Minutes of the Iron County Commission meeting held May 27, 2008 were approved as amended on a motion by Wayne Smith. Second was by Alma Adams. Voting: Lois Bulloch, Aye; Wayne Smith, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.

ELECTED OFFICIALS REPORTS :

Kal Kahler reminded the Commission of a meeting to discuss the proposed Colorado River pipeline project which is scheduled for June 12 at the Heritage Center.

Alma Adams reported that a letter from Leonard Blackham, State Department of Agriculture, encouraging support of hiring five range extension agents statewide. In reviewing their proposed duties it appears that it would overlap the Natural Resource Specialist the County is in the process of hiring.

Lois Bulloch reported that bids to install rest rooms at the shooting range came in over budget. Through negotiations, and with the County doing some of the work, the price has been reduced to $28,000. Cedar City has pledged $2,000 which still leaves the project $1,000 over the budgeted amount of $25,000.

Wayne Smith reported on meetings in Washington, D.C. with members of Senator Bennett’s staff and other Federal agencies to discuss concerns with the prairie dog problem. Dr. Jim Mosier will be coming to Iron County sometime later this summer to see firsthand the problems caused by prairie dogs.

ZONE CHANGE From A-20 to R-½ :

Wayne Smith made a motion to open a public hearing to receive comments regarding a proposed zone change on property located approximately 2400 North & 4500 West, Cedar City. Within Sec 36, T35S, R12W, SLB&M. Second by Alma Adams. Voting: Lois Bulloch, Aye; Wayne Smith, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.

Chad Nay commented that this property is located on a parcel located North of and contiguous to Park West Subdivision. It is in a Tier 2 area and has been evaluated by the Planning Commission to determine if it meets the zone change requirements. The Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the zone change request.

Mark Brown, representing property owner C2 Holdings stated that the CICWCD has committed to make water available to the area for development. Sewer would be provided but would require a lift station to get to the outfall line on 4500 West.

After all public comments were received, Wayne Smith made a motion to close the public hearing and to adopt the recommendation of the Planning Commission to approve the zone change as requested from A-20 to R-1/2. Second by Alma Adams. Voting: Lois Bulloch, Aye; Wayne Smith, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye. The property is described as follows:

Account Number 0460292 Parcel Number E-0151-0001-0000 Acres 100.00

NW1/4NE1/4 & W1/2NE1/4NE1/4SEC 36,T35S,R12W, SLM; TOG W/ EASE FOR ING/EGR & UTIL OVER S 33 FT OF E1/2NE1/4NE1/4 SEC 36,T35S,R12W, SLM.

CERTIFICATION OF ANNUAL TAX SALE :

Christene Keene, Chief Deputy Auditor reported on results of the annual tax sale. Parcels receiving no minimum bid were struck off to the County. Parcels struck to the County included Beryl Townsite lots and Campsites. Alma Adams made a motion to certify the tax sale results and to declare parcels struck off to the County as surplus property with the County Clerk authorized to advertise and sell at the Assessor’s appraised value as the minimum acceptable bid. Second by Wayne Smith. Voting: Lois Bulloch, Aye; Wayne Smith, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.

CONSERVATION EASEMENT APPROVAL WILD PEA HOLLOW :

A conservation easement between Iron County and the State Department of Natural Resources for County property known as Wild Pea Hollow was reviewed and approved on a motion by Wayne Smith. Second by Alma Adams. Voting: Lois Bulloch, Aye; Wayne Smith, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.

APPROVAL OF USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT APPLICATION :

Connie Lloyd presented a request for approval of a grant application to USDA Rural Development for $50,000 to be used on the Parowan Senior Citizen Center Project. Alma Adams made a motion to approve the grant application. Second by Wayne Smith. Voting: Lois Bulloch, Aye; Wayne Smith, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.

OFFICE SPACE REQUEST STATE OFFICES :

Alma Adams reported that the State DFCM has requested the County finance the construction of office space to house the UHP office, Adult Probation & Parole, Drivers License, and Dispatch. Lt Esplin reported that current space being leased is inadequate and the UHP and Drivers License will be relocating as soon as their current lease expires. Cheryl Searle will come and meet with the Commission at a future meeting to discuss the State needs and lease terms.

WILDLAND FIRE AMBULANCE DECISION :

Ron Johnson, David Storow, Ryan Riddle and Emily Hall met with the Commission to discuss using the ambulance service as a wildland fire resource. Ryan Riddle explained that the use would be similar to commitments by the Road Department and Fire Departments. If the ambulance or crews are needed locally, they can be pulled from the fire. The ambulance can be restricted to County fires or may be expanded to cover the Five County area. Currently there are sixteen EMT’s trained for wildland fire response which could manage the response required by fire crews.

