County chooses aquatics center manager

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

The Emery County Commission approved the hiring of Shannon Hiatt as the new aquatics manager for the new Emery County Aquatics Center in Castle Dale. Personnel director, Mary Huntington presented the name for approval. She said interviews were held and Hiatt was selected from among the applicants.
Hiatt has been the director of the Emery County Recreation Department for the past 12 years. At the recent Emery County Recreation Board meeting, Hiatt told the board of his intent to take another job. Hiatt said he has worked with the recreation district since April of 1997. He said the district is in good shape financially and he hopes for a smooth transition. The soccer league is reorganizing but the youth and flag football which are scheduled to begin soon are both solid. Hiatt expressed his appreciation for the board and Dan Whiteleather and Kalynn Fail who have been on the board since its inception. The recreation district has come a long way. They established the Desertview ProRodeo which just finished its 10th year. It has been growing each year. Hiatt expressed his interest in continuing as a volunteer on the rodeo committee and maybe the fair committee as well. Whiteleather wondered if Hiatt The Emery County Commission approved the hiring of Shannon Hiatt as the new aquatics manager for the new Emery County Aquatics Center in Castle Dale. Personnel director, Mary Huntington presented the name for approval. She said interviews were held and Hiatt was selected from among the applicants.
Hiatt has been the director of the Emery County Recreation Department for the past 12 years. At the recent Emery County Recreation Board meeting, Hiatt told the board of his intent to take another job. Hiatt said he has worked with the recreation district since April of 1997. He said the district is in good shape financially and he hopes for a smooth transition. The soccer league is reorganizing but the youth and flag football which are scheduled to begin soon are both solid. Hiatt expressed his appreciation for the board and Dan Whiteleather and Kalynn Fail who have been on the board since its inception. The recreation district has come a long way. They established the Desertview ProRodeo which just finished its 10th year. It has been growing each year. Hiatt expressed his interest in continuing as a volunteer on the rodeo committee and maybe the fair committee as well. Whiteleather wondered if Hiatt would consider staying on as the rodeo director. The recreation board said they would discuss that possibility.
Hiatt had one last recommendation which he said would allow the transition period to go smoothly. He recommended that Gaylee Jeffs, the recreation secretary, be promoted to the director position. Jeffs has been with the recreation district for 10 years. The recreation board will meet again on Sept. 8.
In other recreation business the decision was made to build a springbox at Bear Creek campground. There have been problems there with the spring in the past and the money is available to rectify this problem. The board recommended getting a bid for the project.
Hiatt reported on the recently finished rodeo and fair. He said the rodeo was the best three nights of rodeo they had in the last 10 years. The crowds were huge and sponsors were great. The concession stand is in need of a condiment table. The rodeo needs a new stock unload chute. The board approved these items. The fair went well although the attendance on Wednesday of the fair wasn’t good. But, the balloon guy was well worth seeing and if you missed him, you missed a good show said Hiatt.
Jordan Leonard, board member reported the BLM is delaying the work on the back nine at the Millsite Golf Course due to an archaeological clearance. The arch study was complete, but now the BLM wants to include a larger area in the arch study even though this area won’t be disturbed in the construction. They are checking for endangered cactus in the area.
Kalynn Fail reported Melon Days is coming Sept. 19-20 and the booths in the park are sold out. They are shipping melons all over. Fail presented a letter from the Boys and Girls Club requesting a donation to their golf tournament which is a fund raiser for their new building fund. The golf tourney will be on Oct. 18 and last year had nine teams and they are hoping for more this year. They are also doing special prizes for certain holes. One event will pay out for the ball which lands in a 10 foot swimming pool from across the river. The board will make a decision on the donation in the next meeting.
Hiatt reported there are three payments left on the recreation building. There was a leak at the ball complex but it has been fixed and work is being completed to get the fields in shape for soccer and flag football. The November recreation meeting will be held in Green River.
The recreation board met in an executive session after their regular agenda. They discussed the personnel issues involved in a change of director for the recreation district. It was determined that Gaylee Jeffs would be promoted to the Recreation Director position. A decision was made to advertise for another employee. This employee would be full time with benefits and duties would be to help coordinate adult and youth sports, supervise temporary and seasonal employees, help oversee facilities, general maintenance, assist with the fair and rodeo and assist in the office as needed. The applicant must be a high school graduate or GED and computer literate.