Taxpayers group opposes rec center

In its resolution, the Chamber said the county does not have adequate access to ice skating, ice hockey and other ice-related activities for residents, and it has limited access to competitive swimming facilities for high school, amateur and professional sporting events.

Jerman said the Taxpayers Association was thinking of passing out leaflets at the Handcart Days Parade, but was told by Mortensen that would be illegal. After hearing the South Davis Recreation District handed out leaflets, Jerman said there appeared to be a violation of free speech.

"I can understand the city not wanting to deal with litter, but obviously, the issue is one of fairness. If government can pass out brochures, then taxpayer groups should be able to do the same thing. That was the ideal place to pass out literature," Jerman said.

"Last year in Springville, we had several thousand brochures passed out during a parade, and the issue there was one of voter approval of a recreation area and water park. We got involved with a local group and got it shot down hard, 3 to 1," he said.

"Out of respect for the parade and the people there, we decided against passing out fliers," England said. "When we went to the parade and saw the pro-group passing out fliers, we were disappointed."

She said she and her group are not against new recreation facilities, just the price tag, believing a new recreation facility could be built for less money. Officials of the recreation district estimate the owner of an average $180,000 house would pay about $40 per year in taxes to support the center.

Mortensen said before his group started talking to residents, he estimated the bond election would have passed easily. Although he has no polling data to show public sentiment, "Now that we have raised the issue, it makes it questionable," he said.

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