Emery County Commissioners met for their March 7 meeting. Jacob Sharp the director of the Castle Valley Special Service District approached the commission concerning the issuance of $900,000 in general obligation bonds. Sharp said they will leverage the bond monies with grant money from the community impact board. The money is used to fund road projects, water improvement projects, drainage and others. There is a 30 day contest period. Sharp said in 2009 the county voters approved a $12.5 million bond, there is approximately $1.8 million of this bond left. The monies need to be used by 2019. They are planning roughly this same size of projects for 2018. It will be up to the Castle Valley Special Service District board after the current bond funds are used entirely whether they would like to have another bond election.
The board approved the 2017 CIB list. This list is a compilation of projects for each of the towns.
The commission discussed creating a Community Reinvestment Agency. This would be a tool for economic development. It would create a separate entity but would still be under the governance of the Emery County Commission. It would utilize the administration and staff of the county. It would determine project areas for economic development. This agency would be authorized to do more creative things in attracting businesses to the area as well as helping existing businesses to expand. There is no money involved in the setting up of the agency. The agency could offer property tax increments to incentivise businesses to locate here. If a new business comes here, then it will pay taxes to the county, but also receive appropriate tax breaks as outlined by the agency.
Taxing entities would also need to be on board with projects if they would be affected by the project. These approvals would come with interlocal agreements between the entities. It would be possible the county could provide seed money to the agency.
The agency could help get power to a site, help with property acquisition, infrastructure, tax increments, incentives and other paths to help businesses locate here.
In order to create the agency the commission would need to adopt an ordinance. The lawyer said he is involved in a water bottling plant right now. Green River City has created a re-development area agency for their area. There are solar projects ready to come to Emery County should there be some incentives offered. The lawyer has worked with Costco, car dealerships, refinery, office buildings and the areas they have located have offered incentives to get the projects to locate in their areas.
Commissioner Keith Brady said he thinks it’s worth setting up the agency. The item was tabled for the time being for further investigation.
An Emery County Fair Advisory Board was formed and bylaws approved for that board.
The board approved the Cooperative Agreement between Utah State University Extension Services and Emery County. This agreement is signed each year. The county provides an office for the extension service within the county building.
Tina Carter from the tourism office brought items to the commission for approval. The travel bureau has funds available to help organizations advertise their event. Funds were approved for the Emery County Fair. A billboard for the Tamarisk Restaurant in Green River. John Wesley Powell Museum in Green River for rack cards to advertise the museum. Funds for the MECCA Bike Club for advertising for their spring festival in May.
Barton said to date there are 28 properties due to be sold at the May tax sale including 16 homes, nine real properties and three centrally assessed properties.
Deferral agreements were approved for Dennis L. and Gwen White of Huntington. Jerry and Connie Gayler of Huntington and for Lorin A. and Alice D. Israelsen of Castle Dale and Douglas Blackburn. Barton said anyone on the tax list that talks to him before March 15 can avoid the $300 assessment that goes on each property slated to be sold at the May tax sale. The treasurers office sends out several reminder letters about taxes due. The Clerk’s Office will now send out certified letters advising the property owner of the intent for the property to be sold at the May tax sale. Those tax payers who are granted a tax deferral agreement must come current by the date taxes are due this year, Nov. 30.
Jay Mark Humphrey was present to discuss the Emery County Project. In the early 1960s the Bureau of Reclamation was involved in building several water projects in Emery County including the Joe’s Valley Reservoir, Swasey Diversion, Huntington canal, Huntington North Reservoir and the service canal, drainage projects and underground drains. The Bureau of Reclamation has held the water rights for these projects until the construction costs were paid back. The Emery Water Conservancy District has made final payments on the Emery County Project and would like to have ownership of the water rights returned to the district.
