| The cart path has suffered damage from wet conditions on hole number seven. |
Commissioner Ira Hatch met with Ferron City and the golf course committee on problems caused by the overflow of the spillway. When the reservoir is spilling a mist settles on the hill and cart path causing slough of the hillside due to the saturation of the soil. Possible solutions are being considered including wire baskets with small rocks to hold the hillside. A fake rock spray-on product is also being considered. Those involved will also look at how much they can contribute monetarily to fixing the problem.
Donna Sackett from Sen. Robert Bennetts office spoke to the Emery County Commissioners. She said they will be available at the senior citizen centers to meet with seniors on the new drug plan for seniors. They will work to explain the plan to seniors. They are also available to help with any issues citizens have regarding the federal government, social security questions, veterans issues, etc. Sackett said meeting with constituents is one of the many services offered by Sen. Bennetts office. Citizens can call 801-851-2525 for more information.
She informed the commission of the Rural Business conference coming up in April. It will be held in Vernal this year. The summit was held in Price last year and was the most heavily attended of the conferences they have held. The conference this year will be April 19-20. She invited Emery County people to attend and support the conference.
The commissioners said it might be advantageous to meet with Sen. Bennetts office, with the canal companies and PacifiCorp to identify any problems that exist. Commissioner Gary Kofford said they met with Pam Juliano of Rep. Jim Mathesons office and the canal companies and it was helpful.
Commissioner Ira Hatch said the Bureau of Reclamation is looking at a project for Millsite. The silt there is a problem as well as dam safety. The bureau has some money available to look at the whole picture and make recommendations on what to do with Millsite.
The Emery County commissioners approved an agreement with Cellular Inc. They will be able to use the county tower for a yearly fee.
The commission approved the write off of ambulance charges on an indigent resident. They also approved a 50 percent reduction in the bill of another resident.
A business license was approved for Sweet Creations which makes wedding cakes.
The commissioners agreed to pursue an agreement with Leon Defriez of Genco and Mark Johansen from Duchesne who provide air service and fertilizer/spraying and operations and maintenance. This agreement will be to provide services at the Huntington Airport. This agreement will be worked out with the county attorney, David Blackwell.
The commission approved a bid for electrical work on the addition at the weed and mosquito building. Commissioner Drew Sitterud made a motion to approve the bid pending the completion of another job at the sheriffs office by the same contractor.
Commissioner Gary Kofford is trying to track down the source of separate billings from Questar. The old sheriffs office shouldnt have a gas expense except for a small portion where Bret Mills works on the electrical equipment. He said he will probably end up getting meter numbers and tracking them down that way.
The commissioners expressed concern about having to pay unemployment benefits for EMTs still employed. Brenda Dugmore explained that the county is a reimbursement employer and doesnt pay regular unemployment premiums. But payments are made on a case by case basis. The county is responsible for a percentage of the wages even though the EMT is still active and employed; they have lost their other employment. The commissioners agreed to check into this further to see why the county is responsible for paying the unemployment when their employee is still employed with them. Clerk Bruce Funk said that Brenda has been in contact with the state unemployment about this very thing and they responded that the county is responsible for this portion.
A routine progressive pay raise was approved for Chris Hansen in the treasurers office. Personnel director, Mary Huntington had informed the commission previously that Leslie Bolinder was nearing the end of her sick days and anyone wanting to donate their own sick days to her could do so.
The commissioners gave their reports with Commissioner Sitterud saying the museum boards from the three local museums had met and the CEU board is suggesting the local museums team up for grant writing and other purposes. The Museum of the San Rafael board had many questions about the proposal and no decisions have been made, but they requested further information.
The new sound system at the Museum of the San Rafael is in place and working well.
He reported the state was beginning the process of recording roads and would begin with the Class B roads and then move to the RS-2477 roads which are in litigation.
Commissioner Kofford met with the architect for the Green River Senior Citizen Center and they toured the Ferron Center. The architect will have plans ready soon.
He reported he had attended the information meeting with Utah Powers Rich Walje and heard about future plans for development.
Commissioner Hatch said the historical preservation commission had met and they are moving ahead with the Muddy Creek oral history. UDOT has asked that they back off on the kiosk for now, they would like to incorporate whatevers done into the SR-10 project. Also left over funds from the oral history project may be used for an informational kiosk at the Swinging Bridge.
The risk management team for the county is planning an employee benefit fair on March 29 from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Commissioner Hatch encouraged elected officials and department heads to arrange schedules so all employees will be able to attend part of the event. All employees are invited to attend and will receive more information.
Mark Justice of the Castle Valley Pageant had met with Commissioner Hatch and wondered about the status of the lamb fry and Commissioner Hatch had told him there will be a meal at the fair for the three days that it is held and whether it was a lamb fry or not would be determined by the fair committee.
Commissioner Sitterud also met with the six counties on the addressing and attaching common road names to roads which go from county to county. He said that other counties have liked what we are doing with the addressing plat overlying the E911 system.
Editors note: In an article regarding the commission meeting on Feb. 21 it was reported the commission had approved an easement with SITLA for a right of way across land SITLA plans to sell. The commission didnt approve the easement at that time. They want to have Attorney Dave Blackwell redo some of the wording and try to work with SITLA to have the right-of-way extend all the way to the Green River. It will be sent back to SITLA with the changes the county wants and if SITLA agrees it will be placed back on a commission agenda in the future for action at that time.