Ballot fills up: Many candidates face off in upcoming election

The period for candidates to file for November’s upcoming election is now closed, and as predicted here earlier, there are numerous candidates in the County Commissioner race, with both incumbents up for re-election facing notable opponents. Meanwhile, there is a shoot-out in the sheriff’s race as well.

Although there was a possibility that it would be challenged, the “gentlemen’s agreement” about commissioners serving specific areas of the county will remain in place for this election.

Here is the breakdown for all local and statewide races, with candidates listed in alphabetical order:

FEDERAL

US Senate
Republican: Robert F. Bennett
Constitution: Scott N. Bradley
Republican: Tim Bridgewater
Republican: David Y. Chiu
Republican: Merrill Cook
Republican: Cherilyn Eagar
Republican: Leonard J. Fabiano
Republican: Jeremy Friedbaum
Democratic: Sam F. Granato
Republican: Mike Lee
Democratic: Christopher Stout

US House, District 3
Republican: Jason Chaffetz
Democratic: Karen Hyer
Unaffiliated: Joseph L. Puente
Libertarian: Jake Shannon
Constitution: Douglas Sligting

STATE

Governor
Democratic: Peter Corroon
Republican: Gary R. Herbert
Republican: Richard Martin
Libertarian: W. Andrew McCullough
Republican: Daniel Van Oaks Jr.
Republican: “SuperDell” Schanze

Lieutenant Governor
Republican: Greg Bell

House of Representatives, District 70
Constitution: L.S. Brown
Republican: Kay L. McIff

House of Representatives, District 73
Republican: Mike Noel

COUNTY

Commissioner A
Constitution: Elaine Bonavita
Republican: Gary Mason
Republican: Sara Straw

Commissioner B
Republican: Ivan Cowley
Republican: Garth “Tooter” Ogden
Republican: Kimball D. Poulson
Democratic: Monte Turner
Constitution: Scott P. Turner
Republican: Wayne D. White

Assessor
Republican: Gail DeMille

Attorney
Republican: Dale P. Eyre

Clerk/Auditor
Republican: Steven C. Wall

Recorder
Republican: Jayrene B. Nielsen

Sheriff
Republican: Mitchell R. Blackham
Republican: Nathan J. Curtis
Republican: John N. Hunt
Republican: G. Kirt Rippstein
Republican: Kelvin Williams

Treasurer
Republican: Cheryl B. Buchanan

SCHOOL BOARD

State School Board, Precinct 14 (Non-Partisan)
Dixie Lee Allen
Virginia Yazzie Howard
Michael R. “Mike” Miles

Local School Board, Precinct 1
John P. Johnson
Michael C. Mathie
Richard L. Orr

Local School Board, Precinct 2
Kevin R. Arrington
Don L. Naser
James Porter

Local School Board, Precinct 3
David M. Graf
Jack G. Hansen

JUDICIAL RETENTION (Non-Partisan)

Court of Appeals
William A. Thorne, Jr.

Juvenile Court
Paul D. Lyman

County Justice Court
Kent Nielsen

Municipal Justice Court, Aurora
Lesley G. Scott

Municipal Justice Court, Salina
Lesley G. Scott

NEVCO/Sevier Power to respond about plans; SCCAW responds

Sevier county commissioners have given NEVCO until April 2 to formally explain their plans. Until then, Sevier Citizens’ managing director sent the following letter outlining the organization’s thoughts on the matter.

March 13, 2010

TO: Sevier County Commissioners

Dear Commissioners,

We are all trying to anticipate what move Sevier Power Company (SPC) may make in the near future. Rather than wait and react to their next move I suggest we all plan for whatever scenario develops.

To date 107 plans for coal-fired power plants have been rejected or withdrawn in the past three years. This past week the Toquop plant, proposed in the desert north of Mesquite, Nevada became number 108. I suggest that Sevier Power’s proposed Sigurd plant should become number 109. There is sufficient evidence in the public record to determine that coal combustion kills!

Sevier Power Company has three basic choices: (1) Move forward with their plans for a coal-fired plant, (2) Propose a plant with a natural gas-fired boiler, (3) Withdraw plans for any power generating plant in Sevier County.

Should SPC move forward with plans for a coal-fired power plant, they must virtually start over with the Utah Division of Air Quality. New rules are in place since SPC’s original application was processed. In light of the Utah Supreme Court’s decision to remand the permit to the Division, it is unlikely the Division will take any shortcuts. They certainly won’t be using “Post it Notes.” This process is likely to take three or more years.

Let’s look at option number two. There are four steps that need to be considered should SPC propose construction of a natural gas-fired power plant.

First and foremost, SPC should be required to withdraw their application for a coal-fired plant prior to submitting a new application for a gas-fired plant. If you are looking for a precedent, the BLM is requesting this of Sithe Global for their Toquop plant.

Second; since there is insufficient natural gas volume now available in Sevier County, SPC should first present documented evidence of someone providing the necessary fuel to the proposed site of the plant – and I stress “documented.” No county funds or labor should be invested in processing SPC’s proposal until this step is complete.

