Meet the commission candidates: Sitterud and Van Wagoner

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

The Emery County Business Chamber hosted a Meet the Candidate event at the bi-monthly Lunch and Learn. Chamber board member Andy Urbanik was the moderator for the event. He introduced the two candidates for Emery County Commission and asked them to introduce themselves to the audience.
Dan Van Wagoner said he has lived in Emery County for the past 40 years. He owned a construction company and built houses for 25 years. He has been working at the power plant for the past 35 years and has also gone into tourism and operates the San Rafael Bed and Breakfast in Castle Dale.
Lynn Sitterud said he has lived in Emery County all his life and own Mac’s Mine Repair that repairs mining equipment from all across the country. He has employed local people in this capacity for the past 33 years.
Urbanik said he would alternate the questions between the two candidates and each would have the opportunity to answer each question.
Question: What is your area of expertise and how will you use that to better our area.
Sitterud: “My experience is in coal mine repair. I have connections with business people and have talked with them to bring diversified business to the county so our kids will be able to stay in the county.”
Van Wagoner: “I am currently serving my first term as mayor of Castle Dale City. I’ve worked at the power plant in the energy field and in tourism. We need to build relationships with people in the state. We need to let them know the state of Utah doesn’t stop at Soldiers Summit. We need representation on the hill. All my children have left. We need long term jobs for the people here. As some jobs disappear, we need to fill in with others.”
Question: What should be the focus of Emery County’s commission?
Van Wagoner: They need to go and build relationships with the powers at the state level. We are a dying county, we need help. We can get the help we need from up north.”
Sitterud: “We need to get new jobs here and we need to maintain the jobs we have. We are losing our tax base. We should manage the county similar to a business.”
Question: What direction would you guide the county in the future?
Sitterud: “I have plans for diversification for the county. I have met with investors from up state. I’ve been putting out feelers for industries that could see themselves in a small county. I have met with investors in Provo that are interested.”
Van Wagoner: “We need to look at what we have. Agriculture, tourism; we are a very diverse county, the desert and the mountains are both within 25 miles. We need infrastructure. We need to reach out to people willing to invest. If the county has any property they could trade or use for manufacturing we should use it. We need incentives for businesses. We need to do everything we can to maintain where we’re at with the coal and power plants. We need to push state and the federal government to stop these silly regulations.”
Question: “Should the road up Nuck Woodward Canyon be kept open or closed?
Van Wagoner: “It’s an established road and it needs to be kept open. We don’t need to lose any roads.”
Sitterud: “Members of our community can hike and use horses up there, there are trails available. The road needs to be maintained so the children and the elderly can see these areas. Keep roads open.”
Question: What are your feelings on JRI? (Justice Reinvestment Initiative)
Sitterud: “I am not familiar with it, but I would do research on it.”
Van Wagoner: “JRI is softer on criminals, it puts criminals back on the streets so they can be rehabilitated within the community instead of a facility. The burden is on the sheriff’s office. More money needs to be put into the communities to implement JRI. It’s a complete change to the criminal system.”
Question: What are some inadequacies in the county?
Van Wagoner: “The county fair was done too early, only a few wanted the dates changed. You need to reach out and ask opinions.”
Sitterud: “I agree with Mr. Van Wagoner. Decisions need to be made with the opinions of the citizens. Look at the ambulance service. Budgets need to be tightened. If money is short in the future then you need to take a closer look.
Question: What do you plan to accomplish on day one?
Sitterud: I don’t have anything I want to change on day one. I want to work with the other two commissioners and handle challenges as they come. I have no particular issue on day one.”
Van Wagoner: “On day one I will move in my desk and books and then get acquainted with the department heads. There’s a great amount that needs to be done. There’s A lot of people I haven’t met yet, I would get to know them.”
Question: How would you deal with special interest groups?
Van Wagoner: “My door is always open. Everyone needs to be listened to. We don’t need agendas that can’t be said outloud. Everyone has a voice that needs to be heard.”
Sitterud: “I will sit and talk to anyone, any special interest groups that come in. They can’t change our values if it’s not the wish of the county.”
Question: How would you deal with a shrinking budget?
Sitterud: “We need to keep a balanced budget even with a shrinking tax base. We haven’t been affected much yet, but we are losing mineral lease money. Our population is moving away. I would get the department heads together. If the budget is shrinking, we need to all work with what’s coming in. Work with the money we have without debt.
Van Wagoner: “The budget is correlated to what we can do in the county. There are hard decisions, but we must work with the budget. As Castle Dale mayor, my first week of office the announcement was made they were going to close ALCO. I can make tough decisions and defend those decisions. Services to the community are the number one priority. We may have to look at each department and make hard decisions.”
Question: “Are there some areas where county government oversteps its bounds?
Van Wagoner: “I think the consent items on the commission agenda should be for routine items only. We need public input, we need to have public opinion. We need to have citizen concerns. I don’t believe that’s handled the right way for people to have access.”
Sitterud: “I don’t know of any departments overstepping their bounds. There may need to be some fine tuning to make things run smoother.”
Question: Do you have any ideas on how to solve the recreation districts problems?
Sitterud: “I think recreation has to take a back seat. I would like to see it worked out so it’s there for the county. But, the sheriff, EMS, need to be taken care of first, take care of the bills first, then the play next.”
Van Wagoner “I think the rec. district is very important. Kids need something to do, if they don’t they will find something to do that costs money. The rec. district shouldn’t rely totally on mineral lease money. With Deer Creek mine closing, the rec. district lost mineral lease funds. Baseball and soccer are very important. When we work to bring other businesses to the area, they want to know what recreational opportunities there are here for families. The rec. department is a big part of what we have to offer.”
Question: With the high rate of retirement at the sheriff’s office and loss of deputies to the highway patrol, how would you increase pay to deputies?
Van Wagoner: The highway patrol is offering bounty for our guys. We are the training ground for other officers. The wages for a deputy aren’t that different than a worker at Maverik. We need to take better care of our deputies. This is just a training area, then they step up and take jobs at a higher pay. We are understaffed at the sheriff’s office, we are losing senior staff, not because they want to retire, but because they’re fed-up with how it’s been run.”
Sitterud: “I agree the deputies are not paid enough. I would like to see all of them get a raise. I would discuss this with the other commissioners and the sheriff.”
Urbanik thanked the commission candidates for stepping up and taking questions. His last question was: Why do you want to be a commissioner?
Sitterud: “I had this discussion with Ira Hatch several years ago. He wanted me to run for commission. At the time I didn’t have time, but with life changes I think I have the time now to devote to the commission job. I can take the phone calls. I have the time to devote to the office. I could do some good and help the county out.”
Van Wagoner: “I was mad as mayor seeing what’s going on at CIB (community impact board) and how the money is dispersed. I wanted to turn it around and get involved.”
Urbanik said, “If you’re not registered to vote, then get registered, I would like to wish both of you good luck.”
Board president Jared Anderson said, “Things that are happening are difficult. But as a community we can pull together to get things done. I am optimistic about what we have here. We have some unique components. We will come out of this and be better for it. I believe in this community and its leaders and with the volunteer effort we can get it done.”
The next Lunch and Learn will be Sept. 21 at noon in Castle Dale at the Museum of the San Rafael and the November Lunch and Learn will be held in Green River.