Arizona border towns would be better off in Utah
 
IN OUR VIEW
The Spectrum
 
A proposal to unite Southern Utah and northern Arizona law enforcement agencies in an attempt to cut down on polygamy abuses in the small border towns in the region is an example of thinking outside the box and looking for a new solution to an age-old problem.

While such new ideas are being exchanged, why not lay a new one on the table -- a restructuring of the border between Arizona and Utah in that region?

Colorado City, Hildale, Littlefield, Beaver Dam, Mocassin, Fredonia and a host of other small dots on the northwestern Arizona map are ill-served by their current position and not only because of polygamy beliefs.

The county seat for most of these communities is in Kingman or Flagstaff, both a good distance away, putting the communities out of sight and out of mind to those who should serve them best. Their problems with community infrastructure -- from sewers to roads -- are not heard as loudly and consistently as those located nearer to the seat of government.

Meanwhile, the Washington County community is already serving many of these communities by offering closer shopping, medical services and assistance programs such as the annual Holiday Assistance Program -- much more than they get from their home state.

By location alone, these communities have much more in common with the state of Utah than Arizona. There are cultural and familial roots that run deep.

The Colorado River, where it dips down from Utah and into Arizona, then runs into Nevada, could provide an excellent and logical border in a revamping of the two states.

Of course, there would be considerable political red tape to cut to make such a project come to fruition, but it could be done and would probably be easier to accomplish than meshing law enforcement agencies from two neighboring states. There will also be endless legislative and court challenges to endure if the plan to set up this polygamy task force goes through.

Although there would undoubtedly be hurdles to re-setting the state border, it could solve a number of problems at once.
 
TheSpectrum.com
Originally published Monday, September 22, 2003
 
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