OCR Text |
Show DIXIE PROJECT, UTAH 79 Utah urges that the Dixie project be authorized at the earliest possible time, and that consideration of this project, by the full Insular and Interior Affairs Committee and by the Congress, not be delayed in order to make this project a part of any other reclamation project or plan. Yours sincerely, .- j GEORGE D. CLYDE, Governor. EXCEKPT FROM MINUTES OF OFFICIAL MEETING OF UTAH STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION OF MARCH 6, 1964 A motion was then made by Commissioner Smirl, seconded by Commissioner Bagley, and unanimously passed: " That we reaffirm our position as before, that we will proceed with reconstruction of Highway U- 15 to an alinement which will clear the proposed reservoir site, as a Federal- aid highway project, so that it will not interfere with the cost of the reclamation project, providing other avenues of obtaining Federal funds are not available." Mr. BURTON of Utah. A parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Chairman: I have available, if the full committee deems it advisable, copies of the two pages, which is a copy of the road commission minutes, certifying the road commission would accept this cost. If the chairman of the full committee desires, I can make this available for insertion in the record, following the letter of the Governor. Mr. ASPINALL. I would be willing to accept it as a part of my request. Mr. ROGERS. IS there objection to the amended request ? Mr. HALEY. I reserve the right to object, Mr. Chairman. The gentleman's request was to include in the records the minutes? Mr. BURTON of Utah. That portion of the minutes in which the Utah State Road Commission approved the relocation of the road, and agreed to accept the relocation costs, themselves. Mr. HALEY. I withdraw my reservation. Mr. ROGERS. Is there objection? The Chair hears no objection. The instruments referred to in the amended request will be included in the record at this point. ( The minutes follow:) Director Burton said that the problem, as we previously explained in our former action, was that the revenues of the reclamation project are very close to the justification of the project. He said, however, that there remains a small difference which is represented by approximately the cost of the relocation of the highway, and if the State is willing to assume the relocation charges of the highway which are not chargeable to the project, providing the revenues to the project cannot support them, then the feeling is that we should be able at this next session of the Congress to get approval of this project, which then becomes self- liquidating and is then merely a matter of governmental credit, and no governmental contribution. Director Burton said that we have, therefore, been asked to see if we were still in agreement with our previous decision in supporting the project to the extent of assuming the relocation of U- 15 in this area. Director Burton made the observation that we have purposely not improved or upgrade this highway, which is seriously deficient both as to alinement and width, until the Congress acts upon the reclamation project. He said that due to the heavy volume of traffic using U- 15 in visiting Zion National Park, this highway will need some improvement in any event; and secondly, it is an eligible highway for Federal aid programing. He stated that inasmuch as it will be sometime before this is required, our program can be adjusted to take care of some stage improvement in this relocation. Commissioner Smirl said that this project has been considered in the hearings that have been held in the senate, and at the senate hearing held in St. George we indicated that we would support this project, and he felt there was no reason |