Minutes of the Iron County Commission meeting held September 8, 1997 in Commission
Chambers at the Iron County Courthouse, Parowan, Utah at 9:00 a.m.
Officers in attendance included
Thomas B. Cardon Commission Chairman
Roy P. Urie Commissioner
Dennis E. Stowell Commissioner
Karla Staheli Asst. County Attorney
David I. Yardley County Clerk
SYNOPSIS :
APPROVAL OF BILLS AND ADJOURN 5
APPROVAL OF MINUTES AUGUST 25, 1997 1
BOARD APPOINTMENT - PLANNING & ZONING 3
CENTRAL IRON COUNTY WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT 3
ELECTED OFFICIAL REPORTS 1
Dennis Stowell 1
Doug Wilson 2
Five County AOG 2
Grand Staircase Lawsuit 1
Prairie Dog 2
Tom Cardon 1
Visitor Center 2
PERSONNEL - EXECUTIVE SESSION 4
SHOOTING RANGE DEVELOPMENT 4
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT HEALTH 3
SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE REPORT 4
TAX MATTER - DALE HOLYOAK & ALICE BARTON 3
UAC FALL WORKSHOP GIFT 3
ZONE CHANGE - APOSTOLIC UNITED BRETHREN 2
APPROVAL OF MINUTES AUGUST 25, 1997:
Minutes of the Iron County Commission Meeting held August 25, 1997 were approved as amended on a motion by Roy Urie. Second was by Dennis Stowell and Tom Cardon voted in favor.
ELECTED OFFICIAL REPORTS :
Tom Cardon reported that he had attended a meeting of County representatives to discuss the UAC Insurance Mutual. Coverages will be reviewed by the insurance carrier and a listing of Special Districts that will qualify for coverage under the Mutual will be circulated to the Counties. Bonds for elected officials will also be available through the Mutual.
Dennis Stowell reported that the first public hearing for CDBG (Community Development Block Grants) for 1998-99 fiscal year would be held on September 22. The purpose of this hearing is to explain the CDBG program and to receive suggestions for projects that may be considered for funding through CDBG. A mandatory workshop is also scheduled for September 23, 1997 at which the procedure for applying will be explained.
Grand Staircase Lawsuit David Yardley was ask to research the Commission minutes to determine the amount the County had committed for funding of the Grand Staircase lawsuit which has been filed by the Utah Association of Counties. The funds are to be forwarded to UAC.
Tom Cardon reported that he had attended a meeting with Five County AOG officials concerning the participation in "Color Country" . Kane County has decided to drop out of the advertising group and will not help to fund the Color Country group. The other four counties have agreed to continue with their efforts in attracting tourism to Southwest Utah.
Prairie Dog: Bob Wiedner, a lobbyist from Washington DC will be in Iron County on September 15, 1997 to discuss with the Commission possible changes in the Endangered Species Act and to review the (HCP) Habitat Conservation Plan being developed for Iron County.
A meeting with BLM, US Fish and Wildlife, Utah Wildlife and Iron County officials has been scheduled for September 11, 1997 to discuss some final issues in the HCP before it is placed out for public comment and hearings.
Five County AOG: A request for funding the operation of the Five County Association of Governments was approved on a motion by Roy Urie. Seconded by Dennis Stowell and Tom Cardon voted in favor. Fifteen Thousand dollars was approved for inclusion in the 1998 County budget.
Visitor Center: Tom Cardon presented a change order for furnishings in the Visitor Center. The items included on the change order will include blinds, trash receptacles, seating etc. Total amount of the change order will be to add $14,490.05 to the contract price. Roy Urie made a motion to approve the change order. Second was by Dennis Stowell and Tom Cardon voted in favor.
Approval was also given to start the process of hiring a custodian for the visitor center and the office building. Temporary help will be hired until the hiring process is completed.
Doug Wilson and Ivan Spencer came before the Commission to discuss the purchase of Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment. With this equipment, locations of section corners, monuments, roads and other survey points can be located to help in mapping efforts in the County. Cost of the equipment will be approximately $10,000.00. The equipment could also be used in mapping geographic features such as cabins, fire hydrants, noxious weed locations, and prairie dog colonies.
Roy Urie made a motion to approve the purchase of the equipment during 1997 if funding is available. Second was by Dennis Stowell and Tom Cardon voted in favor.
ZONE CHANGE - APOSTOLIC UNITED BRETHREN :
A zone change request for property owned by the Apostolic United Brethren for property in Cedar valley was reviewed. The request had been reviewed by the Planning Commission and they have recommended approval.
The zone change request was for the following described property:
All of Lot 4, Section 31, Township 35 South, Range 11 West. Excluding 400 feet by 400 feet of the Northwest corner of said lot.
The request was to change the zone from R-2 Residential to R 1/2 Residential.
No one appeared in opposition to the proposed change. Dennis Stowell made a motion to change the Zone from R-2 to R-1/2 as requested. Second was by Roy Urie and Tom Cardon voted in favor.
