Emery County awards public defender contract

By Patsy Stoddard
Editor

The Emery County Commissioners awarded the Emery County Public Defender Contract to Oliver and Sitterud Law Office. The current public defender David Allred is retiring. Two bids were received, but Blackburn Law Office withdrew their bid due to conflicts with the court schedules. The contract will be for $6,000 per month. Mark Tanner will continue to serve as the conflict attorney for the county.
The Emery County Fair Director Contract was reviewed and Sandra Huntington has been selected as the fair director.
Peter Stirba from the Rural Utah Alliance spoke to the commission regarding joining RUA for the 2018 year. He said the organization was founded in 2016 and they represent rural issues. County Attorney Mike Olsen has been calling into their board meetings to represent Emery County. They have worked on the issue of the surcharge from California on electrical power generation.
They worked on the coal moratorium imposed by Sec. Jewel in Pres. Obama’s administration. They took it to court to vacate that ruling. While the court case was pending, the moratorium was lifted.
RUA has been very active with the wild horse issues on public land. SUWA sued Garfield and Kane counties over violation of open public meetings during the time Sec. Zinke was visiting Utah. RUA is helping with the litigation on this issue for interpretation of the open public meeting act. Stirba said, “Litigation can be expensive to counties. RUA has nine member counties. We’ve been involved with the sage grouse issue. We started as all organizations, we need time to learn and grow and we’re picking up momentum. We would ask that Emery County rejoin the organization. Mike has a good sense of who we are and how we serve the needs of our members.” Stirba said the organization received a donation last year from the legislature of $100,000. Annual dues are $5,000. The commission will make a decision on a membership at a future commission meeting as this time it was a discussion item only.
The pool rental fee for Special Needs Day at the Emery County Aquatic Center was waived. Aquatics director Shannon Hiatt said the event will be held June 9. The Carbon County special needs children will also attend.
The commission approved the agreement with Honeywell International for maintenance at the Emery County Aquatic Center. For a yearly maintenance fee they take care of any repairs at the pool.
The commission approved giving Emery County Aquatic Center Swim Passes to members of the Emery County Suicide Prevention Program. They wanted to take members swimming as an activity. The group meets weekly at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Castle Dale Senior Citizen Center. The meetings are open to everyone.
The contract between Amanda Leonard and Emery County for the Event Coordinator duties for 2018 was approved. The contract will be for three years and evaluated each year.
The Standard Cooperative Agreement between USU Extension Services and Emery County for 2018 was approved.
The commissioners declared the Existence of a Drought Emergency in Emery County. If funding for drought relief becomes available, Emery County would qualify. It was noted San Juan County does this each year and Emery County hasn’t done this a lot in the past, but this year there hasn’t been a lot of moisture with only 32 percent of average precipitation to date.
A Letter of Agreement between Emery County and Cottonwood Creek Consolidated Irrigation Company was signed to turn the Adobe Wash settlement basin back over to Cottonwood Creek Irrigation, the owners of the project. Emery County will not be responsible for maintenance of the project. They will be responsible for the other three projects.
The Long-Term Disability Program was approved, it will decrease what the county pays.
Emery High Rodeo Team members approached the commissioners to ask for a donation. The rodeo will be on April 7. A $500 donation was approved.
The Emery County Community Theater requested a donation from the commission. A $500 donation was approved for the Community Theatre.
They put on three productions each year. Once upon a Mattress will be presented at Emery High on March 14-17 with a matinee on March 17 at 2 p.m.
The Emery County Community Theater can use the old Weed and Mosquito building for storage if they show proof of the proper insurance.
A tax adjustment for Kerry and Carla Powell was approved as their lots were charged individually and should have been combined.
The commission approved a support letter for Fast Track adjustment pay. There are three counties that have an adjustment on the wage that needs to be paid to qualify for a fast track grant. It was $25 and with the adjustment will be $9.15. Jordan Leonard said, “It will be more viable for our businesses to receive if they don’t have to pay such a high wage. The state sets the amount and it has to be at least $2 more than minimum wage. Qualifying businesses who receive the Fast Track grant have to provide matching monies up to $50,000.
Marketing Funds for MECCA Spring Mountain Bike Festival $3,500, Ladies Golf Association-$800 and the Green River Rock and Mineral Festival were approved. Leonard reported the Rock and Mineral Festival is in its second year. Last year 300 people attended the event.
Commissioner Kent Wilson, said the idea behind the marketing funds for events is to increase tourism. Emery County had more motel night stays than Carbon County. Carbon County has six times more restaurant tax collected than Emery County.
Randy Johnson-Government Matters, LLC reported Washington staff members are coming down to tour the area of the Emery County Public Lands Bill. The Utah Raptor will become the state dinosaur.
The county will have an auction on April 28 and any city or county agency can bring items for the auction. The items need to be listed with the auctioneer.
The board approved out of state travel to Washington D.C. for Kent Wilson for work on the Mental Health and Public Lands Bill. April 21-27. The board pre-authorized out of state travel for testifying in Washington D.C. This will be a short notice trip and will either be Lynn Sitterud, Kent Wilson or Ray Petersen traveling.
Jordan Leonard was approved to attend the Growing Entrepreneurial Communities Summit in Kansas City. April 24-26.
Tina Carter was approved to attend the Travel and Adventure Show in Denver, Colo. March 22-26.
Out of state travel for Dennis Worwood to attend the 2018 Riparian Restoration Conference in Grand Junction, Colo. was approved. Dallon Cologie was given a 3 percent wage increase for successful completion of his six month orientation period.