From Deseret News archives:
Politicians are feeling ripples from Jordanelle
Just add water the lure of living around the lake and poof: instant population.
It took some 150 years to accumulate approximately 15,000 people in the Heber Valley. Within the next 15 to 30 years, there could be 15,000 to 20,000 up the hill, east of the valley on U.S. 40, at the vast system of developments master-planned by Wasatch County to ring the reservoir.
What will that do to the politics of the area?
How will the quick-grow community up the hill affect the lives of homestead-style families whose bloodlines have stretched back for decades in the valley?
"Sheer numbers say the power will go where the people are. If there are 20,000 up on the hill, they'll control the 18,000, say, down in the valley," said Robert Wren, former chairman of the Wasatch County Republican Party. "That's politics. Always has been."
In fact, at least some Wasatch County residents have been so sensitive to potential Jordanelle growth that some feel it already has affected local politics.
A focal point of the decision last November to go with a seven-member body was voters believing the three-member commission "sold out" to Jordanelle developers. Some residents felt the three too easily greased the skids for massive future construction projects around the lake that eventually could negatively impact Heber Valley.
"You figure that's really one of the main reasons they voted out the three-member commission," said LaRen Provost, chairman of the current Wasatch County Commission.
In reality that wasn't really the case, Provost, an auto parts store owner whose roots run decades-deep in the county, said. "It wasn't true, but a lot of people believed it. That swung the election."
But Wren thinks Jordanelle only partly explains last November's vote.
"I think what a lot of people were concerned about was simply the matter of geographical representation in general," said Wren, who led the petition drive of Voters for a Representative Government, the group that got the seven-member council issue placed on the ballot.
Comments
- George lost in rivalry hatefest 1:33 a.m.
- Paul returns after being out 1:04 a.m.
- Nets finally win 1:04 a.m.
- Olympus downs Box Elder 1:03 a.m.
- Saint Mary's next for Aggies 1:03 a.m.
- Cougars look to bounce back 1:03 a.m.
- Battle goes to PG's Hamson 1:03 a.m.
- Snow hopes to snap bowl game skid 1:03 a.m.
- U.S. gets favorable World Cup draw 1:03 a.m.
- Utah's Wynn healing up 1:03 a.m.
- Ed Smart 'appalled' at testimony
- Mr. Football 2009: Tuni Kanuch
- 5A high school football All-State
- Miller predicted Tiger's rough road
- 4A high school football: All-State
- Utah Jazz going green with unis
- Harpring's NBA career is over
- Nutty Putty Cave to be sealed today
- MVPs wrap up stellar prep careers
- Jazz: Miles, Kirilenko to play Friday
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
410 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
294 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
247 - Letters: Liberal because LDS
237 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
189 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
184 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
179 - N.Y. Senate rejects gay marriage
118 - Max Hall: a fixture in rivalry lore
118 - Unbeaten BYU takes trip to Logan
104
Trolley Square's annual Holiday Open House will feature visits with...
That does it — I'm having an affair! Thanks to Tiger Woods, David...
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
and they are correct. Good grief.
In the wake of a great, competitive game all people can talk about is Max...
For those who keep saying there are other places where you can go "to...
Boozer is just doing and showing what he has always had, Talent! As long as...
Condolences to the LeBaron family! He was the mission Pres in South Africa...
I've enjoyed reading Dick Harmon's articles through the years. An enduring...
I think we have found our stride. But we need to bring in one more player to...
to make a move until nearer the deadline. You can't get the best player until...
"If this team had an interior Defense for 48 minutes they would contend. "...
What have you done for me lately, Boozer? Well, lately Boozer has been...




You can be the first to comment on this story.