 |
| (c) Jim Speth Photography |
Written by Dallas Hyland
There is an old saying about the general perception of pristine land. It states that there are two types of people in this world: one, who sees a mountain and wants to preserve it for generations to come, and the other, who sees a ski resort.
Jeff Turek, Thad Seegmiller, and Garth Nisson—the three members of the Washington City Council who voted against the proposal to lease the 16 acres surrounding the Warm Springs to non-profit group The Boiling Springs Ecoseum and Desert Preserve—are the latter for sure. (Add to that group city manager Roger Carter and the un-named but ever-present business vultures lying in the wings.)
The discussion drew a standing-room-only crowd as citizens and council members on both sides of the issue engaged in an impassioned debate over the future of the springs.
While one might believe that this discussion was in earnest, it was the behavior of this very group—including mayor Ken Neilson, who seemed unable to keep his story straight—that would lead one to the reasonable assertion that the vote was predisposed. Relationships and possible deals about the future of that land are already in the works, and site level grading had already been done there.
Of the two who voted for the project, Ron Truman and Kress Staheli, Staheli was the most refreshingly honest.
“What did we learn? We learned that we as a city don’t have a clue about protecting unique and delicate habitats,” said Staheli. “We also learned that if we keep pushing sand on the banks, there will be no more water to send downstream. A park alone does not do [the springs] justice, and we have seen that the city does not have what it takes to care for it. Since when is the government the solution to local problems? Last time I checked, the majority of us agree that private citizens do a much better job.”
Staheli for mayor of Washington City, anyone?
But more to the heart of the matter is the volumes spoken to the heart and intent of the other leaders in this scenario, who pay lip service to preserving the culture and heritage of the city. They laud smaller government, nationally, and behave like big brother, locally.
There is an election coming, no?
There is an old saying about what we do speaking louder that what we say, and when it comes to the preservation of places—like the anomaly that is a natural spring in the desert—what message will it send to future generations when a commercial development takes precedence over the single most valuable resource known to man?
Free market capitalism is not at stake here, no matter what the radio show hosts say. But the future of our children is. Do we want them to do as we said or as we did?
Shame on the city for this decision. Predictable as it was, shame on them.
See you out there.
Dallas Hyland is a freelance writer, award-winning photographer, and documentary filmmaker. As a senior writer, opinion editor, and photo editor of The Southern Utah Independent, Hyland’s investigative journalism, opinion columns, and photo essays have ranged in topics from local political and environmental issues to drug trafficking in Utah as well as the international front, covering issues such as human trafficking in Colombia. On his rare off-days, he can be found with his family and friends exploring the pristine outdoors. You can listen to him live as a regular guest co-host on the Kate Dalley talk show on Fox News 1450 AM 93.1 FM in southern Utah.
Subscribe for FREE to get our weekly Sunday Edition email, just signup in the NEWSLETTER box on the right –>
