Commission tables contentious agenda item until 2015

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

The Emery County Board of County Commissioners met in their only meeting in December to approve the budget for 2015 and to amend the 2014 budget. A public hearing was held for this purpose for the county and the Castle Valley Special Service District.
Several citizens were in attendance to address item number 15 on the agenda which was: Consideration and approval of consulting services contract between Sampinos Legal, PLLC and Emery County as a consultant to the Emery County Commission/Personnel Department.
However when the item came up on the agenda, Commissioner James Nelson motioned to table the item until the first commission meeting of 2015 so the new commissioners could deal with the contentious item. The consulting services contract was in the amount of $40,600.
Josh McKell along with Ryan Hatch from the Utah Local Governments Trust gave an overview of the Workers Compensation coverage for Emery County. They have been partners with Emery County for the last eight years. They insure people statewide and have 550 members many including counties and cities. They offer a commodity side and also a risk management side. They have provided several trainings to the county employees. In 2014, 224 county employees attended trainings. In the eight years the trust has managed Emery County they have had 59 claims and paid out $340,279. They explained the county receives an emod score card and this score determines the price the county receives. The county hasn’t had a very good score. Trust members have paid out $4 for every $1 put in by Emery County. At the end of next year the bad year the county had will drop off the three year total and the emod score will improve. This will result in a savings for the county. Hatch said he appreciates the county and the partnership, they have formed over the years.
The board approved the holiday schedule for 2015. The commission discussed the meeting schedule for 2015. The proposed schedule was to have meetings the second and fourth Tuesday at 3 p.m. Commissioner Nelson said this conflicts with the department of health meeting every fourth Tuesday in Green River at 4 p.m. This is a board the commission sits on and is very important to the county. Nelson suggested the meetings be changed to accommodate attendance at the board of health meeting. A suggestion was made to change the commission meeting schedule to 3 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of the month. The building authority meeting will begin at 2:30 p.m. before commission meeting. The commission approved this meeting schedule. The board approved the NRCS Assurances relating to real property acquisition for the Huntington North Sediment Basin Project.
The next item on the agenda read: Approval of Emery County’s Workers Compensation Policy with Utah Counties Indemnity Pool (UCIP). Commissioner Ethan Migliori voted not to accept Utah Counties Indemnity Pool. He saw no reason to change carriers. However, it was not an agenda item to approve the Utah Local Government Trust to continue the coverage so a special commission meeting was held on Dec. 22 with one agenda item on it and that was to approve the Utah Local Government Trust which they did.
The commission voted to keep the billing service agreement with JCI Billing Services to process all claims for the Emery County Ambulance.
Commissioner Horrocks said there are several boards with vacancies and the positions need to be advertised for the vacancies.
A change order for the Huntington Canyon North Debris Basin Project, 2013 was approved. This concerns an extension given for 120 days where all the punch line items were taken care of. It’s the approval of all that’s been done to date on the project. Merrial Johansen reported the project is within budget. Capt. Ekker from the Emergency Management team said there may be other change orders as the project is finished as they work with all partners to make sure everyone is happy with the results of the project.
The meeting moved into the public hearing. Brenda Tuttle, the clerk/auditor spoke on the amended budget as well as the proposed 2015 budget. Jacob Sharp the manager of the Castle Valley Special Service District presented the budgets for the district. He said the total valuation went down. Sharp said their budgets were approved by the CVSSD board in their last meeting. Their big item is always the crack seal projects. This coming year they will do half of Ferron streets and the next year the other half. They also received half loan/half grant for the construction of a new water treatment plant for Ferron.
All of the budgets including the amended and the new budgets were approved.
Commissioner Horrocks said the wildland fire budget agreement between Emery County and the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands for 2015 was due. It has gone down a small amount, in 2014 it was $43,455 and in 2015 it will be $41,428. Commissioner Nelson said it is a good deal for the county.
Commissioner Ethan Migliori reported work has started on the fair for 2015. Things are going well at the care center in Ferron. The Huntington Lake trail system is being worked on for biking and walking. The mammoth exhibit event will be on Jan. 16, 2015 at the Museum of the San Rafael. “We’ve had some good response on the changes and events at the museum,” said Commissioner Migliori.
Commissioner Horrocks said he met with the Castle Country partners, they do good things for the county. He has learned a lot about other counties and their economic development projects through this partnership.
Commissioner Migliori said it was sad news to hear of the closure of the Deer Creek Mine. But, there have been several new businesses opening in the county and the Emery County Business Chamber has hosted ribbon cuttings at Total Insanity Motorsports in Ferron, Crystal’s Massage Therapy in Ferron and the Parenque Mexican Grill in Huntington. He appreciates the mayors meeting he attends and asks they focus on economic development within the cities because the cities are the backbone of the county.
Commissioner Nelson said he attended the association of local governments meetings and commissioner elect Paul Cowley attended with him. He stressed the need for working partnerships with the federal agencies operating in the county. He attended the conservation district meeting with the Army Corp of Engineers personnel. He attended the cattlemans meeting on changing the forest plan. He has sent comments into the forest service concerning this plan. The Emery Water Conservancy District and PacifiCorp and the Bureau of Reclamation have signed the contract for use of water for the power plants. This has been ongoing for three years.
Commissioner Ethan Migliori presented plaques of appreciation to retiring county recorder Dixie Swasey and to the two outgoing commissioners Jeff Horrocks and James Nelson.
Commissioner Nelson said it has been an honor to serve the people of Emery County. Some days he said it’s been a nightmare with complaints and personal attacks. One person once told him that new commissioners are so dumb. He said he began with a limited knowledge but now understands a lot more. He sat down and wrote up what’s taking place in all 20 departments that he’s been responsible for in the county. He will share that information with incoming commissioners and he wishes he would have had background information when he started out as a new commissioner. “It’s been an honor to serve. I want you to be successful. You’re my commissioner. I want you to be the very best.”
Commissioner Horrocks gave a welcome to the new commissioners and wished them well. “It’s a big learning curve, but I support you 100 percent. It’s our county, I wish you well, I hope you succeed. You’re my commissioners and I love this county. I hope you succeed. It’s been a heck of a ride,” said Commissioner Horrocks. He thanked the county employees saying they are very talented and it’s been a pleasure to get to know everyone.
The new meeting schedule for the commission meetings in 2015 will be the first and third Tuesdays at 3 p.m. This new time schedule is being put into place to avoid conflicts with other meetings. It is hoped having the meetings later in the day will allow more people to attend.
The consent agenda included the approval of Castle Dale City’s appointment of Ignacio Arrien to the Emery County Fire Protection Special Service District.
Jackie Nelson as a part time janitor for the Green River Library working up to 8 hours per week. Approval to give Leslie Bolinder a $1,000 bonus for stepping up and taking extra responsibilities with the Housing Authority in addition to her normal job responsibilities. Approval of the following volunteers for the Travel Board in 2015 – LaMar Guymon, Gayla Guymon, Jonathan Hunt, Trisha Hunt, Mark H. Williams, Terry Williams, and Joshua Rowley. Approval of out-of-state travel to Sacramento, California for Jonathan and Trisha Hunt to attend a travel show. Approval of out-of-state travel to Denver, Colo. for Tina Carter to attend a travel show.