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2015

FROM 

rICH cIVIC tIMES

Musings Of A Muddled Male

With your permission I am repeating a Christmas story that I used in this column two years ago.

Christmas

      Ann and I were born and grew up in Utah but began the process of moving to Seattle, Washington in September of 1956 when Ann was nineteen and I was 21.  We had a brand new baby, born in August, a brand new job paying $1.735/hour, no money in the bank, no arrangements for a place to live, and a hazy future.  I headed to Seattle without Ann so that I could get processed into my new job and find a place I could rent where our family could live when Ann arrived later.  Ann and the baby stayed with Ann's parents while I was house hunting, and while she was recovering from the birth and the shock of moving away from her family right in the middle of trying to learn the ins and outs of motherhood.

      I probably wouldn't have made it those first few weeks except that my dad gave me twenty dollars to help me with expenses as I was leaving for Seattle.  Now Twenty dollars might not seem like much in 2014, but in 1956 it was more than my dad could afford.  Even then the only thing I could afford was to rent a bed in an attic room shared with another fellow who I didn't know.  There were no cooking facilities and so I just bought a sandwich wherever I could find one at a price low enough to afford.  Once I had gotten my first pay check I found a little two bedroom house to rent for $95/month and sent for Ann.  Her parents moved her, the baby, and all our belongings to Seattle.  It took one very small U-Haul trailer and a few things in the trunk of their DeSoto car.  We lived in the Seattle area for the next fifty years, but we drove to Utah almost every year to spend Christmas with Ann's family in Porterville, a little farming community just outside of Morgan, Utah.  Vic and Zylpha Shaw, Ann's parents, had lived in that little 150-year old house since early in their marriage.

      Over the years the roads we traveled between Seattle and Porterville varied from dry to wet to blizzards to solid ice, but every year we returned to Porterville for Christmas … like lemmings to the sea.  One Christmas we wrecked our new car, but pushed on to Porterville by bus because that was our tradition.  Spending Christmas anywhere else was unacceptable to us and our children.  The home of Ann's parents, were we stayed, was small with one tiny bathroom, but the kitchen was big and so was the love that we all felt there.  Christmas eve was hot, homemade chili cooked on a coal stove, and pan-fried bread made fresh from dough rolled and kneaded by Zylpha on the kitchen table.  Outside it was cold, but inside it was warm because Zylpha carried buckets of hand selected coal and tended the big fireplace that heated the front room.  Napping on the floor in front of that fireplace was a warm and delightful way to spend a lazy afternoon.

      Remember that Christmas is first about Him whose birthday we celebrate, and then it is about family and tradition and caring about others.  To Quote Thomas S. Monson, "...our opportunities to love and give of ourselves are indeed limitless, but they are also perishable.  Today there are hearts to gladden, kind words to say, deeds to be done...."  So from the Muddled Male and Ann, his wife, we hope that you have a Christmas filled with the happiness of family and traditions of love.  And if you are faced with challenges, we wish you understanding and hope.

BLRC Report

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. December 17, 2014.  Mitch Poulsen, Director of BLRC (Bear Lake Regional Commission), informed the Commissioners that he has the application ready to submit to the State to make Rich County an Enterprise Zone.  He needed signatures from the Commissioners.  The public hearing was held last summer in order to be able to go ahead the make this change. 

Poulsen asked the Commissioners what economic-type projects they would like to see move forward.  The Commissioners noted that the marina expansion was probably the top project at the present time.  Plans were drafted a number of years ago. It would be something that could move forward without a lot of delay if monies become available.

The second project mentioned was working on enhancing trails—walking, bicycle, ATVs, OHVs, etc.  This would provide other activities available to visitors to the area and perhaps have a positive effect on the present impact on the lake.

The Commissioners are looking forward to the gun range.  However, they feel that the state lands people need to be the head of the project because the tentative spot for this project is on state lands.  A public hearing needs to be held when summer home owners are in the area.  They should have a say in where this project is built.  That means not much can be done until summer.  They, however, feel this project definitely needs to be pursued.

