Actions by commissioners

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

In commission meetings in March the following actions were taken:
Commission agreed to let the youth hold the graduation night party at the pool. The group has plans for a pool party, climbing wall, dance, mechanical bull, food and other activities. They hope to raise enough money so they can have a large tent at the event so activities can be held even in bad weather. This is the seventh year for the Grad Party. Sheriff LaMar Guymon said he will have two deputies at the event and they have helped at the event each year and they haven’t had any problems. The organizers are looking for volunteers to help supervise the event. Anyone interested can contact Four Corners Mental Health and sign up to volunteer with Lori Huntington. The Commissioners reminded organizers the pool capacity can’t be more than 130 people in the pool at any one time. The commission approved the purchase of a water pressure reducer for the pool.
Neal Peacock and Tom Humphrey were re-appointed to the Castle Valley Special Service District. Caleen Wilcox was appointed to the Emery County Care and Rehab board. Mark H. Willians and Richard Jensen were appointed to the Emery County Special Service District #1 board. Guy Webster was appointed as an at-large member for the Emery County Public Lands Council to represent the Green River area.
Sgt. Tom Harrison presented the county emergency response plan to the commissioners. The plan has been revised and updated. It is now on the computer so changes can be made more easily in the future.
Sgt. Harrison has presented the plan to all the cities to see if they would like to participate with the county on their plan or if they want to have their own plan. Every city needs a plan in order to qualify for FEMA funding in the event of a disaster. The emergency response plan will be a work in progress and updates will be made as needed.
Sgt. Harrison reported all the cities are favorable to joining the county plan except Green River because of their distant location they wish to have their own plan.
Sheriff Guymon reported the Emery County Sheriff’s Office has been asked to be a major presenter at the Governor’s conference on emergency preparedness in May.
The commissioners agreed to declare lot 1-128-39 in Ferron as county surplus property and the process will begin to dispose of the propery including advertisement and the gathering of bids as well as notification of any adjacent land owners. The property is valued at $93.
Rocky Mountain Power was granted permission to store materials at the Green River road shop for a project they have going in the area. A waiver agreement will be drawn to discuss liability issues should the property be damaged or stolen.
The commission waived a building permit fee for the food bank so they can install a new furnace.
The court house main floor will receive a new paint job and the job will be advertised. All walls in all offices will be painted.
Commissioner Gary Kofford reported $2.2 million of federal stimulus money is to be used on the Goblin Valley Road. There are four miles of that road yet to be finished. This project should complete the first section for approximately two miles and it will be bid within 90 days. The state parks access funds part of the road will be bid at another time and the projects will be separate.
Morris Sorensen was reappointed to the Emery County Water Conservancy District.
The commission awarded the bid for the aquatic park to Nelco Construction. This is a fast act contract and work must begin within 90 days. The project should be complete and seeded by mid-July. Castle Dale will also participate on this park project and they will construct a restroom at the park.
Lawn Tech will take care of the fertilization and weed control on the county owned lawns at the museum, county building and senior centers.
The law enforcement agreement with the forest service was approved. The sheriff’s office provides law enforcement and patrols to the campgrounds and forest.
The county emergency operations plan was officially adopted by the commission.
The replacement purchase of a chiller for the county building was approved. The old one hasn’t worked for two years. The replacement cost is $72,000.
The commission approved the donation of a county owned piece of land by the Emery Library for the construction of the new fire station in Emery. A public hearing will be held on April 14 to reopen and ammend the county budget.
The May tax sale is set for May 21 at 10 a.m.
The road agreement with the forest service was approved to apply mag chloride along the forest road to the Ferron Dugway. The county provides the workers and equipment and the forest service pays for the chemical.
The commission approved a letter be written to the State Finance Office which designated the Emery County Special Service District #1 to receive the county’s portion of the Secure Rural School Title I funds. This money will be used for the county match money on the Goblin Valley road project.
A public hearing is set for April 14 at 10 a.m. for the Four Corners Behavioral Health regarding the Emery County substance abuse program.
A memorandum of understanding was approved between Emery Recreation and Emery County for the operation of the gun range.
The recruitment process will begin for a full-time animal control officer.
Mindi Labrum, Tammy Oliverson and Stayler McOmie were approved as head lifeguards at the aquatics center. Janetta Young was approved as a part-time janitor at the Cleveland Library. EMTs were approved to be scheduling coordinators for their unit: Valerie Newland in Green River, James Byars in Emery, Becky Nelson in Ferron, Marie Jensen in Castle Dale and Pete Alger in Huntington.
Sue Copinga was approved as the training officer for the EMTs.