Inside 84045

Posted By Mike Kieffer on April 15, 2010

This email was fowarded to me. The Email was written by Joel Wright, who is currently running for Utah County Commission. I have modified the email some to exclude personal information. The main reason for this post is to show where Joel and Gary stand on the Bridge accross Utah Lake. (Video is also included of the debate)
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Last week in Orem I had the opportunity to debate my opponent on
several important issues facing Utah County. One of the questions was on the Utah Lake Bridge proposal. I believe the responses once again show clear differences to our approaches and feelings about the issues.

Below you will find a summary of the responses and a link to watch the full video for yourself on You Tube. Will will also be putting the other questions and answers on You Tube from that debate over the next couple days.

The Question was:
There is a proposal to build a bridge across Utah Lake by a private group. Do you support this effort? If so, how can you guarantee the taxpayers won’t foot the bill should the group fold?

Summary of Joel Wright’s answer:
1. Governor Herbert and his administrative staff will decide this.

2. If the private sector can come and solve one of our transportation problems, let’s make it happen. I’m all for it.

3. The State of Utah should return to Utah County all the revenue they get from leasing the easement over Utah Lake, and Utah County should insure that 100% of those funds go to improving the Lake.

4. There should be a construction (or completion) bond on the construction to make sure the bridge will be completed when it is started.

Summary of Gary Anderson’s answer:
1. I am not for the bridge proposed right now.

2. We need to do an Environmental Impact Study “EIS”, and let that study tell us if a bridge is feasible

3. There are three developers that will pay for the bridge wanted by the Lake, which an EIS will tell us

4. The developer/owner of the bridge should not make a profit from the bridge because they will make so much money from the land across the lake once it becomes accessible. Direct quote: “We have them develop it, we have them build it, and then the money (and this is another problem I have with the present bridge) the money, if that is a toll bridge and it has to be a $2 toll or something, the money that is made in excess of the debt service on that bridge goes back into the Lake.”

Categories: Elections 2010
Tags: election 2010, Utah Crossing