Commission awards bid to Nielson Construction for Millsite Dam rehab project

By Patsy Stoddard
Editor

The Emery County Commissioners awarded the bid for the rehabilitation of the Millsite dam in Ferron. Staker Parson/Nielson Construction was awarded the bid for $$22,224,074. The reconstruction of the dam will begin this fall. The water will be drawn down this summer. The new spillway will be constructed throughout the winter. The dam will be partially filled next spring to allow water users access to water next summer.
The commissioners opened the bid for the Adobe Wash Sediment Basin Project. Nielson Construction bid $1,714,195; Hansen oil field service inc. bid $1,511,359; Feller Enterprises bid $1,307,355; Nelco Construction bid $1,510,618.50. Commissioner Sitterud and Johansen and Tuttle will review the bid and it will be awarded to the lowest bidder, Feller Enterprises. This will be based upon their meeting the criteria specified.
The commission opened and reviewed the bids for the Huntington Airport Curator. The bid was awarded to Dal Guymon if he meets the qualifications. The county attorney will draw up a contract for the position.
The commission reviewed bids for the Emery County Ambulance Billing and Collections. The team will look over the bids and make a decision.
The bids for the County Consulting Economic Impact Analyst were opened. Some bids were listed with an hourly wage, some based their bid upon projects.
The commission is looking for a company to review possible economic projects for the county as they are presented by possible investors in the projects. A solar farm wanted to locate in the county, but the county didn’t know if the project was viable for the county, so they are enlisting the help of an impact analyst to help evaluate projects. The bids will be examined and the bid will be awarded to the lowest bidder.
The board opened and reviewed bids for an Agency Specializing in Real Estate and Senior Housing and Care. The bids will be evaluated by the board and a recommendation will be made.
Merrial Johansen presented a Change Order for the Emergency Watershed Protection Project. He said there was a $481,419 under run, this action will close out the project.
A Change Order for the Emergency Watershed Protection Castle Dale Dike Project was approved. The project is $178,148.
The Beer Tax Funds Plan for 2018 was approved. The sheriff’s office uses this money, approximately $20,000 each year for DUI shifts and other law enforcement activities.
The board approved the signing of the NRCS-ADS-78 on the Cottonwood Creek Project Adobe Wash Site.
The commission approved the Emery County Sheriff’s Office application for the FY 2018 State Task Force Grant. The monies from this grant are used to operate the drug task force and for buys and other related items.
The board approved the Muddy Creek Irrigation Company letter.
The commission ratified the contract between the Emery County Sheriff’s Office and the State of Utah for Court Security.
Jeff Kelsey presented the Insurance Renewal for plan year July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018. He said in the small group market he had sent a bid out to a variety of carriers and they all came back as declined. The county has a loss ratio over 300 percent. He talked to different reinsurance providers, in an aggregate analysis the loss ratio of the county was 63 percent. There will be a rate increase of 49 percent for this insurance year. Fidelity will be the new carrier. The prior company did not offer a renewal. for the same rate as the previous year. The large claim loss ratio is over 300 percent with small claims (aggregate) running at 63 percent. The current carrier did offer a renewal but not at current specific level and would require the county to take on additional risk.
Fidelity did offer a renewal at the current specific reinsurance level. The fully insured market all declined to quote. The annual projected increase was 49 percent. The county had $5,216,000 of claims submitted in the first 10 months of the contract year.
There were seven properties on the May 2017 tax sale proceedings that were purchased.
The county approved the Aviation Fuel Supply Agreement. Currently AV gas is the only fuel available at the airport. Sheriff Greg Funk said if jet fuel was available it would be helpful for the many search and rescues they go on. Jeff Guymon said they would look into it.
The contract will be for one year.
Advertising for bids for cleaning and a sound technician during the 2017 Emery County Fair was approved.
The county approved a letter to the BLM relinquishing expired Right-of-Way UTU-059972, Dry Wash Narrows. Ray Petersen said this right of way isn’t needed any more.
The agreement between Emery County and the Forest Service revised financial plan was approved. Wayde Nielsen from the road department said an additional $7,000 will be added and this will be used for mag chloride for Ferron Canyon.
The county adopted a resolution authorizing the filing of cross-appeals for 2017 centrally assessed properties. When a centrally assessed property files an appeal, the county has 30 days from the date of their appeal to respond.
The county agreed to abate the taxes on Parcel #1-188-1 for Huntington City. This is on recently purchased land at the south end of Huntington. The city plans to clean-up the property for development.
Three scholarships for the 2018 Go West Summit Registration for hotel owners/managers were approved. Tina Carter explained the hotel owners will meet with bus tour representatives. They will make contacts to bring bus tours into Green River.
The county will begin advertising for bids for the Emergency Watershed Protection Orangeville Flood Control Project.
Sheriff Funk reported water is running high and swift. They have been involved in several rescues. The sheriff’s office and the search and rescue hosted a golf tournament for a fund raiser for Kina Jewkes.
Commissioner Brady said he attended the military and FBI training hosted by the sheriff’s office. He also hiked Moonshine Wash.
Marc Stilson was appointed to represent Orangeville City on the Emery County Recreation Board. Tawnie Worthen was approved to be a District Aging Council Member. Erik Nielsen was rehired as a Weed & Mosquito Technician. Becky Jewkes was given a 3 percent wage increase for successful completion of her six month orientation period as the Huntington Branch Librarian. LeAnne Seely was approved as a volunteer for the Museum of the San Rafael.
A county credit card for Kelli Nelson, Director of Department of Aging was approved. Out of state travel for Commissioner Keith Brady to travel to Washington D.C. was approved.