January 27, 1997
Minutes of the regular meeting of the Iron County Commission held January 27, 1997 in Commission Chambers at the Iron County Courthouse, Parowan Utah convened at 9:00 a.m.
Officer in attendance included:
- Thomas B. Cardon Commission Chairman
- Roy P. Urie Commissioner
- Dennis E. Stowell Commissioner
- David Yardley County Clerk
- Karla Staheli Asst. County Attorney
Also Present:
- Dennis Lowder County Auditor
- Dennis Ayers County Assessor
- Dixie Matheson Recorder
- Merna Mitchell Treasurer
- Ira Schoppmann Sheriff
- Doug Wilson Data Processing
SYNOPSIS :
MINUTES :
Minutes of the Iron County Commission meeting held January 13, 1997 were approved as amended on a motion by Roy Urie, Second by Dennis Stowell and Tom Cardon voted in favor.
ELECTED OFFICIAL REPORTS :
Doug Wilson reported that our computer company had revised the installation date for the new courthouse computer which will increase the maintenance cost on the old system above the 1997 budget. He reported that this may need to be adjusted at the end of the year.
Dennis Ayers reported that the State Tax Commission has scheduled State Appeals for property tax valuation on March 24th and 25th . Appeals filed on forty seven parcels by fifteen owners are scheduled to be heard.
Dennis also reported that there were some changes in Farmland Assessment values scheduled for 1997. Values placed on irrigated acres will be reduced.
Dixie Matheson reported that the Recorder’s office has completed the copying of plat maps for 1997. This will allow the 1996 maps to be advertised as surplus and made available to the public.
Dixie also reminded the Commission of the requirement to submit a computer disk with an Auto Cad file for use in her office with each new subdivision plat. There has been a misunderstanding with some firms that this could be used as an exchange of information and they have requested maps etc. in exchange for the disk.
Merna Mitchell explained that taxation of "rolling stock" has been entered into the year end adjustments, however the actual check has not been received from the State Tax Commission. Because of the delay in the receipt of the funds from the State, some minor adjustments in year end totals may be made.
Dennis Lowder explained the procedure that had been followed in soliciting proposals from independent auditing firms. The request was sent to all qualified CPA firms in Iron County and to selected firms throughout the area. It was also published in the Spectrum. Two firms responded and proposals are to be reviewed later in the meeting.
Ira Schoppmann reported that the Sheriff’s Department had been called out to help with a disturbance at Cedar High School following a wrestling match with Hurricane High School. Approximately five hundred youth were involved in the incident. One police officer was injured when he was struck with a beer bottle. Cedar High School will be ask to review the incident to see if changes can be made to reduce this type of incident in the future.
David Yardley explained a problem with Subdivision Plats that were filed in the 1980's that have a disclaimer stating that the roads will not be accepted for maintenance by the County until formal approval is granted by the County Commission.
Dennis Stowell reported that he had attended new commissioner training sponsored by the Association of Counties. He also reported on his commission assignments with Mental Health and Five County AOG.
Roy Urie reported on progress in finishing a habitat conservation plan for the prairie dog. Efforts to finish the report and get it approved by all of the agencies involved is proving to be difficult.
Tom Cardon reported that bid packages were being prepared for the visitor center to be constructed in Cedar City. Bids are scheduled to be made available on February 3 and the bid opening will be on February 24. Site work is proceeding and is being done by the Road Department.
ROAD DEPARTMENT - TRUCK TARPS :
Bids for the purchase and installation of tarps on County Road Trucks were reviewed. A State law that went into effect on January 1, 1997 requires that all trucks hauling gravel etc. are covered while traveling on any public road.
After reviewing bids from three firms, Roy Urie made a motion to accept the bid of Southern Utah Mobile Welding for the installation of a tarp system on each County owned dump truck. Second was by Dennis Stowell and Tom Cardon voted in favor.
ZONE CHANGE - DARWIN LAMB :
A public hearing was opened to receive comments on a proposal by Darwin Lamb to change the zone on 23.54 acres of land from R-5 to R-1/2.
The proposed change has been reviewed and recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission and has been properly advertised. The property also lies within the Tier 2 area surrounding existing municipalities.
No comments were received in opposition to the proposed change.
