An important agenda item discussed between the Carbon County Commissioners during the regularly scheduled commission meeting that took place on Wednesday. This item was the consideration and possible approval of a resolution to withdraw from the Southeastern Utah District Health Department.
Commission Jae Potter spoke first on the issue. He stated that there is a time limit that must be met beforehand if the choice to withdraw is made, which made it important to get a resolution in place in case the withdrawal is the direction that the commissioners choose to take.
Commissioner Potter stated that the possible withdraw is being viewed by many as an issue over a hiring practice. However, according to commissioner Potter, that is only part of the problem. Potter then continued by stating that commissioner Jake Mellor serves on the board and turned the time to him.
Commissioner Mellor stated that the Southeastern Utah Board of Health is made up of three individuals from each county with one commissioner or council represented. He stated that there are also other stipulations in place as to how the board members are chosen. To Mellor, it has been difficult recently to focus on the public health as a board as issues arose with organization and other distractions. Mellor agreed that the board is not acting in the function that they should and not moving based on board decisions.
Commissioner Casey Hopes was then given the floor, however, he yielded the floor back to Commission Chair Potter. The first thing that Potter believes to be an issue is that Grand County has a prejudice, according to Potter, toward Carbon County. Potter informed the other commissioners and audience that in previous public meetings, Grand County has stated that they do not like the idea of Carbon County hosting the health district.
Commissioner Potter does not feel that the relationship between Carbon and Grand counties is a healthy relationship to have. Often, commissioner Potter found that if the two counties do not see eye-to-eye, Carbon County is subordinate to Grand County and lesser.
According to Potter, the general population of the three is counties is 50% for Carbon County, 25% for Emery County and approximately 22-23% for Grand County. Potter stated that he finds it difficult to continue to deal with and allow one county take a stance for what is best for the citizens of Carbon County. He has found in limited interactions with the board that there is a big division, that they are dysfunctional and do not work well in committees.
“It’s time to make some changes and time to go forward,” Potter said.
At this time, commissioner Hopes spoke, stating that it would be better to work out the differences between all three counties. However, to Hopes, if some of the issues cannot be passed, it may be better to split ways.
The resolution 2017-08 for the board of commissioners to give notice of its intent to withdraw was then read aloud. However, the severing will not take place until Dec. 31. The resolution could be withdrawn or nullified if anything changes by that time.
If not, county attorney Christian Bryner stated that the documentation will be sufficient to withdraw the county at that date. If that does happen, the commissioners are hopeful to possibly team up with Emery County or work on their own to create something that works locally.
The resolution was approved by the commissioners on the stance that thay will meet and attempt to fix the issues sooner rather than later. If not, they will find something that works better for Castle Country as a whole.