News in the West
Opposed to Increase in Bears Ears Acreage? Sign Petition
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(Article lists hunting permits recommended for 2019 hunts)
Kammy Palmer Photo, Blue Mt. Shadows
"The National Popular Vote bill, which Gov. Jared Polis signed into law March 15, would grant all of Colorado’s presidential votes to the winner of the popular vote, part of a nationwide movement to ensure that future presidents cannot be elected based on the Electoral College. Although the bill would go into effect only if enough states sign on, the bill still passed easily through the House and Senate, despite objections from rural Colorado."
"After a 3-year investigation into the embezzlement of funds from the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, 16 defendants have been convicted and sentenced for their illegal conduct to include each defendant participating in taking a substantial amount of money from the tribe that was not due to them"
On-Line Auction to Raise Money for Laws Court Appeal
~~ April 17-23 noon;
check e-mail for messages!
"Legislation essential to implementing drought contingency plans in the Colorado River Basin has passed in Congress with a swiftness more commonly found in the currents of Class 5 rapids than in Washington, D.C., thanks in part to the help of Colorado's two U.S. senators. The Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan Authorization Act needs only the signature of President Trump to become law following its passage by Congress just six days after its introduction in the Senate."
~~ Blanding Mayor Supports Five Member Commission:
"For no less than 30 years I have been a proponent of a Five Member County Commission. I suggested it as an alternative in the hearings on redistricting. I asked the County Commission to place the question on the ballot for 2018 and they declined I believe now is the time to act. The recent attention given to the districts has created a more educated electorate. Now, more than at any previous time I believe the people are prepared to make an educated choice for the future of their county.
There are a number of reasons a Five Member County Commission makes sense. Primary among these is that it provides a greater voice to the people. It does this in numerous ways among which are:
1: Share The Load. Five members share the workload more effectively than three. This may give more time to any individual commissioner to spend on specific issues of concern. Also, it may help to prevent council members from becoming overworked, burned out and less effective. We have an enormous county. There is plenty of work to go around.
2: Better Decisions. More people involved in the discussion almost always leads to better ideas because there is more variety of opinion, experience and expertise. At times more voices on council can make decisions more difficult or the council less responsive. However, most towns, cities and counties run just fine with a five member commission/council. I maintain that if the discussion doesn’t clearly identify the best solution on an issue then more time and a more deliberate approach should be taken. Sometimes, especially in government, slower is better.
3: Share The Power. A five member commission shares the power and the attendant responsibility and liability with more people. In this case there is certainly safety in numbers. Safety for the commission as more people share in the decisions being made and more safety for the citizens against possible abuse of power.
4: More Responsive. Even though every commission member represents the entire county it has been decided we will have districts. Five districts puts each representative closer geographically, and likely more in tune, with the citizens in their district. This is in turn makes them more accessible to the citizens and more understanding and responsive to their needs and opinions.
5: Open Meetings Compliance. There has been debate in the Utah legislature to either relax or tighten up on three member commission compliance with the Open Meetings Act. Under current law any two commissioners or council members constitute a quorum and may violate, or appear to violate, the act with many of their conversations. These conversations, when they are in the spirit of the Open Meetings Act, facilitate good governance and can happen legally with a five member commission.
6: Restore Representation for Blanding. Since I originally published this paper decisions by a federal judge have stripped Blanding of representation as a legally protected ‘community of interest’. A five member commission restores this representation as explained in #4 above.
There is a petition in circulation for the registered voters of San Juan County to exercise their right of self governance and place a question on the ballot in November. The question is simply whether a committee should be formed to study the possibility of changing our form of government. We will vote on whether to study the issue and vote again on any proposed solution. All voices will have ample time to be heard as the citizens of San Juan County consider and debate this important question.
I encourage everyone to support the formation of a study committee by voting in favor of the question. But first, we need signatures to get the question of the ballot. We have a natural right to petition which is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution. Let’s exercise that right. Please sign the petition. Anyone who would like to sign or help gather signatures please contact the petition sponsor closest to you: Suzette Morris - Aneth and Montezuma Creek, Wendy Walker Tibbetts - Spanish Valley and LaSal, Alex Bitsinnie - Navajo Mtn and Monument Valley, Tim Young - Monticello, Joe B Lyman - Blanding and anywhere in the county." Mayor Joe B. Lyman
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"…we kill off the traditional industries that supported western towns, replacing them with the tourism that beautiful places attract when promoted. Then decide we’re loving these places to death, so they must be closed to tourists, too..."
The Swiss businessman and philanthropist Hansjörg Wyss, the US-based founder of the Synthes medical technology group, plans to give the huge donation (1 Billion) to help better protect wildlife areas.
In an open letterexternal link published on Wednesday (Nov. 2018) in the New York Times, the 83-year-old said the money would be released over the next ten years. The Wyss Foundationexternal link will direct funds to efforts aimed at creating protected areas for wildlife and improving management of existing ones. The goal of the foundation is to keep about 30% of the earth in its natural state until 2030.
"Causes supported by Wyss include radical environmentalism. In Montana, his foundation backs groups against energy and growth development disguised as hunting and wildlife enthusiasts. There’s a lot of overlap between HSUS’s animal liberation agenda and radical environmentalism—such as anti-hunting sentiments."
