Jason Llewelyn, Carbon County’s Director of Emergency Management, updated Carbon County Commissioners during Wednesday’s meeting on the current status of the Seeley Fire and its effects.
В
Llewelyn stated the fire is still at 98 percent containment and that, to date, the fire has totaled $8.5 million (federal and state only). County costs were not included. He further explained just over 20 firefighters are still at the burn site and will continue to monitor through the remainder of summer. Llewelyn then stated the fire wouldn’t be completely extinguished until after the second snowfall of this year.
“The forests were just full of thick trees, a lot of dead timber that, and as you have seen with the pictures we’ve taken, there is really nothing we can do about it,” he said.
The Burned AreaВ EmergencyВ Rehabilitation team (BAER) and the National Oceanic andВ AtmosphereВ Association (NOAA) have been working with local fire departments in fighting the natural elements and helping rehabilitate the burned areas.
NOAA isВ specificallyВ trying to help officials with flooding issues to ensure safe conditions forВ citizensВ and on the current fire line. BAER is helping officials develop a plan to revitalize the burned areas and help potential future growth while promotingВ preventativeВ measures as well.
“We just want people to be aware that if there are clouds forming over head, if they live within a reasonable distance from a stream or river, that they should be preparing for flash flooding throughout the rest of this and next year because we just don’t have the resources to contain it as of late,” Llewelyn said.
В
Other notes from the meeting:
Commissioners listened to representatives from the Utah Counties Indemnity Pool (UCIP) and Utah Local Government Trust (ULGT) regarding the county’s insurance policy. Carbon County has been with UCIP for at least the past 18 years. Similar to what happened in Emery County’s July 10 meeting, representatives from UCIP and ULGT were at odds as to which company offered the better policy. In the end ULGT claimed the all UCIP discussed about them was false. Official statements from both companies are to be sent to commissioners by July 28 with a decision to come during Carbon County’s next commission meeting Wednesday, August 1.
Commissioners addressed, but were unable to make a decision on, what is to be done about flooding concerns from Gordon Creek to Price River.
CommissionersВ approved the county’s yearly contract with the BLM for weed control.
Commissioners approved a contract with Paradise Artists LTD for a performance of rock band Canned Heat at the Carbon County Fair this summer. The contract is worth more than $10,000.
Commissioners approved a contract with the band Lokalgrown for a performance at the fair August 10. The contract is worth $3,000.
Commissioners approved the FY 2013 predator control contract with the State of Utah.
Commissioners will next meet August 1.
В
В