Escalante City Council: City Council met on May 3, 2011.
During the personal comment section of the meeting, our country’s accomplishment regarding Osama Bin Laden was honored.
Following this patriotic discussion, Kendall Farnsworth announced the Road Rally in support of Utah State Parks to be held on the 14th of May. Kendall described the significant cuts made by recent state legislation. Our own park lost one FTE (full-time employee/equivalent). The Road Rally will appear at Escalante Petrified Forest State part at approximately 8:45 a.m. and will consist of park employees, the media and citizen supporters. The public is invited to attend.
Planning and Zoning had no general information updates. Several permits/licenses were granted: a Country Kitchen business license, an addition to a storage shed including water for summer canning and a 10 x 20’ kiva-like room. Discussion of the rules, regulations and procedures about buildings and additions ensued. Watch for further information regarding regulations in the future.
Scheduled Items on the agenda included a request for the City to provide the ‘up front’ monies for the Fire Department’s fund-raising breakfast on the 4th of July. The City would be reimbursed after the event. City Council approved this request. Additionally, Fire Chief Porter requested monies for purchase of a stove and refrigerator.
The City’s cell phones will not be functional after May 31st due to the change in ownership of local cellular service. Verizon will be the new service operator for our area. The City will replace phones for the Public Works department, the Fire Department and the Police Department. Verizon approached the city regarding the lease or purchase of a 55’ x 55’ plot of land near the water tanks on which to construct two new cell towers.
Digital recorder: The State of Utah (Senate bill 318) now mandates that court business must be recorded on a digital audio recording device. This device may also be used by City Council. A motion was made and passed to buy the device with a $2,000 limit.
Council and Department Reports included a discussion of the dumpsters. Many have noted the slippery, mucky grounds during wet weather. Councilman Hughes described the need to level the turnout and increase the drainage. In the near future, a trench will be built to carry water away from the site. Use of gravel or road base will be discussed in the future. (Editor's Note: Meantime, citizens can help out by NOT placing things like mattresses and large appliances in the dumpsters.). To further improve the appearance around town, a city worker was given permission to scrap an old truck from the city yard.
Escalante Library: Our librarian, who works without a budget for books, asked for donations of non-fiction books for the library. Citizens donate many fiction books, but the non-fiction section of the collection is sparse. Mr. Christian expressed thanks for donations.
Airport: Councilman Allen reported that, with “one good work day (weather-wise)” the airport should be complete.
Heard Around Town: During a recent City Council meeting, a discussion of ‘host services’ took place. Escalante would be better off if we developed a reputation as a very friendly and welcoming place. In the last week the following occurred. A tourist entered Griffin’s Market and asked the clerks if they carried or knew where he might obtain reading glasses. His glasses had gone missing and he could not read maps or view certain things during his travels. Neither the clerks nor any customers were able to provide a workable suggestion. Panguitch may be the only place, possibly in the county, where reading glasses can be purchased. One of the customers stated that she had a new supply of reading glasses from a recent trip to Costco. She offered to give the tourist a pair of glasses. Arrangements were made for him to follow her to her home to pick up the glasses so that he might be better able to continue his trip. Kudos to Marty Henrie, a generous, gracious citizen!
Request for Action from Mayor Taylor, Gina Flanagan (CEO of the Wayne County Health Clinic) and members of the Health Care Committee.Please contact Rep. Jim Matheson at (866) 456-3949 (toll free) or and ask for his support. Ask that he submit a program request to the House Appropriations Committee indicating his support for an increase in discretionary funding for health centers in fiscal year 20012. Rep. Matheson’s advocacy is essential. "Community health centers are locally-controlled, nonprofit entities that deliver cost-effective primary and preventive care to 23 million Americans. There are over 1,200 health centers operating in 8,000 rural and urban underserved communities nationwide, with nearly half… in rural areas. To meet the persistent and overwhelming demand for primary care in this country” these centers warrant support (NACHC). The increase in funding would help build 200 new health care centers, including ours. Maybe by this time next year you won’t have to wait until a Monday, Wednesday or Friday to get sick or to drive a nail into your thumb.
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From the Mayor’s Desk: It seems like this column comes around way too often. However, I believe that communication is so very important in our community. We need and deserve to know what is going on.
So what is going on? Hopefully, good things. Have you noticed the equipment out Center Street? We are replacing our water line. This will be a big improvement for some members of our community. So just a word of warning to those who live on Center. Your water could go off and on in a flash. We are sorry for any inconvenience. I have already had to apologize to one member of our community for his water going off without notice and for this I'm sorry. We are trying hard to do our best. Members of our city council are working hard to get our water system right. They are putting in lots of work and spending many hours of personal time to complete this project. We are also looking at fixing up and restoring our parks and racetrack. With these projects we will need much help from all of you. As we get involved, our community pride will grow and great things can be accomplished. Let us work together to clean up our homes and property. We have a beautiful city, let us keep it neat and clean.
I welcome your ideas! How can we better serve you? Is there something that you would like to see us do as a community? As your Mayor I want to do what you want, I am only here to serve. Don't be afraid to bring your ideas forth. As we come together we can make wonderful things happen. Remember we live in a magnificent place. Let us be proud of who we are, where we live, and what we stand for.
