IRON COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

APRIL 8, 1996

Minutes of the Iron County Commission Meeting held April 8, 1996, in Commission Chambers at the Iron County Courthouse, Parowan, Utah.

Officers in attendance included:

Robert L. Gardner Commission Chairman

Roy P. Urie Commissioner

Thomas B. Cardon Commissioner

David I. Yardley County Clerk

Justin Wayment Assist. County Attorney

SYNOPSIS :

ANDALEX 5

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROPOSALS 6

ONE STOP VISITORS CENTER 6

BID OPENING 6

AMBULANCE GARAGE 6

CARE & SHARE 3

CIRCLE 4 FARMS 3

COMMISSION REPORTS 2

Beryl Community Center 2

Commissioner Urie 2

Iron County/Utah State Correctional Facility. 2

Prairie dogs 3

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS 4

JUSTICE COURT COMPUTER REQUEST 5

MINUTES 2

PERSONNEL 4

Stress management 4

Grievance 6

Terry Palmer 4

SUU FUNDING REQUEST 4

TAX EXEMPTIONS 4

Charitable, religious and educational exemption 4

MINUTES :

Minutes of the Iron County Commission Meeting held March 25, 1996, were approved as amended on a motion by Tom Cardon, second by Roy Urie with Robert Gardner voting in favor.

COMMISSION REPORTS :

Commissioner Urie reported that he had been contacted by a Jr. High School from American Fork, requesting a donation to plant a tree in Iron County's name as part of the State Centennial Celebration. The project would include 29 trees, one tree for each county. Cost would be $25.00 for the purchase of the tree. The Commission approved sponsoring a tree for $25.00 on a motion by Roy Urie. Second was by Tom Cardon with Robert Gardner voting in favor.

Beryl Community Center. The Commission had received a request from the Beryl Coordinating Council to fund repairs on the Beryl Community Center floor. The Commission contacted the school district and asked them to check out the problem. When maintenance personnel from the school district went out to do the work, the repairs had already been completed. The cost of the project was approximately $1,500.00. There is a question on who authorized the work to proceed and this needs to be discussed with the Beryl Coordinating Council.

Iron County/Utah State Correctional Facility. Tom Cardon reported on an Iron County/Utah State Correctional Facility Board meeting held in Salt Lake on April 4. At that meeting, dividing the parcel of property on which the facility is located was discussed. It was determined that the most suitable division would be to split the property on an east-west line with Utah State taking the north half. This will facilitate Iron County building the ambulance garage in the southeast corner and will access DL Sargent Drive.

The Commission also discussed options for operation of the Iron County/Utah State Correction facility. Options include splitting operations with the State operating their portion and the County operating only their portion; The County selling their share to the State; or the State selling their share to Iron County. No action was taken at this time.

Prairie dogs. Brent Drew discussed with the Commission a problem they are having with the Smead Paper Company site purchase. Apparently there has been one prairie dog located on the proposed building site. At this time, they have not been able to get anyone from the federal Fish & Wildlife service to cooperate and determine a solution to this problem. They will continue to attempt to contact US FWS to see if a permit can be obtained to proceed with development of the site.

CARE & SHARE :

Carol Bolsover, representing Care & Share, came before the Commission to request permission to use the Beryl Community Center as an overnight shelter during the coldest winter months. After reviewing this request, Justin Wayment explained to Ms. Bolsover that there is a problem with liability and safety for this type of service which would be provided by an outside provider in a County owned facility. Commissioner Urie explained that there is a conflicting uses of the center by the Beryl Elementary School which would make it necessary for the people to leave and the building cleaned before 8:00.A.M. It was suggested that the Beryl Housing Authority be contacted to see if any housing units would be available during the winter months for emergency shelter.

Carol also reported on the increase of services provided by Care & Share in Iron County. She said that the food box distribution has increased 75% over the 1994 level. She also reported that temporary housing has increased in the County.

CIRCLE 4 FARMS :

Rob Adams and Larry Sower came to update the Commission on their progress on developing their hog operation. At the present time construction is centered in Beaver County where a feed mill is being constructed at Milford and also in the construction of sow units south of Milford.

The next project they are planning is a boar stud facility which is proposed to be located in Iron County. They want this unit separated from any other units for health reasons. The time line for construction is scheduled for later in 1996. They will coordinate building permits for the construction through the County Building Department. Future proposed development within the County will be reported to the Commission by Circle 4.

