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Show Garfield Commissioners Meet To Discuss County Issues PANGUITCH Garfield County Commissioners Louise Liston, Maloy Dodds and Clare Ramsay met January 10 in the Commission Chambers at the Garfield County Courthouse in Panguitch. Also present were County Clerk Camille Moore and County Attorney Wallace Lee. Commission Chair Liston presided. Highlights of that meeting follow: Public Works Public Hearing: Fellows Road Abandonment: Present were Steve and Janine Fellows, Brian Bremner, and Al Foster. A public hearing had been held and comments received regarding the Fellows road abandonment in the Dec. 13, 1999 meeting. The current proposal is to abandon the public road through the Fellows' property in exchange for right-of-ways along the northern and western boundaries of their property and have the zone changed from agricultural to residential estates. By unanimous agreement, the commission approved the road abandonment subject to zone change approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission and recording of a dedicated easement on the west and north boundaries of the Fellow's property. The Commission waved the zone change fees and recommended to the Planning Commission that the change be granted. Bristlecone Water Improvement District Al and Neil Foster . presented before the Commission their planned development and requested that the waste water treatment facilities proposed by Bristlecone Water Improvement District be included in the County prioritization prioriti-zation for state and federal funding. After discussion, the Commission agreed to include the project on the Capital Improvement Prioritization List. Boulder Mountain Fisheries Chuck Chamberlain and Dale Hepworth, Division of Wildlife Services presented on the Boulder Mountain Fisheries. There are brook trout overpopulation problems prob-lems in 18 lakes. The Division plans to poison those lakes and introduce other trout varieties that are more adapted to the conditions and their population more easily controlled. The project will target 18 of the 80 lakes on Boulder Mountain. County-Wide Fire District The County Fire Chief Association Associa-tion was represented by Kerry Alvey and Ron Harris. They informed the Commission that they are organized and asked about the status of the County-Wide Fire District Board. The Board will consist of 13 members, seven v voting members and six ex-officio members. The board will consist of representatives from the various fire departments in the county as well as a member of the Commission. Communications Board Present were Clyde Stonaker, Bryce Canyon National Park; Ron Harris, Kerry Alvey, Melvin Miller, Chris Hatch, and Sheriff Than Cooper. Kerry Alvey requested that the Communications Board be reorganized. re-organized. Chris was instructed to contact board members and report to the Commission next month. By unanimous decision the Commission broke into an executive session on personnel issues. Red Canyon Visitors Center Carl Guillette, Forest Service, (See COMMISSION on page 4-A) COMMISSION From Front Page informed the Commission that the Forest Service is preparing to submit a TEA-2 1 Transportation Enhancement Application to ' the Utah Department of Transportation for Federal Highway funds to construct a visitor center in Red Canyon on Highway 12. As part of the application, it is required that a public hearing be held. Guillette stated that present Commission L meeting would fulfill the requirements for a public hearing held cooperatively with the Forest Service and Garfield County. The Forest Service plans to replace the existing temporary trailer facility with a permanent visitor center building (approximately (approxi-mately 3,100 square feet). The emphasis will be on providing information, education, and interpretive inter-pretive services for people visiting Southern Utah and especially Garfield County. In addition to visitor opportunities, Forest Service personnel plan to work with businesses to provide information infor-mation about accommodations and opportunities in the private sector. The Commission had previously previ-ously sent a letter of support for the project. Guillette asked the Commission Com-mission to reaffirm that support. After discussion, Commissioner Ramsay motioned to support the Forest Service in their efforts to fund and build a permanent visitors center in Red Canyon. Seconded by (See COMMISSION on page 5-A) COMMISSION From Page 4-A Commissioner Dodds. Motion carried. Voting was unanimous. Beaver Valley Hospital Beaver Valley Hospital Administrator Admin-istrator Craig Val Davidson, discussed dis-cussed with the Commission the issues they are facing regarding the County taking ownership of Garfield Gar-field Memorial Hospital. Davidson answered questions and gave an overview of the management style of the Beaver Valley Hospital. Panguitch Main Street Attorney Lee gave the Commission Com-mission a brief overview of the projects that have been completed or overcharging and adjust the amount accordingly. Several business owners present the charge for the county facility was insufficient based upon charges that were assessed to the businesses for both water and sewer usage. They pointed out that prisoners are incarcerated 24 hours a day, seven days a week much longer than tourists who spend the night in motels. Charlotte Clark asked if the council had checked with Beaver where a new jail is also located. Allen Henrie said Beaver's jail is twice the size of Garfield's but that it would be appropriate to check. Business owners said that if the jail was charged per hookup like motels are, they would need to pay for 32-33 hookups. They also said that the jail kitchen should be charged like a restaurant, since it serve inmates up to three meals a day, a greater capacity than any restaurant in Panguitch. They said the jail will be operating and using services year around unlike the local businesses that operate to capacity only nine months out of the year. in the past few years by the Panguitch Main Street