SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING JUNE 21, 2004 The regular meeting of the San Juan County Commission was held at 10:00 A.M. in the Commission Room at Monticello, Utah. Present: Lynn Stevens, Chairman Manuel Morgan, Vice-Chairman Rick Bailey, Administrative Assistant Norman Johnson, County Clerk LaVee Scherick, Deputy Clerk Absent: Ty Lewis, Commissioner A motion to approve the minutes of the June 14, 2004 meeting as written subject to changes by Commissioner Ty Lewis if needed was made by Commissioner Manuel Morgan. Commissioner Lynn Stevens seconded. None opposed. Commissioner Lynn Stevens declared the motion carried. Senator Mike Dmitrich Senator Mike Dmitrich expressed his appreciation to the commissioners for their work in the County. Right now there is a big move for wind power in Utah. He feels San Juan County would be a good spot for wind power. He plans to keep working for the good of rural Utah. What is good for Carbon, Emery, Grand, and San Juan is better for the State and for the citizens. Locked Gate/Sheep Springs Area-Water Daisy Cowboy, McCracken Mesa, reported on a locked gate to a water area for their cows. Last week they found five of their cows dead by the gate. The gate has since been opened. In 1989 an agreement signed by the Cowboy's and the permittee it was agreed that both parties be allowed to use the spring. Nick Sandberg, BLM, stated there is a fence on State Trust Lands and a Tribal Reservation fence that has a gate which allows them to get to the water. There is also a fence that crosses opposite directions between these two fences and canyon wall to keep the Cowboy's cattle from entering the permittee area. Apparently the cross fence was in need of repair. This issue will be turned over to the sheriff's office to finalize the investigation. San Juan Health Service District/Update John Hart and Lyman Duncan, San Juan Health Service District, reported on questions concerning the birthing center. Clarification has been received from the Bureau of Licensing on the types of deliveries permitted in the Blanding Birthing Center. A Five Year Capital Expenditure Plan for 2004-2008 for the San Juan Health Service District was given to the commission for review. They are on the second $100,000 of the CIB money to complete renovation of the Blanding Clinic. The District is also interested in moving the Monticello Clinic outside of the hospital with a possibility of using the area where the triple wide building is now located. Utah Navajo Development Council Curtis Yanito, CEO Utah Navajo Development Council, reported that UNDC does not have a representative on the Health District Board and he requested to be appointed in order to attend the Health District Board meeting. The Oljato area does not currently have a representative. A representative is required to live in the area they represent. Mr. Yanito was denied his request. Mr. Yanito is looking for matching funds to remodel vacant space in the Monument Valley Clinic in to classrooms for a pre-school/child care center. Administrative Assistant Rick Bailey stated their request for funds needs to be in writing by October in order to be placed in the following years budget. Resolution 2004-03/Recreational Fee Demonstration Program Planner Edward Scherick presented a resolution requesting no recreational fee be imposed on Federal lands in San Juan County, Utah under the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program. He requested the commission approve the resolution. Comments were heard from representatives from Grand and San Juan County BLM Field offices concerning the affect that no fees would have on the recreation budget and campground areas in the BLM District. The bill going through congress would not affect the current status of the fee programs. Commissioner Manuel Morgan made a motion to approve the resolution concerning the Recreation Fee Demonstration Program. Commissioner Lynn Stevens seconded. None opposed. Commissioner Lynn Stevens declared the motion carried. The resolution is as follows: RESOLUTION 2004-03 RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH REQUESTING NO RECREATIONAL FEE BE IMPOSED ON FEDERAL LANDS IN SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH UNDER THE RECREATIONAL FEE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM WHEREAS, In 1996 Congress authorized the Recreation Fee Demonstration Program which allows the United States Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to charge visitors daily and yearly fees for recreation on publicly owned land under their management; and WHEREAS, The Recreation Fee Demonstration Program has been implemented on select public lands in Utah, including popular recreation sites