TAX EXEMPTIONS :

Claire Dalton presented a list of charitable, religious and educational exemption applications that have been submitted to the County for 1996. She reviewed all of the new requests for approval. The requests from Canyon Creek Womens Crises Center, Iron Parke Corporation, and Color Country Baptist Association was submitted to Justin Wayment for his review. Justin will make a recommendation on the applications at the next meeting. Roy Urie made a motion to approve the exemptions subject to review by the County Attorney's office. Second was by Thomas Cardon with Robert Gardner voting in favor.

PERSONNEL :

Chad Nay came before the Commission to request approval to hire Terry Palmer as a Building Inspector. He has been interviewed and it was the recommendation of the interviewing board that Mr. Palmer be hired. His hiring effective date will be determined as soon as he can give notice to his current employer. Roy Urie made a motion to hire Terry Palmer. Second was by Tom Cardon with Robert Gardner voting in favor.

PERSONNEL :

Claire Dalton discussed having the health insurance company conduct an employee seminar on stress management and also a seminar for department supervisors. Since this is included in the health care package, the Commission authorized employees to attend the seminars in May.

SUU FUNDING REQUEST :

Clayton Frehner, representing the Southern Utah University, came before the Commission to request that Iron County donate $10,000.00 to help fund a new stadium at the University football field. Tom Cardon made a motion to donate $5,000.00 in 1996 from transient room tax funds and an additional $5,000.00 during the 1997 budget year. Second was by Roy Urie with Robert Gardner voting in favor.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS :

Clint Neilson, Iron County fire marshall, came before the Commission to explain that they will no longer service fire extinguishers at the Cedar City Fire Department. He suggested that the County use Byrds Fire Extinguisher Co. in Salt Lake City to test and service their extinguishers. After reviewing his presentation, Tom Cardon made a motion to allow Byrds to service fire extinguishers for Iron County. Second was by Roy Urie with Robert Gardner voting in favor.

ANDALEX :

Vernal Middleton, along with approximately 20 other people, came before the Commission to voice opposition to Andalex using Iron County roads to transport coal. Mr. Middleton, Betsy Gordon, Walter Mammel, Barbara Williams, Dick Williams, Beth Dennett and Valerie Cohn made a statement in opposition to Andalex being allowed to use the roads. The group also asked the County Commission to make a statement on their position whether they supported or opposed the Andalex project. Commissioner Urie explained to the group that he supported the development of natural resources in Southern Utah. He did not take a position on where the transportation corridors were to be located. Commissioner Gardner explained to the group that their concerns were noted, however, they could not prohibit any company from using county roads or state or federal highways for public use. Mr. Gardner also stated that he was not opposed to the development of natural resources in Southern Utah. Commissioner Cardon said that he favored the concept of the development of natural resources in Southern Utah, however, at the present time, he did not have sufficient information to make a decision on the loadout facility for the coal being located in Iron County.

Dana Meier explained to the group also that as far as the Utah Department of Transportation is concerned, that the use of a public highway by one particular group may not be limited as long as all weight and size restrictions were met.

JUSTICE COURT COMPUTER REQUEST :

Doug Wilson along with justice court personnel, came before the Commission to request an upgrade in their computer systems. They are requesting that the current PMSI program which is connected to the Courthouse main computer be replaced with Personnel Computers (PC's) and operate with a Caselle software program. The total cost to upgrade both courts would be approximately $30,000.00. Doug was asked by the Commission to look at funding options for the upgrade and to report at the next Commission meeting.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROPOSALS :

ONE STOP VISITORS CENTER. Proposals for architectural design for the one stop visitor center were submitted by five firms. The five companies submitting proposals were PJHM; Bulloch Bros. Engineering; Cooper / Roberts Architects; Gardner Partnership Architects; and Lynn Elliott representing CCAD Architects.

After opening, the Commission took the proposals under advisement and the matter is to be placed on the next agenda. At that time a short list will be approved and invitations for interviews will be extended to firms selected.

BID OPENING - AMBULANCE GARAGE :

Bids for construction of the ambulance garage in Cedar City were opened. Seven bids were received with the apparent low bid submitted by Carlin Corporation at $216,147.00. Roy Urie made a motion to take the bids under advisement and to award the bid at the April 22nd Commission Meeting. Second was by Tom Cardon and Robert Gardner voted in favor. The bid being awarded is conditioned upon approval of the CDBG grant from the State.

PERSONNEL :

Dennis Lowder reported that he had received information from Hank Armbruster regarding the grievance of the Corrections Officers, however, he has not had an opportunity to review their figures in context with all of the county personnel system.

After the bills were reviewed and either approved or rejected, the meeting was adjourned.

APPROVED:________________________

ATTEST:__________________________