Committee. The program director has resigned and the Panguitch City Council will be making a decision regarding continuation of funding for a director for the program. Attorney Lee asked the Commission for their support for continuing the program. The commission, by motion, agreed to support by letter the Panguitch Main Street program. Present for the Jan. 24 meeting of the Garfield County Commission were Commission Chair Louise Liston and Clare Ramsay. Commissioner Maloy Dodds was out-of-town and unable to be present. Also on hand were Garfield County Attorney Wallace Lee, ClerkAuditor Camille Moore and County Engineer Brian Bremner. Bremner started out the agenda reminding commissioners of an important hearing Apr. 3 at 3 p.m. with Judge Tina Campbell regarding the Cedars Wash road controversy. John's Valley Road Bids He also informed commissioners regarding bid proposals received from four firms on the engineering for paving of John's Valley Road. Bremner stated there was $500,000 of state road funds and another $50,000 from Special Service District funds to resurface approximately eight miles of that road. Bids were received from Jones & Demille, Alpha, Creamer & Noble and Sunrise Engineering. They are being reviewed by a committee consisting of Bremner, Commissioner Maloy Dodds and Bill Cox of Boulder. The eight miles considered takes (See COMMISSION on page 7-A) COMMISSION From Page 5-A in the two miles north of Widtsoe that is already paved but breaking up. That will have to be razed prior to proceeding. Then another six miles of unpaved road will be included. "If the money stretches far enough," says Bremner, "it will be hard-surfaced all the way through." If it doesn't, we'll probably be lacking a mile or so right at the mouth of Black Canyon of being completely paved. The money is tight on this project but it depends on the cost of materials at the time. A motion was made to allow Bremner to proceed upon the recommendations of that committee and authorize awarding of the bid. Pending Elections Clerk Camille Moore informed the commission that she was receiving numerous phone call because of the combined voting locations and the absentee balloting set up for the Feb. 8 election. She emphasized the decision to conduct the election in this manner was merely to try to save the county some money in this year that will see four elections. The general election alone in November runs upwards of $10,000, then there is the bond election Feb. 8, the Western States Primary Mar. 10 and the Primary in June. Moore has tried to explain to concerned voters and will affix stamps on all absentee ballots going out from her office to assist voters. Also some communities are endeavoring to set up rides for elderly persons having to travel to other communities to vote. Rifle Range Application Panguitch resident Dale Baldwin appeared before the commission to ask for county support on behalf of his single action shooting enthusiasts, who are endeavoring to secure a rifle range on BLM land. The rifle range some two miles up on Panguitch Lake Road has been used for years by various community groups but no apparent permits can be located. Baldwin's group desires to have a range and secure liability insurance for their members and the request must be tied to a piece of ground. The group will be making application to the BLM for that same piece of ground where the present rifle range is located, approximately 80 acres. The county made a motion to provide a resolution of letter of support for the project as well as the $100 required application fee. ' The facility will continue to be used by the Lions Club for a turkey shoot, by Jeeps Posse for target practice, and for Hunter Safety programs for youth. Each group will be responsible for their own liability coverage. Travel Council Relocation Garfield County Travel Council Coordinator Bruce Fullmer met in the afternoon with commissioners following a lengthy executive session and their return from lunch. Fullmer reported on an informal request that had been made to the Travel Council to possibly relocate their offices in the old jail or old fire station on Panguitch Main street. Fullmer did a walk through with Commissioner Maloy Dodds and some Panguitch City personnel to review the facilities. He expressed that Panguitch Main Street committee would like to see the Travel Council relocate to the old fire station building along with Main Street offices and a new Panguitch Visitor Center. Fullmer felt the fire station location had very adequate space for storage of county brochures and found that location to be much more adaptable for a comprehensive Travel Council office and visitor center. He was to meet with Panguitch City Council members the following evening to discuss that possibility. Fullmer had also considered the site of the county road shed east of Panguitch as a possible location for a new facility. Numerous questions remain however, regarding funding of the relocation. Fullmer expressed that although the fire station could be made to be a real sharp looking and attractive type of visitor center and building, it's going to take some money. ' "' " Board Appointments Commissioners were set to review annual board appointments and began with the discussion of replacing Frank Pierce on the board of adjustments due to his move from the county for medical reasons. Letters had been sent out to alternates and further discussion was needed. Bruce Fullmer stayed to discuss Travel Council board appointments but noted in Commissioner Dodd's absence , if that decision should be postponed for another two weeks. Fullmer did present a letter to the commission indicating the feeling of the Travel Council Board on those pending appointments. Donation Request Clerk Camille Moore informed the commission that a request had been received from Panguitch Boys Basketball for the county to sponsor a full page ad in the program for upcoming Region Basketball to be held in Richfield. A motion was made to authorize 1 that donation with Moore overseeing the layout of i information on that page. |