BOUNTIFUL — It was all there, from flashing lights on Bountiful Police and Utah Highway Patrol vehicles, to tours of the South Davis Mobile Command Center.

And that was just what was available for the public to see outside the South Davis Recreation Center this past Saturday during the annual Bountiful Emergency Preparedness Fair.

Once inside, the hundreds of participants could view more than a dozen other exhibits, ranging from food storage, including some food samples, to the Bountiful City Youth Council and credit-related information.

“It’s been pretty busy,” said Bountiful Community Service Council Co-Chair Richard Watson. That group sponsors the fair each year, with this the first time it was held at the Recreation Center.

“The Community Service Council has worked really hard on this,” said City Council Member and Service Council Co-Chair Beth Holbrook.

“There were a couple of glitches; we were going to hold it at Bountiful High School but their (gym) floor was being replaced,” she said, adding, “We’re getting a lot of families,” including people who didn’t know about it but were coming to the Rec Center.

“A lot of people are going through the command vehicle,” said Bountiful Police Chief Tom Ross. “It’s a good opportunity for people to ask questions, but not be in a threatening situation,” such as being cited with a ticket, he said.

“Pay your credit card payment every month,” advised Will VanderToolen of AAA Fair Credit Foundation of Utah. He conducted several classes, ranging from budgeting to how to build and maintain credit.

“Utility bill payments are not reported,” unless there’s a long time with no payment, service has to be discontinued, or when new service is requested, he said.

“Cell phone payments are the same way. The only way it hurts your credit is if you don’t make payments on time,” VanderToolen said. “Debit cards are the same way.”

That is, it normally makes no difference to a credit report if a debit card is used in paying a bill.

But credit history is built or destroyed based on timely payments of credit cards, installment loans for cars, mortgages, student loans, and the like, VanderToolen told the group.

“Thirty-five percent of your credit score is history. If you miss one payment, it can hurt you for up to seven years, and particularly for two years,” he said.

“Don’t go into debt in an attempt to improve your credit,” VanderToolen emphasized.

Most anything desired can be purchased with a credit score of 750, although it is possible to obtain a credit score of up to 850.

He advised getting credit balances down to at least 50 percent of your credit limit.

Having a good credit score can even impact getting a job, VanderToolen said. That’s particularly so for positions where money or accounting is involved, such as a bank teller, he said.

A free credit report is available from the three credit reporting agencies, once a year, VanderToolen said. That is available at www.annualcreditreport.com.

Many other so-called free credit reports advertised on TV end up having some sort of a fee, despite claims to the contrary, he has said in the past.

“We can all get by,” financially, VanderToolen said, “but if we have financial goals, such as retirement, or for an emergency fund or savings,” that is advisable.

It’s important to account for personal expenses and keep a record, but that can be done according to individual preference, he advised.

For more information, visit www.faircredit.org/contact.asp or call English — 1 (800) 351-4195 or Espanol — 1 (800) 341-5977.

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com