EDITORIAL

Preserving the Rural Environment

Snyderville Basin, Utah – Ten years ago, county officials acted to preserve our view of the beautiful, star-filled night skies.

They set up laws for outdoor lighting. The laws say all outdoor lights must be directed downward. Flood lights are not allowed.

Unfortunately, people did not pay much attention to the laws. Now our basin is flooded with light.

The county must start enforcing the lighting laws.

And since the county created the problem, it should help fix it.

Homeowners who replace their bad lights within a year should pay 50 percent of the cost. The county should pay the rest.

People who wait a year to buy new lights should pay 75 percent. Those who wait for more than two years should pay the whole amount.

We must act now. We must prevent our beautiful area from becoming another blemish along the interstate.

Snyderville Basin at night