Commission to apply for funds for problem flooding areas

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Emery County Commissioners addressed a variety of issues in their second meeting in March. Commissioner Migliori said there have been some problems with flooding in four specific areas in the last couple of years. Emergency funds will be applied for to help alleviate these problems. These four areas are the XTO Site, Water Plant, Adobe Wash, and Cottonwood on the Cottonwood Drainage for a total of $4,170,140. The land owners in lower Castle Dale have approached the commission several times about flooding problems in their area when the Cottonwood Creek overflows its banks and comes onto their farm land and homes have been flooded as well.
Capt. Kyle Ekker has been working to put the reports together on these areas, so funding can be applied for with the NRCS. Each of these projects is being handled separately, but the combined total estimate to fix the problem areas is $4,170,140. This includes constructing a berm to keep flood waters off the farm lands below Castle Dale.
The damage survey reports have identified the areas most significantly flooded recently. The reports will go to the NRCS and hopefully emergency allocations of funds for these projects will made available. A 25 percent match must come from the county/stakeholders involved.
This can be an in-kind match and use of equipment to work on the project can go towards the match. Orangeville City has said they could supply backhoes for the work of cleaning under the Orangeville bridge over the Cottonwood Creek. A new culvert would need to be installed at the water plant up the canyon because the one there is too small. Riprap needs to be installed by the Barker’s home up the canyon and the rock there could be part of the in-kind match money. Migliori expressed confidence the in-kind match could be met without much difficulty. Once the funds from the NRCS are in place they must be used within 220 days. Work on these projects needs to begin as soon as the money is there. Work on easements, permitting and NEPA can begin now, so when the funds come in, the work can begin. Some of the areas needing work would need Army Corp. of Engineer approval and some would not. After the work is complete, there needs to be operation and maintenance plans in place to insure the areas receive proper maintenance in the future, to decrease any liabilities involved. Each of the four projects will have a separate operation and maintenance plan. The canal company and the power company are all very supportive of the projects and are on board with the in-kind matches needed.
It’s expected the NRCS will have a contract ready within 30 days. The NRCS can also help with the NEPA process for the projects. Drawings are needed for each of the projects. Any funds expended now wouldn’t be reimbursed because a contract isn’t in place, but it would be good to get moving on the projects and the canal company has some funds available to help get the projects moving. Agreements between the stakeholders for the in-kind contributions will also need to be in place.
Migliori explained the commission needs to approve the reports to confirm the county would like to pursue this project. The commission approved submitting the reports to NRCS to start the funding process.
The commission filled three vacant terms on the Emery Water Conservancy District Board of Directors with JR Nelson, Lee McElprang and Clyde Magnuson.
Jacob Sharp from the Castle Valley Special Service District came to the commission for approval of the authorization of bonds in the amount of not more than $2,350,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series 2016 A & B, fixing the maximum amount, maturity, interest rate, and discount on the bonds; providing for the publication of a notice of public hearing and or bonds to be issued; providing for the running of a contest period; and related matters.
Sharp explained the public hearing will be on April 5. From the date of publication of notice of the issuance of bonds there is a 30 day comment period. The CVSSD received grant money and a loan for the construction of the new water treatment plant in Ferron from the CIB this last funding cycle.
The commission approved the standard cooperative agreement for Utah State University Extension Education Work for 2016.
The May Tax Sale was set for May 19 at 10 a.m. at the county building.
The application for Transportation and Utility Systems and Facilities on Federal Lands for upgrade of the existing generator at Horn Mountain Communication Site was approved.
The grant application to the Utah Division of State History for cemetery inventory of Emery, Hambrick Bottoms, Vermillion, Clarion and Thompsonville cemeteries was approved. Bernice Payne does these cemetery inventories.
The county approved the Agreement for Joint or Cooperative Undertaking to Establish a Public Insurance Agency Mutual for the Purpose of Administering the Utah Search and Rescue Act. Commissioner Migliori explained this is insurance for those going into the backcountry who might have need of rescue. The insurance is $25 for an individual or $35 per family or $100 for five years. These insurance premiums go into a fund and then will be distributed to counties who conduct rescues to help reimburse the county for the expenses involved with the rescue. Sheriff Greg Funk said when someone registers an ATV there is a portion of the fee that goes into a fund and is distributed to the counties for search and rescue expenses. There hasn’t been any type of system for reimbursements for other rescues beyond fuel expenses.
