Commission approves easement

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

The Emery County commission approved an easement with SITLA. SITLA is preparing to sell off a portion of their land and the county needs to maintain a right-of-way through this land. This easement is important to maintain access for search and rescue purposes. Mike McCandless said the people who want to buy the property want to fence it off, so an easement is important.
County Attorney David Blackwell said he wanted some wording changed in the contract to specify any lawsuits be filed in Emery County. The county has 60 days to get the agreement back to SITLA. They will check on obtaining the right-of-way all the way to the river and if the property owner fences then a gate must be left to allow access.
Bob Greenburg, director of Four Corners Behavioral Health presented their audit to the Emery County Commissioners in their last meeting. He said they use the resources they have very well with tight financial controls. They were written up for an omission in board meeting minutes and for some coding mistakes, but overall it was a very good audit. Four Corners is debt free and when they recently renovated the Castle Dale office they didnt have to borrow any money to do that. Commissioner Ira Hatch had a question on expenditures. Greenburg explained that any expenditures over $250 must be approved by him and any over $3,000 must be approved by the board president. The commissioners approved the audit.
The Emery County Recreation board has two open positions. Each city has a representative and the board also has two at-large members. Four people applied for the two open positions: Ross Gordon, Jimmy Jones, Dannette Waite and Johnny Nielson. The commission approved Jones and Nielson for the openings.
The commission ratified the bid for the removal of the scale house at the sheriffs complex. They asked that Ernie Jensen notify the sheriffs office when he is ready to begin on the project.
The commission approved the contract with the state of Utah for funding reimbursement for collection and delivery of corner coordinates and the construction of a digital parcel data base. The work has begun on surveying corners and most of them are OK with some being off a little.
Nielson Construction is asking to purchase some land near the landfill which is adjacent to land they own. They want 100 feet where available. Commissioner Drew Sitterud recommended to start the process and allow 100 feet where possible. Commissioner Gary Kofford said a process must be followed which declares the property to be surplus and the property will be put up for sale. Assessor Chris Bell has set the price at $200 per acre as a minimum bid. The notice of sale will be published and anyone wishing to bid on it may do so. The bids will be brought back to the commission and the bids opened.
The commission approved to begin the process for the transfer of ownership of the culinary water line supplying the landfill to the Castle Valley Special Service District. Darrel Leamaster, director of the CVSSD said they would receive the line as long as payment was not involved. Attorney Blackwell will draw up a contract for the transfer.