Third: an alternate site, away from the 183 homes of Sigurd, should be requested of the company. There is ample evidence of explosions, spills, leaks and other potentially dangerous and harmful events that have plagued numerous power plants, both coal and gas fired, and refineries over the past year. There has been significant property damage to nearby residential and business communities that were in close proximity to these events. In cases where damaging events occurred at sites remote from inhabited areas, the damage was limited to the plant itself and did not seriously impact nearby communities.

We at Sevier Citizens for Clean Air & Water would welcome the withdrawal of SPC’s application for a coal-fired power plant and would not object to an application for a natural gas-fired power plant if it were to be located in a more remote location of Sevier County, away from residential areas and hidden from view as much as possible.

[Signed] Dick Cumiskey

Frequently-asked questions about Huish Reel Theatre

We continue to be asked about the remodel of the Richfield’s movie theater. Here’s the run-down:

What’s going on?

– The theater is being divided into a 3-plex so that there will be three theaters showing three films at any given time. (Cheers resound throughout the valley.)

How is it going to be divided up?

– The balcony will be made into a theater with its own screen. On the ground floor, the room will be split down the middle into two — a left theater and a right theater — so there will still be an exit to off-street parking in the rear of the theater.

Will they replace the seats?

– Yes, with completely new seating. The ground-floor theaters will have fine, high-backed, reclining “rocker” chairs. The balcony will offer new, but slightly smaller seating due to size constraints.

When will the theater re-open?

– The theaters should re-open before the summer blockbuster season.

What about…?

– The Twilight saga’s “Eclipse” opens June 30. The next Harry Potter film opens in November.

County commissioner election heating up

The race for county commissioner is heating up early this year. It appears that concerns about the economy and frustration among voters both for and against the ill-fated coal-fired power plant are said to be contributing to heightened interest among potential candidates.

Reportedly, there are as many as a dozen serious candidates for Ivan Cowley’s seat on the commission, including several leading figures in the community, representing business, political, agricultural, and social interests. Gary Mason may also face opposition in his re-election bid.

With so many candidates in the running, it is unclear if the “gentlemen’s agreement” — which has traditionally assigned one of the three commissioner seats to the north, central, and southern parts of the county — will remain in effect in the coming race. In a previous election, Sanpete county’s agreement fell, when Spencer Cox, from the north part of the county, was elected to fill a seat that had previously been reserved for candidates from the southern part of the county.

Candidates for all offices will be able to submit their applications (and fees) to the County Clerk’s office between Friday, March 12 and Friday, March 19 during regular business hours.

It is unclear how many candidates will ultimately put their hats in the ring. We will update you as information is publicly available.

Movie theater expanding; Three-plex theater underway in Richfield

After many decades of operation in its current state, the Huish Reel Theatre on Richfield’s downtown Main Street area is expanding into a three-plex theater.

Funding and other issues have been resolved, and the theater will be closed for renovations starting today and running through the next few months. The theater is expected to re-open before the summer blockbuster season.

The majestic and historic landmark will be divided as follows:

– The ground floor will be divided down the middle into two theaters, running the same direction that they have in the past. The current leather seats will be replaced with new, comfortable, high-backed “rocker” chairs.

– The balcony will be refurbished into a separate theater. New seating will also be installed in this third theater.

The theater expects to offer three movies at any given time in the future, which will no doubt be warmly welcomed by our community.

UPDATE: I-70 closed in Colorado; “Rockfall” of semi-sized boulders closes highway

UPDATE: Interstate 70 has been partially re-opened after a rock slide in Colorado. One lane is opened in both directions at 40 mph with no loads wider than 14 feet allowed through. Flatiron Construction will work to repair the roadway, and expect to complete the job in two months.

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In a disaster which could impact local businesses, Interstate 70 has been closed indefinitely by a rockslide in the Glenwood Canyon area. Boulders have fallen on the roadway from steep, solid-rock cliffs, destroying significant portions of the highway. Some boulders are the size of semi trucks, weighing more than 66 tons. No one was hurt in the landslide.

Colorado officials will apply for federal disaster relief funds to help re-open the highway. Available detours are said to add more than 200 miles to the route.

As of yesterday afternoon, workers were scaling a 900-foot cliff face to assess the likelihood that a very large boulder — which now hangs precipitously over the roadway — will fall on vehicles or workers below.

Dramatic photos and details on the situation as it evolves are being updated by Colorado’s Department of Transportation as they are available here: http://www.coloradodot.info/news/media-room.html

County Planning and Zoning Commission wants no more complaints

Tonight, the Sevier County Planning and Zoning Commission will discuss amending Sevier County Ordinance section 14.68.080, to “clarify who can appeal a Planning Commission decision on a land use issue.”

Specifically, the planning commissioners, who are not elected, have been trying to change county ordinances so that their decisions can only be challenged by adjacent property owners. In a previous meeting, one commissioner wondered out loud if such a change would be unconstitutional.

