Most Magna Residents Paying Unified Police Fee

According to a report obtained from Salt Lake County, two third of Magna residents have paid at least the first installment of the fee for police services that was due April 30th. Countywide 25% of the fee is still delinquent. In Magna about 27% of those who received the bill went ahead and paid the fee for the whole year rather than paying in three instalments.

Numbers Countywide:

Demonstrators Press Kennecott to Change

Salt Lake Valley residents gather at the gates of Kennecott's coal-fired power plant to make their demands for Kennecott and Rio Tinto to stop externalizing costs by polluting the air they breath.

It was a striking sight: kids and seniors, moms and dads, returned missionaries and gay couples, singing “Clean energy today!” in unison. Around 40 folks gathered at the gates of the Kennecott Copper coal-fired power plant on Saturday morning to stand in solidarity at the Fossil Fools Day rally, making their demands for Kennecott to stop burning coal in Salt Lake Valley. Attendees ranged anywhere from under six years to over sixty years of age, and carried large, bright banners and signs painted with slogans like “people over profits” and “system change, not climate change.”

The demonstration signals the beginning of what may be a long campaign to convince the only company currently burning coal in Salt Lake Valley to switch to cleaner and renewable energy. The Fossil Fools Day rally, organized by Peaceful Uprising , Utah Moms for Clean Air, and a handful of other local environmental advocacy groups, presented Kennecott with three simple demands from citizens who live in its vicinity: First and foremost, to immediately cease burning coal; secondly, to transition to clean and renewable energy by the year 2015; and finally, to ensure that the costs of being responsible—the price of switching to clean energy from coal—not be taken out of the wages of its worker, and instead be reflected in the price of its products. All of these are within the scope of Kennecott’s abilities, but the citizens who attended the demonstration agree that it will likely require long-term efforts to convince the company to change.

Speakers at the rally included Dr. Brian Moench, a member of the Union of Concerned Scientists and co-founder of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, and Cherise Udell, Founder and President of Utah Moms for Clean Air. Dr. Moench offered a long list of stark facts regarding the physical impacts on citizens who live in the vicinity of a coal-fired power plant, Utah’s unique vulnerability to the effects of climate change and coal’s proven link to the climate crisis. Ms. Udell (with her two small daughters in tow in their Easter best) described the effects of pollution on Utahns, particularly children, and the short- and long-term health consequences that have been clinically linked to exposure to poor air quality.

The view from the street

Google has introduced a new tool on its map service, called "Street View". It is a cool feature that shows you an image from many different streets along the Wasatch front and other cities across the nation.

Here is the view of the Magna Times Office:


And Main Street:

Happy Birthday Representative Duckworth!

The Utah House of Representatives wished Representative Duckworth a Happy Birthday today by singing to him during House floor time.

Duckworth is battling a rare form of cancer, and we wish him the best.

This weeks print edition of the Magna Times features an interview with Representative Duckworth about his fight with cancer, and plans for representing District 12.

UTA canceling Express Bus service to Magna

UTA is unveiling Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) for the first time in Utah. The new BRT route would replace route 35 which runs along 3500 South. Route 35 currently takes 46 minutes to get from Magna to the light rail station on 3300 South. A trip on TRAX to the City Center station adds another 15 minutes to the trip. The Express route number 335 takes 36 minutes to complete the same trip.

Information from UTA on a open house about the proposed changes is below:

Event:	Salt Lake County Route Realignments Open House
Date:	Thu, Feb 7, 2008
Time:	6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Address:	UTA, 3600 South 700 West
City:	Salt Lake City
State:	UT
Description:	Located at the UTA Administration building boardroom. I. UTA proposes to begin a new bus rapid transit (BRT) route on 3500 South. The BRT would replace the existing Route 35 on 3500 South and would include limited stops. The BRT would run every 15 minutes. With the BRT route on 3500 South, UTA proposes to cancel Route 335. UTA also proposes to change the route alignment of Route 62 to service Winchester Street and the 6400 South TRAX Station instead of 5400 South and 5300 South and the 5300 South TRAX Station. II. The public open house will be held on Thursday, February 7 2008, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at the UTA Administration building boardroom, located at 3600 South 700 West, Salt Lake City, UT. The format for the public open house will proceed as follows: 1. Open house to allow people to visit with UTA staff to review the proposal and have questions answered (30 minutes). 2. Formal presentation of the proposal (30 minutes). 3. Opportunity for the public to give input through an open microphone, written or recorded comments (30 minutes). III. At the hearing, the Utah Transit Authority will afford an opportunity for affected citizens, private transportation providers, public officials and interested agencies to comment on the proposed changes. To be included as part of the public hearing record, all comments must be postmarked no later than five days following the public hearing or February 14, 2008. IV. To assure full participation at the hearing, accommodations for effective communication, such as sign language interpreters or printed materials in alternative formats, must be requested at least five (5) working days prior to the date of the scheduled event. Direct requests for accommodations to UTA ADA Compliance Officer at 801-287-3536 or 287-4657 (TDD). V. Written comments may be submitted to the following address: Mrs. Stephanie Johnston, 3600 South 700 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84119 or email directly to sjohnston@rideuta.com. Phone calls and questions about the proposed changes to Routes 35 and 62 may be directed to Mrs. Stephanie Johnston at 801-287-2001, or email directly at sjohnston@rideuta.com. Questions about the proposed change to Route 335 may be directed to Mr. Steve Swan at 801-287-2351, or email directly at sswan@rideuta.com. All comments will become part of the public hearing record if received by February 14, 2008. VI. Relevant information about the proposed changes will be available at the public hearing or may be reviewed at the UTA Corporate offices, located at 3600 South 700 West, Salt Lake City, Utah after February 7, 2008. Comments must be postmarked or received by UTA no later than February 14, 2008 to be part of the public hearing record.
Contact Name:	Ryan Taylor
Contact Phone:	(801)287-2399
Contact E-Mail:	rtaylor@rideuta.com

Magna Chamber Elections

During November's Chamber of Commerce, Magna Chamber members voted into office three board members. The winning candidates were as follows:

• Laura Jo McDermaid

• Hank Hansen

• Jack Nielsen