There is no cost to the county to be part of the program and participation was approved by the commission. You can purchase the insurance online.
The board approved the request by county treasurer Steven Barton for a Deferral Agreement for payment of real property taxes that are five years past due for Robert and JoAnn Wetherington, Susan Gail Davis, Cynthia Marie Edwards, Margaret Elaine Potter and Terry Heath.
The commission approved the USL Memorandum of Agreement between Emery County and Department of Heritage and Arts, Utah State Library Division for Community Library Enhancement Funds for the development of local public library services. Carole Larsen explained the state library has funds for local libraries grant monies that can be used in three ways to improve local libraries. First: Collection development; children’s materials, online resources, materials in another language, special new collections, enhanced current collection. Second: Technology that directly affects the public, public access computers, online resources, technology training, WI-FI, other technology that can be used by patrons. Third: Community outreach services outside of the library for seniors, teens, migrants, head start programs, small business owners, or those who don’t use the library.
The board approved the Emery County Library System Strategic Plan for 2016-2018 and the Emery County Library Electronic Meeting Policy.
Larsen explained the online policy and procedure for the libraries. It did say children under 12 needed to be accompanied by an adult to be on the internet. The new policy changes the age to 8 with the access to the internet form signed. She said a lot of kids come to the library after school to do a report and they need internet access.
Larsen and Roxanne Jensen presented an update on Emery County Libraries activities. They talked of the many services available at the local libraries. One night each week the local libraries are open until 6 p.m. The Castle Dale library is open every Saturday. In 2015 the local libraries presented 854 programs involving 14,971 people. Online they have a library calendar listing all the activities happening at the libraries. Each library has preschool storytime and storytime for elementary students. Each library has computers for public use. E-books are available for check-out for free from the state library.
Jensen said they have a book spotlight on their website which changes frequently. All items available at each library are listed on the library website. You can also reserve books on line and renew on line.
Jake Atwood from the recreation district discussed combining the budgets for the Emery County fair and Desertview Pro Rodeo to keep costs down. He said in the 17 year history of the rodeo it has only broke even twice. Last year the dates of the rodeo were changed and it brought in 95 more cowboys. The rodeo and fair are on the same dates this year June 9-11.
This year he has negotiated with the stock contractor to reduce costs by $10,000. It takes $80,000 to put on the rodeo, he gets sponsorships for $40,000 of those costs and the other $40,000 must come from concession sales and the ticket sales. “We are losing sponsorships and the economy is down. We were voted the best small rodeo in Utah in 2014 and missed it by one vote in 2015. I have talked to Keith and Ethan and they suggested, I talk to the travel bureau. With the reduced expenses, we hope to break even this year on the rodeo.”
Commissioner Keith Brady said the TRT money from the travel bureau is to be used for events so that might be a funding source for the rodeo.
Atwood said it’s difficult to get sponsors in our small rural area. The businesses are great to donate, but the economy around here is slow and it’s difficult for them to contribute. The Lehi rodeo, gets $80,000 in sponsors, so their rodeo is paid for in advance and ticket sales and concessions are their profit.
One thing the fair is doing this year is downsizing the concert to save money on the stage and sound crew.
Brenda Tuttle, county clerk/auditor said she’s not sure how combining the fair and rodeo monies would work.
Atwood said he would like to see a line item on the budget for the rodeo. All sponsorships would be turned into the fund. Atwood said they would like to keep the rodeo under the rec district. Commissioner Migliori said the county could make a large donation to the rodeo and change the name to the Emery County Pro-Rodeo. “What has more value to the citizens, a rodeo or a concert. Which would the citizens want us to invest in,” said
Commissioner Migliori. He said they need to get the information out to the public and gather input on what the citizens would rather have, a concert or a rodeo.
Julie Jones, fair chairman said they are still having a concert in the ball field with a stage but without the professional stage and sound crew.
Julie Johansen said she sees the three day rodeo as having more value to the citizens than the one night concert. It brings in more participants from outside the area.
County attorney Mike Olsen suggested getting more sponsorships from Carbon County because a lot of Emery County people spend money over there.
Contracts were approved for entertainment at the fair. Magician Al Lampkin, Inflatable Fun Zone and Aussie Kingdom/CJ’s Animal Adventures.
Adam Gardner has been selected to work as a part time Equipment Operator I for the Green River area. Robert Bennett and Wade Hancock have selected to work part time on the Russian Olive eradication project.