By Julie Johansen
As the Emery County Commission meeting began on Tuesday, April 2, a motion for a public hearing was entertained and approved. This was a re-notice as it was not presented in time last meeting. The hearing was quickly closed and the resolution previously passed was again approved.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Emery County and the Emery County Business Chamber regarding the financials of the Emery County Fair was approved. The Fair will be held July 23 through July 27. The Emery County Business Chamber had a long list of activities and responsibilities that they will use $41,000 to help produce. Other sponsors are Emery Telcom, Rocky Mountain Power and Castle Dale City.
An approval of the March 12 Canvass of Elections from the clerk’s office was approved, as well as an amendment for the 2024 Emery County Fee Schedule was approved. This will include a 20% fee increase for land fill fees which are past due and usage denied if the fees are 60 days past due, until current.
Desiree Malley, Emery County Librarian, requested approval of an MOU with UETN for Telecommunications WAN Service for July 1 of this year to June 20, 2029. The hub will be in the Castle Dale Library with units at each library and will improve the services at each. She also wanted approval for an MOU with The Emery County Library system participation in the UEN 2024 Wi-Fi for libraries Program. This $16,000 would be funded by state ARPA funds.
Funding was also approved for upgrading the heating and air conditioning in the County Administration Building. Mary Huntington, Emery County Personnel Representative, read the nepotism law to the commissioners before requesting approval of Shannon Johnson to be a seasonal lawn care laborer. Johnson is a niece of Kyle Scow, who is the Maintenance Lead, but as she was the only qualified applicant, she was approved for hire.
Up to $15,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds were approved for crack seal at the sheriff’s office and weed and mosquito shop parking.
During elected officials reports, Commissioner Jordan Leonard announced the news article that extended the life of the power plants in Emery County. He also stated that new businesses in the county will still need to be worked for.
Commissioner Keven Jensen requested that, with the new branding, stories of “who we are” as a people be turned in quickly.
