The planning process as viewed from several perspectives will be the focus of a three-day Utah Rural Summit - 1996 Sept. 4-6 at Southern Utah University.

"We will be looking at such things as planning resources, the impacts of growth, planning for specific reasons - for example for tourism and recreation growth and for land and water conservation - and how to implement planning decisions," said Harold H. Hiskey, SUU vice president for regional services and co-chairman of the summit. "At the summit, we want to bring together people who are involved in their communities so they can interact to identify local needs, generate and share ideas, find solutions and swap viewpoints."The summit will open Sept. 4 with a mock planning commission meeting session titled "Leaky Bucket, Utah." Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt has been invited to offer the summit's closing message at a Sept. 6 luncheon. Other speakers at combined-attendance functions will be Joel Russell, principal of Woodlea Associates, a planning and zoning consulting firm in Salt Point, N.Y., and Randall Arendt, vice president for conservation planning with the Natural Lands Trust in Media, Pa.

Concurrent sessions most of Sept. 5 and the morning of Sept. 6 will offer an opportunity to participate in a number of specific planning-related discussions. Authorities from a variety of local, state, and federal government entities; private businesses and consulting firms; and volunteer groups will assist in moderating concurrent sessions and leading discussion groups.

A Rural Utah Awards Night Sept. 5 will recognize several communities and individuals in rural Utah for outstanding and innovative success in community development through a program sponsored by the Utah Center for Rural Life.

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"The center's goal is to recognize individuals, communities, and, where applicable, counties for their work in strengthening and maintaining the quality of life in rural Utah," Hiskey said. "We also want these awards to help build a sense of pride in our rural heritage, values and lifestyle."

Rural Utah man of the year and rural Utah woman of the year recognition will be given out along with community awards in the areas of health care and healthy lifestyle programs, cultural enrichment programs, education and public school support programs, and community and economic development programs. A community of the year award will also be presented.

Registration for the summit, including five meals, is $60 through Sept. 2. After that date, the cost is $70. Registration forms are available by calling 586-7853.

Major sponsors for the summit are the Utah Center for Rural Life at SUU and the Utah Governor's Office of Planning and Budget. Also assisting are US WEST, Utah Power, Mountain Fuel, the Utah State Department of Community and Economic Development, Utah State University Extension Service, Small Cities Inc., Utah Rural Development Council, USDA Rural Development Agency, Circle Four Farms and SUU.

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