Volunteer center expanding

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

The Emery County commission heard from Gerry Stotler of the Volunteers of America. She said they are expanding their volunteer program to include volunteers of all ages. Currently the program involves volunteers age 55 and above. They have several people who have expressed an interest in being involved in a volunteer program and would like to know what projects there are available they can help with.
Stotler said they would like to identify community improvement projects that need to be done in the community. They also have people from out of the area who have older relatives who are alone in the county and would like to find volunteers to help them with their yards and projects. Stotler envisions their center as being a connecting facility where volunteers and projects can come together and be organized for the good of the community. Anyone who has needs can contact the volunteer center and see who is available to come and help. Stotler said they also want to hold CERT classes to get everyone prepared for emergency situations. She has talked to Principal Larry Davis at Emery High and they will look for opportunities for youth and adults to serve together on community projects. “We are looking for ideas to be useful,” said Stotler.
Stotler recently attended the volunteer convention in Salt Lake, while there Home Depot received an award for the volunteer projects their employees participate in and the Richfield Home Depot would like to come to Emery County and be involved with a project here.
Commissioner Gary Kofford said the idea for a volunteer center is very commendable and the commission will help in anyway they can. Commissioner Laurie Pitchforth said it is a great idea and definitely needed. The advisory committee for the RSVP meets the second Monday of each month at 10 a.m. for interested parties.
Commissioner Jeff Horrocks said the work is commendable and he is in support of the volunteer center.
The commission approved the contract for Pictometery International Corporation for pictometry images. This imagery utilizes information from pictures taken from a number of different directions. The pictures can be used in the recorders and assessors offices. They can view a structure from all angles and measure heights of buildings and other information gathering can be done with the images and site visits can be reduced or eliminated. The images are also useful for first responders who can pull up the images of an area and see what’s on the ground. If they were responding to a fire, then the image could tell where propane tanks or other possible dangerous items are located. The images will be along the SR-10 corridor and along the San Rafael river. They don’t go into the Manti-LaSal higher elevations. The images include the power plants. The cost for two years will be $77,223. The pictometry is being paid for with a homeland security grant. After the third year, the county can pay the maintenance fee which is optional and will include any upgrades to the software.
The county approved their agreement with the forest service for road maintenance and law enforcement on forest service land. The county approved a contract with the aging association for providing aging services to the county. The county has a match for this program. The commission approved fee waivers for the pavilion at Huntington City Park and the rodeo arena lighting project.
The state is giving Emery County a grant for the recorders office to continue setting more section corners. Work will be done in Lawrence, Emery and Green River. The county will advertise for bids on the project. The commission approved the contract between Emery County and the Miss Utah organization for Miss Emery to participate at the Miss Utah pageant. The commission approved the emergency management performance grant.
An information kiosk sign will be placed at Temple Mountain at the BLM campground. The signs have been made available with grants from the State Historical Preservation Society. There are signs in each town, one at the MK tunnels and the new one will be at Temple Mountain. The road department helps with the base of each sign for the county match. Commissioner Horrocks said, “These signs are extremely beneficial to locals and to those traveling through. They direct people where to go and sometimes where not to go.”
The commission approved the tax exemption list which includes churches and museums. The bid process for an architect for the food bank will begin with advertising in the newspaper. The prospective bidders will be interviewed by the commission and an architect chosen from applicants.
The county returned the old gravel pit easement to the Bill Z. Jones family trust. The pit has been in use since 1963 when the county purchased the rights to the gravel pit. The county mined it and has obtained all the gravel from there.
Kofford encouraged Emery County residents to return their census forms if they haven’t done so. The stats show 50 percent of Emery County has returned their census forms. If you haven’t returned your form then census takers will begin visiting homes. Census results help aid in federal appropriations and population numbers will determine whether Utah is eligible for another congressional seat.
Pitchforth reported the recreation district has completed their calendar of events and they are available at the city hall. “We appreciate their efforts and the time that went into the project,” said Pitchforth.
The care center renovation is coming along and by the end of the month the kitchen will be ready. Residents will be moving into the west wing soon. The east wing has proved to be challenging. Pitchforth said the entire project is turning out beautifully.
Horrocks said the museum board met and they would like to hold the Folk Art Festival again at the museum during the fair. He met with the CRIK board on tourism. Horrocks met with the Utah Department of Transportation and they updated the road projects in the area. The new rest area at Tie Fork in Spanish Fork Canyon where Skyview used to be is under construction. There is construction on SR-10 north of Emery which should be complete by June. The fire district ordered their eight new trucks and they hope to have them by the end of the year. The Cleveland fire station will be dedicated on May 1 with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m. and an open house and Spring Expo all that day. “We would like to invite the public to attend,” said Horrocks.
Kofford said he attended the BLM RAC in St. George. He met with Steve Ogden on the Horse Canyon rest area. A BLM survey will need to take place there. Seventeen acres have been set aside there for the construction of the rest area. The rest area will include toilets and tables. At some point in time, it was discussed that a museum might be located there similar to the Fremont Indian museum along I-70. This museum would spotlight Range Creek. Range Creek is now operated by the University of Utah. Three vendors currently take people on tours of Range Creek. You need a permit to enter Range Creek. UDOT has a proposed $700,000 set aside for the toilets and parking area. They have asked the county to participate in a $12,000 per year fee for the continued maintenance of the rest area. Kofford said the project ties into where the Lila Canyon road takes off. There will be four lanes plus acceleration lanes where the Lila Canyon road takes off. The bid for the Lila Canyon road went to Nielson Construction. It is a $7 million project because of the requirement for any work on SR-6 to be four lanes it increased the cost of the road.
The consent agenda for the commission contained the following items that were approved: Mark H. Williams and Ray Jeffs were reappointed to the travel bureau. The advertising for a board member for the travel bureau from Green River was ratified.
The fee waiver for the use of the Aquatics Park for Grad Night 2010 was ratified. A water connection was approved for Nielson Construction on the landfill water line. A business license was approved for Chris Grundvig for a handyman business. A business license was approved for Randall Stilson for Sudseconds.