Casper Star-Tribune from Casper, Wyoming • 9

9 star Wyoming Bl Friday, January 8, 1 988 Star-Tribune. Wyo. WWF hits proposal on Fishing Bridge Group: Completely disband area V. 1. aMM PSC hearing on sale of co-ops ends CHEYENNE A two-day Wyoming Public Service Commission hearing concerning the sale of two electric cooperatives to Pacific Power Light Co.

concluded here Wednesday alter all panics accepted remaining profiled testimony. in effect waived its right to cross-examine the remaining Tri-State Generation witnesses by accepting the testimony, according to Tri-State spokesman Jim Van Somcren. He said witnesses not called include three co-operative managers and Craig Thomas of Casper, general manager of the Wyoming Rural Electric Association. The trial-type hearing, continued in Cheyenne after four days in Cody and Powell this fall, was held to help the PSC determine whether the sales of Shoshone River Power Inc. and Garland Light and Power would be in the public interest.

On Tuesday a Tri-State witness testified that the wholesale electric supplier reduced its rates by 6.5 percent in 1987, and plans to make a reduction of 5.2 percent in 1988, according to Van Someren. He said that will represent an 11.7 percent reduction in Tri-State rates to cooperatives since the May 1, 1986 sale of Shoshone, which triggered litigation and hearings. Rural electric cooperative customers of Shoshone and Garland favored the sale to because of its lower electric rates. Tri-State objected to the sales, claiming they represent breaches in its long-term contracts with the co-operatives. Public Service Commissioner Nels J.

Smith who conducted the hearing, announced Wednesday that all exhibits in the case would be due Jan. 22 and all final written briefs would be due March 1, Van Someren said. Kct'pinj RV farililifs at Star-Trihtme file pltnto Fi.sliini JJiidjje would hurt jrrizJy Ix-ars. YYF sas communities, primarily Cody, Wyoming. But an economic study done by the University of Wyoming in 1985 to address those fears found that the opposite effect was more likely," the comments say.

Last October, the Park Service issued the environmental impact statement with a preferred alternative to relocate 310 campsites while keeping the 360-unit RV park at Fishing Bridge. Superintendcnl Barbee said that the proposal to remove some services but allow others to remain at ishing Bridge, was a compromise in the controversy. The decision was applauded by the Wyoming Heritage So'-iety, which recently handed its comments on the environmental impact statement over to the Park Servic. The society prefers an alternative that would remove just 160 of the campground sites, retain all of the RV units and provide for the construction of a fence around the RV park and campsites. But WWF officials say the only meaningful alternative is to relocate the Fishing Bridge facilities.

They join members of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition in finding the Park Service's preference to keep the area open unacceptable. "By our judgement, measures that fall short of (this alternative) will continue to displace the bear from its preferred and critical habitat and cause unnecessary encounters with humans, resulting in further losses of bears. This is contrary to the goals set forth in the Endangered Species Act," WWF comments say. The comments were written by the group's vice president in charge of issues, Duane Howe, and the federation's conservation programs director, Matt Reid. The WWF and its parent affiliate, the National Wildlife Federation, have filed an appeal with the 10th U.S.

Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a federal judge's ruling to keep Fishing Bridge campgrounds open. The appeal seeks to overturn U.S. District Judge Ewing Kerr's ruling last May that refused to close the campgrounds. The federations had argued that keeping the area open in prime grizzly bear habitat violated the Endangered Species Act. By KLNDRA ENSOR Stur-Tribune staff writer CASPER Wiih several days left for comment on a plan for Yellowstone National Park's Fishing Bridge campgrounds, officials with the Wyoming Wildlife federation say they cannot support ihc National Park Service's proposal lo keep a recreational vehicle park and other human services in the area.

In a letter to park Superintendent Robert Barbee, the WWF reiterates its concern that leaving the RV park and facilities at Fishing Bridge jeopardizes grizzly bear in the area. "WWF believes that this alternative will allow the decline of the threatened Yellowstone grizzly bear," the comments say. "WWF urges the NPS to expediently disband the Fishing Bridge campground. RV park and any supporting facility that might contribute to the habitation of the grizzly to human food sources." Fishing Bridge, located on the north shore of Yellowstone Lake, has been the subject of a decade-long struggle between those who want the area open and those who want it closed. Park planners first recommended closing and moving the Fishing Bridge facilities two campgrounds, a general store, a service station and a visitor's center in 1974 to facilitate grizzlies living in the area.

