Political Coruption?

South Davis Politics....
CEAG - A Pleasant Surprise! A Breath of Fresh Air.

We were pleasantly surprised with the response in the Clipper by the Coalition of Ethics and Accountability in Government (CEAG; http://utahceag.org/) to the mudslinging by Bountiful Mayor Joe Johnson’s daughter (http://tinyurl.com/luzcpf), Councilman Marc Knight and Councilwoman Beth Holbrook (http://tinyurl.com/r5lqb3).  CEAG was articulate and reasonable, without resorting to name calling. These folks really do have some integrity.    Please see their response at: http://tinyurl.com/q7bxqn  While we are not a part of CEAG, we are going to support their candidates.  They seem pretty sharp.  They seem to have ethics. Some other great letters in the Clipper: http://tinyurl.com/oexh7v http://tinyurl.com/phr23j

posted @ Wednesday, August 12, 2009 8:26 PM | Feedback (0)

The attacks have begun! Mayor Joe's daughter is first to sling the mud!

It did not take long for the personal attacks to begin.  Tonight in the Clipper, Jennie Johnson, daughter of Bountiful Mayor Joe Johnson came out swinging.  It is admirable that she is defending her father.  However, she does not address the particualr issues of Joe's lack of integrity brought to the forward by JoAnn Hamilton in last week's Clipper, but rather she attacked JoAnn Hamilton over what JoAnn has been doing to protect children in Davis County.  This attack of course is due to JoAnn's letter to the editor the previous Thursday based on facts regarding Joe as witnessed by JoAnn. ...

posted @ Tuesday, July 21, 2009 7:40 PM | Feedback (0)

On Twitter

SouthDavis.com is now on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/SouthDavisUtah  

posted @ Monday, July 20, 2009 9:21 PM | Feedback (0)

Bountiful City Elections - CEAG

Bountiful City elections are coming.  The Mayor and two City Council seats will be on the ballot this year (2009).  We desparately hope that they will have some honest, open, and transparent folks win the election this year.  However, that would have to be somebody other than those who hold these positions currently. We need good leaders. A new group has popped up called CEAG (pronounced see-j).  Please see http://utahceag.org/.  A member from our group attended their public meeting last night at the Bountiful City Library.  They seemed to be very honest, and one of their overriding platforms is to have transparency...

posted @ Friday, July 17, 2009 4:09 PM | Feedback (0)

How Elected Officials Take Money from Lobbyists WITHOUT having to Report It?

Q. Have you ever wondered how to take large amounts of money from Legislative Lobby Groups without having to report it?  A. Get a job at a School District Educational Foundation and then run for office.  Take a look at Sheryl Allen, who is the Executive Director of the Davis Education Foundation, and her Assistant Director, Louenda Downs.  Sheryl is also the Utah State District 19 House Representative, and Louenda is a Davis County Commissioner.  Any lobby groups who have business before the Legislature and the Davis County Commission, need only funnel their monies into the Davis Education Foundation, which has...

posted @ Sunday, February 18, 2007 6:49 PM | Feedback (1)

Bountiful should take a cue from Syracuse and Fire Tom Hardy

On February 2nd, the Syracuse City Council voted unanimously to fire City Manager Ken Hubler.  This vote was then ratified on February 8th making it official.  The reason Ken Hubler was fired was that the Council and Mayor felt that Mr. Hubler was taking Syracuse City in the wrong direction.  Please see: http://tinyurl.com/nnorbd It's too bad that the Bountiful City Council does not seem to have the fortitude to do the same thing to Bountiful City Manager Tom Hardy.  He has been taking the City in the wrong direction for over a quarter of a century.  City Councils and Mayors have...

posted @ Saturday, February 10, 2007 4:40 PM | Feedback (2)

Conflict of Interest with Bountiful City Councilman R. Fred Moss?