Poulsen noted that Tour Utah will be coming to Rich County this coming summer.  They will be taking off from Davis County or Logan on the Monday prior to Raspberry Days.  They will go through Logan Canyon, around the lake, and back to Logan in one day.  The race is well known, advertising is tremendous for the activity, and it is extremely well handled.  There are approximately 120 to 130 riders who participate in the race.

The County Planning and Zoning Committee would like to have a holiday dinner.  The next meeting is scheduled for January 29 when this activity will take place.  Poulsen noted that they wanted to go to Evanston.  The Commissioners said that was outside the county. 

Rich County Commission Budget

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. December 17, 2014.  Kim Wilson presented two property exemptions to the Commissioners for approval. She then noted that the contract with the JCI Collection Agency needs to be renewed.  They take care of all unpaid bills for the county ambulances.  The cost of their service for each collection is $4 higher than the cost charged in the last few years.  The contract is for a year with automatic renewal for the next several years.  Wilson noted that it is a good service, and this company does an especially good job.  The Commissions signed the new contract.

There was a budget hearing held.  It was noted that there was a 4 percent cost of living raise given to all county employees.  Medical insurance costs have increased 5.9 percent which is also shown in the budget.  There have not been any changes in dental or life insurance, just medical insurance.

The new budget also includes funds for some capital projects—an ambulance, some needed road equipment, and building maintenance improvements.  It was noted that wild land suppression funds have to be increased each year.  The biggest item in the budget is the jail and Sheriff’s needs.  The next largest amount of funds goes to the county roads.

In the regular Commission meeting after the budget hearing, the budget was opened and the necessary end of the year bookkeeping entries were made and approved by the Commissioners.  The proposed budget for 2015 was then approved as of December 30, 2014.

Chairman Bill Cox noted that each of the department heads that work for the County have kept within their budgets.  They have been very conservative, have made good decisions, and are the individuals who make it possible for the County to continue without having to raise taxes yearly.  There have been very few needed adjustments from year to year.  These individuals are willing to stay within their budgets.  They have been frugal and careful with public funds.  He wanted to let the citizens of the County know how conscientious the county employees are in working with tax monies, and he wanted to thank them for their good work.

County Fair Plans

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah.  December 11, 2014. Brett Argyle will be taking care of the Rich County Fair again this coming year.  He reported that contracts for certain entertainment and rodeo stock needs to be taken care of as soon as possible.  He would like to hold a dinner in January for the Rodeo Committee to get them enthused and ready to go to work for the 2015 rodeo.

All but three individuals/companies who pledged money for last year’s rodeo have paid their pledged amount. He said that money from those who have not yet paid would be forthcoming soon. 

Argyle noted that the steak dinner night was one of the highlights of last year’s festivities.  He would like to continue that activity but feels the charge will have to go to $10 per person.  Beef prices have gone up, and the meal had to be subsidized last year.  He would like to see it be more self sustaining.

More money will be needed to bring in the announcer, the stock needed, the carnival, and so forth.  He noted that the concert last year didn’t draw the expected crowd.  The weather seemed to have affected the activity—there were lots of dark clouds, even though it didn’t rain.

Charlie Jenkins seemed to be the most popular entertainer from last year.  He would like to get him to return this coming year.  The contract from him needs to be finalized soon.

The fish pond costs about $500.  Saddle Strings came for $700 last year.  The sound system was $2,000, and so forth.  Argyle was asked to write up a list of expenses and revenues from last year to help the Commissioners know financially how this activity really faired financially.  He said he would do so as soon as he could.