in San Juan County, and one might reasonably expect that the program will be extended to include many more public lands throughout the state; and WHEREAS, Recreational fees constitute double taxation and bear no relationship to the actual costs of recreation such as hiking, picnicking, observing wildlife, or scenic driving on state and county roads and public rights of way; and WHEREAS, The concept of paying Recreational Fee Demonstration Program fees to use public lands is contrary to the idea that public lands belong to the American people and are places where everyone is granted access and is welcome, a concept that has been and should remain in place; and WHEREAS, The original intent of the Recreational Fee Demonstration program was to improve the public lands, public facilities, and visitor services, but instead the program has served only to limit access to public lands and has garnered strong and widespread public criticism, and WHEREAS, Public land agencies have been under funded and Congress should restore funding to these agencies; and WHEREAS, While the controversy over the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program continues, the issues that the fees were meant to resolve, such as poorly signed trails, bridges in disrepair, and the scarcity of picnic areas and campsites, of which many are in disrepair or vandalized, remain inadequately addressed; and WHEREAS, The purchase of a pass to enter public lands under the Recreation Fee Demonstration Program demonstrates support for the program, but the limited means of expressing opposition to the program raises the concern that some citizens may be deterred from visiting and enjoying public lands in San Juan County and throughout Utah; and WHEREAS, Tourism is an important industry to San Juan County and recreational fees will have a negative impact on the local economy; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF SAN JUAN COUNTY, That the Board of Commissioners for San Juan County, Utah oppose the legislation known as HR.3283. That the Board of Commissioners strongly recommends that the Recreation Fee Demonstration Program be abolished and Congress restore the funding necessary to manage public land agencies (including operations and maintenance costs) within Utah and that no recreational fees be imposed on federal lands within San Juan County under the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program. Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to the Governor of Utah, to the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Forest Service, the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the majority and minority leadership of the United States Senate, and to each member of the Utah Congressional Delegation. APPROVED AND DONE by the Board of Commissioners of San Juan County, Utah at a public meeting on June 21, 2004. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS /s/Lynn H. Stevens Lynn H. Stevens, Chairman /s/Manuel Morgan Manuel Morgan, Vice-Chairman Ty Lewis, Commissioner ATTEST: /s/Norman L. Johnson Norman L. Johnson, County Clerk PLANNER EDWARD SCHERICK'S REPORT Salt Creek Road Planner Edward Scherick reported the County brief on the Salt Creek Road was filed June 15, 2004. The State is in support of the brief. News Releases Planner Scherick stated there are three news releases concerning issues in the County. They are: Jeep Ride in Canyon May Lead to Court; San Juan County Contests Park Road Closure; Supreme Court Slaps Down SULU. Commissioner Lynn Stevens commented concerning a meeting he attended along with Sally Wisely, State BLM, Kent Hoffman, Lt. Governor McKeachnie on general issues relating to roads and other BLM issues. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT RICK BAILEY'S REPORT Public Hearing/Intent to Establish Spanish Valley Special Service District Administrative Assistant Rick Bailey reported he attended the public hearing in Spanish Valley for the Intent to Establish the Spanish Valley Special Service District on June 14, 2004. Drought Declaration Administrative Assistant Rick Bailey presented the Emergency Declaration of San Juan County, Utah concerning drought conditions to the commission for approval. Commissioner Manuel Morgan made a motion to approve the drought declaration. Commissioner Lynn Stevens seconded. None opposed. Commissioner Lynn Stevens declared the motion carried. The declaration is on file in the County Clerk's Office. Moab Mill Tailings Administrative Assistant Rick Bailey reported on the DOE evaluation concerning placing the Moab Mill Tailing in a salt cavern by slurry pipeline. Mr. Bailey suggested the commissioners read the decision as to why they didn't do it. He feels there is the same philosophy