The Emery County Commission met in their regularly scheduled meeting. The first item of business was to open the bids for the old Green River Senior Citizen Center. There was only one bid and that was for $100 from Green River City. The commission approved to sell the building to Green River City. Green River City will have the building evaluated to see what needs to be done there to bring the building into compliance. The Green River Community Center has interest in the building to use it in the interim until they can have a new community center building constructed.
Commissioner Gary Kofford said there is some equipment left in the old center and he recommended everything except the lawn mower be left for Green River City.
The commission approved the sale of a county owned parcel of land in Ferron at 200 North between 300-400 West. The bid for $160 was approved from Vance and Bobbie Brown.
Mary Winters and Glen Baxter representatives from the Green River Medical Center reported to the commission. The medical center served 1,034 patients last year. Of those patients, 177 were over 65 and 256 were 18 and younger. Twenty percent of those served were Hispanic and 38 percent were uninsured, 9 percent on Medicaid and 40 percent at the poverty level.
Free drugs were dispersed in the amount of $17,000 and $87,000 in services were donated according to a sliding fee scale. Emery County donates $24,000 each year to the Green River Medical Center.
The Green River Medical Center is a nonprofit center and half of their operating expenses come from grants. Since the county line was moved, Grand County doesn’t give the center any monetary support even though the center still treats Grand County patients. The center asked for any help and support the county commission could give to persuade Grand County to contribute to the medical center also.
The commission approved tentative budgets for Emery County and the Castle Valley Special Service District. The commission approved the sale of a 1995 ambulance at auction.
The commission approved the right-of-way grant and temporary use permit for access to a communication site on the Henry Mountains.
The commission set a public hearing date of Dec. 2 at 10 a.m. to hear any comments about the rezoning of the Green River Industrial Park. The planning and zoning commission voted to approve the zoning change and sent it on to the commission for further action.
The commission approved to hire Johansen and Tuttle to prepare an environmental analysis and POD for BLM patent on 80 acres for the landfill and 40 acres for the gun range. Commissioner Gary Kofford said the BLM instructed him they can’t move forward with the patent unless this work is completed. There is already a landfill plan in place and this work should be able to be included to save money. The bid of $56,230 was approved to do the development plan, site surveys and EA. There is some money available in the landfill budget to help with these costs. The landfill is on its last cell and is in need of room to expand so the patent process with the BLM needs to move along in a timely manner.
The aquatics center is getting close to completion. The county will not take over the building until it is fully complete and the items on the punch list addressed adequately. Commissioner Drew Sitterud invited any interested parties to tour the facility and write down any problems they see to be reviewed with the architect on Oct. 24.
“The outdoor pool will be filled so training on its operations can be given. A cover has been purchased for the outdoor pool. The outdoor pool will be drained down and a pump will circulate the water there year-round to prevent freezing. Security cameras will also be installed to discourage visitors to the pool after hours. “It’s an impressive facility. There are a lot of people who have put a lot of work into it. The first two weeks after the pool is complete we will be training lifeguards. For now the county will pay for lifeguard training. So if you know anyone interested in taking this training have them let us know,” said Commissioner Sitterud.
The commission approved to donate a year long swim pass for a family to the Shop at Home Campaign 2008. The campaign is being sponsored by the Emery County Progress newspaper.
The commission approved to fund the “Prime for Life” class in Green River taught by Zina Willard. The program is for offenders who have been ordered to take classes for drunk driving offenses. Teaching the program in Green River will help because transportation to classes is difficult for those without driving licenses. Judge Steven Stream told Commissioner Sitterud that his account has most of the funding for the program.
Mary Huntington, personnel director addressed the commission on personnel matters. The commission approved a wage adjustment for Brook Smith of the sheriff’s office. The commission approved the hiring of part-time lifeguards for the pool: Marilyn Collard, Stayler McOmie, Annette Hatch, Aaron Knighton, Troylyn Bentley, Jessica Labrum, Ryan Thompson, and Dakota McArthur.
The commission approved to hire Marilyn Collard to teach a lifeguard certification class.
The commission approved to partner with the Emery Medical Center and Lowell Morris as the Emery County wellness provider. Morris will come and do blood draws and then the employees will contact the Emery County Medical Center to schedule their physicals. The wellness checkups will be done the third week of November. The commission approved a 3 percent increase for Janet Damron in the recorders office.
Mark Walsh and Ken Brown from the Western Counties Alliance reported to the commission that in the bailout package recently passed there is portion of that bill which funded full Payment in Lieu of Taxes monies to the counties. This could mean $1.1-1.2 million for Emery County. The county has received this year $708,000 which was 62.2 percent and a payment of an additional $430,000 will be coming. This full PILT funding begins with 2008 funding year which just ended on Sept. 30. The full funding is guaranteed through 2012 with 3-4 percent increases each year. Attention will need to be given after 2012 to insure the full funding continues beyond that point.
The Western Counties Alliance is also working on RS-2477 road right-of-way issues. Walsh will be flying back to Washington for a meeting with Sen. Reid on Nov. 17 concerning HR-308. This bill helps counties to protect their right-of-ways.
by Zina Willard. The program is for offenders who have been ordered to take classes for drunk driving offenses. Teaching the program in Green River will help because transportation to classes is difficult for those without driving licenses. Judge Steven Stream told Commissioner Sitterud that his account has most of the funding for the program.
Mary Huntington, personnel director addressed the commission on personnel matters. The commission approved a wage adjustment for Brook Smith of the sheriff’s office. The commission approved the hiring of part-time lifeguards for the pool: Marilyn Collard, Stayler McOmie, Annette Hatch, Aaron Knighton, Troylyn Bentley, Jessica Labrum, Ryan Thompson, and Dakota McArthur.
The commission approved to hire Marilyn Collard to teach a lifeguard certification class.
The commission approved to partner with the Emery Medical Center and Lowell Morris as the Emery County wellness provider. Morris will come and do blood draws and then the employees will contact the Emery County Medical Center to schedule their physicals. The wellness checkups will be done the third week of November. The commission approved a 3 percent increase for Janet Damron in the recorders office.
Mark Walsh and Ken Brown from the Western Counties Alliance reported to the commission that in the bailout package recently passed there is portion of that bill which funded full Payment in Lieu of Taxes monies to the counties. This could mean $1.1-1.2 million for Emery County. The county has received this year $708,000 which was 62.2 percent and a payment of an additional $430,000 will be coming. This full PILT funding begins with 2008 funding year which just ended on Sept. 30. The full funding is guaranteed through 2012 with 3-4 percent increases each year. Attention will need to be given after 2012 to insure the full funding continues beyond that point.
The Western Counties Alliance is also working on RS-2477 road right-of-way issues. Walsh will be flying back to Washington for a meeting with Sen. Reid on Nov. 17 concerning HR-308. This bill helps counties to protect their right-of-ways.
Commission news: more PILT money coming to county; pool almost done
"Toys for the outdoor pool are now in place."