R Fred Moss is the current Bountiful City Councilman over Bountiful Power.  Please see:   www.bountifulutah.gov/MayorCouncil/MayorCouncil.html Fred Moss is also the owner of Dominion Engineering and Dominion Power Services.  Please see:  www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20050914/ai_n15363784  Search for "Moss" in the article. Dominion Power Services is an operator of a power plant in Idaho (Dry Creek Project).  Please see line 539 of the following spreadsheet:  utility.rti.org/download/EIA867contacts.xls   Also please see line 1721 that shows R. Fred Moss as the president of America West Hydro that operates yet another power plant in Idaho (Smith Falls Hydroelectric Project). The question that arises is whether R. Fred Moss is still in the...

posted @ Wednesday, November 29, 2006 3:04 PM | Feedback (0)

Davis School Employees John and Sue Ross Indicted on 47 Federal Counts

On Wednesday, Federal Officials unsealed a 47-count indictment against former employees of the Davis School District, Susan G Ross, 62, and her husband, John Ross, 64, of Layton.  It is alleged in the indictment that the couple defrauded the school district of at least $4.3 million.  Federal officials say that they believe that this has been going on since the year 2000, but fear that it may go back to 1985.  For details, please see:  deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650209565,00.html and deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650209574,00.html The big question is how did all of this go on for so long right under School District Officials' noses?  And is this...

posted @ Thursday, November 23, 2006 8:13 AM | Feedback (2)

Salt Lake County Votes to Declare North Salt Lake City Property Open Space - The Epitome of Hypocrisy

The Salt Lake County Council voted 6-2 this morning to declare 80 acres of North Salt Lake City-owned property as open space if North Salt Lake succeeds in disconnecting the property from Salt Lake City.   Please see: www.sltrib.com/news/ci_4699944 This is the epitome of hypocrisy.  Salt Lake City has butchered the hill along Beck Street for years with the literal removal of all moveable dirt and gravel from the mountain side, exposing great gashes for all to see when coming into the City from the north.  Salt Lake City, in a successful attempt to block the extention of Bountiful Boulvard into Salt Lake...

posted @ Tuesday, November 21, 2006 9:38 PM | Feedback (0)

Secrecy in Government Challenged - Judge Issues Restraining Order Against Davis County School District

This past Thursday, 2nd District Court Judge Michael G. Allphin issued a restraining order against the Davis School District on the basis that the Boundary Advisory Committee's closed meetings violated the Utah Open and Public Meetings Act.  Basically, the school district's policy of closed meetings of advisory committees has been struck down.  Please see: www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650208126,00.html We understand that it is always tough in redrawing school boundaries, and no matter what the District comes up with, there will  be disgruntled parents. Nobody believes that this process is an easy one.  However, the climate of secrecy around making decisions that permeates through South...

posted @ Saturday, November 18, 2006 7:35 AM | Feedback (0)

Acquisition of Property - Where is all of the Property that Bountiful City is Aquiring?

Have you ever taken a look at Bountiful City Council Minutes?   Please see: www.bountifulutah.gov/MeetingsMinutes/CCMinutesSelect.aspx Have you ever noticed the number of times that the City Council goes into executive session (read no public access) to discuss property aquistion?  With the number of times that they do this, one would think that they would own half the city by now. Well...do they? Or is something entirely different going on here?

posted @ Wednesday, November 15, 2006 8:45 PM | Feedback (0)

Bountiful Bubble Closure - What was the reasoning behind that?

Remember when the Bounitful Bubble closed?   Bountiful City  closed it so that they could get the parking lot for the new South Davis Recreation Center in, was their reasoning.  It was also where the Skate Board Park was going to be placed, which is now slated for a bigger parking lot instead (needed to get rid of the possibility of that "nasty" Skate Boark Park before resistance in the Community to the removal became too great). As anyone knows who has been following the situation, this required Viewmont, Woods Cross, and Bountiful High School's swim teams great harm.  You see the new Center...

posted @ Wednesday, November 15, 2006 8:11 AM | Feedback (1)

Clipper Article - Sell Bountiful Power? City says no - Take a look at Eugene, Oregon for a Different Answer

