San Juan County

Kelly Pehrson to serve as interim manager of Utah Department of Agriculture and Food

Kelly Pehrson is the new interim manager of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF). Pehrson was appointed by Utah Governor Gary Herbert on January 14. Commissioner Kerry Gibson stepped down from his position at the head of the department and announced that he was running for Congress...

Unaffiilated voters can participate in March 3 Super Tuesday primary

March 3 is the day that Utahns will participate in the Super Tuesday Primary election in the race for President of the United States. San Juan County Clerk John David Nielson has sent letters to the 2,564 voters in the county who are not affiliated with a specific party, informing them how they can...

County Commission hears BLM reports

Amber Johnson, Acting Field Manager for the Monticello office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), provided a lengthy update to the San Juan County Commission on January 7 about local activities of the federal land agency. The report included a discussion of the anticipated Record of Decision on...

2020 county budget includes tax increase

San Juan County Commissioners approved a 2020 budget at the last Commission meeting of the year on December 17. The 2020 budget accounts for a tax increase in three separate funds controlled by the county. An actual tax increase will not be addressed until June. The tax increase would be due from...

Residents and county officials discuss proposed tax increase at hearing

Nearly 80 county residents crowded the San Juan County Commission Chambers on December 4 for a Truth in Taxation hearing regarding proposed property tax increases. San Juan County Commissioners are poised to consider the increases when they finalize the 2020 county budget before the end of December...

Hundreds of county residents may lose access to food stamps due to new rule

Several hundred San Juan County residents may lose access to food stamps after a new rule was announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The changes are set to take effect in April 2020. According to the USDA, the new rule is designed “to help move more able-bodied recipients of...

Is a perfect storm headed towards the county economy?

As County Commissioners consider a property tax increase, a perfect storm may be developing in San Juan County. A worst-case scenario could have catastrophic consequences on the local economy, and eventually on local government. A three-fold challenge could be triggered by 1) increased property...

County Commission determines Spanish Valley citizen petition is referable

The San Juan County Commission held a relatively quick and quiet meeting on December 3 in Monticello. There was no public comment at the meeting for the first time in several months. Commissioners determined that a citizen petition for a referendum on Spanish Valley zoning ordinances is referable...

Week set apart for avalanche awareness

In the aftermath of last January’s tragic avalanche fatality in the La Sal Mountains near Moab, the State of Utah declared the first week of each December as Avalanche Awareness Week. Utah state Congressman Phil Lyman (R, San Juan County) and state senator Kirk Cullimore (R, Salt Lake County,...

Truth in Taxation hearings will focus on proposed property tax increase

A potential property tax increase in three separate San Juan County funds is under consideration by the San Juan County Commission. The potential increases will be the focus of Truth in Taxation public hearings on Wednesday, December 5 beginning at 6 p.m. at the San Juan County Commission...