During the regular Grand County Commission meeting on December 5, the commission furthered its discussions of its 2024 budget. The commission has been discussing the budget since the beginning of November; during its meeting on November 28, commissioners discussed a cost of living adjustment for staff salaries and adding new positions.
WORKSHOPS AND REPORTS
Budget workshop
- Discussion began at 0:00
The commission discussed how to balance the budget: cuts were made across departments, including to the Moab to Monument Valley Film Commission and tourism promotion budgets, according to County Clerk/Auditor Gabe Woytek.
The commission also looked over significant capital projects, including painting the beacon tower at the Canyonlands Regional Airport; improving computer server storage at the county; and adding an archery range, pickleball courts, and a playground to the Old Spanish Trail Arena.
Staff highlighted potential cuts, including a project that would replace the OSTA front lobby doors. Commissioners wondered if they should pay for an archery range before new doors, but those recreation-related projects are funded through grants and donations that are not available to use on maintenance. They said the doors are a priority, but pickleball is too—and the playground would be the only handicap-accessible playground in the county. Commissioners agreed to add the recommended projects in the budget, plus the OSTA doors.
General reports
- Discussion began at 1:28:48
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GENERAL BUSINESS
Manti La-Sal National Forest Plan letter of comment
- Discussion began at 1:52:00; motion passed 5-2 with Commissioners Winfield and McCurdy in opposition.
The county commission is a cooperating agency with the Manti La-Sal National Forest, meaning it is invited to comment on the forest’s draft management plan. Currently, the forest is finalizing its environmental impact statement; this new management plan has been in the works since 2016. Both the city and the county have submitted comment letters.
The plan outlines four management alternatives, A to D; Commissioner Bill Winfield said he doesn’t support any alternative but A, which would add the least amount of restrictions. He doesn’t believe the letter fully represents the population of the county: “I’d like to see this letter scrapped completely,” he said, “and replaced with something in support of Alternative A.” Commissioner Mike McCurdy said he wasn’t in support of any alternatives.
The current letter states that the commission supports alternatives B and D, which add more restrictions to motorized use. The letter also urges the forest to “use its authority and responsibility for maintaining Forest habitats to effectuate the removal of the non-native mountain goat from the rare alpine ecosystem high in Grand County … none of the alternatives address this issue.”
Memorandum of understanding with the City of Moab for Emergency Operations Plan
- Discussion began at 2:00:32; approved unanimously
The county is updating its emergency operations plan following House Bill 96, which requires plans such as this one to be updated every five years. The county will use a grant to cover the majority of the fee associated with updating the plan ($40,000); the city will pay for the rest ($9,752). The county will also provide staff (Cora Phillips, emergency management director) to oversee project management.
Independent contractor agreement with Integrated Solutions Consulting for Emergency Operations Plan
- Discussion began at 2:03:03; approved unanimously
Tax forgiveness for parcel 01-0MWA-0115
- Discussion began at 2:05:08; approved 6-1, with Commissioner Jacques Hadler in opposition
Each year, Grand County accepts applications for property tax relief from individuals such as veterans with a service-related disability or persons with low income over the age of 64. This property was labeled as a secondary residence; the owners attended the meeting to explain that it was their primary residence, and should be taxed as such.
Emery Telcom franchise agreement
- Discussion began at 2:27:30; passed unanimously
First amendment to independent contractor agreement with Crux Academy for marketing, responsible recreation, and economic development video project
- Discussion began at 2:30:58; passed unanimously
Grand County invested in a partnership with Crux Academy in July 2023 to develop a series of educational videos and online courses targeting prospective visitors and local tourism-related support staff; the county is allocating another $10,000 to the project.
Ordinance: Amended development agreement for an ADO extension request
- Discussion began at 2:33:05; passed unanimously
The applicant received approval to zone this parcel in the alternative dwelling overlay zoning district; the applicant hasn’t yet received approval of a site plan (but did apply), and is asking the commission to allow for a six-month extension to obtain site plan approval (making the new deadline May 2024).