Many local voters are upset over the proposed change, saying that often government decisions effect many others in the community — not just next-door neighbors. The move by the Planning Commission is believed by some observers to be in direct response to challenges lodged by Sevier Citizens for Clean Air and Water over the now-cancelled coal-fired power plant.

As a point of order, some believe that deciding who may file complaints is an organizational and legal issue — concerning how the county is run — rather than a planning or zoning issue, which would fall under the commission’s responsibility.

At tonight’s meeting, which will begin at 6 pm at the county building, the commission will also try to eliminate density requirements in all zones, and eliminate the Planned Unit Development (PUD) Overlay Zones that haven’t been specifically applied for.

The commission will also discuss allowing “Restricted Access Roadways,” or “Gated Communities” in GRF-20S zones.

Wolverine Oil struggling with second oil find

Wolverine Gas & Oil Corporation, the company which found the large oil deposits near Sigurd, are reportedly facing difficulties with a second oil find some 20 miles away.

The company says it wants to keep pumping at the second site, but recently needed to ask the state for permission to burn “excess gas” into the atmosphere for six months.

The Michigan-based company has pumped 10 million barrels of “sweet crude” out from the Sigurd well site since 2004, which has brought the company an estimated $750 million. State experts believe the wells contain another 30 million barrels, with a total estimated market value of approximately $3 billion.

Wolverine has publicly stated that it believes the second well site contains 10 million barrels, for another $750 million, but is finding that geological obstacles are making it difficult to do so.

NEVCO/Sevier Power to Start Over: Plans for Natural Gas Plant in the Works

NEVCO/Sevier Power plans to cancel its beleaguered and controversial plans for a coal-fired power plant near Sigurd, and start over — with plans for a natural gas plant instead.

In a county commission meeting on Monday, the company indicated that it wanted to explore various options, but wasn’t ready to put forward specifics. Commissioners asked NEVCO to provide a letter in the coming month indicating their plans to move forward.

Privately, however, several reliable sources indicated to Ideal Living that a gas power plant was in the works, as reported here previously.

On March 2, the Salt Lake Tribune confirmed those reports with Bruce Taylor of NEVCO.

Taylor told the Tribune that NEVCO was busy “‘crunching the numbers’ to determine if changing the fuel for the proposed 270-megawatt power plant makes economic sense.”

“There is a lot of opposition to coal and lot more acceptance of natural gas,” Taylor said. “You’ve had 106 planned coal-fired plants taken off the table just this last year alone.  It is like what happened to the nuclear power industry.”

Natural gas plants are said to burn cleanly — eliminating health concerns brought on by coal-fired power plants — although they are said to use more water than coal plants.

Dick Cumiskey, the new director of Sevier Citizens for Clean Air and Water, which has opposed the plans for a coal-fired plant, said of the new plans,

“You still have the issue, though, that they want to build that plant within 1¾ miles of 183 homes.

“So some people might not any longer be opposed to the plant per se, but still be against it because of the location…

“The nearest natural gas line is around 35 miles away from their property.  It is going to be a big challenge for them.”

The full article in the Salt Lake Tribune may be read here:  http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_14500137

In other developments on the NEVCO project, a few days ago, the Utah Division of Natural Resources approved deals for over 260 acre feet of water intended for use at the proposed coal plant. The approval comes with numerous conditions, however.  It is unclear if the decision would be effected by the change of plans for its use.   The 10-page decision is available here.

However, an objection was filed by the Vermillion Irrigation Company a few days later. The Department of Natural Resources decision will now be “reconsidered” over the coming month.

The announcement that the decision is to be reconsidered is available here (tif format).

Local business news: New sandwich restaurant coming to Richfield?

The long-empty Parsons Bakery building may be the future home of a new sandwich shop. The use of the building as a restaurant, which is located at at 60 West 100 North, was considered by the Richfield Planning Commission on Wednesday evening and was approved. The proposed business will go before the city council next. The new 40-seat restaurant will be offered by Ken Castles.

Local experts tell Ideal Living that they believe — provided they offer quality food in popular locations, such as the Parsons Bakery location — new restaurants in the Richfield area should do well. Speculation continues about whether a Sizzler, Applebees, Chik-Fil-A, or other franchise will come to the area next to the I-70 interchange, with the general feeling that any such restaurant would do very well, provided the pricing is not too high for locals.

Other expanding businesses in the area include the large elder care facility under construction behind Lins, and a physical therapy building on north Main Street, also in Richfield.

In other local business news, despite rumors to the contrary, Rice King Buffet will not be closing, and will remain open for the forseeable future. Apple, the new owner who bought the restaurant from Alice Ly, reports that business is strong and they continue to add new items to their delicious Chinese buffet regularly.

It is believed that the Buffet has an extended multi-year lease, which may protect the business from rent increases, like the one which caused the neighboring Gamestop franchise to close.

Further, a new beauty parlor is nearly ready to open in the same strip mall, which is located in front of the Richfield Walmart.

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