Congressman Matheson visits Emery County

Josie Luke

Emery High students experienced a unique learning opportunity on March18 when Rep. Jim Matheson met with them in the high school auditorium to answer questions about the U. S. government and politics.

The four-term congressman began by saying that he wanted them to know that it was his job to represent them in Congress. “I think it’s important for you to know that I represent you. I know too many people who get elected to public office only think about representing people who are old enough to vote.

“That’s not how I look at it. I represent everybody in my district, whether they vote for me or whether they vote against me, or whether they don’t vote at all or aren’t old enough to vote. It’s important for me to hear from you, and so I go to schools a lot to see what’s on student’s minds. That’s why I’m here.”

He went on to discuss congressional committees saying that he had spent a lot of time getting on the Energy and Commerce Committee. Many student questions dealt with energy, from his stance on coal fire power and nuclear power, to gas prices and the Crandall Canyon Mine disaster.

He related that before he was a congressman, he had worked in the energy industry and that as to coal power, he viewed the question as, “not ‘if we’re going to burn it,’ but ‘how we’re going to burn it.’ He also discussed nuclear power, explaining that it takes a lot of water to produce, and that it is more expensive than coal power. As to gas prices, he proposed that in the short term, increased production would bring prices down and in the future, “we need to hope that technology does take us to a new place.

When the Congressman was asked about his feelings on the mine disaster, he stated, “this is an issue you all lived everyday. It was a very powerful experience for all of us to go through that.” He revealed that he had been in the area several times during that period, and that he believes, “the order of business before us today is to make sure we learned from it”, so that people in the industry can be safe.

Matheson was also asked why he had chosen to be a Democrat. He revealed one reason was that his great-great grandmother was appointed as postmistress in Parowan by Grover Cleveland, and so his “family’s democratic roots go back generations.” He stated that a lot of people “pick their political party based on the house they grew up in.”

He continued, “I like to tell people that the parties only mean so much, that at the end of the day, you vote for someone based on who they are as an individual. The issues we face in our country are far more complicated than two points of view and to think that all democrats think X and all republicans think Y is just so far outside the way reality is in our country today. The issues are complicated we’re dealing with and we shouldn’t allow ourselves to oversimplify.”

He was also asked how the people in congress got along, to which he responded that “more often than not, we get along pretty well,” and that the media focuses more on the issues on which they don’t all agree “When people in Washington scream at each other, that gets the headlines, and so the impression you get of Washington is all we do is scream at each other, but that’s not the way it works. I wouldn’t want this job if that’s all we did.”

In discussing the parties in Congress, Matheson explained that, “the biggest challenge we face is to get away from the extremes of the two parties, because I think the far left of the Democratic Party and the far right of the Republican Party have far too big a role in the debate in Washington and most people in America don’t lie in either of those points of view. I’m one of those people in what I call the radical center.”

Another student asked him what he thought was his greatest accomplishment in Congress for the State of Utah. He said that in Emery County one accomplishment was getting “several million dollars to build Moore Cutoff road.” He also explained that he has been looking at proposals as to whether the country should test nuclear weapons again, after previously lying about the fact that they were dangerous.

He related that his father had died from radiation-related cancer, so when last year the government was planning a large conventional explosion that he viewed as a “precursor to nuclear weapons tests” and so he had “raised the red flag and said they had to stop this,” and they stopped it.

He also was asked who he supported for President. He responded, asking who was for each of the candidates, with the largest vote bing for Barack Obama. He revealed that this was a common response in other high schools he had visited. He also spoke about being a “super-delegate” who would have a vote in the primary. He explained that he hadn’t yet picked who he was going to vote for, but that he was “using it as an opportunity to engage these folks on issues that matter to Utah.

After meeting with students, Matheson toured the new Bucyrus Facility in Huntington.

Zoning changes approved by commission

Josie Luke

Changes to the Emery County zoning ordinances, which had been discussed for some time and had drawn strong opinions from citizens, were finally approved at the County Commission meeting held on March 18. A public hearing was held prior to the approval of the changes.

