The Emery County Commissioners met for their annual commission meeting in Green River on Aug. 23. The commission opened bids for scrap metal removal from the Emery County landfill. Sims Metal Management from Salt Lake was the highest bid with a bid of $212 per ton.
The commission approved the agreement with the Division of Forestry, Fire and Statelands. They contribute $7,500 to the county for the management of noxious weeds.
The contract was approved between the county and the State of Utah for the low income apartment renovation of all the bathrooms in the two bedroom apartments in Castle Dale and Ferron.
The commission ratified the resolution authorizing Castle Valley Special Service District tax increase.
The commission talked about a new water connection for the road shop so they can have a better system available to wash equipment and other needs. The matter was tabled until more information is gathered about the water share and water connection.
Brady Bradford presented information to the commission on new waste water systems and trends. In some areas they are running into problems with not having enough soil to treat waste waters. They are looking at new alternative systems. Many of these systems are being used in other areas around the state. He said in order for any of these alternative systems to be used they need to be approved by the health department and county commission and county attorney.
Commissioner Jeff Horrocks said it would be a good idea to bring the issue to the planning and zoning board also for their general knowledge. Use of these alternative systems will allow building in areas previously considered unusable for building. These systems are more expensive to install and maintain than traditional systems.
Bradford estimates there would be four-10 systems installed in the four county area each year and probably only one a year in Emery County and that would probably be on mountain land. The commission approved the request to allow these alternative systems.
The commission discussed the request of the district court to have safety glass installed around their office. Commissioner James Nelson asked for a written agreement from the courts be obtained that they would pay for the glass and the commission didn’t see a problem with having it installed.
Marilyn Collard will teach a lifeguard certification class at the swimming pool for those interested in attending.
Commissioner James Nelson mentioned the Utah Rural Summit he attended at Southern Utah University. There were several great workshops and a good risk management class. He met with Mike Noel in an effort to move the Emery County land use bill along. He felt they are making some headway with him. Commissioner Nelson said he felt the Emery County bill is a real grass roots attempt at land management and they are trying to insert bureaucracy into the effort. He attended a water meeting with the Emery Water Conservancy district and the county is looking good for water with all the reservoirs almost full at this time. He also attended the fundraising ATV poker ride to raise money for Millsite State Park. Forty people attended and rode 4-wheelers and had a lunch together.
Commissioner Laurie Pitchforth attended the rural summit as well and said there were some informative meetings and meetings on public land issues important to our county. She met with Mike Styler from the Natural Resources division. She attended Horse and Buggy days in Elmo and an aging meeting. There is a seat available for anyone in the Huntington, Cleveland or Elmo areas interested in serving on the aging board.
On Sept. 9 will be a county sponsored lamb fry lunch for the county senior citizens at Little Bear campground beginning at 11 a.m.
Commissioner Horrocks reported on the road projects in the county. The contract for the Reeder Subdivision road was awarded to Nielson Construction. The Lila Canyon road is complete. The South Moore cut-off road is undergoing a fencing project right now to keep cows off the road.
The dips in the Little Wildhorse Canyon have been installed. Miller Creek road phase two is now underway.
County Attorney David Blackwell alerted the commission to possible increases in payments to public defenders. New contracts are being formulated and there will be a revamping on how these contracts are bid out. There may be a new bidding and contract process coming at the state level which makes the system uniform throughout the state.
Currently each county handles these contracts on a county by county basis as outlined by the state legislature. The ACLU had a lawsuit against the entire state of Montana and that situation has brought about a look at the current system used in Utah.
Blackwell said to be aware of this as budgets are prepared in the fall.
The next commission meeting will be on Sept. 13 at 9 a.m. in Castle Dale.
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