The Personnel in charge of the Trail Mountain fire gave a report to the Emery County Commissioners in their commission meeting. The team arrived on June 12 to take charge of the fire. They spent the majority of the next day coordinating with the Type III team previously taking care of the fire. At the time of this meeting the acreage burned was 14,429 with 43 percent containment. Cooler temperatures and moisture over the weekend helped contain the fire. The three smaller pieces of the fire are almost contained, the concern remains on the northern end of the fire. The fire has been slowed down by rocky and steep areas as well as the aspen stands. Personnel working on the fire was at 620 and is now at 589. The personnel on the fire continue to shift around. Steve Shaw, fire operations said they don’t expect any additional growth of the fire to the south, east and west. In those areas they are into rehab mode. Permittees and the utility company are going back into these areas to begin repairs. The ridge north of the Crandall Mine has been used for a containment area. At the top of Crandall the broken landscape and aspen regeneration have been used as safety zones.
There have been fires started at the top of Crandall to work down the slope and lessen the effects of the fire moving up. There are still concerns with the fire moving down to SR-31, but it’s hoped the fire will hold naturally in the aspen and the cliffs. The fire crews are prepared either way, they don’t expect any more closures of SR-31 unless the fire gets to the road. Firefighters are in Little Bear to extinguish any hot spots. The Bear Creek campground has reopened.
Incident Commander Tim Roide said the fire has been hanging in the steep rocks. Some of the fire will continue to hang on for awhile. “The partners have been phenomenal. I would like to thank the sheriff’s office. It’s been a positive experience and we’re enjoying your community. There’s been people bringing baked goods.”
The operations team couldn’t predict how long the fire was going to burn.
The incident management team has members from five different states.
Commissioner Kent Wilson said he has received more phone calls about the fire than anything else since he’s been in office. There are many concerns and some people are not happy about the fire. There are a lot of things he would like to address after the fire is out.
The Emery County Commissioners held the Drawing/Awarding of the monthly Safety Incentive Visa Gift Cards to four employees who are eligible. Part-time employee Maria Johansen, Ray Petersen, Tosha Barnett and Kyle Ekker will receive the gift cards.
Doug Folsom with the Utah Local Governments Trust presented an award to the Emery County Commission for Loss Prevention in 2017. The county has implemented a number of safety practices to prevent losses. Folsom said, “Emery County has been really good at this. It’s not easy. The entities are rated on how well they’ve done. Emery County scored high except in one area. It’s used as an underwriting mechanism and the program is a benefit to all the members. The better each member controls losses will benefit the pool. I would like to thank the staff, employees and commissioners for making it a priority.”
Robbie Jensen from the Emery County Aging Department gave a report. He said everything is running smoothly. They are looking for a maintenance person at the Green River facility. They are working on a fall prevention program to prevent falls in the elderly. They may be eligible for more funds to run and continue this program. They are looking to see if the program can qualify for funding to operate the foster grandparent program. There’s been a leaky roof at the Huntington Senior Center and they are evaluating to see what repairs or replacement is needed there. They might apply for a CDBG grant to replace the roof. Something needs to be done before winter. Jensen said Jenni Fasselin with Red Dog Publishing is helping to produce a publication/newsletter outlining senior activities and programs. Fasselin said she would like to get a picture of the Emery County Commissioners delivering meals to the seniors or serving. She will put it in the newsletter. They want the newsletter to be easy to read to invite more seniors to come out to the senior centers and participate.
Jensen said on Sept. 21 they will host a workshop at the Castle Dale Senior Center for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. They will help promote programs and activities and give help to these grandparents. There will be activities for the children as well. The zero fatalities truck will be there with activities. The kids will sign a promise to wear seatbelts.
Karen Dolan from Four Corners Community Behavioral Health presented the Area plan for FY 2019. She said the Four Corners board which includes a commissioner from each county approved the plan. “We are mandated by statute to write an area plan each year. The plan has been read a lot of times. We have 104 employees in three counties. We’ve helped 1,600 people with mental health and 600 with substance abuse. We’ve fielded 2,000 crisis calls in 2017. We respond to the ICU and emergency rooms. We serve our most vulnerable county members.”
Dolan said the forensic unit at the state hospital was closed. These beds were for the mentally ill who had committed crimes.
Dolan said they will have to use private hospitals for medical emergencies involving the mentally ill. Private hospitals will be more expensive. “We work really hard to stabilize people so they won’t need to be hospitalized.”
Sheriff Greg Funk wondered what will happen to the mentally ill now who have committed a crime. Dolan said there are civil beds still available and someone who isn’t ever going to be released could occupy one of those civil beds. (This option can be used if the criminal charges are dropped).
There are still two beds available for those who are being stabilized. Sometimes these people stay for a year or two.
Dolan talked about a rural HUB system for suicide prevention. This system would always be manned with a trained therapist so someone calling a crisis line would never get an answering machine.
Four Corners is also hoping to develop transitional living.
Four Corners is focused on evidence based treatment. An opioid recovery program is now offering daily support for those suffering with opioid addiction. The people are transported each day to the recovery program.