Commissioner Gary Kofford explained that the county began discussing changes to the ordinances in response to changes made by the State Legislature in the Land Use, Development and Management Act (LUDMA). “This is the first of several hearings we’ll have between now and June,” he said.

The ordinances discussed in the commission meeting, and at a public hearing held prior to the approval of those changes, will only affect land in the county. Currently, in Emery County, roughly 260,345 acres of land are in the county and 10,705 acres are in cities.

Article 7 of the zoning ordinances on enforcement was changed to strengthen the ability of the county to enforce zoning ordinances and to clarify the duties of the zoning administrator. Mike McCandless, planning and zoning administrator, explained that as the ordinance was written, if someone were to not follow the ordinances, “the only way I can go in is in life threatening situations.” So the changes would, “take the burden from the county commissioners to the planning and zoning administrator.” The changes were passed unanimously.

After the change to article 9 on the mountain zone, the ordinance reads, “No dwelling shall be constructed on a lot smaller than 40 acres, unless the lot is part of an approved Mountain Subdivision.” The change was made in the number of acres required on which to build from 80 acres to 40 acres. The motion passed with Commissioner Drew Sitterud opposed.

Changes were also approved to the subdivision ordinance to allow building in the county on 2 acre lots instead of 10 acres lots. Article 13 was changed to allow for the new acreage requirements for those who go through the newly outlined process to subdivide on county lands. The changes were approved unanimously.

McCandless explained that a subdivision in the zoning ordinance meant any partitioning of land. He also explained that the change from 10 to two acres was not “just purely arbitrary. After doing some analysis, we found that with a 3,000 to 4, 000 square foot home with a septic field and land for an alternative septic field, it takes nearly two acres to do that.” He also shared that they had a number of people come to them requesting the change in the required acreage to build in the mountain zone, because many of the properties were 40 acres.

The public hearing brought a number of comments on the changes, including comments from Darrel Leamaster, district manager of the Castle Valley Special Service District. He made a statement for the administrative control board on why they are not in favor of the subdivision changes. “We think that the 10 acre rule that’s been in place has been effective in helping control the growth in the county and to encourage growth to occur in the cities.”
The board wants to discourage random growth in the county and so they passed a motion that “basically says that they will no longer approve what we call out side connections. Outside connections are basically outside city boundaries.” They believe that doing so will create maintenance problems and create donut shaped growth around cities. The District has proposed that cities approve an ordinance “basically putting a moratorium on outside connections.”

He explained that cities have some legal problems in selling connections outside city boundaries only being allowed to sell “what is termed excess water.” They propose that before cities annex properties outside of the boundaries and then supply water, thus eliminating any legal or maintenance problems.

Amber Barnes expressed her support for the subdivision change saying that she had a difficult time finding anyone in Ferron willing to sell land so she could build. She said, “With the 2 acre change, we will have more opportunities to stay around our families and to raise our children where we would like.

Ron Barney echoed her comments, expressing how difficult it is for young people to buy land and stay in the area. He said he understands “where a lot of people are coming from,” but he shared that his granddaughter wants to build in the area and hasn’t been able to find a place to build. In his view the change would help people to be able to build in the area who otherwise wouldn’t be able to.

Darrell Gardner related that he owns several hundred acres outside of the cities that he has cattle on and he doesn’t “really like the idea of urbanization outside of the towns.” He is concerned that what is now grazing and farming land will be considered more valuable with the change, and that he won’t be able to afford the resulting rise in property taxes.

Marie Johnson also expressed concern, because she believes that “one of the advantages of living here is that we have retained a rural lifestyle,” and she prefers that the county work to “maintain the character of Emery County.”
Others commented on the change to the mountain zone, including Danny Johnson. He said, “I’m extremely against the reduction of acreage. I think if anything, we should increase the acreage.” He explained that he had contacted the county about building on the mountain about 25 years before and he had been required to have 320 acres before he could build because it was considered grazing land. “I guess my question is what’s changed,” said Johnson, who continued, “Rules need to be consistent with everybody.” He also expressed concern in building too many cabins on land in a critical watershed.

