County to start project to update apartments

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

The Emery County Commissioners held their second public hearing regarding the Community Development Block Grant for $175,000. The project the money will be used for is the replacing of all bathroom components including flooring and asbestos abatement in the Emery County Housing Authority owned low income housing units. There are 24, two and three bedroom apartments which will be included in the project.
Commissioner Jeff Horrocks said the grant has been issued, but there are a few more details that need to be worked out before the money comes in for the project. These are county owned buildings, but they are operated under HUD regulations and the employee that supervises the apartments works for HUD. “It has been a long time since these apartments were updated. They were constructed in the 1970s. There are units in Ferron and Castle Dale,” said Commissioner Horrocks.
The commission approved the landfill employees to get bids for the metal pile so it can be disposed of in a timely manner.
Each year a contract is approved between the county and the Older Americans Act programs for the administration of the services for seniors in the county. The commission approved this contract.
The fencing project at the landfill has come in under budget and there is a $996 decrease in the cost. The commission approved the contract between the Four Corners Behavioral Health and the drug court.
Workforce Services has requested the county enter an agreement for a one year Worksite Learning project. If the Workforce Services places an employee with the county, that employee will learn valuable skills and the Workforce Services will pay the employees wages.
The county building is in need of repairs to the sidewalk between the county building and where the Castle Dale church improvements have taken place. Recent remodels there have left a gap in the sidewalk. The county will work with the contractors working on the church building to see if while they are there the work for the county can be completed as well which will be a savings to the county.
Commissioner Laurie Pitchforth reported it’s fair time and encouraged everyone to come out and support the fair and rodeo. A new Miss Emery for 2011 was crowned on July 16. McCall Spears is the new Miss Emery with Olivia Burton as first attendant and Rachel Rogers as second attendant and BrinLee Hurdsman is the Little Miss Emery for 2011.
Commissioner James Nelson reported he went on a water field trip on Tuesday and checked out the water projects currently underway in the county. He said they went up Huntington Canyon to see the water diversion and new dam location and over to Joe’s Valley. “I am impressed with the work being done to handle water in Emery County,” said Nelson.
He also went on a field trip to the abandoned uranium mines where work will be done to close dangerous mine openings. Commissioner Nelson spent some time out in the field looking at trails throughout the Swell too and sees a need to include these trails in the Emery County Public Land Use bill.
Commissioner Horrocks reported Wayde Nielsen has been hired as the Road Department Supervisor to replace Morris Sorensen who recently retired. Commissioner Horrocks said he attended a meeting with the Utah Association of Counties on the land use bills. A representative from Washington County came and spoke about the pros and cons of their land use bill.
The Emery County public land use bill is currently in limbo. United States Sen. Mike Lee requested the county gain state approval before the bill is passed onto Congress and that process has begun. The county has met once with the Natural Resources Committee and will meet with Mike Noel. He is a State Representative and represents district 73 (Kane and Garfield Counties), lives in Kanab, Kane County. He is on the Natural Resources Committee.
The next commission meeting will be on Aug. 9 at 9 a.m. The Aug. 23 commission meeting will be in Green River at 9 a.m.