Minutes of the Iron County Commission meeting held October 27, 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

Also Present

Dennis Lowder County Auditor

Dennis Ayers County Assessor

Dixie Matheson County Recorder

Merna Mitchell County Treasurer

Ira Schoppmann County Sheriff

Doug Wilson Data Processing Coordinator

SYNOPSIS :

ANNEXATION NOTICE - CEDAR CITY 4

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OCTOBER 14, 1997 2

APPROVAL OF WARRANTS AND ADJOURN 5

BOARD APPOINTMENT - BOOKMOBILE 4

Tammy Bosshardt 4

BOOKMOBILE CONTRACT - 1998 5

CDBG GRANT SPONSORSHIP 4

Ambulance 5

Iron County 5

Newcastle Fire Department 5

Senior Citizens 5

Summit SSD 5

CEDAR HIGHLANDS SUBDIVISION ACCESS ROADS 3

CEDAR NORTH INTERCHANGE REALIGNMENT 4

CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS 3

Charles Meyer 3

Josephine Schmidt 3

Dennis Lowder 2

Dixie Matheson 2

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 5

ELECTED OFFICIAL REPORTS 2

Dennis Ayers 2

Dennis Lowder 2

Dennis Stowell 2

Merna Mitchell 2

Roy Urie 2

EMPLOYEE INSURANCE COMMITTEE REPORT 4

ENOCH CITY LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTRACT 2

IRON COUNTY FAIR HORSE RACES 3

PERSONNEL - EXECUTIVE SESSION 4

Aaron Cheney 4

Clinton Kelly 4

Dustin Orton 4

Gaye Keene 4

Jeffrey Malcom 4

Lindy Means 4

Lloyd Perkins 4

Ryan Allgaier 4

PRAIRIE DOG HCP 5

SPECIAL TAX ABATEMENTS 3

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OCTOBER 14, 1997:

Minutes of the Iron County Commission Meeting held October 14, 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 :

Dennis Lowder reported that budget interviews needed to be scheduled as soon as possible to meet requirements in the budget process. The Commission scheduled October 14 starting at 9:00 a.m. for interviews with Department supervisors. An additional day will be scheduled for November 7 starting at 9:00 a.m.

Dixie Matheson reported that with the drop in interest rates, business in the Recorder's office was up. She also reported that she had leased a new copier to handle the increased volume in her office.

Dennis Ayers reported during Board of Equalization hearings, the value of 742 properties were reviewed. Values were left as appraised on 215. Values were adjusted on 188 and values were adjusted by stipulation on 209. Appraisers adjustments were made on 130 parcels.

Dennis also reported that he had received an award as Assessor of the Year for 1997 from the International Association of Appraisal Officers, Utah Chapter. The Commission congratulated Dennis on the job he has done.

Dennis reported that the State is considering changes in the contract to collect state fees for Motor Vehicle registration. The new contract would increase the funds distributed to Iron County from the state. It would, however, require 18 months notice to withdraw from the contract.

Merna Mitchell reported that tax notices are scheduled to be mailed on October 28. This will begin the busy time of the year for the Treasurer's Office.

Roy Urie reported that a public hearing has been scheduled by the State Department of Environmental Quality to discuss a wastewater discharge permit for Circle 4 Farms. The hearing will be held at the Sharwan Smith Center, Starlight Room on October 29, 1997 at 7:00 p.m.

Dennis Stowell reported that the transition to the new Cedar City TV site located near the C has been completed. From the reports received at this time, the reception has improved dramatically and the coverage appears to be very good.

ENOCH CITY LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTRACT :

Gaylen Matheson discussed a proposed contract for law enforcement within Enoch City and the Sheriff's Department. Scott Burns has reviewed the contract and has some concerns that need to be corrected before the document is signed. Scott will contact Enoch City to work out the concerns.

IRON COUNTY FAIR HORSE RACES :

Sam Pritchard and Herman Adams representing American Legion Post 20 approached the Commission with a request to sponsor the horse racing event at the County Fair. They proposed to stand all of the financial liability if the County was willing to provide insurance coverage under the County Liability policy and if the County would sponsor one race. They felt this race could be run as a "derby" with participants paying the fees for the purse.

The Commission took their request under advisement and to discuss the matter with the Fair Chairman, Art Walunas.

CEDAR HIGHLANDS SUBDIVISION ACCESS ROADS :

Terry Porter and Robert Owens representing the Cedar Highlands Subdivision Homeowners Association came before the Commission to request County maintenance on some subdivision roads and on the Greens Lake road leading to the subdivision. They requested that this road be upgraded with approximately 500 tons of tailings delivered on the road and that the County regularly maintain this road.

The Commission explained that Cedar Highlands was developed with the understanding that the Homeowners would maintain the roads within the subdivision and that the Greens Lake Road could be maintained by homeowners. There was not a provision to place Greens Lake road on the regular maintenance system. The main access to the Cedar Mountain area is by the Right Hand Canyon road which is regularly maintained except during winter months.

Their request for the County to furnish material to upgrade the road was referred to Commissioner Urie and Neil Forsyth.

CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS :

Under the requirements of the temporary zoning ordinance adopted as Ordinance 156, Chad Nay, Zoning Coordinator, came before the Commission to notify them of conditional use permits which have been requested.

Josephine Schmidt has requested a conditional use permit to construct a caretaker residence on property in Beryl. The property is zoned A-20. The zoning ordinance does not allow such residences to be single wide trailers or travel trailers.

Charles Meyer requested a conditional use permit to live in a travel trailer for up to one year while constructing a home on property in Meadows Ranch Subdivision.

The two requests are scheduled to be heard by the Planning Commission at their regular meeting scheduled for November 6, 1997.

SPECIAL TAX ABATEMENTS :

Claire Dalton presented the special tax abatements which have been applied for as per State law. Individual requests were reviewed after which Dennis Stowell made a motion to approve the abatements as presented with an approval date of October 14, 1997. Second was by Roy Urie. Tom Cardon voted in favor. A copy of the abatements as approved is attached to the minutes. The matter had previously been scheduled for action on October 14 but could not be approved because a quorum was not present.

EMPLOYEE INSURANCE COMMITTEE REPORT :

Jerry Robinson and Claire Dalton representing the Employees Insurance Committee and Rex Shipp, Insurance Advisor came before the Commission to report on health insurance coverage and to recommend that the County continue with Blue Cross/Blue Shield Value Care with the current coverage. The cost would be about 3.04% increase over 1997 bringing the total cost of County Employee Health Care coverage to $650,000.

Dennis Stowell made a motion to approve the Committee recommendation and to continue with Blue Cross/Blue Shield for 1998. Second was by Roy Urie and Tom Cardon voted in favor.

PERSONNEL - EXECUTIVE SESSION :

Roy Urie made a motion to convene in executive session to discuss personnel matters. Second was by Dennis Stowell and Tom Cardon voted in favor.

After reconvening in open session, Dennis Stowell made a motion to approve the hiring of five corrections officers, Dustin Orton, Aaron Cheney, Clinton Kelly, Jeffrey Malcom and Ryan Allgaier. Second was by Roy Urie and Tom Cardon voted in favor.

Roy Urie made a motion to award an extra step increase effective January 1, 1998 to Gaye Keene and Lindy Means for exceptional work effort in their jobs at the Correction Facility. Second was by Dennis Stowell and Tom Cardon voted in favor.

A request by Lloyd Perkins to restore a step increase which had been withheld for disciplinary action was denied on a motion by Roy Urie. Second was by Dennis Stowell and Tom Cardon voted in favor.

ANNEXATION NOTICE - CEDAR CITY :

A notice of a proposal to annex property located at SR 56 and Westview Drive was tabled without action to request a more detailed map of the area showing which properties were involved and to determine if this would create an island of unincorporated parcels within city boundaries.

CEDAR NORTH INTERCHANGE REALIGNMENT :

Charles Esplin came before the Commission to express concerns with a proposed realignment of the Cedar City North I-15 interchange and a Special Improvement District proposed by Cedar City. His concern was with the large assessment that would go with their property for flood control etc. for undeveloped grazing land. The Commission explained to Mr. Esplin that this concern should be raised with Cedar City and the State. They also said they would keep his concerns in mind as the proposal is discussed and prior to giving the County's approval of the interchange realignment.

BOARD APPOINTMENT - BOOKMOBILE :

Roy Urie made a motion to appoint Tammy Bosshardt to the Bookmobile Library Board to replace Richard Webster. Second was by Dennis Stowell and Tom Cardon voted in favor.

CDBG GRANT SPONSORSHIP :

The Commission reviewed projects proposed for CDBG Grant funding during FY98. The following projects were approved on a motion by Dennis Stowell, second by Roy Urie and Tom Cardon voted in favor:

Newcastle Fire Department - Addition to existing Fire Station

Summit SSD (Water Company) - Fencing Project for water works.

Senior Citizens - Garage to house vehicles.

Ambulance - Planning for Parowan Facility.

Iron County - Handicapped lift for Fiddlers Canyon Building.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR :

The Secretary of the Department of the Interior, Bruce Babbitt, has proposed changes in the hearing and appeal process for changes proposed by the Department. The proposed changes will make it more difficult for local input especially in the areas affected by the changes. The Commission authorized a letter stating Iron County's opposition to the proposed rule changes on a motion by Dennis Stowell, second by Roy Urie and Tom Cardon voted in favor.

BOOKMOBILE CONTRACT - 1998 :

A contract for bookmobile services between Iron County and Utah State Library was approved and signatures authorized on a motion by Roy Urie, second by Dennis Stowell and Tom Cardon voted in favor.

PRAIRIE DOG HCP :

The Commission reviewed the draft HCP and public comments received. The Commission had a concern with the justification of $1,000 per acre on permanent take permits. They would like justification of the fees required. This issues will be addressed in future meetings with US Fish & Wildlife.

APPROVAL OF WARRANTS AND ADJOURN :

After the bills were reviewed and either approved or rejected, the meeting was adjourned at 2:30 p.m.

Signed: Thomas B. Cardon, Chairman

Attest: David I. Yardley, County Clerk