During the Public hearing citizens also expressed reluctance to the acreage changes believing the changes were made to accommodate a few citizens or Realtors. Kofford explained that there was pressure from Realtors, including some who serve on the state legislature. He revealed that Realtors have “run into problems with planning and zoning regulations that didn’t give them the freedom to do what they wanted,” and so if the county didn’t make the changes, the legislators could, taking away power from local planning and zoning committees.
After the Public Hearing, the changes were voted on. Before the commission voted on Article 13, Sitterud clarified the requirements on where people would be able to build. He explained that the property has to be on a county city or state road, have a water hookup and have a septic tank or sewage hookup.

Commissioner Kofford responded to the actions of the Castle Valley Special Service District stating, “I don’t know what the answer is. What I would say and I’m not trying to excuse myself, but it’s awful hard to sit up here and try to push a square peg into a round hole if you will.” He revealed that while the changes were being discussed, many people had expressed support, but had not come to the meeting.

“I don’t know what the answer is. I do know that it’s going to be frustrating to pass two acres and then when they go to the city, the city says ‘I’m sorry there’s a moratorium and I can’t hook you up. What’s frustrating is we need to grow. Somewhere we have to break this log jam,” he expressed.

After the changes were approved, Sheriff Lamar Guymon conveyed his support for the change saying, “All this does is gives us an orderly way to grow, which is controlled by ourselves and not by government.”

Commissioner Horrocks also shared his view in favor of the changes. “We either progress or we regress, and I would like the people of Emery County in charge of the growth.”

Robbery suspect surrounded, captured

The suspect in an armed robbery of Holiday Inn Express in Green River in the early morning hours of March 203 was arrested by members of the Emery County Sheriff’s Office following a chase on I-70.

The Emery County Sheriff’s Office dispatch call center received a call from Ace Gunsolley, night clerk at the Holiday Inn Express at approximately 4 a.m. on March 23, reporting that he had just been robbed by a man demanding cash who claimed that he had a gun.

Deputy Jeff Newland and Trooper Bronson Wood were both on duty east of Green River and arrived at the scene within three to five minutes of being notified of the crime. With no initial vehicle description other officers responded to help with the investigation. Employees of the Super 8 Motel were able to give investigators a description of a vehicle leaving the scene and Deputy Jeff Weber located a vehicle matching that description west of Milepost 127 on I-70.

The vehicle was found unoccupied, and while processing the vehicle registration a man matching the description of the suspect in the robbery approached from the westbound lane carrying a gas can. The individual told Weber that the car was his and he had run out of gas and walked to Salina. Another motorist had given him a ride back to his car.

During questioning the suspect was able to gain access to the vehicle and fled westbound. Weber was able to shoot out the driver side rear tire and pursued the suspect. During the pursuit the suspect vehicle distanced itself from Weber east of Ghost Rocks Rest Area and Weber lost sight of the vehicle. The suspect vehicle veered off into a ravine and Weber continued traveling westbound.

Another individual alerted law enforcement to a black car in a ravine and law officers closed in from east and west. Deputy Doug Downard, Trooper Glen Begay, Detective John Barnett and Weber located the vehicle with the suspect still inside near milepost 123. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident.

Candidates files for office

With one state senate seat open, one county commission seat open and a school board seat open in three different districts in the county, candidates wishing to represent Emery County citizens filed for office.

A breakdown of candidates running for local office include:
State Senate District 27:
Brad King, Democrat;
David Hinkins, Republican;
Richard Moss, Republican;
Robert J. Armstrong, Constitution.
Emery County Commissioner
Drew Sitterud, Republican;
Laurie Pitchforth, Democrat;
Donald J. Riddle, Democrat.
School Board District 1:
Sam Singleton;
Janeal Dugmore.
School Board District 2:
Rue Ware;
Nanette Tanner;
Kelly Alton.
School Board District 3:
Laurel S. Johansen;
Michale McCandless;
Ross Huntington.