Weber County Forum:A Tale of Two Rec Centers

RudiZink at Weber County Forum wonders whether Weber Counties Rec Center will share the same, sad, fate as the Davis County Rec Center.

Centerville Citizen commented on the post, "...I'll tell you what though, those people at citizensfortaxfairness.org who were so opposed to the rec center project are probably feeling very justified after the revelations about the setbacks with the project."

Mr. Citizen, yes they are.

And the source of Weber County Forum's trepidation is this, scathing, Standard Examiner editorial.

Weber County Forum:A Tale of Two Rec Centers

Salt Lake Tribune - Utah:North Salt Lake water supply can't keep up with growth

We all now realize that for a city with no secondary water, the costs of flouridation can be excessive. I did not know that the east benches have more porous soil, and therefore, require more water to have the same effect as those watering elsewhere. Eaglewood Golfcourse, on the east end of NSL, is leeching a great deal of water from our reserves.

Salt Lake Tribune - Utah:North Salt Lake water supply can't keep up with growth

Citizens For Tax Fairness:BOUNTIFUL - MAKING CHURCHES & SCHOOLS PAY

It has been a while since citizensfortaxfairness.org has been updated, but I have been checking it religiously for information since January. Today, I noticed that a much neglected topic of power rate hikes were being addressed. Ron Mortenson had mentioned this to me months ago as a topic on which I might blog and, to be frank, I couldn't dig up enough dirt myself to justify a post. (However, the dirt was there.) Fortunately, I've been saved the trouble of having to do some detective work of my own. Shame on me for not trying hard enough.

Wrap your mind around this concept. Other tax policy organizations have addressed the problems inherent in hiding a tax via clever bookkeeping practices. Bountiful is doing just that. By moving money from the Power fund into the General fund, on a regular basis, they create a shortfall of funds needed to generate and maintain power within the city. As a result, a need is, artificially, created for more money to be put into the Power fund. Power rates get increased, and a hidden tax is born. This money in the General fund,(this is sometimes called laundering), goes to other unrelated projects.

Who gets hurt by this practice? Broad answer: Anyone that stands to lose from an unaccountable government. In short: Everyone.

Citizens For Tax Fairness:BOUNTIFUL - MAKING CHURCHES & SCHOOLS PAY

deseretnews.com | S.L., North S.L. clash on venue

NSL and SLC are jockeying over the venue for the lawsuits--Davis County or Salt Lake County.

deseretnews.com | S.L., North S.L. clash on venue

Handcart Days: One year ago

Last year, at the Bountiful, Handcart Days Parade, the Citizens for Tax Fairness were told not to distribute fliers during the event or risk arrest. At the same time, the city distributed their own leaflets. When a complaint was submitted through the State Attorney Generals office, nothing was done. Today, we celebrate with a parade, the same freedoms that were trampled on by local officials one year ago.

Utah Taxpayers.org:Deseret News 7.28.04(PDF)

Davis County Watch:One glaring ommission

After nearly four months of blogging on issues affecting the south end of Davis County, a chink in my topical armor has been exposed. Read enough of my blog and you will see that I have mainly covered topics directly related to Bountiful and North Salt Lake. I've dabbled in other cities and ommitted others completely (a couple readers have mentioned Farmington).

It is time that I settle on the cities of interest to this blog. I decided, when I started the blog, that I wouldn't be talking about the Northernmost part of Davis County. It is just too much geography to cover. I must draw the line at the northern border of Farmington. Here are the cities, once and for all. Farmington, Centerville, West Bountiful, Bountiful, Woods Cross, and North Salt Lake.

Does anyone want to suggest a topic I have missed?

StandardNET/Standard-Examiner:Tax group waiting for response to Aug. 2004 complaint

Thom Roberts has taken the blame for letting a year pass without responding to allegations of a tainted election in Davis County. He has not said what his response may be. We can guess. If I may be allowed to paraphrase my prediction.

"Dear Citizensfortaxfairness.org,

Thank you for your letter...however, we see no evidence of wrongdoing as your election happened almost a year ago...We've talked to Bountiful City officials and they assure us that nothing is amiss. Oh, and Tom Hardy asked me to tell you not to send him any more letters.

Good luck in your efforts to re-elect Joe Johnson!"

