public safety agencies. Today, Summit County Deputies are acknowledged as some of Utah’s finest law enforcement officers; competent, highly trained and skilled, and dedicated.

When Sheriff Edmunds entered his office in January 2003, he inherited many complex issues and challenges, which required aggressive and mature planning and decision making to resolve. Obviously some of the tough decisions made by Sheriff Edmunds may have been considered unpopular by some, but quite necessary by most. Nonetheless, through his stable leadership and willingness to address difficult problems and challenges, Sheriff Dave Edmunds has gained the respect of his colleagues, has motivated the devoted personnel of the Sheriff’s Office and comforted citizens throughout Summit County.

I have had the privilege of being involved with public safety in Summit County for more than 25 years now. Throughout all of those years, I have never met or been associated with a public safety leader as energetic and optimistic as Sheriff Edmunds. Sheriff Dave Edmunds is an inspiration to his deputies. He is a good man and the right man to be Sheriff of Summit County — now, and into the future.

Sincerely, Kelly Gee, Chief

Park City Fire District

Letters

School district must lead

Park City School District is being investigated by the federal Office of Civil Rights for persistent and ongoing violations. It’s a very big deal that has a lot of our community on edge.



See more

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