The Emery County Commission heard from Karen Dolan from Four Corners Behavioral Health. She presented a slide show for the commissioners outlining what Four Corners does for the community in dealing with mental health and substance abuse disorders. Dolan said they are required by state law to hold a public hearing. Four Corners covers Grand, Carbon and San Juan counties. The population of the three counties served is approximately 40,000 people. Four percent of this population will need mental health services. Twenty percent of the people in a year’s time will deal with a mental health issue, this could be a death in the family, substance abuse, depression and others. One in 10 people may need help for substance abuse and alcohol abuse. Deaths from opioid use have outpaced all other kinds of death including car accidents.
Another problem they deal with is suicide prevention. Southeastern Utah has a higher percentage of suicides than Utah overall. Care for the mentally ill has changed over the years. The Utah state mental hospital used to have 2,000 beds. People used to be institutionalized for their lives. Since 1963, the move has been to let people live in the communities. This has led to large amounts of homeless mentally ill people around the nation. Four Corners was created to carry out the mental health needs of the community. Originally San Juan County was in Four Corners, but they broke off and do their own now.
Dolan said the benefits of combining with the three counties and having an interlocal agreement in place leverages local funds with state and federal dollars. They also apply for and receive grants each year, These grants can be in amounts anywhere from $500 to $1 million. The funds received go towards housing, staffing and program operation. By law each county must provide mental health and substance abuse services.
Dolan said they employ in the three county area 104 people. These are professional jobs and people move here and become part of the community. Four Corners is also part of the public safety community, if there is early intervention, they can save money.
They also receive a lump sum of Medicaid funds which they use to help people. They have been able to build the clubhouses. Dolan said they see approximately 95 people hospitalized each year from this area. They are on call at all times to deal with crisis and will respond to crisis situations. They are working diligently to reduce problems in the community. They have a strong prevention program in the schools. They help sponsor the Parents Empowered program to keep kids off of alcohol.
They give away gun locks, have rape kits, and naloxone kits. They work with the Hope Squad on suicide prevention. The naloxone kits are free if you go into the health department and ask for one. “If we can keep people alive, then we can get them into treatment,” said Dolan. She said their office is audited each year and they receive good ratings on the audits.
One of Four Corners clients spoke at the public hearing. She said Four Corners has helped her and she has been in the drug court program. She is now attending college and has been clean and sober for two years. She has become a productive member of our community and thanked Four Corners for their help.
Commissioner Keith Brady opened the bids for the Emergency Watershed Project: Southeast of Castle Dale Project site. Four bids were received Nielson Construction was $274,150; TSJ Construction was $214,083.95; Nelco Contractors was $292,388; Perko Rock was $183,748. After Johansen and Tuttle reviewed the bids for completion, the bid was awarded to Perko Rock as the lowest bidder for this job.
A business license for Vahe Zeynalyan for Any Craft near Orangeville was approved. A business license for Kasey Edgehouse for Kasey’s Pro Shop at the Millsite Golf Course was approved. He will be the new golf course manager.
The commission voted to waive the rental fee for use of the Aquatic Center for Grad Night.
The board approved the Cooperative Law Enforcement Annual Operating Plan and Financial Plan between Emery County Sheriff’s Office and the USDA Forest Service, Manti-Lasal National Forest. Sheriff Greg Funk explained that deputies will patrol the forest on holiday weekends and will respond to any calls from the forest. Because they have this agreement in place, during the Seeley Fire, Emery County was able to be reimbursed for all the extra hours spent on the forest during that time.
McKayla Jensen and Hayden Cloward requested a donation of $250 to the Emery High Rodeo Team for the 2017 Rodeo Season. The Emery rodeo will be on April 8. They will attend the Carbon rodeo on April 7. They said the local rodeo draws 600-700 people to our area and they purchase food and gas while here and add to the economy of the towns.