as to why they didn't consider the pipeline to the White Mesa Mill sight. Security & Bailiff Contract Administrative Assistant Rick Bailey presented for approval a contract between San Juan County and the Administrative Office of the Courts to provide security and bailiff services to the Seventh Judicial District. Commissioner Manuel Morgan made a motion to approve the contract. Commissioner Lynn Stevens seconded. None opposed. Commissioner Lynn Stevens declared the motion carried. COMMISSIONER LYNN STEVEN'S REPORT Commissioner Lynn Stevens reported he met with Sally Wisely, BLM, Lt. Governor McKeachnie, and Kent Hoffman concerning legal issues on June 14, 2004. Commissioner Stevens will attend the RS2477 Executive Committee meeting on June 24, 2004. Matt McCowan, Assistant Solicitor General, Interior Department and Kit Kimball, Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Interior will speak to them about RS2477 issues and concerns before the hearing in St. George on monday. COMMISSIONER MANUEL MORGAN'S REPORT Commissioner Manuel Morgan attended the Red Mesa Chapter meeting on June 14, 2004. There was a question whether or not the County would like to be involved in building a skate park in the Montezuma Creek area. OPEN TIME AND OTHER BUSINESS Public Lands Council Bruce Adams, Chairman Public Lands Council, reported that Kevin Walker, Utah Wilderness Coalition and Franklin Seal, SUWA, presented their proposal on the BLM Management Plan to include a transportation plan. They are proposing to have as part of the RMP 40% of available BLM land in San Juan County to be designated for quiet and non motorized vehicle designation. The designation means that there cannot be a road within two miles of the designated area. The County would like the BLM to include a transportation plan in their management plan. BILLS APPROVED FOR PAYMENT Adams, Cheyene 156.00 Alco Discount Store 297.93 Amazon.com Credit 1522.32 Aneth Senior Citizens Center 408.00 Asbury, Billina 261.00 AT&T 18.48 Audio Book Club 95.87 Benally, Bobby 35.00 Black, Wayne 15.00 Blanding Senior Center 36.45 Blue Mountain Foods 38.14 Blue Mountain Meats, Inc. 926.12 Blue Mountain Panorama 130.05 Bonneville Livestock Inc. 25.00 Bookcliff Sales Inc. 125.84 Bowring, LeeAnn 156.00 Brown, Greg 450.00 Car Care Center 21.97 Cortez Milling Co. Inc. 27.00 Dartek Computer Supply Co. 72.41 Devon's Repair Service Inc. 1207.17 Dineh Design 415.00 DK AG & Auto 59.10 Dorgan, Claire 56.30 Earthgrains Baking Company 126.50 Elections Systems & Software 1417.00 Experior Assessments 30.00 Factory Parts Express 52.33 Four Corners Welding 19.90 Frito-Lay, Inc. 77.10 Frontier 282.54 Fullmer, LaRae 937.50 Grand Valley Foods 546.11 Great North American Companies 119.82 Guideposts 23.95 Hensley Battery & Electrical 153.91 Intermountain Farmers Assoc. 326.50 J.C. Hunt Co. Inc. 351.79 Jacco Distributing Corp. 145.72 JCI Billing Services 2176.00 Jerry Seiner 23.72 Johnson, Norman L. 328.25 Koch Performance Asphalt 24104.67 Lacy, B. Mike 46.00 Lacy, David A. 33.00 LaMonica's Restaurant 167.67 LaRue's Embroidery 972.00 Laser Printer Specialist 204.70 LeBlanc, Heidi 24.98 Lindsay, Chantel 240.00 Lyman, Austin J. 88.00 Lyman, Cameron 50.00 Meadow Gold Dairies, Inc. 288.96 Mendenhall Equipment Company 20.51 Mexican Water Trading Post 248.60 Montiello Mercantile 139.13 Morgan, Manuel 460.75 Motor Parts 18.69 Musselman Plumbing, Inc. 479.32 Nicholas & Company 749.54 Palmer's Retail, Inc. 1.69 Patterson, Lynn 400.90 Perkins, Corey 400.90 Pierce, Russel 108.50 Pitney Bowes 46.25 Plateau Equipment Supply Co. 641.31 Prairie Dawg 130.00 Purchase Power 919.00 Questar Gas 24.14 Quill Corporation 174.43 Randy's Auto 10.95 Recorded Books, LLC 107.70 Redd, Bill 16.50 Redd, Susan 151.00 Regalia Manufacturing 37.84 Robinson, Julie 490.50 Ross Products, Inc. 457.20 San Juan Clinic 796.00 San Juan County 325.62 San Juan Dental 58.00 San Juan Health Care Services 606.78 San Juan Pharmacy 3013.18 San Juan Record 12.00 Scenic Aviation, Inc. 161.30 Schaechter, Valerie 78.00 Schultz, William L. 250.00 Seventh District Court 613.32 Shell Fleet Plus 77.29 Slade, Melissa 88.00 Slavens, Incorporated 69.99 State of Utah 62.00 Swenson, Linda 98.00 Sysco Intermountain Food Svc. 1081.71 Tel America, Inc. 11.65 Tom Growney Equip. Inc. 893.16 USU Extension 29.06 Utah Dept of Agriculture 7.50 Utah Legal Service 141.51 Utah Power 82.57 UVSC 39.00 West Group Payment Center 2623.02 Western Technologies, Inc. 55.00 White Mesa Administration 325.50 White, Lorraine 154.25 Zanios Foods 510.04 Crowley Construction 38785.00 Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 12:30 P.M. ------------------------- --------------------------- Lynn Stevens, Chairman LaVee Scherick, Deputy Clerk