Commissioners report outdoor pool to open

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

Emery County Commissioners held their May 12 meeting. Commissioner Gary Kofford said, “The outdoor pool will open Memorial weekend. Twenty eight lifeguards will be ready for the outdoor pool season. We have heard several good comments about the pool. They say the staff is friendly and helpful.”
The county will purchase a new Town and Country van to replace the Perkie Van which is worn out. The 2009 property tax exemption list was approved. This list includes churches and other various organizations. The commission ratified the employment contract for Michael Olsen.
The commission approved the advertising for a humidifier for the Museum of the San Rafael. Dan Wells was appointed to the Emery County Care and Rehab board. The commission will begin advertising for a member for the Emery County Care and Rehab board from the eastern portion of the county.
Under the citizen concerns category, Bill Dellos said he has been approached by people who use Straight Canyon for rock climbing and they would like a restroom put along there. The commissioners said they are looking at the problem, and Commissioner Jeff Horrocks has been in contact with the BLM and will continue to work with them to see what can be done to accommodate these recreational users.
The commission signed an interlocal agreement to cover an administrative salary adjustment for the Emery County Special Service District number one secretary Leslie Bolinder.
The commission approved an amended application for transportation, utility systems and facilities on federal lands for the Cedar Mountain Communication Site. The Cedar Mountain Site was recently cleaned up with the change from analog to digital signal. The amendment to the application is to reflect what equipment is actually at the site now.
The Drug Task Force Grant was approved for a total of $73,168. The JAG grant was approved for $10,000, this is a stimulus grant.
The commission approved a $225 sponsorship for the Rocky Mountain Coal Mine Rescue competition which will be held on June 3 and 4 at CEU. This will include the fee for two commissioners to attend the awards ceremony dinner.
The commission approved to donate the snowplow at the airport to Huntington Aviation LLC, the company taking care of the airport. County Attorney David Blackwell will see the title is transferred to the company.
The commission approved fee waivers for the Clawson Town Hall project and restrooms for the park and the Emery Town fire station project.
In personnel items the commission approved to hire Clay Collard as part-time lifeguard at the Aquatic Center. A merit increase of 3 percent and a 4 percent cost of living increase was approved for Cory Collard, Jessica Labrum, Troylynn Bentley and Aaron Knighton for successful completion of their six month orientation as part-time lifeguards.
A 3 percent merit increase was approved for Marilyn Collard, instructor, and Stayler McOmie, head lifeguard for successful completion of their six month orientation period as a part-time lifeguard.
Ninety day temporary employees were approved for the Aquatic Center including: Jessica Murray, Justin Cox, Karen Royall, Julie Hall, Stevie Feuers, Shala Pitchforth and Kaylee VanWagoner.
A 3 percent merit increase for Summer Clark was approved as a part-time library janitor. It was approved to change existing agreement with ECSSD#1 and include monthly stipend into current county wage for Leslie Bolinder. A cell phone stipend was approved for Leslie Bolinder.
The commissioners gave their report, Commissioner Jeff Horrocks said, “I applied for the vacant seat for the Division of Wildlife Resources and will know soon about that. We will be meeting with the Ferron City Council and Jim Gordon to discuss EMT training.
“We met with the travel bureau and Mike McCandless and Tina Carter will be attending a conference in Layton. The blue prints are ready for the information center booth planned for the well in Buckhorn Draw. There will be a small building there that’s manned during holiday weekends and a restroom will be placed there. The Star Trek movie came out and a small portion of that was filmed by I-70 and Eardley canyon.
“We met with the fire district and Garth Childs was re-elected as chairman. We discussed training and will be applying for a grant to purchase eight new fire trucks. It is now $290,000 per unit and we hope to replace our aging trucks. There will be a prescribed burn at Joe’s Valley and another later on at the Pines.
“I met with the Green River Water Conservancy on water and plans to assist the farmers in the area,” said Horrocks.
Commissioner Laurie Pitchforth said the remodel plans for the Emery County Care and Rehab in Ferron are going well. The county has plans to go to the community impact board for funding for the project. “The librarians for the county met with librarians from throughout the state and exchanged fun ideas for libraries. They are very creative and we encourage everyone to support our local libraries. They have copies, enlargements and other services. They stay right on top of things.
“We had the Miss Emery golf tournament fundraiser. It was very successful. Miss Emery earned a substantial amount of money. The fair theme is “Sagebrush and Surprises.” We advertised for a lamb fry vendor, but didn’t have any bidders. We want the lamb fry for two nights of the fair. There will be a commissioners chili cook-off contest one night at the fair. The recreation district along with Millsite Golf Course and the Emery High Golf Team will sponsor a junior golf clinic on June 1. On June 6 will be a Royal Tea party fundraiser for Miss Emery at the Museum of the San Rafael. All little girls are encouraged to come and get their pictures with the Disney princesses. There will be a program and lunch. The girls will visit various stations for activities. They will make a necklace, get their fingernails painted, visit the fairy godmother and have a buggy ride” said Commissioner Pitchforth.
Commissioner Gary Kofford said the Children Justice Center home is nearing completion and an open house for the high school kids was scheduled for May 18. Another open house with the state dignitaries will be held in June when the building is finished. “I attended UCEP training which explained IRS and travel rules to keep the counties on track. The pool will host the Senior Night party at the Aquatic Center. “On the Moore road phase seven we are waiting for a 404 permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. It will go up for bid as soon as that gets here. We have met on the Temple Mountain Road and the design is complete and the bid will go out May 30 with work beginning by mid-July,” said Commissioner Kofford.
Commissioner Kofford said the airport project is finished and will be a great addition to the county.
The next commission meeting will be May 27 at 9 a.m.