Grizzly bears are a threatened species. The Park Service agreed in 1981 to close the campgrounds but Wyoming's congressional delegation succeeded in keeping Fishing Bridge open by requesting an en-viromcntal impact statement, looking for the economic impact the closure might have on Cody and other Park County towns near the eastern entrance of Yellowstone. According to WWF comments, the group believes that the Park Service "was well on its way to ac-eomplUhing" the disbandment of Fishing Bridge facilities prior to the "politicizing of this issue by the Wyoming Congressional Delegation." "Their reason for opposing the NPS plans to remove Fishing Bridge facilities was fear ot negative economic impacts on gateway Union spokesman says Baker firm 'capable' of pole bombing Federal officials investigating Tuesday night incident By JIM NEWSOM Star-Tribune correspondent SHERIDAN A spokesman for the United Mine Workers of America Local 1972 says a security firm hired by owners of the Decker Coal Co. is "very capable" of creating incidents like the Tuesday night bombing of three power poles near the Decker Coal Mine. But UMWA 1972 spokesman Whitey Wells has not accused the security firm, Baker and Associates, of the bombing.

The Star-Tribune incorrectly reported Wednesday that Wells had accused the firm of the bombing. Gary Baker, owner of the firm, declined to comment on Wells' allegations. "I'm not going to YVHITEY ELLS More security here than needed i -f "1 guess my point is that I'm not convinced yet that they (Baker's employees) have clean hands. I don't believe they do have clean hands in this community. 1 think many of the things that are happening are tied into these thugs ihat have been brought in.

"They've definitely got more here than what they need for what they claim is consultants. When they have 18 Baker security people in this community, they're not all consulting. They're doing something. They're being paid big money to do something, and it sure as hell isn't for consultants." Sheridan County Sheriff Bill Johnson said Thursday thai he has not ruled out any suspects in the case. Meanwhile, the Associate Press reported that federal authorities have launched an investigation into the pole-bombing incident.

"They found hat one of the poles had been blasted with a dynamite-type substance," Sheridan County Undersheriff Dick Moore said. Federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigators are looking into the incident but there are no leads, Moore said. Meanwhile, the Big Horn Mountain Peace Officers Association has offered a $500 reward for information leading lo the arrest and conviction of those responsible for shooting at Sheridan County Sheriff William Johnson. Johnson said somebody shot at him while he was driv ing his car last month to respond to a call. Proponents of a single entity assuming responsibility lor the entire system said that if the system was operated by only one entity, the bonds would cost residents less in interest and operational costs would be reduced.

Last June the two city governments decided to run their own systems. Green River Mayor Don Van Matre expressed a fear of too much power being concentrated in the hands of the five members of the Joint Powers Board Iwo appointed by the Rock Springs Cily Council, two by the Green River Council and one by the Sweetwater County. Rock Springs City Councilman Susan Johnson, who had favored operation of the entire system by a single entity said she fears that a "hidden tax" may be imposed on water users in Rock Springs. "My biggest concern is that the employees of the water system are also going to be used in Rock Springs for the street system," Johnson said. "And if that's not accounted for correctly, and billed under the water system, the water users are going to find that their water rates are increased to support city functions." But Rock Springs Public Works Department Director Glenn Suuano said that separate time Bill for tier tax amendment unlikely give you a response.

I don't deal with the press," he said. Baker and Associates has been paid by Peter Kiewit Sons, one of the co-owners of the mine, for security services, according to Decker Mine Manager Leonard Skrciteberg. Wells told the paper Wednesday that "Obviously, there is a tie-in there, probably, as far as (the bombing) being strike-related. "Again, we know that Baker security just brought in nine more agents on top of what they already have here, which they said was seven. So, 1 personally believe they're creating these incidents to justify bringing in more security because that means one hell of alot more money to the Baker security firm." On Thursday, Wells said he only wants to be certain that the security firm is considered as much a suspect in the incident as the union.

"I'm not saying they did it, don't get me wrong," Wells said Thursday. "What I am saying is that they are very capable of doing something like that, and not to rule them out. 1 hope the law enforcement is not ruling out the possibilities that Baker is creating this, because obviously they have a great stake in this." "What my point was is not that we know they did it, but 1 would say we're just as suspicious that they did that (the Tuesday night incident) as perhaps other people are suspicious that we (union members) did that. A 90-day purchase agreement was signed Nov. 3, and final purchase is scheduled for the first week in February.

Public works departments of the two cities are busy working out details for the takeover. The major sticking point during negotiations was whether the Joint Powers Board would handle both treatment and distribution of water, or whether the two municipalities would handle distribution. PAUL ANSKLMI Deal will close in February i i Sweetwater water system deal may be completed by February Package worked out after nearly 3 years of negotiations between cities, board State officials to explain Rawhide aid GILLETTE State Abandoned Mine Land officials will hold a public in Gillette next Tuesday night for evacuated Rawhide and Horizon subdivision homeowners to explain the state's $2 million distribution plan. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Sage Valley Junior High, Dennis spokesman for Gov.

