Commission meeting

By COREY BLUEMEL Staff Writer

At the regular meeting of the Emery County Commissioners, the portable bleachers which the Emery County Recreation District has acquired was the first item up for discussion. During an inquiry into the cost of liability insurance to carry on the bleachers, the recreation district was quoted $1,600 per month for the premium. Commissioner Drew Sitterud explained that the cost of that premium is impossible for the recreation district to carry for the bleachers.
Commissioner Sitterud instructed Mary Huntington to ask the county insurance carrier, USEP, what it would cost the county to carry the insurance. Huntington explained that if the bleachers were the property of the county, there would be no increase in the amount of the insurance premium presently paid by the county.
Commissioner Sitterud went on to explain that the bleachers were acquired with a community impact board grant which the recreation district received for the purchase of the bleachers. He noted that one of the stipulations of the grant is for the recreation district to retain ownership of the bleachers for five years. Before ownership of the bleachers can be transferred to the county for insurance purposes, the transfer must be approved by the CIB. If this transfer of ownership is approved, the county would then maintain control, such as scheduling, insurance and maintenance, of the bleachers. The commissioners approved to proceed with the request for the transfer of ownership of the bleachers from the recreation district to the county.
Emery County Economic Director Mike McCandless presented contract #030845 for amendment #7 for consideration and explained it is a continuation of a past contract. This contract deals with the Department of Workforce Services, Emery Telcom, and the county in an existing contract for the completion of surveys that are completed during the year. Emery Telcom had previously bid on providing the surveys and was awarded the bid. The DWS is the agency which is the contracting agency, and Emery County is the facilitator of the contract. Each year amendments are required to update the number of surveys to be completed in that calendar year. This amendment is for 2006, and it was approved by the commission.
Commissioner Ira Hatch said he had been approached several months ago by Four Corners Behavioral Health, along with several citizens, to become involved in the alcohol monitoring bracelet program. Research has been completed into a company to supply the monitoring bracelets and Four Corners has proposed to be the service provider for the project. It has been proposed the county purchase 13 units at a price of $1,600 each.
If a person is ordered by a judge to wear a monitoring bracelet, the sheriff’s office would do the installation, activation and deactivation of the unit. The bracelet will then conduct a test every hour to determine if alcohol is being used. The results are sent to a main computer for monitoring and recording. This system is considered to be a more accurate measure of actual alcohol usage. The monitoring bracelets will be used by Adult Probation and Parole, and also by the drug court. In addition to measuring the alcohol usage, the unit will send a signal if it is being misused or tampered with. As a part of the sentencing, the person would be responsible to pay daily monitoring fees, plus a flat rate to reimburse the county for the initial purchase prices of the bracelet.
In review of the contract proposed, Emery County Sheriff Lamar Guymon, along with Emery County Attorney David Blackwell, raised several questions. The commissioners tabled any action on this issue until more investigation can be completed and changes made to the contract wording.
As part of the risk management in the USEP insurance for Emery County, a request was made by USEP to provide a “release of liability” form to be signed by private citizens who rent county facilities. Huntington explained that the form is for buildings, such as senior centers, which are rented by residents for personal use. We have spectator insurance for those who attend county sponsored events, but this is an agreement which states that the county is not liable for any accident which may occur in a county owned facility during a personal usage rental of that facility. Blackwell and Huntington were requested by the commissioners to further investigate several items in question on the form, and the issue was tabled until the next meeting.
The commissioners then approved an easement, contingent on an encroachment permit being obtained from the road department. This easement will allow a private engineering firm to cross three Emery County roads with pipelines. This company is installing a secondary water system to residences in Carbon County. An easement is required before they can cross the Emery County roads to reach a land locked property.
In other actions taken by the Emery County Commissioners, approval was given to Sgt. Martin Wilson to apply for two grants for emergency services, and hazardous materials preparedness. They also approved to allow Commissioner Sitterud to proceed with the sound system installation project in the Museum of the San Rafael. Approval was needed because the amount the system is costing is slightly above the pre-approved amount.
Emery County is in the process of changing from a private provider for cleaning services to an in-house employee provider. Commissioner Gary Kofford requested permission to purchase several pieces of used cleaning equipment from Castle Valley Maintenance. The purchase was approved contingent on the inspection of the equipment.
Dannette Waite, Julie Jones and Pauline Jensen, of the youth city councils, informed the commissioners about past youth leadership summits. The youth leadership council has presented two summits and both have been well attended. In the past the youth councils have participated in the Emery County Chamber of Commerce lamb fry and other projects as fund raisers to pay for the summit. They have also relied heavily on local businesses to donate. Jones requested consideration by the commissioners to allow the youth city councils to take over the lamb fry and the funds raised from that would finance their entire summit. Commissioner Sitterud informed the youth leadership council members that the fair is in the planning stages now and some location changes are being proposed that may require the lamb fry to be shortened in the number of days it is served. He also stated that the lamb fry works in conjunction with the Castle Valley Pageant and is not affiliated with the fair board.
The next meeting of the Emery County Commission is Feb. 7 at 9 a.m. in the commission chambers in the county building.