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Commissioners approve Emery County fair items

By Patsy Stoddard
Editor

The Emery County commissioners met for their second meeting in July. They took care of items for the upcoming Emery County Fair Aug. 1-4.
The board approved the contract for cleaning services during the 2018 Emery County Fair with Mindi Labrum and Nancy Jorgensen for $1,800.
The board approved a MOU with Castle Dale City for services during the 2018 Emery County Fair. Commissioner Kent Wilson said they will receive a bill from Castle Dale City for actual hours worked instead of having them on site like last year. The Castle Dale employees will be on call and will be paid by the hour. Commissioner Wilson said they will negotiate a wage. Castle Dale City will bill the county for the services.
The board approved the agreement with Carl Potter of Pro Sound for Sound System services for the 2018 Emery County Fair. The contract is for $1,800 plus motel rooms for two nights.
County Commissioner Lynn Sitterud announced the names for the county safety drawing. Deagan Minchey, Dennis Fuller, Jeff Weber and Wade Hancock won gift cards.
County Attorney Mike Olsen discussed Opting-In to a Class Action lawsuit regarding the County’s right to recover additional sums under the Payments in Lieu of Taxes Act for fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017. Olsen explained in 2008, Congress amended the PILT status, mandating the federal government to pay PILT. But, the item was never fully funded. Kane County has sued the federal government. The court certified the suit as a class action. Emery County can opt in to the lawsuit and be part of the process.
Commissioner Kent Wilson said he’s not sure how the formula works for PILT funding, there are counties with smaller acreage that receive more funding than Emery County.
Olsen recommended the county get involved. He has contacted Kane County for feedback and they recommended becoming part of the lawsuit. Olsen said approval will secure the county’s right to be part of the litigation. As the litigation moves on more research on case law will be done. The commission approved becoming part of the class action suit.
The board approved the resolution authorizing the filing of cross-appeal for 2018 centrally assessed properties in regards to AVAD Operating LLC.
Attorney Olsen said the law was changed and permission must be given from the commission for each separate tax protest to preserve the legal right in case the county wants to cross appeal at a later date.
The board approved a Cooperative Agreement between DWR, State Parks, USDA and Emery County for the boat ramp extension at Joe’s Valley.
The DWR secured the funding about a year ago and they want to extend the parking lot and the boat ramp.
All funding is from the DWR and the project won’t cost the county. Commissioner Kent Wilson asked if Jay Mark Humphrey’s concerns were addressed. He is with the Emery Water Conservancy District.
He wants the forest service to maintain these projects. The MOU was approved pending Attorney Olsen reviewing the document.
The board approved the 2018-2019 Contract Agreement with the Southeastern Utah Association of Governments and Emery County. Brenda Tuttle, clerk/auditor said the county contributes approximately $200,000 to the SEUALG each year which is split into various programs.
The Road Project Agreement between Emery County and the USDA Forest Service, Manti La-Sal National Forest for mag chloride application on schedule A forest roads was approved. The road department does the work and the forest service pays the county for their time and the cost of the product. Attorney Olsen will review the document.
The Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant Contract was approved. This grant will be used on the Scenic By-way to educate people on the by-way. It will tell the history of the area and information will be placed at pull-offs along the route. One information spot will be near Electric Lake where people can watch the Kokonee Salmon go up the small streams to spawn. The Emery County Travel Bureau will contribute $8,000 for the project. The total grant amount is $32,000.
The board discussed the annual contribution to the BEAR program.
Emery County applied for two state grants this year which they received.
One grant will be used to analyze the home businesses in the county to see how many are ready to make the leap to Main Street.
They will be approached to see what they need to make that transition from a home business to storefront.
The other grant will be used to analyze infrastructure in the county and develop a list of available properties for businesses.
Then when a business is looking at our area, a ready list of available properties can be presented to them.
Local businesses will be analyzed to see if they would be a good fit to market online and export their products nationally and internationally. Commissioner Wilson recommended keeping the $5,000 they normally donate to BEAR and using it for the Emery County grants.
Commissioner Wilson said on the Emery County Public Lands Bill they are still in negotiations on the Senate side.
They expect to hear something in the next 30 days.
Sheriff Greg Funk reported the Emery County Search and Rescue hosted their San Rafael Classic Triathlon. There were 150 athletes which is up from last year. They had a good time.
The money will be used to purchase equipment.
The sheriff’s office has been working with the NRCS on the money to be used for projects in the aftermath of the Trail Mountain Fire.
The forest service and NRCS will pay 100 percent of the projects and it looks like Emery County won’t be required to contribute.
Commissioner Wilson said the EMTs and emergency personnel were honored for their work at the scene of the Greyhound bus crash on Dec. 31, 2017.
Commissioner Wilson thanked assistant Meagan Crosland for filling out the paperwork and submitting it.
He thanked Dennis Worwood for his work in the county.
He will be retiring. Jordan Leonard, the economic development director will be changing jobs.
He will work for USU Eastern in promoting rural businesses online.
He will work with five different rural counties. “He’s done a good job for Emery County Economic Development and we wish him well,” said Commissioner Wilson.
Commissioner Paul Cowley said they visited East Mountain and Rilda Canyon to look at impacts to the springs caused by the fire. “Hopefully the federal agencies will kick in and mitigate the challenges with the culinary system,” said Commissioner Cowley.
Loyette Holdaway was selected as a part time employee working as a rover/fill-in Assistant Librarian.
Robert Nelson, Equipment Operator I, was given a 3 percent wage increase for successful completion of his six month orientation period.
Kimberly Howes was approved as a Reserve/Volunteer Dispatcher.
Doug Weaver was selected as a part time Maintenance Worker for the Museum of the San Rafael working up to eight hours per week. Egan Smith was promoted to Patrol Deputy I.
Ty Gordon was selected as a part time Equipment Operator I employee. Derek Beagley was approved for the full time Mechanic position at the Road Shop.

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