San Juan County

Commissioners decline referendum application

San Juan County Commissioners met for four hours on May 21 with a full agenda and 95 pages of supporting documents. The meeting proceeded slowly but smoothly, for the most part. As has been the case in recent months, the public comment portion of the meeting was an indication of the turmoil felt by...

Local residents affected by nuclear testing sought for interviews

Staff from The J. Willard Marriott Library at the University of Utah will interview individuals throughout Utah who have been affected by the nuclear weapons testing that occurred in the 1950s and 60s. On Tuesday, May 21 from 1 to 6 p.m. they will be at the San Juan County Library in Blanding,...

Meeting discusses Love’s Truck Stop in Spanish Valley

Nearly three dozen people attended a presentation by a representative of Love’s Travel Stops in the Grand County Water and Sewer conference room on May 9. The group was composed of mostly residents of Spanish Valley whose homes would be in close proximity to the proposed truck stop. Several members...

Interim Administrator set to tackle county turmoil

Growing mistrust between competing entities, contentious interactions in public meetings, and, apparently, an almost complete lack of communication between these entities outside of the public meetings has dominated San Juan County government since the new county commission was seated in January....

County Administrator resigns, takes new post

San Juan County Administrator Kelly Pehrson has resigned his position and accepted a post as Deputy Director of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. Pehrson resigned in the past week and hit the ground running in his new position. He will finish his six years of service to the area next...

Commission approves five resolutions, delays suit

During more than four hours of often contentious meetings on April 16, the San Juan County Commission passed five resolutions. Commissioners unanimously approved two resolutions regarding employment opportunities in northern Arizona. The Kayenta Black Mesa Mine and the Navajo Generating Station...

San Juan County auditor says the county is “in good financial shape”

“Overall, I would say the county is in good financial shape,” said San Juan County Auditor John Fellmeth in a report to County Commissioners on April 16. “So far, we have not had any major or unexpected conditions that have impacted our financial situation.” Fellmeth went through more than 60...

Tensions high as residents comment at meeting

Monticello resident Kim Henderson was on the agenda during the work session of the April 16 meeting of the San Juan County Commission. Henderson said she is concerned about morale in San Juan County and the lack of input from county residents. Henderson referred to a recent directive from...

Development in Spanish Valley may be halted

A six-month moratorium on commercial development in Spanish Valley may be put in place by the San Juan County Commission. Commissioner Kenneth Maryboy was set to introduce a resolution to consider the action at the April 16 Commission meeting (after the press deadline). The item could be an action...

Tension grows between commissioners, attorney

Tension between San Juan County Commissioners and County Attorney Kendall Laws threatens to turn into legal action. Commissioner Kenneth Maryboy introduced a resolution at the April 2 commission meeting that, if approved, would authorize a lawsuit against Laws for failure to comply with prior...