Jensen said a week prior to the rodeo, all sponsors are listed in the Emery County Progress and they are also put in the rodeo program.
The board approved the Supplemental Watershed Plan Agreement #3 between the Ferron Canal and Reservoir Company, City of Ferron, Emery County, San Rafael Conservation District, Emery County Water Conservancy District, Utah State Division of Park and Recreation, Utah State Division of Wildlife Resources and the NRCS. This needed to be done so the Millsite Dam reconstruction project can move forward.
Ray Petersen explained the invitation from Price Field Office to participate in San Rafael Desert Travel Management Plan as a Consulting Party, and to appoint a county representative and alternate to participate on behalf of the county. As a consulting party the county can give input into the San Rafael Master Leasing plan as well as other projects the BLM is working on at this time. Ray Petersen, public lands director is the person assigned in this capacity, with Commissioner Lynn Sitterud as the alternate for meetings that Petersen can’t attend.
A contract between Emery County and Tennant Lawn Care for the Aquatic Center, Museum of the San Rafael, Castle Dale Senior Citizen Center and the County Administration Building was approved. This is for a three year contract.
Randy Johnson, consultant for the county talked about some of the legislative bills they are watching. The marijuana research bill passed the house. Rep. Noel’s bill on land transfers might be too late to go anywhere. In the bill it states a director would be elected by the counties and the governor could fire them. In some ways the bill is more restrictive than federal regulations of the land are now observed Johnson. Rep. Noel and Sen. Hinkins have a resolution promoting access on BLM land. This resolution calls for no net loss on travel management. There are three opioid bills. One works to create policy to minimize addictions to opioids. HB50 changes the way opioids are prescribed. HB 175 adds training for anyone authorized to prescribe opioids.
SB63 is a water bill which has passed the senate, it defines what it means to own a water share and water right. Sen. Eliason has introduced a state monument act which outlines the procedure the state should use in creating any monuments or state parks. SJR 14 concerns Gov. Herbert’s initiative to create jobs in rural Utah, he wants 25,000 new jobs. This will draw attention to what he is trying to do. Johnson said something needs to happen to bring jobs to rural Utah.
Sheriff Funk said they are watching bills too, one where they want to take away some of the funding that’s used to fund dispatch centers. They want state run centers instead. He is going to participate in a conference call with the other sheriffs on this issue. The rural sheriffs aren’t in support of this.
Economic development director Jordan Leonard reported the Gagon medical center is moving forward in Huntington. They are working on construction. They purchased on Huntington Main Street the former Earl’s Furniture warehouse. They will hire nurses and clerical workers. The doctors will come from Price to staff the facility. There are three solar companies looking at coming to Emery County.
The robotics club took fourth place in state out of 36 teams. They took first and second at their qualifying meets. SB190 is a bill which will fund STEM education in rural counties. Last year the school district received a $200,000 grant to be used for STEM education. Some of these funds were used to start the robotics clubs. Green River has a club, too.
Summa and Any Craft LLC has hired 15 employees. They are looking for tech familiar employees. “We meet with local businesses and everyone is looking for an educated workforce. We have nine loans out to businesses from our economic development council. These help businesses move forward. Tina Carter from the travel bureau is at the Go West travel show promoting our county.”
Commissioner Brady said with the governor wanting to bring more jobs to rural Utah, that infrastructure is needed. Emery County has railroad, transportation, broadband, but is lacking natural gas for Emery, Green River and Lawrence. Rural communities need natural gas to expand.
Morris Sorensen was reappointed as a member of the Emery Water Conservancy District Board. The recruitment process for a seasonal worker at the Museum of the San Rafael will begin. Brandon Wilberg and Alex Urquhart were approved as volunteers for the Museum of the San Rafael.
Karen Richards was given a 3 percent wage and 3 percent COLA increase for successful completion of her 6 month orientation period.
Commission hears from Four Corners Behavioral health
MaKayla Jensen and Hayden Cloward.