Mike Sullivan, said. Sullivan wants Amoco to keep offices open CHEYENNE (AP) Gov. Mike Sullivan wants Amoco company officials not to close their offices in Riverton, Powell, Casper and Evanston. Amoco officials have announced plans to close the offices within the year. Sullivan is expected to urge Amoco officials not to do it during a trip to Chicago this month.

According to Dennis Curran, Sullivan's press secretary, the trip to Chicago is designed to show Amoco officials that Wyoming residents value the presence of the company and do not want it to leave. Members of the state's congressional delegation, a legislator from each community and other representatives have been invited to accompany the governor on the trip. Public aid requests up in Campbell GILLETTE (AP) Requests for public assistance in Campbell County soared during 1987 as the county's economy declined, according to county officials. "We are seeing people who have never been on assistance before, said Bob Kuchera, regional field manager for the state Department of Public Assistance and Social Services. Kuchera added that many people are surprised the small amount of aid ihey can get from welfare and how strict the criteria are.

"Many come in with the idea their taxes have supported this for all these years and now they need help. They are very upset when they find out how little they get," he said. Because so many people have been coming in to DPASS Campbell County offices the agency has spent more than expected, despite a 5 percent staff cut and other funding reductions, Kuchera said. "We have pulled upon our credit, but some of our programs are in major financial difficulty," he said. stated that if legislators do not either establish a "fair and equal" tax program or legalize the tier system by March 15, a flat 11.5 percent assessment rate will go into effect.

The rate would apply to all residential, agricultural, commercial and industrial property. According to Legislative Service Office calculations, the change would increase taxes on residential property by nearly 22 percent, on average. The representative also said he has suggested the state request a new hearing on the property tax case before the Supreme Court. "certainly hasn't enhanced our ability to sell (the bonds)." The Joint Powers Board has set up a temporary office in the Green River City Hall, awaiting final purchase of the system, according to the newly hired executive secretary Ellen Wilson. She caiU that eventually, a trailer-office would be set up near the water treatment plant, located in Green River.

The planned staff of seven will include Wilson, a treatment plant operator and five water treatment workers. Liquor license fees lowered in Hudson HUDSON The Hudson Town Council voted Tuesday to lower annual liquor license fees. The liquor license fee will be lowered from $950 to $850 for the coming fiscal year, according to a council spokesman. The town's three licenses are held by operators of Svilar's, the El Toro Club and the Union Bar, the spokesman said. The council also reappointed Town Clerk-Treasurer Mary Ann Robeson, Water, Sewer and Maintenance Superintendent Eugene leonardi and Town Attorney Steve Avery, the spokesman aul ROCK SPRINGS (AP) A bill for a constitutional amendment to legalize Wyoming's tier property tax system is unlikely to win introduction in February's budget session, according to state Rep.

Richard Honaker. The Rock Springs Democrat said he has written Gov. Mike Sullivan suggesting a special session be called to consider an amendment if the Legislature tails to take action on the issue during next month's legislative budget session. Wyoming's Supreme Court, in ruling last week that the current tier system is unconstitutional. cards would be kept, to insure that water operations do not subsidize any other city functions.

"There will be separate time cards, and a separate accounting system, because that's the way the city wants it and the water board has the same kind of rules," Sugano said. Sugano said, that he will hire four employees to operate the distribution system, and that billing and meter reading will be handled by the city's Finance and Administration Department. He said the cily was unsuccessful in hiring any of utility and service taff, perhaps because of lower wages. But Green Rivet's acting Public Works Director Jerry Thies said that he has one application on file from a employee for the water distribution foreman. Green River offers a higher salary for the position than Rock Springs, according to salary data provided both by Sugano and Thies.

Green River water works personnel will also help out in the city's waste-water treatment facility, Thies said. But he said that "time worked by water personnel will be broken out and tracked." Anselmi, who had advocated a single entity operating the eirire system said that the split operation By KATHARINE COLLINS Star-Tribune southwestern bureau GREEN RIVER Following nearly three years of negotiations between a joint powers water board and two city governments, the purchase of a water system to serve Rock Springs, Green River and several nearby communities may be completed in February. A $22 million purchase-and-improvement package for the takeover of the $15.5 million Pacific Power and Light Corp. system, one of the few privately-owned water systems in the state, was worked out in April among the two city governments and the Joint Powers Board. The package includes $15.5 million to pay and another $6.5 million for improvements to the systems.

To finance the deal the board will use $11 million appropriated by the Legislature in 1986 and $11 million in locally-issued revenue bonds. Joint Powers chairman Paul Anselmi said that the 90-day purchase contract calls for closing the deal the first week in February. But the sale is subject to final approval by the board and the sale of $11 million in revenue bonds by bond underwriters Kirkchner Moore and Co..