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Show Busy meeting Commission hears concerns PAROWAN The Iron County Commission took care of a number of items at its regular meeting here Monday. During the day-long meeting, the Commission met with representatives of both the Pa rowan and Paragonah fire departments concerning various items. Albert Orton and Rodney Adams of Parowan came to the Commission with a request for help in purchasing a second fire engine for the City. However, the Commission made no 1 decision at the meeting, promising only to look into various means of obtaining funding. The men asked the County to participate 50 percent in the expense, with Parowan City coming up with the other half. The total cost of the machine would be about $120,000. The three commissioners did seem to be in general agreement with the idea, but suggested that it would be at least July 1 before any funds would be available. However, after the meeting Commissioner James L. Clark had some reservations about the idea. "It just rubbed me the wrong way," he said, explaining that he couldn't understand how Parowan residents could turn down a bond election to build a jail in Cedar City, but could ask the County, including Cedar City residents, to help them purchase a fire engine. Either way, the matter was tabled for further consideration. Royce Barton of the Paragonah Fire Department met with the Commission to clear up a couple of details about the department. First, he asked to clarify just what the department building could be used for, with the Commission responding that it should be used strictly for fire department use. Also, he asked that the boundaries of his and the Parowan department be defined. The Commission agreed that the Paragonah department should cover all calls, halfway to Parowan and north to the Beaver County line, with the Parowan department backing up when necessary. The Commission also discussed requests from the Alcoholism Recovery Center in Cedar City and the Southwest District Health Department for more funds, with decisions on both being tabled. The ARC requested an additional $2,500 above the $3,500 the County already allots, with Commission Chairman Howard Knight strongly supporting the idea and the program. The other commissioners agreed that the ARC is a good program, but, again, they were unsure of funding sources. The matter will be looked into further in the future. The Southwest District Health Department also asked for more money, but the Commisison was much less understanding of the request. In fact, the Commission for sometime has felt that services are being duplicated and that the department is costing much more than the services should. Knight stated that he felt the County could take the money alloted "and run a very efficient program at a considerably smaller cost." Again, no action was taken. In other business The Commission toyed with the idea of charging a $15 per year television tax for everyone using the County's television relay station services. Much discussion ensued, pro and con, but no action was taken. Cressel Sherratt met with the Commission to request some adjustments in zoning and right of ways to allow for flood channels in Cedar Valley. The Commission referred him to the County Planning Commission. The Commission granted permission to Lynn Barnson to approach County employees concerning a supplemental health insurance program. If the employees elect to purchase the additional insurance, the money will come out of their own pockets. The Commission granted several step increases and salary raises for County employees. These included Rick Evans, Gordon Adams and H. Wayne Holt of the Sheriff's Department; and Robert Dalley of the Recorder's Department. Assessor Steven Grimshaw announced that part-time building inspector Alan Demille will resign as of March 1. At that time, the Commission decided, Gary Tharpe will be hired in the evenings and on weekends, until the Commission can come up with a better program for the office. |