Dennis Stowell made a motion to approve a zone change from R-5 to R-1/2 on the following parcel:
Beginning at the point on the south line of Section 28, Township 35 South, Range 11 West, Salt Lake Base & Meridian which is situated North 89°49'36" West 411.24 feet from the Southeast corner of said Section 28; thence North 89°49'36" West 232.26 feet; thence South 0°06'26" East, 509.42 feet; thence South 89°18'16" West 617.81 feet; thence North 0°17'33" East along the east side of North Airport Road a distance of 518.80 feet to the South line of said Section 28; thence continuing North 0°17'33" East along the East side of Airport road a distance of 827.81 feet; thence South 89°44'32" East 858.44 feet; thence South 0°10'22" West 826.52 feet to the point of beginning. Containing 23.54 acres.
Commissioner Urie seconded the motion and Commissioner Cardon voted in favor.
CENTENNIAL REPORT :
Donna Brown and Hazel Jean Robinson reported to the Commission on successful completion of centennial projects during the past year. Donna has prepared scrap books of all of the activities within the county. These will be placed in Southern Utah University library special collection.
There are still some projects that have not been completed including some plaques and monuments. There is still sufficient funding to complete these projects and they will be installed as soon as the castings are completed.
Donna and Hazel Jean also discussed events planned for the Sesquicentennial celebration which is proceeding through 1997. This event is to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Pioneers reaching Utah. A coloring book which would be given to elementary school children in Iron County is planned. The Committee is seeking funds to help with the printing costs for the book.
ZONE CHANGE - MARK HANSEN :
A public hearing was opened to receive comments on a proposed zone change submitted by Mark Hansen covering 64 acres. The zone change requested was from A-20 to R-1/2. The property is located north of Enoch and is within the tier 2 area surrounding Enoch. The proposal has been before the Planning and Zoning Commission and they have recommended approval. No comments were received in opposition to the proposed zone change.
Dennis Stowell made a motion to approve the zone change from A-20 to R-1/2 on the following described property:
Lot 2 and the Southwest quarter of the Northeast quarter of Section 2, Township 35 South, Range 11 West, Salt Lake Base and Meridian. Excepting the North 660 feet of Lot 2 and the South 253 feet of the Southwest quarter of the Northeast quarter of said Section 2, Township 35 South, Range 11 West, Salt Lake Base and Meridian. Containing 64 acres.
The motion also included the provision that if significant work was not completed in the development of the property within one year, the approved zone change would be rescinded and the zone would revert to A-20. The motion was seconded by Roy Urie and Tom Cardon voted in favor.
TAHOMA RESOURCES :
Corrie Player and Gary Player representing Tahoma Resources came before the Commission to request that their company be given an opportunity to perform work at the Landfill including water sampling, developing a class IV dump site to handle yard waste and construction debris and to prepare the landfill permit for 1998. Their request was taken under advisement.
ENOCH CITY RE: WASTE COLLECTION RATES :
Vern Grimshaw, Gaylen Matheson, Ann Zufelt and Ron Perry representing Enoch City came before the Commission to request a rate increase for collection services for solid waste pickup in the County. They proposed that the rate be increased from $5.25 to $10.25 for individual cans and from $15.00 to $25.00 for the larger containers. They said that if an agreement could not be reached and a rate increase implemented that they were requesting that the county assume responsibility for the waste collection
The matter was taken under advisement by the Commission.
EXECUTIVE SESSION - PERSONNEL :
Roy Urie made a motion to convene in Executive Session to discuss personnel matters. Second by Dennis Stowell and Tom Cardon voted in favor.
After reconvening in open session the following action was taken.
Roy Urie made a motion to promote Richard Dickinson to the rank of Sargent effective February 1, 1997 at the Iron County/Utah State Correction Facility. Second was by Dennis Stowell and Tom Cardon voted in favor.
Dennis Stowell made a motion to accept the recommendation of the Board of Directors of the Correction facility and terminate the employment of Aleta Ferguson effective immediately. Second was by Roy Urie with Tom Cardon voting in favor.
ANIMAL CONTROL AGREEMENT - CEDAR CITY :
An agreement with Cedar City for participation in the remodeling of the animal shelter was reviewed. Enoch City has decided not to participate. The agreement will be re-written to reflect a proper funding breakdown and use agreement and will be presented at the next commission meeting for approval.