In last night's Davis County Clipper, Bountiful City Manager Tom Hardy says that the suggestion has popped up from someone (who?) in the community that the City should "sell the power department to the private sector."   He states that the City has better reliability than the private sector.  In addition, quoting from the Clipper he goes on to say, "Any money (excess) goes to the citizens in the form of transfers to cover various city projects.....For example, about $2 million was transferred most recently to support the general fund." (If the City refunded the $2 millioin, using ~14,000 housing...

posted @ Friday, November 10, 2006 9:22 AM | Feedback (0)

Skate Board Park Controversy Leads to Finding of a Deeper Problem - No Bountiful City Records?

Recently, there have been several articles in the Davis County Clipper regarding the removal of the Skate Board Park from the plans of the new South Davis Recreation Center.  Bountiful City it seems nixed this part of the project, as some nearby residents complained.  Never mind that the City and the South Davis Recreation Board had promised this feature as part of their sales pitch to the community to win support for the project.  There was also discussion by the Bounitful City Council at this time regarding the regulation of Skate Board Ramps in the City.  It was alleged by...

posted @ Friday, November 10, 2006 7:34 AM | Feedback (0)

Office of the State Auditor - Report No. 01-639 - Problems at Bountiful City

Sometime in the past year, we received a copy of a State Audit (performed in 2001) in the mail annonomously.  To prove its authenticity, the sender gave the website address of where it could be found online.  Please see  www.sao.state.ut.us/reports/01-639.PDF Especially note the City's response as made by Bountiful City Manager, Tom Hardy. At the time that this was sent to us, there was an article in the Davis County Clipper regarding embezzlement of funds by a Bountiful City employee that had gone on for several years.  Though we did not keep the letter, it did imply that had the recommendations of the audit been...

posted @ Thursday, November 09, 2006 6:43 PM | Feedback (0)

Bountiful Power Rates - Now that Lake Powell is doing fine, where are the rate reductions?

In June of 2004, power rates in Bountiful City were raised by 10% under the pretext that Lake Powell was low and Bountiful Power would have to buy power on the open market rather than the cheap rates that they obtain from the power generators at Lake Powell.   Please see the following for what Tom Hardy, Bountiful City Manager had to say: http://tinyurl.com/luxdts What is interesting is that Bountiful City kept taking monies from its Power Account and dumping it into the General Fund.  How can that be if the rates were raised because Bounitful City needed to buy more power...

posted @ Thursday, November 09, 2006 4:00 PM | Feedback (0)

Tom Hardy - State Olympic Coordinator (1997)?

Did you know that Tom Hardy, Bountiful City Manager, was appointed by then (1997) State of Utah Governor Mike Leavitt  as the State Coordinator to the Olympics, to "Ensure the Olympics are financially successful." ?  Please see:  www.utah.gov/governorwalker/newsrels/1997/newsrel_072597.html Were you aware that Hardy's resignation from this just started Olympic Coordinator position is what raised suspicions about SLOC finances?  Please see weeklywire.com/ww/10-27-97/slc_story.html (search page for Hardy) Hardy apparently folded under the pressure that then SLOC President Frank Joklik brought to bear.  Elder John E Fowler, just released from the LDS Church's Second Quorum of Seventy, was appointed to the position vacated by Tom...

posted @ Thursday, November 09, 2006 9:39 AM | Feedback (0)

Bountiful Sewer Turnover to South Davis Sewer - Where is the Tax Cut?

In 2005, the City of Bountiful turned over its sewer system to the South Davis Sewer District.  The citizens of Bountiful never were given a say  on whether they should join this sewer district as is required by law.  Bountiful City officials stated this was an administrative matter, that they were simply contracting with South Davis Sewer,  and thus it did not require a vote.  If this was an administrative matter, then why are the citizens of Bountiful now paying fees directly to South Davis County Sewer instead of to Bountiful City who in turn would pay South Davis...

posted @ Thursday, November 09, 2006 6:43 AM | Feedback (0)

Who are the South Davis Fourteen?

