County Commissioners hear from state fire marshal

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

The Emery County Board of Commissioners approved the Standard Cooperative Agreement for the Utah State University Extension Educational Work for 2015.
Ted Black from the Utah State Fire Marshal’s office, presented the proposed changes to Wildland-Urban Interface code. He explained the county can directly adopt the code or any parts of the code.
Danna Gray from the boy scouts presented a request to the commission to waive the fee for use of the Museum of the San Rafael for the annual Eagle Scout Banquet on March 28. She said each year they have a special recognition banquet for the scouts who have attained the rank of eagle. They provide the meal and a plaque for each eagle. This year they have 17 scouts receiving the honor and each has donated 100 hours of service for their eagle project. One of the eagle projects was to put in a drip water system at the Museum of the San Rafael and plant rose bushes, another was to refurbish benches at the golf course.
Commissioner Migliori said scouting is a good program that contributes a lot of service hours in the county and the commission approved the waiver. Commissioner Keith Brady said it’s impressive the work these scouts do. Commissioner Paul Cowley said scouting teaches principles to the young men and thanked the scouts for their service and for their leaders.
The Emery Rodeo Team approached the commission for a donation. Lacey McElprang and Hadley Cloward represented the rodeo club. They said the club has 30 members this year and they will be having their high school rodeo on April 11. They help the Carbon club put on their rodeo on Friday night and Carbon helps Emery with their rodeo on Saturday. The commission approved the donation of $250.
The commission approved to advertise for janitorial services at Orangeville Library.
The board approved Rocky Mountain Power to relocate power poles on Cleveland South Loop Road #201 for road improvements in that area.
The board approved the Utah Housing Corporation’s request for tax exemption on three properties in Green River for 2014. They were charged for taxes but have a tax exempt status. The board agreed to reverse the tax levied on those properties.
The commissioners opened bids for the purchase/installation of a water heater for the Green River County Building. One bid was received with two prices, one for an industrial water heater and the other a residential. The board will review the bid. It was from Anderson Plumbing of Elmo.
The commissioners gave their reports. Commissioner Brady reported the tourism board is working to push tourism in the county. Emery County has been chosen to be part of a push for rural tourism and four counties have been selected. Emery County is one of those selected. Roger Brooks a noted specialist in tourism will be coming into the county and helping to develop a plan and give suggestions to the county. Each of the communities in the county will develop and focus on one strength that makes them unique. Committees are being formed in each of the cities. Contact your city to get involved on one of these committees. He will work with branding each community with that one thing that makes then different.
The Emery County Business Chamber will be hosting an awards banquet on March 19 at 6 p.m. at Miller’s Landing in Huntington. Everyone is welcome to attend this event to honor local business and the results of a coal study will be the topic for the guest speakers.
Commissioner Cowley said there has been some confusion on the closing of camping in Straight Canyon. This is from the forest boundary to the dam, it’s closed for overnight camping, day use is still OK. He said gate closures on the forest are being looked at to make sure it’s fair to both sides. Commissioner Cowley said he also toured the debris basins constructed in Huntington Canyon.
Commissioner Migliori gave an update on bills at the legislature that could affect Emery County. The county has been able to improve the care center, helping out with the upper limit payments. He said there are some challenges with the economy and the closing of Deer Creek mine, but there are some positives out there too. Some businesses are expanding and the refinery at Green River is still moving forward. With the closing of the Carbon Power Plant, some of the workers are being relocated to Emery County and some plan on moving over here, which will help with the empty houses in the county. Each city is having discussions on economic development opportunities for their city.
Commissioner Migliori congratulated the athletic teams from the county who have done well this season including the swim teams that took first place, the Green River and the Emery Spartans basketball teams that took second in state. Also the academic all-state students were plentiful from the area schools. Emery had one state champion wrestler, McCoy Christiansen.
The board approved to give Ariauna Downard a 3 percent wage increase for successful completion of her 6 month orientation period.
The board approved the Public Land Council’s appointment of Rod Player to the Emery County Trails Committee.
The next commission meeting will be held on March 17 at 3 p.m.