IRON COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING
July 23, 2007
Minutes of the Iron County Commission meeting convened at 9:00 a.m. July 23, 2007 in Commission Chambers at the Iron County Courthouse, Parowan, Utah.
Officers in attendance included:
Wayne A. Smith Commission Chairman
Lois L. Bulloch Commissioner
Alma L. Adams Commissioner
Scott F. Garrett County Attorney
David I. Yardley County Clerk
Also Present:
H. Eugene Adams County Auditor
Dennis W. Ayers County Assessor
Patsy T. Cutler County Recorder
Geraldine S. Norwood County Treasurer
Mark O. Gower County Sheriff
SYNOPSIS :
APPROVAL OF MINUTES July 9, 2007
APPROVAL OF WARRANTS & ADJOURN
FIREWORKS RESTRICTIONS WITHIN IRON COUNTY
IRON COUNTY MOBILE RESPONSE TEAM
MOU WITH SOUTH WEST UTAH PUBLIC HEALTH DEPT
PRESENTATION ON PAY FOR STAY PROGRAM
REQUEST TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT AREA
Those assembled were led in the pledge of allegiance by Dennis Ayers.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES July 9, 2007 :
Minutes of the Iron County Commission meeting held July 9, 2007 were approved as amended on a motion by Lois Bulloch. Second was by Alma Adams. Voting: Wayne Smith, Aye; Lois Bulloch, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.
Dennis Ayers reported that training was beginning this week on a new software release called Bid Bend. The training will be by teleconference with Iron County as the lead agency and other Counties listening in.
Jared Wilson reported that the Eagle software system experienced failure last week. The system was restored from backups but it took a full day to recover data. The software company is trying to determine what caused the program to crash.
Gene Adams reported that disclosure notices are ready to print. The software crash mentioned by Jared Wilson caused a delay in compiling data to complete the print process and delayed the final printing and mailing by at least one day.
Patsy Cutler reported that new recording standards require documents to be on 8 ½ X 11 paper in no smaller than 10 point font. It also requires land records to include a tax serial number and account number on each description.
Geri Norwood reported that the Treasurer’s are working with the Eagle software system to make sure the tax notices print in the correct format. The needed changes should be in place in time for printing the notices in October.
Alma Adams reported that the Federal prisoner count at the jail is down. In order to keep bed space full, either more Federal or State prisoners need to be secured.
Alma also reported that there are ten candidates this year for Miss Iron County. The pageant is a part of the Iron County Fair.
Lois Bulloch reported that training received at UAC meeting indicate that line items within budgets need to be approved to be transferred to another line item. Additional information will become available at future meetings.
Lois also reported that the State is recommending that Justice Court Judges become State Judges with the same benefits as District Court Judges. The requirement to be Law trained would also be phased in. The operation and funding of the Justice Courts would continue to be County or Municipal responsibility.
David Yardley reported that the County Clerk’s Office will be trained during the next week in the GEMS software used to program elections. Iron County will be assisting Cedar City with their municipal primary election scheduled for September 11. The County will also be responsible for the November 6 election which will be a State wide election on the School Voucher issue and will be conducted in conjunction with Municipal General elections.
David also reported that the Landfill solid waste collection truck caught fire and the cab was destroyed. No injuries were reported.
Mark Gower reported on several wild fires in the County over the past month. The Bumble Bee fire and the Hamblin Valley fire were the most significant. Sheriff Gower also reported on an accident in which some girls from a girls camp ran off the Right Hand Canyon road and two people received significant injuries.
REQUEST TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT AREA :
Stephen Brown appeared before the Commission to request the formation of a Special Improvement Area within a portion of Midvalley Acres Subdivision. Mr. Brown explained that as a lot owner along with a few other owners would like their street improved and paved. The Commission explained their concern with this subdivision flooding due to the lack of rights of way for flood channels and the maintenance of existing irrigation ditches. Currently the Stephensville Ditch ends and this area floods on a regular basis. The matter was tabled to allow the Commissioners to tour the area with the County Engineer to determine what steps would be needed to address flooding problems in the area.