Another South Davis blog implied today that an annonymous blogger (this blog) could not be taken seriously.  Au contraire!  During American Revolutionary times Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay published a series of essays supporting the ideas of a free American government.  They did this under the pseudonym "Publius".  These papers later were known as the Federalist Papers from which all American school children now study.  They wrote under a pseudonym to protect their very lives from retribution. We write under one pseudonym to protect ourselves from retaliation from the powerful in government in South Davis County today.   We have seen...

posted @ Wednesday, November 08, 2006 9:04 PM | Feedback (0)

Bountiful Power - On the verge of collapse?

Please read and consider the safety and continued viability of transmission of power by Bountiful City.   The NESC (National Electrical Safety Code) sets requirements for utility pole strength (NESC Sections 25 and 26).  The safe transmission of electricity by the utility is predicated upon these pole strength requirements.  The code requires that utility poles less than 60 feet in length be replaced when 1/3 of the strength of the pole is degraded or less than 2/3 of the original strength is found in the pole (NESC Rule 250B, Table 261-1A).   Rule 214A of the NESC also states that “Lines and equipment...

posted @ Tuesday, November 07, 2006 4:16 PM | Feedback (0)

500 West and 100 North Trafic Light - Whose idea was this anyway?

Who in their right mind would put a light on 500 West at 100 North????  That light should be at Center Street.  As it turns out from sources within the Department of Transportation at the State, Bountiful City and West Bountiful requested that the light be at 100 North rather than at Center Street, even though the traffic engineering analysis done by the State showed that Center Street is where this light should be.   Bountiful City Manager Tom Hardy made this push and was able to pursuade West Bountiful City to go along with this request.  Tom Hardy did not want...

posted @ Tuesday, November 07, 2006 3:34 PM | Feedback (0)

Sheryl Allen - Her Campaign Contributors and Her Expenses

For Contributions, please see: 2006 - globe.utah.gov/allcont/allcont.aspx 2004 - globe.utah.gov/allcont/allcont.aspx 2002 - globe.utah.gov/allcont/allcont.aspx 2000 - globe.utah.gov/allcont/allcont.aspx For Expenses, please see: 2006 - globe.utah.gov/allcont/allexp.aspx 2004 - globe.utah.gov/allcont/allexp.aspx 2002 - globe.utah.gov/allcont/allexp.aspx 2000 - globe.utah.gov/allcont/allexp.aspx What do think about who is funding her?  What do you think of whom she is paying out of her campaign contributions? Note all of the large corporate donations from corporations that have business with the State of Utah and are also large contributors to the Davis Education Foundation that Sheryl is the Director of...  Also note the contributions from the Foundation of which she is the Director  and the UEA. FYI - Under contributors, Altria is also known...

posted @ Thursday, November 02, 2006 9:43 PM | Feedback (0)

Bountiful City Development - Do they know what they are doing?

Bountiful City is currently focusing on redeveloping the downtown on Main Street.  This has been the mantra for this city since the 1970s and before.  It never ceases to amaze us that they try and fail so many times.  They have also been working on redevelopment on the south end of Main at the old Five Points Shopping Center (Now the Renaissance) and the old J.C. Penny building on the north end of Main (now who knows what other than Arctic Circle).    It is funny when you go to the Bountiful City website and try to look at the minutes from...

posted @ Thursday, November 02, 2006 8:40 PM | Feedback (0)

Kim Burningham - He represents me????