StandardNET/Standard-Examiner:Tax group waiting for response to Aug. 2004 complaint

StandardNET/Standard-Examiner

Beginning today, candidates can file for office. The following cities have the Mayoral seats up for grabs.

• Bountiful
  
• Centerville
• Clearfield
• Clinton
• Farmington
• Fruit Heights
• Kaysville
• North Salt Lake
• South Weber
• Sunset
• Syracuse
• West Bountiful
• West Point
• Woods Cross

I'll only comment on the two cities about which I know something. Bountiful- Mayor Johnson appears to have less influence than the City Manager, Tom Hardy. Hardy is at the root of the problems we've been having with the Rec' Center fiasco, and subsequent misinformation picked up by the press.It's time for the campaign to begin to boot out Hardy. That will, likely, entail getting rid of Johnson as well. North Salt Lake-I think Kay Briggs deserves another run. He's been a staunch defender of his city against our bigger, and meddlesome neighbors.

StandardNET/Standard-Examiner

KSL News: Another Viewpoint – A Line in the Sand

As promised here is Kay Briggs response to a recent editorial on the NSL/SL Land dispute. Apparently there is a more complete version of Mayor Briggs' response available but I can't find it.

KSL News: Another Viewpoint – A Line in the Sand

Update: The page has been updated by KSL with Mayor Briggs complete response.

StandardNET/Standard-Examiner:Rec center cost up $2.7 million

And we wonder why the private sector won't build these facilities?

StandardNET/Standard-Examiner:Rec center cost up $2.7 million

DAVIS BEAT - North Salt Lake petition drive fizzles

A petition to put the decision to develop land in North Salt Lake to a ballot has not had enough signatures. Not surprising.

DAVIS BEAT - North Salt Lake petition drive fizzles

W. Bountiful questions hike for rec center

The Recreation Center, to be built in Bountiful, is costing one million over the amount of the Bond. Bountiful has offered to pay the million now if the other cities will pay them back. (Where in Bountiful's budget do they have that much money lying around-unallocated?) West Bountiful has questioned why the additional 5-6 percent cost is there? A full board was not present at the last meeting so a decision on the matter has been postponed. When will the Recreation District ratchet up the price-tag again?

W. Bountiful questions hike for rec center

KSL News: Meth Related Crimes on the Rise

Utah is tied for number one!

KSL News: Meth Related Crimes on the Rise

Davis County, Utah :: Official Website :: Hiking

Take advantage of the, low cost, recreational activities that are available in Davis County. Hiking, walking, biking, etc. The Davis County Government website shows 11 trailheads within the boundaries of the County. Why am I posting on this when I could be on the subject of politics? Because many think that obesity, health, and promoting family togetherness fall solely under the purview of the government. Utah, especially, has a massive wilderness and close proximity to nature. Our tax dollars are paying for these parks and trails. Let's use them.

Davis County, Utah :: Official Website :: Hiking

KSL News: Homes Condemned to Make Way For New Highway

Remember the stink that Rocky Anderson made about the Legacy Highway's harm to the environment? Well, now that the highway is about to be built, another possible motive for Rocky's action may be surfacing. 260-410 homes and businesses may need to be torn down in Salt Lake City to make room for the highway. What does that come to in lost tax revenue for Salt Lake City?

KSL News: Homes Condemned to Make Way For New Highway

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Meth is 'biggest' US drug problem

'Meth' addiction is the biggest contributor to crime in the U.S. Crimes directly related to the drug include domestic abuse, burglaries, and assaults. The problem of escalating crime is particularly relevant on the County level.

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Meth is 'biggest' US drug problem

KSL: "Another Viewpoint" Editorial

KSL will air Mayor Brigg's response to a recent editorial by Duane Cardall on the land dispute in the next couple of weeks.

StandardNET/Standard-Examiner

Assuming that Salt Lake City succeeds in condemning the 12 acres of land owned by North Salt Lake how do they justify the cost that North Salt Lake would pay to service to the land? Salt Lake City has no access roads to the land. North Salt Lake would be saddled with the burden of providing emergency services to that area. I believe that this would constitute an arbitrary taxation on North Salt Lake on top of the taxation from invoking eminent domain in the first place.

On another note, North Salt Lake waiting the maximum 30 days before filing the appeal regarding Salt Lake City's decision, giving the negotiations a chance to work.

StandardNET/Standard-Examiner::City files appeal on decision by Salt Lake City