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Monday, June 23, 2014

Transforming City Into a Tourist Attraction by Selling Its Residential Cultural Soul

June 19th City Council Meeting was declared to be one of the most important meetings of the year if NOT the most important…..Because it has to do with $$$$.....A public hearing to receive public input on amendments to the 2013-2014 fiscal budget and on the 2014-2015 fiscal year budget and unbilled water and energy services.

Acting on Mayor Pike’s request City Manager took center stage and articulated budget details.  Mr. Esplin was most adept in showing incoming and outgoing city money and doing so highlighted all of the goals and accomplishments that money can buy or the luxuries that the lack of money can deny its citizenry.  Mr. Esplin could have been a successful used car salesman as evident by the bopping heads of Mayor and Council when he described past and present goals.
It got even better when he outlined certified tax rate set by County Commission and explained the low level of property tax received by the city that made it necessary to increase sales tax revenues…..If we are going to be able to afford those wanted Luxuries we need to attract TOURIST……So the City can make more money to feed our lust…..not only for the necessities of running the city, but for satisfying our hunger for worldly goods and services. Acting as an extension of the Chamber of Commerce the City appears to be on target….. Meeting its objective to attract THE HUNGRY BEAST WE HAVE COME TO KNOW and LOVE…..The TOURIST.
Like an addict who has become a slave seeking its next fix the City can blame the State of Utah for keeping the Lion’s Share….. 80% of sales tax revenue…..Making it necessary for the City to feed our material/monetary hunger by becoming a magnet for TOURISTS……We love them and hate them for transforming our City into a Tourist City that has lost its identity…..A god fearing family oriented RESIDENTIAL community is fading away.
NO Mr. Esplin I don’t blame you. (Although it’s your vision being played out)…..  I hold the Mayor and City Council (Past and Present) responsible….. For succumbing to Worldly Temptations.
HOW do I dare to suggest such a thing? Even a hint of blame holding those elected to serve is in most quarters deemed unimaginable. After all are they not active church members who have taken an oath to obey and uphold ALL of the Laws or our City and State.  WHY do I do it and WHY do I dare to cast such aspersions? 
My friends all you have to do is look at how the City enforces or perhaps more importantly DOES NOT ENFORCE City Ordinances…..Inaction that is now SOUNDING the DEATH KNELL…..For the Environment that once was a safe haven for Family Oriented Living…...NOW tainted with tourists RENTING (SHORT AND LONG TERM RENTALS).....Loads of people coming and going, parking their cars and recreational toys at all hours of the Day & Night…..Thus destroying the peace and tranquility that home/family owners once enjoyed.   Of primary importance is how the City appears to practice Selective Enforcement……And fails to publicly discuss or explain its abdication of Code Enforcement responsibility.
It started innocent enough…..With good intentions……Bring in $$$$$ “Tourists” that will cause more motels/hotels to be built that will provide business that will generate MONEY!.....To do that we need sporting events to supplement the beauty that surrounds us…..We need Golf Courses, Ball Fields, RV Parking …… We didn’t know how much Short and Long Term HOUSING would be needed and when we did we opened the door to our Residential Communities….. To provide RENTALS……We became intoxicated for the need of more $$$$$ that IS now causing the loss of our precious family oriented neighborhoods.
MISMANAGED CODE ENFORCEMENT and a tolerant look the other way attitude has led to a Class Action Law Suit…..Details of which will be provided in future articles.  One has to wonder where the money will come from to pay for litigation and possible punitive damages. Perhaps the master we now serve and worship can show us the way.  What will it take to get the Council to ACT on the problem facing our city? Think about it.          
Thank you, Ed Baca

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