Commission names employee of the month

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The Emery County Commissioners met for their last meeting in June and honored the employee of the month. Commissioner Ethan Migliori said Chyanne Carter works at the Aquatics Center. She has been a lifeguard there the last three years. She is a great lifeguard. She is a recent graduate of Emery High where she was on the swim team which finished first in state. She is a hard worker with a contagious personality and a great asset to the Aquatics Center. Commissioner Ethan Migliori presented some Emery County Chamber bucks to Carter, these may be spent at Emery County businesses. She will also receive a plaque.
Karen Dolen and Jennifer Thomas presented the Four Corners Community Behavioral Health, Inc. FY 2016 Area Plan to the commission. Each year this plan must be approved and it outlines the work Four Corners does in the community. Their board of directors approves the plan prior to being brought before the commission. The board consists of a county commissioner from each of the counties represented by Four Corners and three citizen members. They are also involved with the justice reinvestment which will keep substance abusers out of prisons and provide more treatment instead.
Jeff Kelsey the manager for the county’s insurance went over the insurance costs with the commission. He said the county’s plan meets all requirements for the Affordable Health Care Act. He gave out a report of the overall performance of the plan for the last 12 years. Last year was a rough year with claims, but this year has been better. The plan is expected to perform better this year. Kelsey recommended staying with the current carrier who was in line with all other companies which provided quotes. The commission approved the health insurance renewal for plan year July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016.
Cory Worwood the Weed and Mosquito Supervisor presented the Weed Board of the Year Award to Emery County Weed/Mosquito Board. The award was given because of the intense work the local weed and mosquito department has done to help with eradication work on the tamarisk and the recent work on Russian olive removal along all the creeks in the county.
The commission voted to give a $250 sponsorship for an activity at the Fifth Annual Energy Days July 4 celebration sponsored by the Southeastern Utah Energy Producers Association. Commissioner Keith Brady wondered how many Emery County people participate and attend that event. Commissioner Ethan Migliori said he has attended and observed Emery County people in attendance.
The board approved the contract between Emery County and Johansen and Tuttle Engineering on the Huntington State Park Trail System Phase II design and construction engineering and they approved Modification two between the State of Utah and Emery County for Huntington State Park Trail System Phase II.
The board approved a credit card for Jordan Leonard, Economic Development Director and a cell phone stipend.
The board approved right-of-way renewals for Hadden Wash, Buckhorn Bridge, and Last Chance. These are right of ways the county has had in the past and the renewals will take it out 25-30 years.
Clerk/Auditor Brenda Tuttle presented the 2015 certified tax rates for Emery County. They are .004454; this includes the general operations, library and recreation as well as the county assessing and collecting.
Jacob Sharp presented the tax rates for the Castle Valley Special Service District funds. Castle Valley’s rates are: General Fund 0.000907 which will raise $1,560,502 for projects. Debt Service 0.000919 will raise $1,452,575 to pay down the debt owed by the CVSSD.
Emery County approved a letter of support for the BEAR program. Commissioner Migliori said Carbon County is thinking of submitting their own application to apply for BEAR funds. This is the Business, Expansion and Retention Program. The Emery County Commissioners approved a letter of support for the BEAR program as it now operates. The BEAR program began with the idea in mind to interview and reach as many businesses as possible to see what they needed to help them succeed. The BEAR program was able to help businesses with grants to help businesses expand. The program helps to make businesses more efficient. Commissioner Migliori said the state bases the amount of money they give to the BEAR programs based on population. This area has taken a regional approach with the BEAR program not county by county. Emery County has representation on the executive board. New economic development director, Jordan Leonard will join the board and Commissioner Migliori is on the board. BEAR hosts monthly meetings with different topics and speakers. Thirty-50 people attend these meetings.
The board also approved Emery County to make their own application to the Utah State BEAR grant program just in case the present method of applying regionally collapses.
The Emery County Library Collection Management/Development Policy was updated to include the classifying of books by categories in the nonfiction sections of the libraries.
The board approved a resolution authorizing Emery County to make an irrevocable election with Utah Retirement Systems to allow Dispatch positions at the Sheriff’s Office to be placed in Public Safety Retirement. Dispatchers will have one year to become a certified dispatcher. It is a week long course and then they must pass a test. July 1 is the start date for the new resolution.
The commission approved the Huntington Airport Management Contract. The commission said the airport is being managed very well.
The Operations and Maintenance Plans for Huntington Creek Debris Basins and Mitigation Project Site was approved. The county road department will take care of debris basin cleaning. Money is set aside to cover ongoing maintenance costs at the debris basins. There are requirements by the Army Corp of Engineers and the NRCS that maintenance plans be in place.
Sheriff Greg Funk said they are working with the BLM for the law enforcement contract.
Commissioner Keith Brady said he has been working with the travel board to get ideas on how to get visitors to spend money in Emery County. He is open to ideas. Encouraging to buy local is good, but we need to bring money into the county from outside the county as well. There was a ribbon cutting at the new Conductive Composites building in Cleveland. “Their product is awesome. There were state and federal people there,” said Commissioner Brady.
Commissioner Migliori reported, If you have bee hives, you need to let the weed and mosquito department know and they won’t spray near them, because the spray they use can kill bees. Archaeology camp will be held July 13-14, contact the USU Extension if you’re interested in having your student attend. The local libraries are all having summer story time. The GOED site visit was very nice and it let the state people know the businesses we have here.
Commissioner Paul Cowley said the motorized parachutes visited the Huntington Airport for a weekend. The weather could have been better, but they flew around viewing the area. There was a meeting for the fencing project along SR-24 near Goblin Valley. Commissioner Cowley toured the area around Green River with Colby Hunt from the Green River road shop. They viewed some roads that have been washed out by recent storms. There will be a group of geologists from Wisconsin working at the Cleveland/Lloyd dinosaur quarry. There has been some water damage at the Pioneer Museum. The items from that museum will be moved to the Museum of the San Rafael.
Commissioner Brady reported in Green River next week will be the rocket launch. This includes participants from around the world. It will bring more than 400 people to Green River.
The board approved Emery Town’s appointment of Newt Vantussenbrook to the Emery County Fire Protection Special Service District. The board approved moving Michael Grange to a Correction Officer I for successful completion of the POST certification.