IRON COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

OCTOBER 28, 1996

Minutes of the Iron County Commission Meeting held October 28, 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

Also Present:

Ira Schoppmann Sheriff

Dennis W. Ayers Assessor

Dennis A. Lowder Auditor

Dixie B. Matheson Recorder

Doug Wilson Data Processing

SYNOPSIS :

APPROVAL OF BILLS AND ADJOURNMENT 5

BERYL FIRE DEPARTMENT FUNDING REQUEST 4, 5

CEDAR CITY LIBRARY BOARD 3

CEDAR CITY TV SITE LAND ACQUISITION 3

COUNTY EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE 5

ELECTED OFFICIAL REPORTS 1

Commissioner Cardon 1

Dennis Ayers 2

Dennis Lowder 2

Dixie Matheson 2

Doug Wilson 2

Ira Schoppmann 3

Merna Mitchell 2

KENT BISHOP LAND MATTER 4

MINUTES 1

NORMAN HEATON 3

PEGGY EDWARDS ROAD VACATION REQUEST 5

REST HOME ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT 4

SOUTHWEST CENTER APPROVAL OF DEED 3

SOUTHWEST UTAH PUBLIC HEALTH REQUEST 4

SUU TAX EXEMPTION REQUEST 4

TAX EXEMPTION REQUEST, ENOCH CITY 5

MINUTES :

Minute of the Iron County Commission Meeting held on September 23, 1996 were approved as amended on a motion by Tom Cardon, Second by Roy Urie and Robert Gardner voted in favor of approval.

ELECTED OFFICIAL REPORTS :

Commissioner Cardon discussed the need to schedule a second public hearing for comments on the One Stop Visitor Center in Cedar City. The Commission approved a hearing for October 30, 1996 at 5:00 P.M. at the offices of the State Water Engineer's office located at 585 North Main in Cedar City.

Dennis Lowder informed the elected officials that budget hearings have been scheduled for October 30, 1996 starting at 9:00 A.M. Each department supervisor has been scheduled for a time to present their budget requests.

Dennis also informed the Commission that a Board of Equalization hearing was scheduled for 2:30 today. Dennis later came in and reported that the officials from WECCO have requested an extension of time in which to have the BOE hearing. The Commission granted an extension and the matter was not heard.

Dixie Matheson reported that the development of an optical disc storage system for storage and retrieval of records would not be a budget request for her department in 1997. The system is scheduled to be available for members of the Multi County Computer Trust sometime during the year. She said that the need for storage of documents was not critical at this time and it would allow additional time to get problems fixed in the system before it is placed in service here.

Dixie also explained that two computer terminals had quit in her office. Because this is not a budget item she requested permission to replace the terminals. This may require a budget adjustment at the end of the year. The Commission approved the replacement of the terminals.

It was suggested that a separate non departmental fund be established to cover the repair or replacement of such computer equipment.

Merna Mitchell reported that tax notices have been mailed. Nearly thirty five thousand notices have been sent out.

Merna also discussed a problem with the computer in which balances are rounded different in the valuation notice program and the tax notice program. This can cause a balance due of 1 cent or an overpayment of 1 cent when people elect to pay from the valuation notice.

She requested that the Computer Trust address this problem. In some cases it can cost far more than the delinquent balance just to mail the notices required.

Dennis Ayers reported that the site visits to cabins is nearing completion. In their reappraisal they have discovered 31 cabins that have not been on the tax rolls. The law allows the tax to be collected as an escaped tax for up to five prior years.

Dennis also discussed the method he had used in arriving at a value for WECCO property. This has resulted in the addition of a significant increase in the fair market value of the property due to the addition of several buildings and remodeling of other buildings at the site.

The Commission requested that Dennis discuss the differences in value with WECCO officials and report back to the Commission.

Doug Wilson reported that they were working to develop an internet page for the County. As part of that development, it has been suggested that pictures of each elected official along with their principal area of responsibility be made available. The Commission urged Doug to proceed with the development of the page, however, at this time pictures are not available of the officials.

Ira Schoppmann reported on concerns he has about computer maintenance at the Sheriff's office. He ask that Doug Wilson be made available to service their computer needs. The recommendation of the Commission was that the Data Processing department at the Correction Facility continue to provide support for the Sheriff's office.

NORMAN HEATON :

Commissioner Cardon reported that former County Commissioner Norman Heaton had passed away. In view of the years of service Mr. Heaton provided to Iron County as an elected official and in other capacities in the community throughout his life, we express our sincere thanks and our condolences are extended to the Heaton family.

CEDAR CITY LIBRARY BOARD FUNDING REQUEST :

Sue Harris, representing the Cedar City Library Board said they would like to pursue the possibility of constructing a new library in Cedar. The current library is small and is not handicapped accessible. She requested that the County fund $3,000 for preliminary planning and design. The cost of this phase of planning is estimated at $10,000. Cedar City has committed to fund $3,000 and the library board will fund the remaining $4,000.

The Commission took the matter under advisement and will consider it as a budget request.