BOARD APPOINTMENT - PLANNING & ZONING :
Tom Cardon recommended that Paul Holyoak be appointed to replace the County Commissioner on the Planning and Zoning Board. The County Attorney has recommended such a change to keep the hearing processes independent of each other.
Also, Commissioner Cardon suggested that one current member of the Planning Commission had not been attending meeting and he recommended that he be replaced.
Roy Urie made a motion to appoint Paul Holyoak to replace Tom Cardon on the planning commission and to authorize the appointment of Bill Weymouth to the Planning Commission pending the resignation of a current Board member. Second was by Dennis Stowell and Tom Cardon voted in favor.
UAC FALL WORKSHOP GIFT :
The Utah Association of Counties has ask each participating County to provide a gift which represents a unique feature of that County. In the past, Iron County has provided tickets to the Shakespeare festival and skiing at Brian Head. The request was to be forwarded to LaRee Garfield, Tourism and Convention director for Iron County on a motion by Dennis Stowell and second by Roy Urie. Tom Cardon voted in favor.
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT HEALTH :
Gary Edwards, representing Southwest District Health Department presented a budget request for 1998 at $4.00 per capita. This has been recommended by the Board of Directors and reflects a $0.20 per capita increase over 1997. Total estimated budget for Iron County would be $119,280 based on the State Office of Planning and Budget estimate of Iron County population of 29,820.
Roy Urie made a motion to consider the request in the 1998 budget process. Second was by Dennis Stowell and Tom Cardon voted in favor.
TAX MATTER - DALE HOLYOAK & ALICE BARTON :
Dale Holyoak and Alice Barton came before the Commission to request either a refund or credit toward future taxes an amount they felt had been paid in error. In reviewing the taxable value for the period in question, Mr. Holyoak felt the values were in line with current market values, however adjacent parcels were valued at a much lower value. The problem was brought to light when taxes were rolled back in compliance with the Farmland Assessment Act. Mr. Holyoak's property is not being used for agriculture.
After reviewing his request, action was deferred to allow the County Attorney to review the case to see if an error had occurred in assessing the Holyoak and Barton property.
CENTRAL IRON COUNTY WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT :
Scott Wilson, representing the Central Iron County Water Conservancy District came before the Commission to request County funding of a water basin study for Cedar valley. They have proposed that the study be funded on a population based formula. Cost for the study will not exceed $33,952 for the first year and will be conducted by the United States Geological Survey and the Utah Geological Survey.
Costs are to be broken down as follows: Cedar City 4/7 , Enoch 1/7, Iron County/Kanarraville 2/7. Iron County is being ask to contribute $9,600 to the study. Roy Urie made a motion to fund $9,600 during 1998 to the Central Iron County Water Conservancy District to fund Iron County's share of the water basin study. Second was by Dennis Stowell and Tom Cardon voted in favor.
SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE REPORT :
Rick Holman, the facilitator appointed to represent a study committee which is formulating recommendations for bringing older subdivisions into compliance with current codes reported on progress of the Committee. Since the Committee has not had sufficient time to finalize their recommendation, Mr. Holman requested an extension of thirty days in which to complete their report.
The committee has been divided into four subgroups and are reviewing the following concerns.
Standards for different subdivision areas, mountain cabins, valley locations, Escalante valley, etc.
Subdivision improvement costs, how are they to be divided and who is responsible to pay for the costs of improvements.
Environmental issues including water quality, sewage treatment etc.
Compliance with current land management code requirements and building codes.
Dennis Stowell made a motion to approve an extension to October 14 for the final report. Second was by Roy Urie and Tom Cardon voted in favor.
SHOOTING RANGE DEVELOPMENT :
Rick Holman also discussed development of a shooting range in the Three Peaks area on BLM land. An archaeological study must be completed on the site and a road right of way question needs to be clarified.
The archaeological study is estimated to cost $3,900 of which Iron County and Cedar City would share the cost. The County Attorney was requested to draft a letter to the BLM which states that the road to the site has been declared a County Road by use. Use by the public has been free and open for at least the last forty years.
PERSONNEL - EXECUTIVE SESSION :
Dennis Stowell made a motion to convene in executive session to discuss personnel matters. Second was by Roy Urie and Tom Cardon voted in favor.
The role of the Merit Service Commission in recommending hiring of law enforcement officers and additional leave time for an employee in the Sheriff's Office was discussed.
After reconvening in open session, Dennis Stowell made a motion to approve the donation of vacation hours to Angela Smith, a secretary in the Sheriff's office because she is a new employee and does not have sufficient sick leave hours accrued. Second was by Roy Urie and Tom Cardon voted in favor.
APPROVAL OF BILLS AND ADJOURN :
After the bills were reviewed and either approved or rejected, the meeting adjourned at
12:10 p.m. The Commission reconvened as a Board of Equalization at 1:30 p.m.
Signed: /s/ Thomas B. Cardon
Thomas B. Cardon, Chairman
Attest:
/s/ David I. Yardley
David I. Yardley, County Clerk