By Julie Johansen
Christine Jensen, home agent for USU Extension in Emery County, introduced the new agricultural agent, Rowe Zwahlen, to Emery County Commissioners at their first meeting of the new year on Tuesday.
Zwahlen is a native of Wellington and has a degree in horticulture but will be dealing with all areas of agriculture. Southern region representative Margorie Memmot thanked Emery County for its effective partnership with USU. The university pays the salaries of Extension employees and through a cooperative agreement, Emery County provides the operating funds. Memmot also announced that Jensen has been chosen as a department head for USU and will be the county director.
Also at the meeting, commissioners accepted the grant between the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Emery County to start the environmental assessment work on the Cottonwood Creek Watershed Plan. Approval was also given to create a contract between Mark H. Williams and the Emery County Tourism Department regarding the Quartzsite Tourism Show. This show is for 10 days and will pay $300 per day, resulting in $3,000 of Transient Road Tax (TRT) money. This will fund sending cases of maps and brochures to Quartzsite and manning the booth. Also, the agreement with Western Metals was ratified as removing the scrap metal pile at the landfill had commenced during the holidays.
Gil Conover was welcomed as the new commissioner during the meeting. Commissioner Lynn Sitterud will remain as the chair with Commissioner Kent Wilson as the vice chair following motions and votes to approve these appointments.