Commission responsibilities for 2009

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

In the first commission meeting of the year, the Emery County Commissioners voted for Gary Kofford to serve as the commission chairman for the year. The 2009 commissioner responsibilities were also assigned. The responsibilities include: Commissioner Jeff Horrocks; ambulance/EMTs, attorney, council of governments, CCP, DWR, economic development, Green River medical center, housing authority, justice court, municipal building authority, Museum of the San Rafael, North Emery Water Users District, personnel, public lands, travel council, treasurer and weed/mosquito.
Commissioner Kofford; airport, aquatic center, association of governments, Bureau of Land Management, Castle Valley Special Service District, clerk/auditor, county facilities, economic development, Emery County Special Service District #1, information technology/GIS, Lawrence Cemetery, municipal building authority, planning/zoning, public lands, public/mental health, RC and D, road department/landfill, TV and communications and water conservancy.
Commissioner Laurie Pitchforth; animal control, assessor, care center, chamber of commerce, economic development, extension/USU, historic preservation, library, municipal building authority, public lands, recorder/archives, recreation district and Emery County Fair, senior citizens, sheriff/homeland security, United States Forest Service, wildland fire and workforce services.
Emery County citizens with questions in any of the areas of responsibilities can direct questions to the commissioner in charge of that responsibility. All commissioners are open to questions from the citizens on all issues at any time.
In other commission business the commission approved the name of Ray Jeffs to fill a vacant seat on the Emery County Travel Bureau. The board approved a cell phone stipend for Laurie Pitchforth and Brook Smith.
The commission approved an agreement with Government Matters LLC for a public land consultant and lobbyist in the amount of $15,000 a year. This company is owned by Randy Johnson.
The commission approved a change for the public lands council bylaws. The lands council wanted to change the bylaws to allow the chairman to serve for two years instead of the one year currently in the bylaws.
The commission approved the plan for the covering of the first cell at the landfill. The layer will be three feet of loose mancos shale. The commission will submit the plan to the DEQ for their approval.
A public hearing was held on the bond resolution for the Castle Valley Special Service District. Darrel Leamaster, board director for the CVSSD said the law recently changed and a public hearing is required on the issuance of bonds. The bond is for a $1.5 million, zero interest loan to be paid off in the next eight years. The bond will be used for projects in all eight communities served by the CVSSD; $600,000 to curb and gutter; $1.4 million in streets and $200,000 for drain projects with the rest going to engineering and rights of way procurement. After the issuance of this bond there will be $538,000 left on the original bond approved by voters in 2001. Leamaster stated in November another bond election will be needed.
Commissioner Kofford said the district has leveraged the loan money with grants and they have been able to complete many projects for the county.
The commission approved a fee waiver for the Lawrence cemetery for a family who already owned a family plot there.
The commission approved the ratification of the resolution on Dec. 2, 2008 relating to the bonds.
Holly Damron the current Miss Emery addressed the commission on her platform and the work she has been doing for the military family support. She has worked with the American Legion and prepared holiday packages for the soldiers and most recently she took afghans to local Veterans in the care centers in Ferron and Elmo. Her aunt donated the afghans which she made and the yarn was donated.
The commissioners thanked Holly for coming in and said her work has been an asset to the county.
Commissioner Horrocks asked for approval for Tina Carter to take a county vehicle to Denver for the travel show there and to approve the use of a vehicle for other travel shows for 2009.
The commission approved change orders for the pool. There will be repainting in some areas at the pool. An alarm system with receivers and cameras was approved.
Commissioner Kofford gave an update on the pool. He said the hours are from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. From 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. is lap swim. From 8-9 a.m. is aquasize; lap swim again at 11:30-1 p.m. open swim 3:30 p.m.- 8 p.m. Lap swim 8-9 p.m. Aquasize MWF from 1-2 p.m. The hours will be posted on the county website. The pool will be closed for Martin Luther King Day and President’s Day, but will be open on all the summer holidays so people can plan reunions on those holidays and the pool will be available for use.
There has been some trouble with the outside lighting not working properly. The heater fan assemblies are set on the ground on the east side of the building. They work to pull condensation out of the building. But, the intake is picking up the moisture from the outtake and the moisture is freezing on the intake filters. There is a lot of condensation in the building due to this problem. Some modifications have been made to alleviate the problem, but the modifications need to be made permanent. There is a problem with the eye wash stations and the water gets too hot for rinsing the eyes and could burn the eyes. Kofford said the boilers for the building are too big, but there doesn’t seem to be a solution available for that right now. Kofford said they will meet with Hughes Construction to discuss these items. All pool related expenses can be paid.
Mary Huntington, personnel director addressed the commission on personnel matters. A 3 percent wage increase was approved for Mark DeBry, building inspector who has successfully completed his six month orientation period. A one month leave of absence was approved for Dottie Grimes. Bernice Payne was hired as a temporary employee to serve in Grime’s absence. Holly Damron will be a temporary employee in the IT department. Lane Gardner and Taylor Cox were approved as lifeguards.