IRON COUNTY MOBILE RESPONSE TEAM :
Clint Kelly came before the Commission to request support of the County in establishing a Victim Mobile Response Team. Grant funds of $39,316 are available from the State. The programs would be limited to the use of these funds and would rely on volunteers for much of the work.
After reviewing the purpose of the Mobile Response Team and receiving support from the Sheriff and County Attorney, the Commission approved the concept of the program on a motion by Lois Bulloch contingent on the County Attorney drafting contracts and agreements stating that the program is limited to funding received from State grants only. Second by Alma Adams. Voting: Wayne Smith, Aye; Lois Bulloch, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.
MOU WITH SOUTH WEST UTAH PUBLIC HEALTH DEPT :
Charlie Morris presented a Memorandum of Understanding for Commission approval which provides for emergency immunization of County residents and Jail personnel. Charlie then explained that it is intended to only cover County employees and Jail employees, not prisoners.
The Commission was uncomfortable with the wording of the agreement and requested that the County Attorney meet with SWUPH Officials to get clarification of who would be covered in the agreement and under what circumstances immunizations would be administered.
PROPOSED ORDINANCE DISCUSSION :
Charlie Morris requested that the Commissioners draft an ordinance to establish regulations for the Iron County parks and recreation areas which will include permitted uses at Three Peaks Recreation Area. He explained that with current regulations, ATV’s and party’s go on far into the night. He suggested a “quiet time” in which campers and recreationists would not be bothered by loud music or ATV’s running near camps.
The matter was referred to the County Attorney’s office to draft an ordinance for consideration at a future meeting.
Richard Mullins and Bruce Lund came before the Commission to request final approval of prairie dog take on lots and roads within the North Park Subdivision in Parowan. DWR has confirmed counts on each of the lots and the County previously approved up to 15 dogs take for 2007. Mr. Lund requested the following parcels be cleared: Roads, 3 dogs; Lot 9, 11 dogs; and Lot 2, 1 dog. Alma Adams made a motion to approve the clearances as requested. Second by Lois Bulloch. Voting: Wayne Smith, Aye; Lois Bulloch, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.
Colette Eppley presented for approval the re-hiring of Gale Grover as a Corrections Officer to start at her former grade and pay . Ms. Grover, a former employee as a Corrections Officer will be returning as a line officer. Lois Bulloch made a motion to approve the hiring of Gale Grover as presented. Second by Alma Adams. Voting: Wayne Smith, Aye; Lois Bulloch, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.
Colette also presented for approval the following promotions: Marc Bowman EMT-Intermediate to Paramedic, Ann Crowther, Judy Schiers, Roberta Henderson, Kellie Carter, and Brian Johnson, all from EMT-Basic to EMT-Intermediate. Lois Bulloch made a motion to approve the promotions. Second by Alma Adams. Voting: Wayne Smith, Aye; Lois Bulloch, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.
Colette also requested approval of Marc Bowman as a full time Paramedic. Lois Bulloch also made a motion to approve Mr. Bowman as a full time Paramedic. Second by Alma Adams. Voting: Wayne Smith, Aye; Lois Bulloch, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.
Dori McNeery was approved to work as a volunteer for the Council on Aging on a motion by Lois Bulloch. Second by Alma Adams. Voting: Wayne Smith, Aye; Lois Bulloch, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.
Colette also presented for approval a Drug Tracker Position which will work with the Iron County Drug Court. Alma Adams made a motion to approve the establishment of a Drug Tracker job description which will be fully funded through grant funds. Second by Lois Bulloch. Voting: Wayne Smith, Aye; Lois Bulloch, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.
Colette Eppley requested a closed meeting to discuss a personnel issue. Lois Bulloch made a motion to close the meeting to consider a personnel issue. Second by Alma Adams. Voting: Wayne Smith, Aye; Lois Bulloch, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.
STATE OF UTAH )
) s.s.