When we were students at Bountiful High School many many years ago, there was a teacher who was known as the most ignorant, arrogant, mean-spirited teacher in the High School.  He was always yelling at and demeaning his students.  His name was Kim Burningham, who is now Chairman of the State School Board.  He certainly does not represent my values... He certainly is not a man with good quality teaching skills.   Yet, he is another UEA man representing Davis County on the State School Board.  How can that be????? Does he represent you?  Tell us about it.

posted @ Thursday, November 02, 2006 7:58 PM | Feedback (0)

Definition of Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy is the act of pretending to have beliefs, virtues and feelings that one does not truly possess. The word derives from the late Latin hypocrisis and Greek hupokrisis both meaning play-acting or pretence. The word is arguably derived from hypo- meaning small, + krinein meaning to decide/to dispute. A classic example of a hypocritical act is to denounce another for carrying out some action whilst carrying out the same action oneself.  From: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypocrites

posted @ Thursday, November 02, 2006 7:09 PM | Feedback (0)

Friends of Mueller Park - Hypocrites?

"Friends of Mueller Park " have organized to go after Ken Patey, who has "scarred" the mountain side with the building of a road up the mountain to get to his horses.  Friends claims that Patey is a "Mountain Terrorist" and is ruining their view.  My question is where was Friends when Bountiful City took apart Jim Henry's farm in the 1970s and built the golf course and sold off all of those lots where homes now dot the mountain side?  Where were they when the Mueller Park Stake Center was built with all the homes above it and in...

posted @ Thursday, November 02, 2006 7:06 PM | Feedback (0)

Louenda Downs - More UEA Entrenchment in Davis County Politics

Were you aware that Louenda Downs, currenly running as the Republican Candidate for Seat B on the Davis County Commission, is the Assistant Director of the Davis Education Foundation?  The Executive Director of that same foundation is Sheryl Allen, District 19 Legislative Representative.  Does the UEA have a stranglehold on South Davis Politics?  Why are we electing Democrats in Republican clothing to represent our Republican values in conservative Davis County?  Is this true? If we vote for Democrats, why not vote for those that actually have the donkey logo?  At least then, we know they represent who they say they...

posted @ Thursday, November 02, 2006 6:50 PM | Feedback (0)

Sheryl Allen- Public Service, Personal Gain?

Please see: www.publicintegrity.org/oi/iys.aspx Do they have a point?

posted @ Thursday, November 02, 2006 5:13 PM | Feedback (0)

Sheryl Allen - Utah House Conflict of Interest Statement

Please see: www.le.utah.gov/house/members2005/CofI/allensl.pdf Do you know of other conflicts of interest?

posted @ Thursday, November 02, 2006 5:11 PM | Feedback (0)

Tom & Ann Hardy's Contact Information

3290 S SUNSET HOLLOW DR, BOUNTIFUL, UT  84010 Home Phone: 801-294-3347 Tom Hardy is the City Manager of Bountiful City.   Ann Hardy is retiring as Utah District 20 Representative. Phone number and address is not listed in the phone book.  However, the Utah Legislature Home page had their contact information. You may want to give them a call or drop them a letter telling them what you think of their governance.

posted @ Thursday, November 02, 2006 3:55 PM | Feedback (0)

Sheryl Allen - Most Likely to be a Member of the Other Party

Rep. Sheryl Allen (R), Utah Distict 19 was voted by The Salt Lake Tribune's blog on the 2006 Utah Legislative Session as the Most Likely to be a Member of the Other Party.  Please see http://blogs.sltrib.com/legislature/2006/03/and-winners-are.htm So why doesn't Sheryl run as a Democrat?  Her voting record shows that she espouses the views of a Democrat rather than a Republican...  She won't do that however because she would never get elected in conservative-values Bountiful.  However, maybe if the voters looked at her voting record and read the minutes from committee meetings that she is a member of up at the Legislature,...

posted @ Thursday, November 02, 2006 3:50 PM | Feedback (0)

The Hardy Family: Bountiful City - Legislative Conflict of Interest?

Were you aware that retiring Utah District 20 Legislator, Ann W. Hardy, who represents North Salt Lake City and portions of Bountiful is the wife of Bounfiul City Manager, Tom Hardy?  Besides representing her UEA agenda with her pal Sheryl Allen, she also represents her husband's agenda, which may or may not be in the best interests of the electorate that she represents and has represented.

posted @ Thursday, November 02, 2006 3:34 PM | Feedback (0)