Commissioner Lynn Sitterud asked what percentage of the work load is from Emery County. Dolan said there is a drug court in Emery County. They provide services in Castle Dale and in Green River. She estimated the services are spread 50 percent residing in Carbon County and 25 percent in Grand and 25 percent Emery County.
The commissioners approved awarding the Tourism Website development to HUB. The state grant portion is $29,875 and $27,500 will come from the tourism account/Transient room taxes. The hourly rate for maintenance is $80. It is $600 per year for hosting and tech support.
Jordan Leonard, economic development director said the travel bureau is mandated to spend $300,000 TRT funds each year; 80 percent of travelers look to the internet to find resources.
Commissioner Wilson said the travel bureau put out a request for proposals and 12 companies responded. They narrowed it down to four and interviewed those companies. Wilson said it’s been a contentious process. “I tried to get them (travel board) to justify why they wanted this company. The board all supported HUB because they have had success with them in the past. The board of directors made a decision and said if the county commission wants to go a different direction then they should just disband the board. I told them we would have accountability in the next six months. They need to find a way to gauge if we are getting a return on our investment. As a commissioner I need to support them and accept this proposal.” The website development by HUB was approved.
The commission accepted the award of the 2018 HMEP Planning Grant from the Utah State Fire Marshal Hazmat Section. This is a $4,000 grant used to operate the LEPC.
The board approved the State Task Force Grant application for the Emery County Drug Task Force. It’s for $47,750 to operate the drug task force. Sheriff Funk said there have been 10 arrests this quarter of dealers in the county. The monies are essential to deal with the drug problem in the county.
Leonard asked for approval for Market Funding for The Dirty Devil and Southeastern Utah Junior Livestock Association. The Dirty Devil is a new team ride which starts at Millsite Reservoir, to the desert, to Helper, over Ferron Mountain and back to Millsite. They need help with advertising and they are purchasing a billboard to promote the event. They are asking for $1,500. They are hoping for 30-60 riders. The Southeastern Utah Junior Livestock show will be held July 10-14. It’s an annual event in Ferron that brings in a lot of people. They are asking for $3,500. Both donations were approved for travel bureau funds.
The board approved the MOU with the National Park Service regarding the Livestock Grazing and Trailing Management Plan. Ray Petersen, public lands director said the park service will be evaluating the grazing in Capitol Reef National Park. In the extreme end of the park which is in Emery County, the permittee has sold his permit to an entity that will retire the grazing allotment. The park wants to re-evaluate the other two allotments. Petersen said the county will remain engaged and support grazing on the other two allotments.
The board approved an amendment to the FY 2019 Emery County CIB List.
County attorney Mike Olsen said they are still working on the contract with Brett White for an ATV Rodeo at the 2018 Emery County Fair. The county’s insurance could cover the event with some adjustments to the contract.
Clerk/Auditor Brenda Tuttle presented the Certified Tax Rates for Emery County for 2018. The rates are a little bit lower, new growth is $8,000. The county will be working under basically the same budget as last year. The tax rate is .003528; interest and sinking fund bond is .000123; Library-.000405; Recreation-.000063; .000009-multicounty/assessing/collecting; county assessing and collecting-.000456 for a total tax rate of .004584. Total revenue from taxes is projected to be $9,332,920.
The Castle Valley Special Service District tax rate is general operations .000989; interest and sinking fund/bond .000840 for a total tax rate of .001829 with total revenue projections at $3,119,792. The board approved the tax rates as presented for 2018 for the county and the Castle Valley Special Service District.
Commissioner Wilson presented the proposal for an allocation of a percentage of Jordan Leonard’s wage and benefits to be paid by the Travel Bureau. He said Leonard spends part of his time as the travel bureau supervisor. After discussion with Tuttle the clerk/auditor it was determined that 14 percent of his total benefit package will come from the travel bureau. The travel bureau will transfer those funds to the economic development office which would allow Emery County more money for economic development projects.
Commissioner Paul Cowley reported on the new two acre fire called the Straight Canyon fire. It is four miles southwest from the current Trail Mountain fire. “I would like to commend the firefighters for their involvement on the fire. I went on a tour with the sheriff and viewed the burned areas. The forest service doesn’t want people going into the burned areas, there are spikes there, trees that burn down to a four-eight inch spike that is sharp and dangerous. Stya out of the burn areas.
Commissioner Wilson reported Randy Johnson, Ray Petersen, Commissioner Lynn Sitterud went before the Utah State Natural Resources committee to report on the Emery County Public Lands Management act. The public lands bill will have a hearing in the House of Representatives on Thursday. Commissioner Wilson and Randy Johnson will attend.
Commissioner Wilson thanked the sheriff’s office for their help with the fire.
Thomas Behling has been selected as a part time Weed and Mosquito Technician. Josie Stilson has been promoted to the Sr. Deputy Treasurer. Cliff McElprang has been transferred from Lube Mechanic to Equipment Op I.
Commission hears fire update/Four Corners plan info.
The fire leaves behind a burned hillside in Mill Fork Canyon.