SOUTHWEST CENTER APPROVAL OF DEED :

David Yardley reported that the Southwest Center, formally Southwest Utah Mental Health, had completed paying the contract amount on the Barbara Starr building. This building was purchased under a lease purchase plan with the County agreeing to deed the building to Mental Health when the contract was paid in full.

Commissioner Urie made a motion to authorize issuing a deed to Southwest Center for the Barbara Starr building and property. Also to authorize the payment of the past water bill in two equal payments, one in 1996 and one in 1997. Second was by Tom Cardon with Robert Gardner voting in favor.

CEDAR CITY TV SITE LAND ACQUISITION :

Roy Urie reported that additional land needed to be acquired at the new Cedar City TV site for optimum placement of receive antennas. Mr. Kelly is willing to sell additional land to the County for the site.

Commissioner Cardon made a motion to approve the acquisition of additional land at the TV site and to authorize whatever steps are necessary to proceed with the purchase. Second was by Roy Urie with Robert Gardner voting in favor.

WOMEN'S CRISIS CENTER FUNDING REQUEST :

Bernice Rember and Daphne Dalley presented a request for funding the Women's Crisis Center in Cedar City. They ask that $10,000 be included in the 1997 budget and that in the future $10,000 be included as a line item in the County budget. They also explained the level of service they were providing the Community at this time and that some of their projected funding sources were not going to become available, leaving them with about $100,000 in loans for construction with no way to repay.

The matter was taken under advisement as a budget request.

KENT BISHOP LAND MATTER :

Mr. Bishop requested that Iron County issue a quit claim deed to property that he has been paying the taxes on since 1981. The property is lot 7 Block T, Meadows Lake Estates. Mr. Bishop was issued a tax deed from the County for the lot less the East 60 feet. The lot is only 50 feet wide.

The matter was referred to Dennis Lowder and the Attorney for and opinion. It appears however at the present time that this is an action that needs to be pursued as a civil matter in court.

SOUTHWEST UTAH PUBLIC HEALTH REQUEST :

Gary Edwards, representing Southwest Utah Public Health, came before the Commission to submit a funding request for 1997. Public health is requesting a funding increase of $0.10 per capita to $3.80 per capita. With population base estimate of 26,900, Iron County's funding would increase to $102,220.00. The increase has been recommended by the Board of Directors of Southwest Public Health .

The matter will be considered as a budget request.

REST HOME ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT :

An agreement between Iron County and Traditions Health Care, Inc. a Utah Corporation as purchaser of the Iron County Rest Home from Clarence and Wanda Benson was discussed. Representatives of Traditions Health Care approached the Commission in 1995 to request the County's approval of the assumption of the purchase contract between Iron County and the Benson's. At that time an agreement was not signed although verbal approval was given.

The County Attorney was ask to follow up on this to see if an agreement was ever drafted and if not, to work with Traditions Health Care to get a contract for approval.

SUU TAX EXEMPTION REQUEST :

Southern Utah University requested a tax exemption for property in Cedar City which has been known as the Brown Clinic property. The tax serial numbers B-575 and B-575-1. The deed was filed by SUU on January 22, 1996.

Commissioner Urie made a motion to grant tax exempt status for the two parcels effective January 22, 1996. Second was by Tom Cardon and Robert Gardner voted in favor.

BERYL FIRE DEPARTMENT FUNDING REQUEST :

Sterling Harker and Vernon Boshardt presented a budget request for the Beryl Fire Department for 1997. Their request was for $22,340. This will be considered during the budget process.

COUNTY EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE :

Jerry Robinson, Claire Dalton, Justin Wayment and Rex Shipp presented findings of the employee advisory committee for health coverage for county employees for 1997. Because of the high use rate in 1996 and additional federal requirements on insurance companies, rates have increased.

The committee recommended that Iron County continue with Blue Cross/Blue Sheild with changes in the prescription card charges and an increase the employee co-pay amount to $15.00 per office visit.

The Commission thanked the advisory committee for their work and this will be considered as a budget item.

PEGGY EDWARDS ROAD VACATION REQUEST :

Peggy Edwards, representing property owners in Cedar Breaks Mountain Estates Subdivision, requested that a road within the subdivision be vacated. Currently the two lots affected by the change are adjacent to Brian Head Town boundaries. The road on the Brian Head side has been vacated making this a dead end road that does not provide access to any additional property.

Commissioner Cardon made a motion to refer the proposed change to the Planning and Zoning Commission for their recommendation. Second was by Roy Urie with Robert Gardner voting in favor.

TAX EXEMPTION REQUEST, ENOCH CITY :

Enoch City requested a tax exemption on property they acquired on May 22, 1996. The property is identified as serial number A-900-43. The total tax to exempt while in Enoch City ownership would be $8.20. Commissioner Cardon made a motion to grant an exemption effective May 22. Second was by Roy Urie and Commissioner Gardner voted in favor.

APPROVAL OF BILLS AND ADJOURNMENT :

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

Robert L. Gardner, Chairman

Attest:

David I. Yardley, Clerk