Elmo Town sign project

By COREY BLUEMEL Staff Writer

Acting Mayor Dennis Jones opened the meeting by welcoming an Elmo resident, Cort Jensen, to the regular monthly meeting of the Elmo Town Council. Jensen requested the approval of an Eagle Scout project he has been considering. His idea is to replace and repair the street signs in Elmo.
Councilman Kirt Rasmussen stated there are approximately 11 street signs missing from street corners in town. There are several where the sign is gone or the post is bent. He has been in contact with a sign company and investigated the cost of purchasing the needed signs and there is enough money in the road fund to cover the cost of the supplies. Rasmussen stated that he felt this was a good project because its completion would help Elmo come into compliance with the new Emery County addressing ordinance that was recently enacted.
Following specific discussion of what signs are missing and the needed list of materials for the completion of the project, the council approved this project for Jensen to work on for his Eagle Scout project. Jensen was then given instructions to inventory the exact needs for the signage.
Jones read a letter from Brock Johansen, the attorney who represents the town when needed, stating that Johansen has returned to Emery County to reside, and was asking that a new contract be signed for his services. The council approved to resign a contract with Johansen for legal services.
Jones informed the council of the training for town officials that are held throughout the year. He urged them to strongly consider which training they could attend. These trainings will be especially important following the elections for those newly elected officers also.
The progress of the fire station project is waiting for the return of plans by a contractor. When the estimates are received, the council will have a better idea where the project should be cut back. The council stated that the size of the project will need to be trimmed. Rasmussen read a letter that he has written in response to USDA and the grant that has been awarded for the fire station project. The letter was an update of the progress of the project. A representative of the USDA is coming in October to review the site and plans for the project.
Councilman Bill Reed opened a discussion concerning an employee for the town. He stated that in his opinion, contracting services from individual workers for specific duties in town is not proving to be efficient. Since the town’s only employee resigned to take other employment, the duties have been hired out to contractors. So far, the only job that has been bid on is the maintenance of the park and cemetery. No one has stepped forward with a bid for reading the meters, or other duties that have been advertised. The council approved to have town clerk Delena Fish do a comparison study of the amount being paid out to individual contractors and the amount that it would require to hire an employee.
Jones announced that the curb and gutter projects that have been ongoing in Elmo this summer are nearly complete. The construction crew has several small items to finish up before it is finished.
After one resident voiced concern about a sign that is missing from the DUP building, the meeting adjourned. The next Elmo Town Council meeting will be Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the Elmo Library.