COUNTY OF IRON )
I, Wayne A. Smith, Chairman of the County Commission of Iron County, Utah hereby certify that the purpose of the Executive Session convened was conducted in accordance with Utah Code 52-4 et. seq. for the purpose of a strategy session to discuss pending or reasonably imminent litigation.
Dated this 23rd day of July , 2007.
Signed: Wayne A. Smith, Chairman
Attest: David I. Yardley
County Clerk
After reconvening in open meeting, the Commission reported that a GRAMA request for personnel sensitive documents has been referred to the County Attorney for an opinion and if the documentation is covered by GRAMA to submit the requested documents to Tribune Publishing.
PRESENTATION ON PAY FOR STAY PROGRAM :
Sheriff Gower introduced Gary Lundberg representing CONNEX Information Systems. Mr. Lundberg explained the service CONNEX will provide in tracking bookings and stays at the Iron County Jail for inmates which will be subject to the pay for stay as approved by the Commission. CONNEX will prepare bills which will be given to inmates upon release and will send statements during the collection process. It will also prepare uncollectible accounts to be turned to a collection agency for processing.
All funds will be submitted to the County for processing. CONNEX will receive 20% of collected funds for their service. They propose to operate on a three year agreement which would renew annually. The matter was referred to Commissioner Adams and Sheriff Gower to review the program and make a recommendation to the Commission for approval.
Commissioner Smith was excused to attend a funeral and Alma Adams made a motion to appoint Lois Bulloch as Chair Pro Tem. Second by Lois Bulloch. Voting: Wayne Smith, Absent; Lois Bulloch, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.
Steve Platt met with the Commission to request approval of funding $250,000 as a County match for a road improvement project to Old Irontown. The County match could be an “In Kind” match with the Road Department doing the work in widening and preparing for an asphalt surface to the Old Irontown site. The project would be funded from State Parks funds. Alma Adams made a motion to approve the project and authorized the Road Department to proceed using County resources. Second by Lois Bulloch. Voting: Wayne Smith, Absent; Lois Bulloch, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.
Steve also presented a request for additional funds to match a grant to implement a “run off the road” safety sign project. The County portion of the match is 7% and would amount to $11,461.20. Alma Adams made a motion to approve the $11,461.20 as requested from the New Construction budget. Second by Lois Bulloch. Voting: Wayne Smith, Absent; Lois Bulloch, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.
Steve also reviewed a water improvement notice received from SITLA for a well near Adams Well and for a proposed sale of 80 acres of SITLA property near Shurtz Canyon in Cedar Valley. The Commission did not oppose either SITLA proposal.
Upon reconvening after lunch and the return of Commissioner Smith the following action was taken.
FIREWORKS RESTRICTIONS WITHIN IRON COUNTY :
Due to the extreme fire danger and the damage done by several large wild fires in Iron County and surrounding Counties, the Commission authorized the following press release to be effective immediately.
FIREWORKS RESTRICTIONS IN EFFECT FOR IRON COUNTY
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
July 23, 2007
Due to the number and intensity of fires we have encountered already this year in the unincorporated areas of Iron County, and the volatility of dry vegetation, the Iron County Commission and the Iron County Fire Marshall have decided to follow the State’s recommendations and not allow the discharge of any fireworks in the unincorporated areas of Iron County for the remainder of the 2007 fire season, especially the 24th of July celebration.
The Iron County Commission and Iron County Fire Marshall have made this decision for life safety as well as protection of property. Citizens are warned that all costs for extinguishment of fires caused by the illegal discharge of fireworks could be charged to the person or persons illegally discharging them.
Board of Iron County Commissioners
Wayne A. Smith, Chair
Lois L. Bulloch, Commissioner
Alma L. Adams, Commissioner
APPROVAL OF WARRANTS & ADJOURN :
After the bills were reviewed and approved or rejected, the meeting was adjourned at p.m. on a motion by Lois Bulloch. Second was by Alma Adams. Voting: Wayne Smith, Aye; Lois Bulloch, Aye; Alma Adams, Aye.
Signed: Wayne A. Smith, Chairman
Attest: David I. Yardley
County Clerk