Jay Evensen, please don't berate the efforts of the Citizens Committee, which has been working long and hard the last seven months on the issue of changing the form of county government and which recently announced the results of some preliminary decisions only to be met with your condescending and sardonic remarks. ("Time to let voters decide form of county government," April 19).
Such remarks are offensive and come as a slap in the face to the citizens of Salt Lake County, who, just like you, are concerned about the form of government in the county and are working to bring about positive change.It is true that the proposed structure announced last week by the Citizens Committee includes a nine-member council and an elected county executive. However, to say that this will be "virtually identical to the proposed plan from last year" is premature, since many of the specific details are still in the drafting stage.
"Reinventing the wheel?" Of course not. But how about improving the tread for all-weather driving? Why not choose to affirm the efforts of the Citizens Committee, even when it does determine that some elements of previously proposed plans happen to have merit and are worthy of con-sid-er-a-tion?
If you choose to belittle the committee's efforts, then I am confused about your true motives. Do you really want to see change take place, or do you just want the voters to vote on any such plan that comes along? You continue to assume that we should "be cruising down the highway of change by now." You continue to assert that the voters will automatically vote "yes" to any proposed plan that comes along. What does history tell us about previous votes taken on this issue?
Just suppose for a moment that last fall voters did have the opportunity to vote on last year's plan and it was rejected. Would you have been satisfied with those results? If not, then let's all work together and not let obstacles get in the way of a real opportunity for change in county gov-ern-ment.
Whether anyone realizes it or not, progress has been made. Think about it for a moment. Twelve of 13 different citizens from different backgrounds, interests and political persuasions have come together and agreed upon certain key elements of a plan for county governance.
Discussions have included the wide spectrum of challenges facing our county. A plan has begun to take shape, details are being worked out, adjustments in state statutes have been achieved in the Legislature this past session, and, most important, broad-based support for this proposal is coming together. The county commissioners have already expressed their intent to send the final draft of this plan to the voters this year. And by the way, more voters turn out in a general election year than in an off year, so more people will have a say in the plan that is proposed.
Why not take this opportunity of jumping on the bandwagon and showing support for the progress thus attained? The wheels are turning. There is still a lot of work to do. The invitation is open. We could really use your help.