Humphrey said the BOR wasn’t favorable to returning the water rights to the district. He said in 1972 PacifiCorp wanted to build the power plants and at that time agricultural water was purchased for industry use. The agreement was modified again in 1987 when 189 acre feet went to the Castle Valley Special Service District and to Huntington City. In 1994, Castle Dale and Orangeville purchased 100 shares. Originally the project was agricultural only, but now services industry as well.
In 2013, Humphrey asked the BOR if they could pay off the project. They stalled on it. Finally the District asked Cong. Jason Chaffetz for help in allowing the district to pay off the project. This final payment was made on Dec. 15, 2015. The district would like to go after the title transfer. The BOR didn’t like it, they don’t want to lose control of these water shares. Last week Humphrey was in Washington DC and spoke to the representatives in the Utah delegation. He met with the deputy director, and he was supportive of getting the transfer moving. Humphrey met with Rep. Rob Bishop who is the chairman of the natural resources committee. He said if the district gets a bill before them, then they will push it through. Humphrey said he wants the commission to be informed of what they are trying to accomplish.
The terms of the original agreement have been met with the project being paid off so the title should revert back to the district. The district would like to have local control of the water shares. The water shares would then be back under the jurisdiction of the Emery Water Conservancy District board. As projects become older and need to be replaced or repaired then user fees and property taxes would be a source of revenue for these projects. Humphrey said profits from power plants and the large dams including Hoover and Glen Canyon were supposed to go to Colorado River projects. In 2014, they granted $1.5 million for the lining of the Huntington canal. But, in 2016, they said there wasn’t any money for projects. Humphrey said should the district need money for projects, they would have the water shares which they could use as collateral and secure a loan from the Division of water resources. In the 40 year water plan the BOR wrote they included sending our water to the Wasatch Front.
Craig Johansen said local control is the best thing for Emery County. The 50 year loan has been paid off so the water rights should return to Emery County.
Humphrey said the only way to get it done is Congressionally. There are other cases studies where titles have been transferred after loans have been paid off. Johansen said it isn’t a new thing.
The district needs the support of the commission and the water users. Humphrey said they would like a letter of support from the commission. They will secure letters of support from all involved. The district will need to have a public hearing. Approaching the commission was the first step and they will continue the process. The commission will write a letter of support for the title transfer for the Emery County Project. Humphrey said the snow pack has been good this year and the district plans an early release of water from Joe’s Valley and there will be water in the San Rafael River. The commission approved a grant application for local cemeteries to computerize their burial records.
Economic Development Director Jordan Leonard asked for a letter of support for a Goed Fast Track Adjustment. He said the Fast Track grant recipients had to pay $25 an hour. This is a hardship on businesses in rural Utah. So, the adjustment will allow Fast Track grant recipients to hire one full time employee and the $25 an hour requirement will be eliminated in five counties with high unemployment rates including Emery County. Leonard said Fast Track grants are available to any business in the county that has been in business for at least two years. These businesses can apply to the state for these funds. They are matching grants. Brady said the businesses must continue to meet all the requirements under the grants for two years or they have to pay the grant back.
Leonard said the Fast Track grants have enabled local businesses to expand and grow. Delynn Fielding, economic development consultant said all businesses can apply, they need to qualify for the grants. If a business chooses not to apply that’s their decision. The grant is a positive incentive to grow. “If a business chooses not to apply that’s there choice. It’s not picking winners and losers. The unemployment rate is up here. There are five counties of the 29 that qualify for the exemption. This is not for start-up companies, but for existing businesses of two years.”
Commissioner Sitterud declined to make a motion for a letter of support for the Fast Track grant exemption. He said he didn’t like the program and thought it was the government picking winners and losers. Commissioner Paul Cowley made a motion to write a letter of support for the Fast Track grant exemption. Commissioner Brady seconded the motion and Commissioner Cowley and Brady voted for the motion and Commissioner Sitterud voted against the motion. The motion passed and a letter of support will be written.
[dfads params='groups=4969&limit=1&orderby=random']
[dfads params='groups=1745&limit=1&orderby=random']