Commissioner responsibilities for 2016

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

In the first meeting of 2016, the commissioners responsibilities were outlined: Keith Brady, Chairman, is over Animal Control, Aquatic Center, CCP, Clerk/Auditor, DWR/RAC, GR Conservancy District, GR Medical Center, ITS/GIS, Justice Court, Local Emergency Planning, Public/Mental Health, Six County Coalition, Sheriff/Homeland Security, Travel Bureau, TV/Communication and Events Coordinator.
Paul Cowley is over: Airport, BLM/RAC, Children’s Justice Center, CV Conservancy District, ECSSD#1, Historic Preservation, Lawrence Cemetery, Library, NEWU District, Road Department/Landfill, Senior Citizens, Treasurer, Water Conservancy, Weed/Mosquito, USFS and Ambulance/EMTs.
Ethan Migliori is over: AOG, Attorney, Assessor, COG, Care Center, Consultants, County Facilities, CVSSD, Extension/USU, Personnel/Insurance, Planning/Zoning/Bldg. Recorder/Archives, Recreation Dist./Fair, Scenic Byways, Housing Authority, Museum, SITLA, EC Incentive Board.
Shared Responsibilities for commissioners: Emery County Business Chamber, Economic Development, Local building authority, Public Lands, State Parks, Trails
Commissioners Cowley and Migliori are also on the fire district board. In other business, Commissioner Keith Brady was named as chairman of the commission for 2016
The board approved the easement for the purpose of the construction, operation, repair and maintenance of a roadway and utilities in the Green River Industrial Park located on SITLA land. Johansen and Tuttle has been working with the county and SITLA. Green River City wants to annex the Industrial Park. It is the hope that individual businesses will purchase these lots. So far the industrial park has been looked at by the nuclear power plant and a refinery. A portion of land sales will go toward the infrastructure.
The trail right of way with Pacifi-Corp wasn’t approved for a motorized trail at the end of the Desbee-Dove Road. This trail is in bad shape and the concern is what type of liability the county has for any accidents that may occur there. Commissioner Migliori said there is funding available to improve the trail, but it may still not be safe. Weather is also a factor and the trail could be washed out at any time.
County Attorney Olsen said the county can minimize any liability for the trail, by marking the trail as an unimproved trail. If the county is notified that a danger exists and doesn’t take action then they are responsible. There are many degrees of trails in the county, if the trail is maintained as needed it might not be a problem.
Public Lands director Ray Petersen said the county can take the easement, fix the trail, and it still won’t be safe, it’s a steep mountainous route and rain storms can damage the trail and a trail cat would be needed for repairs. The county has the easement on the Poker ride trail in the desert, but that is a flat trail and there haven’t been any problems there. This mountain trail might be more trouble than its worth. Petersen mentioned the trail on the desert where the fatalities occurred in May 2014 is in litigation. The BLM has litigation on trails stacked up.
Commissioner Migliori said most of the trails in the county are maintained by the forest service or BLM. Trail markers designate what type of trail it is. Olsen said the only way the county can have zero liability, is if they don’t acquire the easement on the trail. The commission tabled the matter for further review.
Jones and Demille engineering requested from the commission the consideration of authorizing the Six County Infrastructure Coalition to obtain a copy of the Huntington Airport Layout Plan from the Utah Division of Aeronautics. They will handle the document confidentially in case there is sensitive information included with the airport plan. The county will give its approval after review by Attorney Olsen. The five year airport improvement plan was prepared by Johansen and Tuttle, but the commission didn’t ever approve the final plan.
The commission approved the State Homeland Security Program Award. There is $3,000 left in this grant which will be split between Emery and Carbon counties. Sheriff Greg Funk said the money will be used for emergency training for the CERT teams. The state has to approve how the grant is used.
Sheriff Funk explained the Emery County Sheriff Office procedure/protocol for investigation of peace officer use of force. He said this procedure must be posted on the website. It must include how the sheriff’s office will investigate any officer involved shooting. Attorney Olsen has looked at the policy and said it is fine.
Johansen and Tuttle explained an extension is needed on the completion date for the south Moore cut-off road phase 10. The project end date will be extended to July 2016. This is for the paperwork that is needed by the Utah Department of Transportation.
A change order was also approved on the South Moore Cut-off Road Phase 10, this is to pay $7,427 to Nielsen Construction for additional work on some softspots in the road. Johansen reported the road will come in under budget.
The commission approved a standard agreement/contract where Emery County would pay a portion of EMT training fees and provide a method of reimbursement. The county will pay 1/4 of the cost of the training and then contract with the EMT to pay another 1/4 of the fee, if the EMT agrees to be on call 12 hours per week for six months. The fee for the EMT class is $700.
The commission approved a business license for Berwick Electric Company. Wayne Senn has been selected as a part time janitor for the Green River library. Jamie Peacock is a volunteer at the Castle Dale Library. The board approved authorizing Jeff Guymon a 3 percent merit increase for accepting the Planning and Zoning Administrator responsibilities back in July 2015. Effective first pay period in 2016. The board authorized a 6 percent merit increase for Nadine Thompson for increased responsibilities when the Senior Appraiser retired and the position was not backfilled. Effective first pay period in 2016.
The board approved Garret Stilson and Jessica Olsen (lifeguards) a 3 percent wage increase for successful completion of the 6 month orientation period and Clair Maldonado a 3 percent wage increase for successful completion of the 6 month orientation period.
Justin Child was approved to be on the Emery County Fire Protection Special Service District for Emery Town.