I have no opposition to the smokestacks. But I am adamantly opposed to spending public funds to acquire and preserve the smokestacks.
If the owners and developers want to preserve the stacks as part of their planned development and use private funds, I have no objections. I reviewed this position with Councilman John Rush, and he agrees with this position.The facts and figures being tossed around are only speculations and estimates. No one has any idea as to what the total cost will be. It is like buying a pig in a poke. The $3.4 million is the cap on the bond being voted on June 23. If the total cost is more, where will that money come from?
More taxes.
John Limberg, a retired engineer with Amoco, says, "Other engineers are of the opinion that to preserve the stacks will cost the city of Murray more than $10 million."
Alan Witt, former director of the Utah Foundation, says, "If the stacks are acquired and preserved by the city, it would shift the liability from the private corporation to the residents of Murray and expose the city to future liability claims that could easily total into the millions of dollars."
The decision to preserve or demolish the stacks must be practical, realistic and economically sound. It cannot be influenced by emotions or special-interest groups.
I am surprised the Utah Heritage Foundation is taking the lead for those who want to preserve the stacks. I am not too concerned about how others in the county feel about the stacks, but I am concerned about the 14.4 percent property-tax increase for Murray City residents to preserve the smokestacks.
Who wants a new tax?
I think you will find in most communities, private funds were used to preserve their industrial heritage and should be used in Murray. Alvin Bytheway, a 35-year resident of Murray, pictures the smelter property development as a beautiful flower garden with a couple of ugly weeds in the middle that need to be plucked out.
I have a vision of this site becoming the center of Murray. It will stimulate expanded development - look at the Fashion Place Mall area. This will happen in this area.
The stacks would be a distraction and are not compatible to this possible new look for the 21st century. The true Murray icon for the next century will be the state-of-the-art medical center and the surrounding well-planned development. The stacks would be out of place in this environment.
Bruce Smith, a lifetime resident of Murray whose grandfather sold the property to the smelter, reminds us, "Once Murray City has acquired the smokestacks, they assume the entire liability and responsibility, whatever the cost: Remember, currently Murray City taxpayers have no liability or responsibility for the smokestacks."
Why would Murray City even consider getting involved in this eternal obligation?
We urge Murray City residents to go to the polls on June 23 and soundly defeat the tax-and-spend bond question and send a clear message to city officials that the preservation or demolition of the smokestacks should remain in the private domain.
Punch line 91 on the ballot and vote against the issuance of bonds.
If you don't go vote, it is the same as saying raise my property tax by 14.4 percent to preserve the smokestacks.