This is one of several important posts today, so scroll down to read them all.
Guest Post by IMA Believer
I attended the Commission farce yesterday. These people just don't get it. Both Zogmaister and legal beagle Wilson stated openly that their job is not to shut people down, but to bring people into compliance. Translation: they never met a commercial venture or a development they didn't like, no matter how bad it is. How about a casino, or a whorehouse, or an opium den? Sure, if it pays taxes, find a way to "bring it into compliance"!
They take their guidance from a slick little video put out by the Utah League of Cities and Towns (ULCT) that tells them that's what their function is. The ULCT? That's the developer/real estate lobbying group that opposed Gage Froerer's legislation last year to stop Powder Mountain Town. BTW, ULCT opposes it again this year. So the Commission and its minions take their instructions from lobbyists, for openers.
Next, the meaningless public comment period offered after the deed was done was truncated by the ever-rude and blustery Bischoff, complaining that Shanna Francis had exceeded her generous three minute allocation, when in fact almost all her time was taken up by legal department wizard Wilson who stuttered and stammered his way through a seemingly endless discussion of whether a comma means "and" or "or" or nothing at all. He even seriously suggested that the commission could have disposed of the whole matter by simply lifting Iris Hennon's cease and desist order. Just how would that be done legally, sir?
Bottom line: if you want to do something controversial, something marginal, maybe something really stupid and dangerous and noisy and dusty in the summer, just go ahead and do it--the commission will find a way to bring you into compliance. Forgot to plan ahead enough to follow the rules and file your app in time to get permission (if you can) the right way? No problem. Call Zogmaister; she'll approve anything.
And last, in fairness to Diamond Peaks, lest we forget, this application for an exemption did not come from Diamond Peaks, which has operated heliskiing operations for years without bothering anyone. It came from Wolf Creek Resort (with obvious handholding effort from the county)in its effort to buoy up trade at its no-doubt-struggling Red Moose Lodge by offering heliskiing right out its back door.
Make a bad business decision, say, to buy a motel with no customers, or a ski resort without checking the zoning first? No problem; call Zogmaister. She'll bring you into compliance.
Someone needs to remind these commissioners that they have a duty to the people who live here, not just to the people who want to come in and make money off the people who live here. Pehaps November might be a good time to deliver such a reminder.
Blogmeister Note:
Next, the issue goes before the The Ogden Valley Planning Commission in a meeting to be held:
Tuesday night, Feb.23rd
at 5:00 p.m.
in the Commission chambers in Ogden.
UPDATE: 2/17/10 @ 12:00 pm
Be sure to read today's article in today's Standard:
• Weber commission stands by exemption to ski helicopter service
20 comments:
such foolishness. this is powder mountain's fault. this is powder mountains' lack of consideration for the rest of weber county. the helicopter only landed up there occasionally now it has to land where it bothers a residential neighborhood.
the county's pending deal with powder mountain should include a helipad up there for the long established helicopter business so that the county stands up for locals.
I could not agree more pow mow dumps its garbage in EDEN
Last time I looked at the poll on the blog, 60%+ want the helicopter to land and take off somewhere else. But who cares what Valley residents think? Not the Weber County Commissioners. Maybe an environmental impact study is needed from the Feds.
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa the cry baby, you sure have the right name. It fits your pinhead and your IQ of 53.
Good Shot Rasputin, great smackdown for the crybaby.
When you are talking to a crybaby, you have to get down to the pretty basic kindergarden level. Good Job Rasputin.
I agree with Cujo; a Heli pad up at PM should be introduced by the Planning comm. meeting next week.
But they are saying they are NOT skiing on PM property.....
WAAAAA == Just how long have you been here?
Waaaaaambulance: This has nothing to do with how long you or I or anyone else has been here even though you consistently try to bring that up. Let's just say you are a newcomer.
The previous comments have been deleted because they used an obscene gesture photo. They will continue to be deleted if they appear again.
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For his blogger photo, Waaaaaambulance uses a photo of Jonny Cash with his arm and middle finger fully extended to the camera. Clearly flipping the bird to all who read his posts.
After some of his posts were deleted for the inappropriate photo, Waaaaambulance Photoshopped the photo to remove the extended middle finger.
We urge Waaaambulance to grow up and follow our simple rules as we don't wish to ban him or anyone from posting.
Thanks!
So if he edited his picture why are you still deleting his posts? sounds to me like he was trying to follow your rules
Because even though the finger was "cut" off, the intent and meaning is clear. We will spell it out for you HERE.
Waaaaambulance whines about living here for a whole 30 years in his posts while telling us all, "up yours" with his photo. Good job for removing it.
Our blog, our rules. He can go to another blog if he doesn't like it.
I have NEVER whined about anything in any of my posts, I believe your mistaken there sir, I was asked how long I had lived here and responded, oh... got a new pic by the way...
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