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Les Miz returns to Utah
Hometown History
Dazzling production of most popular musical wows audiences.
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WX student dedicated to service
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June 30, 2023 | Vol. 2 Iss. 26
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Petition to put bond on ballot could delay Bountiful fiber By Becky Ginos becky.g@davisjournal.com BOUNTIFUL—Bountiful City’s fiber project has hit a speed bump. After three years of study and research the city council elected to have a city-owned fiber network and recently signed a contract with UTOPIA fiber to build and operate the system. The city proposed a $47 million sales tax bond to pay for the project which includes the contract cost and the buyout cost for existing infrastructure and customers. The 30-year bond would be paid off by the customer take rate but the city plans to pay it off much sooner. Plans were in place to break ground and get started on the project but last week city officials became aware there was an effort to create a petition that would require the sales tax bond to go on the ballot. The petition must be done within 30 days of the public notice. “A request for an election must be signed by at least 20% of registered voters in a city or county,” said City Manager, Gary Hill at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. “Revenue bonds, including a sales tax bond, do not increase taxes. A general obligation bond requires voter approval because there
would be a property tax increase.” The city does not have the ability to increase sales taxes, he said. “It is stipulated by the state and so the state allows cities to issue a bond. We couldn’t even put it on the ballot if we wanted to. The only mechanism for this to go on the ballot would be for a protest in the matter.” The question is who is behind the petition, said Hill. “Are these Bountiful residents who have organized an effort? To the best of our knowledge this is not Bountiful residents. We have learned and understood and it has been confirmed that it is the Utah Taxpayer Association who has engaged a petition gathering company to collect signatures to put this on the ballot. I think that’s significant that it is not being driven by an angry group of residents.” If it goes on the ballot it will delay the project, he said. “The election is Nov. 21 and then we’d have to wait for the canvass. That wouldn’t be done until Dec. 15 so we wouldn’t know the result until the end of December. That would put the project back by at least a year and it will be more expensive.” “I think we should take it to the voters,” said Paul Child, a resident who spoke during the public comment period. “I can’t imagine
anything that would be so compelling that it requires us to opt in now rather than to get the vote of the populous and get their support behind you in just a few months and I would encourage you to do that.” “At the end of the day the Taxpayer Association is a lobbyist group,” said Councilmember Millie Segura Bahr. “There are two members who are with CenturyLink and Comcast. Both have been vocal against UTOPIA.” Bountiful fiber signs have been popping up all over the city, said Mayor Kendalyn Harris. “Residents have made pleas for more options. It’s been years they’ve been waiting. They were wishing it would get underway years ago. If it’s delayed it will be frustrating to many.” Even though the bond will be a sales tax bond, it does not mean that taxes will be increased to pay off the bond, said Bahr. The network and bond will be paid off entirely by subscribers and the marketplace will still be competitive and residents can still choose any provider they want. “We’re comfortable with UTOPIA’s track record,” said Harris. “We’ll pay back the bond through subscriber fees only.” l
Mural depicts wildlife connection between Argentina and Utah By Becky Ginos becky.g@davisjournal.com FARMINGTON—A tiny bird is part of a wildlife ecosystem that connects Argentina with Utah. The Phalarope flies 2,500 miles to fuel up on brine flies at the Great Salt Lake before continuing their migration along the Pacific flyway. A wildlife mural being painted on the walls of the conservation hall at the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Wildlife Education Center at Farmington Bay depicts the many unique birds that migrate to the Great Salt Lake. Artist Franco Cervato Cozza traveled from Cordoba, Argentina to the United States and painted his first mural in California then he came to Farmington. “The Mono Lake Committee saw my mural and asked me to come here,” he said. “It’s a symbol of the birds traveling from Argentina and the three biggest salt lakes where birds go. The U.S. and Argentina care about lakes because that’s where the birds live.” Cozza said he makes sketches on a computer in Argentina but went off-sketch here. “I like to improvise. It's very fun. Providing a wall is new for me. I work eight hours every day and then rest. It’s a lot.” Images taken by Brandon Jones, a local wildlife photographer and center volunteer, are projected onto the wall then Cozza sketches them in. If he makes a mistake he fills it with more paint. “If I mess up I just add another layer.” After he completes this project he’ll head to Santa Cruz, California to paint a mural on three walls there. “You’ll be able to see it from the road,” said Cozza. “It’s difficult because of the water, rain Please see MURAL: pg. 4
NEWS BREAK Wagner Group complicates situation in Russia A paramilitary group who has been assisting the Russian army in its invasion of Ukraine staged an aborted rebellion against the Russian military over the weekend, which ended when the group altered its course away from Russian territory. Initially, it was rumored that the group had intended to depose the current military leadership of Russia for what it saw as a betrayal and an attempt to disband it and absorb it into the Russian military proper. The exact dimensions of the interaction between the two are still unclear, and not being directly addressed by either Vladimir Putin, or the Wagner group leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, though Putin declared that the event had communicated weakness to Russia’s enemies.
Nighttime temperatures send warning signal The heatwave that has been blanketing Texas and other Southern states for several weeks has affected millions of Americans with withering triple digit temperatures. A new development of the heatwave is said to represent an even more dangerous situation, especially for those without access to air conditioning. All across the region, nighttime temperatures are expected to break all-time highs, which prevents the air from cooling back down at night, and perpetuates the high temperature situation. The condition is being blamed on increased moisture in the air, which holds heat in during the day and keeps it in the atmosphere during the night. Dallas, for instance, is predicted to see nighttime temps that remain above 80 for at least a week.
100 Deadliest Days of Summer near halfway point
Artist Franco Cervato Cozza carefully touches up an image of South America, a focal point of the beautiful mural at the Eccles Wildlife Education Center. Photos by Roger V. Tuttle
An American Wigeon in flight – just one of the many beautiful birds that frequent the area of the Great Salt Lake.
A Cooper’s Hawk scans the landscape for its next meal in Cervato Cozza’s wildlife mural.
Each year, the Idaho Transportation Department and other agencies remind drivers that the roughly 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the most dangerous for road accidents and fatalities. Due to the number of vehicles on the road and the often hectic roadways, especially on and around holidays, drivers are asked to pay extra attention to their speeds, their surroundings, and potential hazards on the road. The Fourth of July weekend in particular generally sees an increase in the number of ticketed vehicles. As you go about your holiday plans this weekend, make sure to keep safety in mind.