Sunday Morning News Roundup

Two Standard-Examiner items worthy of note

By Curmudgeon

Two must-read items in Sunday's Standard Examiner. The first is a front page story by Scott Schwebke reporting that the Godfrey Administration's "independent citizen's committee" [politely so called] toured Mount Ogden Golf Course with a representative of Jack Nicklaus's golf course design firm, discussing the possibility of making MOGC and Jack Nicklaus designed course. Mr. Schwebke notes that the Nicklaus representative was doing the walk-over in hopes of getting the re-design job, or as one member of the committee put it, "he was interviewing for the job."

The story also reported that Ogden city has been, for the better part of a year, working with a local design form on a "gentleman's agreement" --- i.e. no fees paid --- but that part of the agreement was a guarantee that the city not reveal the name of the local firm. Godfrey "refused to say" if that firm was Nicklaus'. The eight members of the so-called independent citizens committee were told "in no uncertain terms" not to reveal the name of that firm. The Mayor said he made it "very clear" to all committee members that releasing the name would be a dishonorable and unethical thing to do and would bring "shame on them."

Two points worth noting: first, the Mayor's claim that he was determined to keep hands off the committee's operations so it would not be unduly influenced by the Administration is getting to look more than a little ragged. He met with them first to pitch his ideas. He provides meeting space and staff support. And now we learn that he arranged a walk over with the city's consultants on golf courses, and he's dictating to the committee what it may reveal and what it may not. While piously insisting he's keeping hands off. Uh huh. Right.

Second: we see again this administration's preference for proceeding in secret and for keeping all its minions sworn to secrecy... even its "independent citizen committees." Uh huh.

To be fair, the story does point out that at least one member of the committee is not happy with the Nicklaus "hire us!" recommendations, and is heading up the so-called "sub" committee that is presenting the one million dollar redesign that would keep MOGC as a mountain course. The Nicklaus group wants to make it over into a valley-meadow course like El Monte.

[I pass over in diplomatic silence the rich opportunities for sarcasm inherent in Hizzonah presuming to lecture anyone on what constitutes ethical an honorable conduct in public affairs.]

The second item is a very interesting Charles Trentelman Wasatch Rambler column, reporting a conversation he had with Robert Geiger, in which Mr. Geiger makes it clear he intends to continue to "expose" [so to speak] WSU's alleged "anti-business" attitudes, and in which it becomes clear that Mr. Geiger and his associates absolutely do not intend to let the gondola/gondola scheme drop.

Trentelman's column is worth a careful read. Note how, in it, Mr. Geiger displays the trade-mark arrogance of a Godfrey Gondolista: anyone one or body that does not accept without question his particular ideas about how Ogden should change is, by right of not accepting his ideas, "anti-business" and opposed to Ogden's betterment.