Huntington ball complex nears completion

By By

A report was given at the building authority meeting that the final touches are being put on the ball complex in Huntington. The entrance fence will need to be replaced. Total construction costs for the improvements at the complex are $770,000. Part of the money will be reimbursed by the CIB as the project received a grant from the CIB. The concession stand has been remodeled. New dirt has been put in the infields. The lawn has been replaced with new sod and a new sprinkler system was installed.
The Commission approved the bid for construction of the Cleveland Library Parking Lot. A bid from Nielson Construction was received. The chairman of the board Commissioner Ethan Migliori will review the bid to see if all is in order and the bid will be awarded. The board considered two ambulance write-offs which were denied. Good faith payments need to be made on these bills.
The board tabled the consideration and approval of Amendment #1 to Agreement Between Emery County and Johansen and Tuttle Engineering on the Huntington State Park Trail System Phase 1 – 2014 for design and construction engineering.
The board approved an agreement between Emery County and Johansen and Tuttle Engineering on the Huntington Creek South Debris Basin Project for additional work.
The board passed a Resolution that Emery County is not seeking to impose a tax under Section 59-12-701, et. seq. U.C.A. entitled County Option Funding for botanical, cultural, recreational and zoological organizations or facilities. This is a tax of 1/10th of 1 percent that could be imposed by the county for park and recreation funding. The county will not pursue this tax at this time, but Green River City would like to take advantage of the tax. If the county imposed the tax it would collect approximately $164,000 per year. Approval of this tax would have to be made by voters on the ballot. With the county declining to impose this tax at this time, Green River City can go ahead and pursue the tax.
The board tabled the approval of the procedure of maintenance and usage of the Rokon Trail Machine. Commissioner Paul Cowley explained this machine is like a motorcycle that drags the single track trails for cleaning and grooming of the trail. County Attorney Mike Olsen will look into the liabilities related to the operation of the machine.
The board tabled the consideration and approval of modification #2 between the State of Utah and Emery County for Huntington State Park Trail System Phase II.
The board approved the State Task Force Grant.
Sheriff Greg Funk said the grant is in the amount of $51,000 and this money is used for training and drug purchases for the Emery County Drug Task Force.
County Clerk/Auditor Brenda Tuttle reported on the May tax sale proceedings. There were 22 properties up for sale and one parcel was sold and another was withdrawn from the sale. All of the other properties were either redeemed or arrangements were made for payments.
Commissioner Keith Brady reported the resurfacing of the parking lot at the Emery County Aquatics Center was completed. He went with the SITLA board on a tour of the San Rafael Swell to take a look at the SITLA lands out there. At the SITLA board meeting in Price the grazers were concerned with changes to the SITLA grazing policies. One change they wanted was to take out the word advertise and use public notice instead when SITLA grazing permit renewals come up.
Commissioner Paul Cowley also toured with the group and he said they were very impressed with the scenery in the area. They took them to the Wedge and the Cedar Mountain area. They had lunch at Ray’s in Green River and while there, Commissioner Brady talked to them about the nuclear power plant.
Commissioner Cowley said next week there will be a site showing for the fence project near Goblin Valley to keep the cows off the road.
Commissioner Migliori reported there will be a ribbon cutting for the new bike trail at Goblin Valley State Park on June 9. The governor’s office of economic development will tour the county with Jordan Leonard, economic development director.
Commissioner Migliori said the board at the Emery County Care and Rehab, thanked the commission for all their help at the care center.
The county’s are supposed to receive $50,000 from the legislature to update all county resource plans. They wanted to leverage the money with CIB monies so the county’s would have enough money to complete a plan. This has been put on hold for now because it’s not known if CIB funding can be used in that way.
Commissioner Migliori encouraged everyone to download the trails app which let’s you track your location in the county as you travel the roads and trails.
James Nielsen was approved as a volunteer for the Weed and Mosquito Department.
Lise Jewkes was hired as a seasonal part-time Museum Clerk.
Volunteers were approved for the Emery Library: Jared Withers, Cassidy Larsen, Randy Lake, and Glen VanTussenbrook.
Claire Maldonado was hired as the Justice Court Clerk/DMV Tech in Green River working 29 hours per week with prorated benefits.
The next commission meeting will be on June 16.
In the local building authority meeting the plans are being worked on for the improvement projects at the Green River road shop and the Castle Dale road shop. Improvements are also being planned for Bear Creek Campground in Huntington Canyon.