Volunteer board appointment for Planning Commission
- Discussion began at 2:38:15; passed unanimously
The Planning Commission Chair, Robert O’Brien, recommended Mary Hofhine to serve on the planning commission beginning mid-December and ending December 31, 2025.
Proposed commission meeting dates for 2024
- Discussion began at 2:40:01; passed unanimously
Memorandum of agreement with the Utah Indigent Defense Commission for Title IV-E federal funding reimbursement
- Discussion began at 2:41:53; passed unanimously
Letter of support for Utah Department of Transportation Technical Planning Assistance grant
- Discussion began at 2:44:21; passed unanimously
This grant requires a 6.77% match, approximately $30,000; it would assist in updating the non-motorized trails master plan, which was last updated in 2011. The county would need the city to cover that cost, which Planning Director Elissa Martin said the city agreed to do.
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CONSENT AGENDA
- Ratification of payment of bills
- Adoption of FEMA-approved Grand County Multi-Jurisdictional All Hazard Mitigation Plan
- First Amendment to the Airport Improvement Program grant
- Enterprise lease schedule for additional Sand Flats Recreation vehicle
- Purchase of Can-am Commander UTV from State Contractor Weller Recreation Inc.
- Volunteer appointment to the Weed Board
Discussion began at 2:58:05; passed unanimously
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PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public hearing for the Thompson Springs Special Service Fire District budget
- Discussion began at 3:00:00; no attendees
Public hearing for proposed tax increase for the Grand County Public Library
- Discussion began at 3:06:15; the public hearing will remain open until December 13 at 5 p.m., and the tax increase will be voted on during the December 19 meeting
The proposed tax increase would increase the library’s revenue by 41.29%; library tax on a $413,000 residence would increase by $31.80 per year (from $77 to $108.80) and on a $413,000 business would increase by $57.82 per year (from $140.01 to $197.83).
“What we’re trying to do here is maintain status-quo,” said Library Director Carrie Valdes. “We can’t continue to pull from the fund balance when there’s no money in the fund balance.”
Public hearing to solicit comments on the amended 2023 budget and the tentative 2024 budget
Woytek began the public hearing by going through the budget line by line. The budget will come before the commission again at its next meeting on December 19; the public hearing will be open until December 13 at 5 p.m.
- Discussion began at 3:14:28
Public hearing to solicit comments on the proposed cost of living adjustment for all elected officials and an increase to the sheriff’s wage
- Discussion began at 4:41:40; the public hearing will remain open until December 13 at 5 p.m.
This year’s COLA is 3.2%. Commissioners discussed giving up their COLAs—Attorney Stephen Stocks said he would (he earned $177,691 in 2023). Commissioner Mary McGann said commissioners shouldn’t give up the wage adjustment—commission members made $37,912 in 2023.
“I know I work incredibly hard, and through commissioners’ work, often times they bring in more money than they’re paid,” McGann said. “It should be each individual’s prerogative to decide whether or not they get a COLA, but I am not comfortable saying the commission itself does not deserve a COLA. And I am definitely not at all comfortable saying elected officials don’t. Our elected officials work really, really hard.”
Commissioner Winfield disagreed, saying he would give up his COLA.
“It’s a privilege to serve this community in this position. We aren’t here for our pay, we didn’t sign up because—well at least, I didn’t—because this is a high-paying job,” Winfield said. “We’re here because we want to make a service and do something for the community.”
“I agree, I’m not in this to make money,” said Commissioner Trish Hedin. “Inevitably though, to do this job, I can’t—specifically for me—I can’t have another full-time job…So I wish I was independently wealthy, and I could just do this and not have to worry about the pay, but I can’t … but I’m more than happy not to take a COLA.”
Commissioner Evan Clapper said all commissioners should make the same amount of money, and Chair Jacques Hadler agreed. Hadler also said the commissioners would continue the debate at their next meeting.
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“YOLO the MoLo: Community race delivers a once-in-a-lifetime experience”
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