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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