Vista Grande Estate Beach Access

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. December 17, 2014. Debbie Ames, County Recorder, reported to the Commissioners that Vista Grande Estates originally had 38 lots.  One individual had purchased two—one, lot 37, is right on the lake shore.  The owner of that lot sold 1/37 of lot 37 to each of the home builders in the subdivision giving everyone lake access.  Since that time, the shares in lot 37 have been divided and sold to other individuals.  Ames noted that she had finally put everything into decimal portions.  Many people don’t own anything at the lake except their share of lot 37. 

Ames thought it would be a good idea if everyone would turn their portion of lot 37 over to the Home Owner’s Association for this subdivision—people don’t want to do that.  Because of the way the lake fluctuates, lot 37’s boundaries have changed and moved over time.  The spot has problems. Ames indicated that she just wanted to make sure the Commissioners were aware of this area and what has taken place there.

Sheriff Report

RICH COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT

November, 2014

TOTAL INCIDENT REPORT
Nature of Incidents	Total Incidents
Alarm	8
Animal Problem	3
Booking Prisoner	1
Burglary	1
Citizen Assist	7
Civil Process	12
Criminal History	17
Dead Body	1
Domestic Disturbance	1
Fire	3
Fraud	3
Lost Property	1
Medical Emergency	3
Missing Person	1
Traffic Accidents with Damage	7
Property Damage, Not Vandalism	1
Suspicious Person, Circumstance	3
Theft	2
Traffic Hazard	4
Traffic Violation	1
Transportation of Person/Property	1
Trespassing	2
Unsecure Premises	1
Vandalism	1
VIN Serial Number Inspection	1
Welfare Check	1
Total Incidents	87

INCIDENT REPORT BY LOCATION
Location	Total Incidents
Garden City	34
Laketown	7
Randolph	33
Woodruff	13
Total	87

INCIDENT REPORT BY LOCATION—GARDEN CITY
Nature of Incident	Total Incidents
Alarm	6
Burglary	1
Citizen Assist	2
Civil Process	5
Domestic Disturbance	1
Fire	3
Fraud	2
Lost Property	1
Traffic Accident with Damage	2
Property Damage, Not Vandalism	1
Suspicious Person, Circumstance	1
Theft	1
Traffic Hazard	4
Trespassing	1
Unsecure Premises	1
VIN Serial Number Inspection	1
Welfare Check	1
Total	34

INCIDENT REPORT BY LOCATION--LAKETOWN
Nature of Incident	Total Incidents
Animal Problem	3
Civil Process	2
Traffic Accident with Damage	2
Trespassing	1
Total	7

INCIDENT REPORT BY LOCATION--WOODRUFF
Nature of Incident	Total Incidents
Alarm	1
Citizen Assist	3
Civil Process	4
Fraud	1
Traffic Accident with Damage	2
Suspicious Person, Circumstance	1
Theft	1
Total	13

INCIDENT REPORT BY LOCATION--RANDOLPH
Nature of Incident	Total Incidents
Alarm	1
Booking Prisoner	1
Citizen Assist	2
Civil Process	2
Criminal History	17
Dear Body	1
Medical Emergency	3
Missing Person	1
Traffic Accident with Damage	1
Suspicious Person, Circumstance	1
Traffic Violation	1
Transportation of Person/Property	1
Vandalism	1
Total	33

TOTAL TRAFFIC CITATION REPORT
Area	Citations	Violations
Garden City	6	7
Randolph	4	6
Woodruff	2	2
Total	12	15

TOTAL TRAFFIC CITATION BY VIOLATION
Description	Total
Operating Vehicle without Insurance	1
No Proof of Insurance	1
Expired Registration	1
FTA/Traffic	1
Driving on Alcohol Restriction	1
Speeding	4
Following too Close	1
Right of Way Stop/Yield Sign	1
Drive on Denied License	3
Minor Consup/Possession Alcohol	1
Total	15

TOTAL TRAFFIC WARNING REPORT
Area	Warnings	Violations
Garden City	1	1
Totals	1	1
TRAFFIC WARNING REPORT BY VIOLATION
Description	Total
Speeding	1
Total	1