The views expressed in this column are the opinion of the writer and not necessarily those of the ownership or management of this newspaper. The first controversy of the year for Davis County erupted last month in Kaysville when a majority of the City Council voted to halt city recreation programs on Monday evenings. Hello, Holy War!

By now, almost every local columnist and newspaper editorialist has tossed in their two cents on the topic. And today, it's my turn.

This is not the first time a Utah city has stirred the pot with recreational issues. The debate over Sunday hours on city-owned golf courses and swimming pools has come and gone in numerous communities and is a main reason I'm leery of sheltered municipalities busting into the recreation game.

Theoretically, the Kaysville bank could be justified on a simple supply-and-demand basis. If turn-out at Little League practices on Monday was significantly lower than on other days, the decision could be defended by pure numbers.

Some letter writers also believe that the "majority rules" concept should apply--a belief that would have our Founding Fathers gagging. When cities get involved in offering tax-funded programs, the operations shouldn't be dictated by public polls. Just because more men than women attend City Council meetings doesn't mean a City Hall should lock up the women's restrooms.

While there could be some justification for the Kaysville decision, there is a major problem with the comments from two of its council members.

As a tune-up for the vote, one councilman said he was spurred to action because "two or three" residents had requested the move. Hmmm, two or three requests--hardly a groundswell considering the resulting furor and ill will.

I wonder what the council members would have done if "four or five" residents had asked that Little League practice be extended to Sundays? Somehow, I don't think he would have been as responsive to constituent desires.

Even worse, however, was the naive and clueless statement by Councilman Chris Snell that the ban on Monday had nothing to do with the LDS Church's Family Home Evening program.

I expect Councilman Snell also believes in the Tooth Fairy, Bigfoot, and the Teletubbies.

Ogden columnist Mark Saal already gave Snell his "Freedom from Thought" award. I can't better that--all I can do is wonder whether Councilman Snell is using his position as a warm-up for his comedy act.

Let's be honest. We cannot separate Utah culture from the traditions and dictates of the LDS Church. Our liquor laws are not the result of good advice from Anheuser Busch.

As the major player in Utah life, the LDS Church role should not be denied by a budding comedian from Kaysville--but neither should the City Council run tax-based decisions through a stake president.