Commission presents service awards to employees

By Patsy Stoddard
Editor

The Emery County Commission started 2018 off by honoring their employees with the Service Awards and one retirement award. Those with five years of service included: Selina Hardman, Denise Allen and Jerimiah Rich. Ten years Tina Carter; 20 years John Barnett, Brenda Tuttle, Travis Winn and Terry Seager; Thirty years-Ray Petersen. Annette Allen was honored for 28 years of service as she will be retiring.
Robby Jensen gave a presentation from the Southeastern Utah Association of Local Governments to update the commission on the changes and improvements to the Aging Department.
Jensen stated he has been out to visit all of the senior centers to talk to the directors and the senior citizens. They held a training for employees on policy. They have developed goals and an action plan. They will be sending out a newsletter to the seniors and also posting on facebook the schedules and activities for seniors.
One of their goals is volunteer engagement with the senior centers. They are extending an invitation to anyone who might like to be involved with the senior centers by presenting programs or activities for the seniors. One program they have had is teaching people to crochet and also an exercise class. A band plays at the Huntington and Castle Dale centers and it’s well attended.
Mainly the outreach currently is by word of mouth, but they are inviting anyone who might like to be involved to contact the centers. They will also host a class to teach seniors how to operate smart phones and email and to work with the different devices available.
Another goal is to meet regularly with the county commission to keep them informed on the aging division and how things are going. New furniture will be arriving for the Huntington Senior Center and other centers will be receiving new furniture. A grant to add an awning at the Ferron Senior Center so the meals can be loaded into the Meals on Wheels trucks will be put in place.
Another goal is to add more activities for the senior centers.
Jensen has been monitoring time sheets and comparing wages for different positions at the centers with Grand and Carbon counties. Emery County has two full time employees, the Ferron director and cook. All other positions are part-time. The Labor Commission will be coming to do training. A new Meals on Wheels Truck has arrived and a new food bank truck.
Commissioner Kent Wilson requested information on how the county’s contribution to the program is calculated. Commissioner Wilson wants to review and analyze how this is done. Those involved will gather this information for Commissioner Wilson.
Jensen said meals are held at each center one day a week. Activities are held after the meals.
Mike Olsen, county attorney, wondered if the seniors have input to give ideas on what’s important to them and what they would like to participate in. Jensen said yes, they are listening to the seniors. They will be getting day trips going again. There have been extended trips to Yellowstone, Fish Lake and Tuachan.
Jensen said it’s sometimes hard to get the seniors to come out to the meals and activities. Some of the people don’t want to be labeled as seniors. If they can show all the seniors the support and camaraderie they can have by participating in these activities that maybe they will encourage more participation.
Jensen said they will be advertising for a substitute driver for Meals on Wheels.
Olsen said he was happy with the goals the Aging Division is making, specifically with the activities. He said it seems some centers are doing well and others don’t have quite as much participation.
Jensen said the senior centers are available to rent out and it’s a $35 non-refundable fee plus a $15 cleaning/key deposit which will be refunded if the building is left clean and the key returned. If a senior citizen is hosting an activity at the center the fee is waived. Any other type of use the fee is charged. Non-profits and political parties can use the buildings for free.
There are monthly trips to Price where the county residents can ride on the bus for shopping and doctor appointments.
The commission approved the fabrication and installation of handrails on the Huntington Canyon South Debris Basin Improvement Project. There was one bid received and it was double the price of Johansen and Tuttle’s estimate so it was rejected. A bid was obtained from Mac’s Mining for the fabrication of the hand rails that was in line with Johansen and Tuttle’s estimate. Two other companies were contacted and were too busy to give bids.
Sheriff Greg Funk thanked all the EMTs that responded to all the incidents on New Year’s Eve including the bus crash, suicidal residents and domestic disturbances. It taxed the communications system and extra dispatchers were called in. “Everyone did a really good job,” said Sheriff Funk.
Commissioner Wilson said the way things were handled was a credit to the system we have in place and the coordination. Sheriff Funk said the school district sent a bus out to the accident scene as well.
“I am proud of the professionalism of the system we have in Emery County. I am proud of how you took care of it,” said Commissioner Wilson.
Commissioner Paul Cowley said, “I echo what’s been said. There was great county response. I am glad to be a part of this county that reaches out to one another.”
Danny Van Wagoner was appointed to his mayoral seat on the Castle Valley Special Service District Board.
Brad Giles was appointed to fill an open seat on the CVSSD Board.
The commission approved the list of 2018 County Commission Responsibilities. Commissioner Kent Wilson: Association of Governments, Clerk/Auditor, Castle Valley Special Service District, Emery County Business Chamber, Emery County Fair, Events Coordinator, Green River Conservancy District, Green River Medical Center, Housing Authority, Public Mental Health, Recreation District, Recorder/Archives, State Parks, Scenic By-ways, Southeastern Utah Health Department, Trails, Travel Bureau; Building Authority, Economic Development, Fire District, public lands, ambulance/EMS, Council of Governments.
Commissioner Paul Cowley: Airport, BLM/RAC, Children’s Justice Center, Castle Valley Conservancy District, Extension/USU, Historic Preservation, Lawrence Cemetery, Library, Museum of the San Rafael, North Emery Water, Road Department/landfill, Senior Citizens, Special Service District, SITLA, Treasurer, forest service, water conservancy district, weed and mosquito; Building authority, Economic Development, Fire District, Public lands.
Commissioner Lynn Sitterud: animal control, assessor, aquatic center, attorney, care center, county facilities, DWR/RAC, insurance, IS/GIS, justice court, local emergency planning, personnel, planning/zoning/building, sheriff’s office/homeland security, six county coalition, TV/communications: building authority, economic development, fire district, public lands, ambulance/EMS, Council of Governments.