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Show Ticaboo Townsite Developers Tell Plans at 2-Day On-Site Sessions 1 1 ) . j (. . By Nancy Bales News Associate . Editor Representatives of various state and local agencies throughout Utah gatehred last week in a two day conference workshop to join as a task force in creating what they hope will be the best "planned" community in Utah history. Dubbed "Ticaboo", an Indian name meaning "friendly place," the townsite is being designed for about 1400 residents drawn to the area of southeastern Garfield county, by the expansion of the uranium Industry and recreation potential of Lake Powell. Participants began their two day planning by visiting the already established resort facilities and, later that morning, by taking four-wheel drive tours of the Ticaboo townsite itself and nearby Plateau Resources Uranium Processing facility. Morning activities were followed by luncheon at the local Bullfrog Marina Cafe, attended by about 90 conference participants. . Coordinator of Ticaboo Community Education Project, Keith Rogers opened the conference with a welcome and a general outline of what the two. days activities would include. Stating that those present had "a unique opportunity in gathering all. resources available, to plan and develop a community from the ground up," Supt of Garfield County Schools Henry Jolley. offered his suggestions about the Ticaboo Project. Planners' would be able to develop a "multiple use" concept for the facilities to be incorporated into the town of Ticaboo. He said the ultimate goal would be to establish a stable community with better servies for less money and a secure atmosphere for employees residing in the community. Further expansion of building of docks, ships, recreational vehicle facilities, dry slorage spaces, and employee housing, with an overall expenditure of over $7 million in the next-five years was reported by Rex Maughn. director of Del Webb Recreation Properties. Maughn delivered a slide presentation on the "Future of Bullfrog Recreation Area," stating that foreign travel had doubled this past season and largest percentage of area tourists came from the state of California. Answering the question "What was the Park Service's Relationship to Ticaboo?". assistant director for the Lake Powell National Recreation Area, Joe Kennedy explained that the need for better schools in order to attract better employees was the Park Services motivating factor. It was also noted that with the Bullfrog Marina Recreaiton Facility growing so rapidly and tourism continually rising, additional law enforcement and medical services would be a tremendous help. Citing the example of approximately 14,000 visitors to the Lake Powell area over last Memorial Day, Kennedy pointed out they handled over 300 major medical emergencies, 70 of which had to be evacuated by air to the closest medical facility, located 180 miles from the resort. Citing additional factors for desiring development of Ticaboo, J. R. Rookstool, processing manager for Plateau Mining facility, discussed the plants high rate of employee turnover due largely to lack of better living conditions. Rookstool shared figures showing that employee turnover for the mining operation were 100 percent every 8' 2 months. Along with developing better living conditions in the area, the need for additional higher education was expressed by Rookstool. The mining company reimburses employees up to 75 percent for continued higher learning and it would be desirable that the funds go back into the local community educational services rather than to institutions in other states. Exploration on the mine to this point has exceeded four million dollars and expansion of the site is proceeding at a rapid pace. The intended life of the mill is expected to be about 15 yrs and it is hoped that by that time Ticaboo will be an established functioning community. Final presentation of the first day of the conference was made by Roy May, president of Ticaboo Community Development Corp. May displayed architects renditions of the proposed facilities for Ticaboo and was available to the representatives present for questions and comments. In a joint venture with Plateau Resources Limited, Ticaboo development Corporation will proceed with the building of a motel at the Ticaboo site, to be used to house future employees of the mining operation until individual home building begins. May stated that first building on the site must be commercial including a store, motel and service station to accommodate new residents to the area. Dividing into five task force groups, conference participants spent the second morning of the conference identifying critical issues concerning development of Ticaboo and cited possible resources that might be available. Evaluations from each of the five study groups provided some very positive data with which to begin in depth planning. Keith Rogers, coordinator of the community education project at Ticaboo, was pleased with the overall response of representatives from various organizations and commended them for their openness on issues discussed. In a later interview, following the two day session, Rogers stated "I believe this to be the beginning point for interagency cooperation in developing a unique community education project." SHE Town Site If I - . Waiting to welcome participants in the two day conference workshop at Ticaboo are Gladys May left; Ray May. president of Ticaboo Development Corporation; Vicky May, business manager for Ticaboo, and Bullfrog District Ranger George Phillips. |