Alma Adams made a motion to approve a one year trial agreement as requested by the Ambulance Supervisor. Second by Wayne Smith. Voting: Lois Bulloch, Aye; Wayne Smith, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.

PERSONNEL MATTERS :

Colette Eppley presented as a new hire Deanna Volk as an EMT-Basic to work in the Parowan area. She explained that as a part time secretary in the Ambulance Department that schedules can be worked to avoid a conflict of interest and to avoid interfering with hours as a part time secretary. There is a concern that other Departments may view this as a precedent in hiring of part time personnel to a second position within their Departments. After review, Alma Adams made a motion to approve as a trial policy and position. Second by Wayne Smith. Voting: Lois Bulloch, Aye; Wayne Smith, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.

Colette also presented for approval a lateral transfer of Aaron Palleson from Patrol Deputy to Resource Officer. Alma Adams made a motion to approve the transfer as requested. Second by Wayne Smith. Voting: Lois Bulloch, Aye; Wayne Smith, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.

Colette also presented a request for a pay adjustment for Wendy Evans as Fair Secretary to $10.50 per hour. Wayne Smith made a motion to approve the pay adjustment as requested effective on her 2008 hire date. Second by Lois Bulloch. Voting: Lois Bulloch, Aye; Wayne Smith, Aye; Alma Adams, Abstain from this matter citing a conflict of interest. CRUSHING BID OPENING :

Bids were opened as advertised for crushing 12,000 cubic yards of gravel at the tailings pile at Iron Springs. The apparent low bid was submitted by Nichols Construction for $55,680 at $4.64 per yard. Wayne Smith made a motion to refer the bids to Steve Platt for review to determine if they meet all of the specifications and to authorize acceptance of the low bid if everything is in order. Second by Alma Adams. Voting: Lois Bulloch, Aye; Wayne Smith, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.

PRAIRIE DOG ALLOCATION :

The Commission allocated take from previously awarded take requests which have opted to pass for the 2008 year. Thirty dogs have been returned and were reallocated as follows:

Shane Evertsen approved for 7.2 dogs on the Meadow Crest project.

Mike Hake approved for 10.0 dogs on the McComic Ranch project.

Brandon Shank approved for 10.0 dogs on the Saddleback View Unit 4B project.

Wayne Smith made a motion to approve the take as approved. Second by Alma Adams. Voting: Lois Bulloch, Aye; Wayne Smith, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.

COUNTY BOARD APPOINTMENTS :

Wayne Smith made a motion to appoint Wayne Clark as a member of the Career Service Council Board. Terms are to be determined at a later date. Second by Alma Adams. Voting: Lois Bulloch, Aye; Wayne Smith, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.

PRAIRIE DOG MATTERS :

Reed Erickson reported to the Commission that the draft HCP for prairie dogs is nearing completion. Enterix employees will be invited to the June 23 meeting if schedules permit to discuss progress on the HCP. Reed will arrange the meeting.

Keith Day discussed the Dalley Farm operation and requested funding from previous years to replace the existing diesel pump motor with an electric motor. There are issues to be worked out with Dalley’s regarding their use of water from the well. Keith is to contact them before approval can be given.

The Commission expressed concern with the way the farm has been operated in the past. The original agreement has not been followed as far as operation and the prairie dog counts on the farm have gone down since the purchase as a prairie dog habitat. To this point, no permanent grasses and feed have been established forcing prairie dogs to migrate to surrounding farms to survive.

NEW CASTLE POST OFFICE ADDRESSING ISSUES :

Steve Platt reported that the Newcastle post office has requested that trailers at a compound between Modena and Beryl Junction be addressed. Janet Bowler, Postmaster in Newcastle, and Gail Snyder have volunteered to go and assign addresses to the trailers at the compound. The Commission requested that the two women not go alone but take a Deputy Sheriff with them as this area has been known to threaten County employees in the past.

PAROWAN POWER OUTAGE THURSDAY JUNE 12 :

David Yardley reported that Parowan City has informed the Courthouse staff that the power will be out in Parowan on June 12 from 1:00 p.m. until sometime in the evening. The outage is to allow Rocky Mountain Power to upgrade a substation serving Parowan City. The Commission authorized offices to be closed during the power outage on a motion by Alma Adams. Second by Wayne Smith. Voting: Lois Bulloch, Aye; Wayne Smith, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.

APPROVAL OF WARRANTS & ADJOURN :

After the bills were reviewed and approved or rejected, the meeting was adjourned at p.m. on a motion by Wayne Smith. Second was by Alma Adams. Voting: Lois Bulloch, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye; Wayne Smith, Aye.

Signed: Lois L. Bulloch, Chair

Attest: David I. Yardley

County Clerk