LAW LIBRARY FUNDING REQUEST :
Karla Staheli reported that the funding request approved for a computer to be used in the County Attorney’s Office is inadequate to purchase the required equipment. She requested that the Law Library fund be adjusted by adding an additional $4,000 to purchase the new computer.
Commissioner Urie made a motion to approve the addition of $4,000 to the Law Library budget for 1997 to purchase a computer. Second was by Commissioner Stowell with Commissioner Cardon voting in favor.
CARL EVANS :
Carl Evans came before the Commission to request that the county require more planning for twenty acre subdivisions. He said that he was concerned that the subdivision developers were not providing adequate flood provisions which could affect adjacent property owners. He was also concerned with substandard roads being installed.
1997 INDEPENDENT AUDITOR PROPOSALS :
Dennis Lowder presented two proposals for independent auditor services. The firms were Gubler and Wilson with a bid of $10,000 and Kemp Burdick Hinton and Hall submitted a bid of $10,722. Morris Peacock representing Kemp Burdick and Scott Wilson representing Gubler & Wilson explained the service they would provide and answered questions about their proposals.
After reviewing the proposals, Dennis Stowell made a motion to approve Gubler and Wilson as the independent auditor for 1997. Second was by Roy Urie with Tom Cardon voting in favor.
IRA SCHOPPMANN - SNOW CAT REQUEST :
Ira Schoppmann came before the Commission to request that the County appropriate $30,000 for the purchase of a Thiokol Snowcat to be used by Search and Rescue for winter searches. The vehicle is available from State Surplus and has been used by State Parks and Recreation. The request was taken under advisement.
IRA SCHOPPMANN - EMERGENCY COORDINATOR FUNDING :
Sheriff Schoppmann requested that additional funding be added back into his budget for work he does as emergency management coordinator. In the past an additional $2,200 has been added to the Sheriff’s salary for this service, however it was not included in the 1997 budget.
The matter was taken under advisement.
FAIR REPORT - ART WALUNAS :
Art Walunas and Kory Kemp came before the Commission to make recommendations for the 1997 Iron County Fair. Because the PRCA Rodeo has not been able to generate enough funds to cover the costs associated with producing a professional rodeo, they recommended that the fair sponsor a CRC rodeo which could save approximately $15,000. Dennis Stowell made a motion to sponsor a CRC rodeo and to contract with Bill Crittenden as the rodeo producer for three performances. Second was by Roy Urie with Tom Cardon voting in favor
Art also recommended that a new carnival contract be accepted so that the County Fair would receive a greater share of the gate receipts. He recommended approval of B&B Carnivals as the carnival contractor for the Fair. Dennis Stowell made a motion to approve a contract with B&B Carnivals to furnish rides at the 1997 County Fair. Second was by Roy Urie and Tom Cardon voted in favor.
Art and Kory discussed the possibility of a daredevil car and truck show as part of the fair. This will be researched further and if possible it would be included on Labor Day.
BOARD APPOINTMENTS - COUNCIL ON AGING :
The Council on Aging has recommended that Wilmer Anderson, Maree Prince, and John Manweiler be appointed for a three year term to expire in 2000. Commissioner Stowell made a motion to approve the Board appointments as recommended. Second was by Roy Urie and Tom Cardon voted in favor.
COMMUNICATIONS AGREEMENT :
An agreement for Communications service for facilities operated by the State of Utah at Windy Ridge was approved on a motion by Dennis Stowell and Second by Roy Urie. Tom Cardon voted in favor and signed the agreement.
WASATCH TRIALS :
Wasatch Trials Association representative Florin Owens requested that they be allowed to reserve the Three Peaks Recreation area for the weekend of May 24, 1997 . This activity has drawn people from all over Utah and four other states in the past and they look forward to using the site again. As part of their program they sponsor a cleanup of the area so that they leave it better than when they found it.
The Commission approved the use of Three Peaks by this group on the weekend of May 24. Commissioner Stowell will represent the Commission at this event.
After the bills were reviewed and either approved or rejected, the meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m.
Approved: /s/ Thomas B. Cardon
Thomas B. Cardon, Chairman
/s/ David I. Yardley
Attest: David I. Yardley, Clerk