Poetic Notes on the Utah County Commissioners Meeting. March 1, 2016.

The Utah County Magistrates held solemn conclave on
the first Tuesday of March; their faces rather pale and drawn.
And after volunteers for prayer and pledge had been assigned,
they settled down to wade through all the paperwork and grind.

They juggled the agenda so they could begin debate
to get the Giles and Bates contest erased off their full slate.
The right of way, an asphalt road, and section lines demanded
commissioners consult and pass a judgement single-handed.

The atmosphere was tense as lawyers from both sides addressed
the county managers with many counterclaims and zest.
The talk ranged from the pavement to the shoulder's right of way;
a judge's ruling also some small part did duly play.

Ochre lines and yellow lines and fence lines by the score
kept the poor commissioners confused (and apt to snore).
The county engineer had much to say of nuisance strip,
of grading and of right of way -- it gave them all the Pip.

At one point someone said to split the baby -- come again?
Did they mean the pump house? (Let's just all count up to ten.)
The audience grew restless as the brouhaha progressed
from North to South, then East to West -- it was an acid test! 

At last become indignant, Mr. Graves gave vent to wrath
and almost caused a riot and lamentable bloodbath.
In sympathetic rage he yelled "Giles property be damned!"
(Which just might now go viral and be virtually spammed.)

This public road not dedicated caused so much contention
that you would have thought it was the Republican Convention.
Maps and curves were tossed about like twigs upon the sea,
and whether to vacate or not was argued furiously. 

At last "Approved as Stipulated" came up for a vote.
Twas no surprise that two to one it passed as if by rote.
The crowd was so exhausted by the contretemps that most
went home and had a bowl of milk with just some plain white toast. 

Much other work the magistrates of Utah County did.
But by then this poet's brain to stupor mild had slid.
O Commissioners of County, you have got a trying job.
If I were to attempt it how my head should simply throb!  


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Reaction from the Commish:

Tim,

You are an excellent writer and communicator of the feelings and emotions that come with some of the issues. I have often mentioned to those that come to our meetings that we really should be charging for admission because its the best political theater in the valley.   On a serious note I would love to visit with you in the future and wonder if I could get permission from you to use this poem?

Thanks

Bill Lee

Commissioner

Utah County.

Thanks for sharing your talent. Do you have orhers?  Larry Ellertson.

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