San Juan County

Judge rejects SUWA motion in public lands case

With a scathing rebuke, a federal judge rejected a motion by the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) to become a full-party participant in a landmark public lands case. Judge Clark Waddoups ruled on September 5 that SUWA could participate in a massive case regarding RS-2477 road rights-of-way...

Blanding City Council calls for county civility

The Blanding City Council called for civility and cooperation among San Juan County residents in an August 27 meeting. The council discussed a letter and press release condemning the comments former San Juan County Commissioner Mark Maryboy made in a Mexican Water town hall meeting held August 22...

Fugitives are still at large after overpowering guards

San Juan County was apparently the setting in the past week when two prisoners escaped from custody while being transported from Henrietta, NY to Tucson, AZ. The two overpowered a two-person transport team on August 26, soon after leaving from the San Juan County jail in Monticello. Initial...

Commission opposes oil, gas lease sale

The San Juan County Commission voted to oppose an upcoming oil and gas lease sale on land maintained by the Bureau of Land Management near Hovenweep National Monument. The vote came at the September 3 Commission meeting. The resolution calls on the BLM to “defer the sale to prevent the degradation...

Separate town hall meetings address simmering controversies in San Juan

Tension continues to rise over the political situation in San Juan County, and it spilled over at two town hall meetings in the past week. Separate and independent town hall meetings were held in Monticello and Mexican Water. Both meetings had a similar agenda: a discussion of issues of local...

Town hall meetings expose deep undercurrents

DUST IN THE WIND Several years of increasingly bitter feelings – many of them expressed at length over the years on social media – boiled over at the recent town hall meetings. In addition to familiar expressions of frustration and concern, there were also expressions that exhibit a variety of...

San Juan County hires new administrator

Mack McDonald has been hired as the new San Juan County Administrator. The hiring was approved at the August 20 meeting of the San Juan County Commission. Commission Chair Kenneth Maryboy announced that the county went through an extensive recruitment and evaluation process. “We are excited to...

Special election will ask SJC governance question

A special election in November will ask voters in San Juan County if a committee should be formed to consider a change in county government. The election is scheduled after five county residents successfully submitted a petition. County Clerk John David Nielson said that the group submitted several...

Commissioners discuss Spanish Valley, landfill and more

A host of issues were discussed at the August 6 meeting of the San Juan County Commission. Mark Vlasic, of Landmark Design, discussed the 180-day moratorium that has been placed on commercial development along Highway 191 in Spanish Valley. Landmark Design, which was hired by San Juan County more...

School superintendent welcomes parents, students, and stakeholders

Summer fading into the past means one thing, a new school year is upon us. How exciting is this! I wish to personally welcome back our nearly 3,000 student scholars to our schools. Speaking on behalf of our great staff, I can say with certainty it is our greatest honor and privilege to be part...