County commission gets update on Monument Valley, renewable energy area

by David Boyle
News Director
Members of the San Juan County Commission got an update on the Goulding’s Lodge sale, approved a continued lease for communication infrastructure on BLM lands and discussed a possible renewable energy project area at their latest meeting.
While the county was unsure how the sale of Goulding’s Lodge would impact sales tax, tourism restaurant tax and the largest contributor to transient room tax in the county, county staff and commissioners received some clarification during the June 18 San Juan County commission meeting.
County administrator Mack McDonald shared that he had received word from the Utah State tax commission via email that morning that the county will not be impacted by the sale of Goulding’s to the Navajo Nation.
McDonald explained,  “It appears right now the Navajo Nation has come in under the tax commission as the Navajo Nation hospitality enterprise, they’re licensed for sales tax, transient room tax, and tourism restaurant tax. With that registration they’d still be paying those taxes, so we wouldn’t lose out on any of that.”
While commissioners and staff had lamented the perceived loss of taxes early in the meeting, the discovery was equally celebrated.
The Navajo Nation celebrated the $59.5 million purchase of Goulding’s Lodge, Tour, and accompanying 670-acre property and assets on June 14. The purchase was approved via legislation sponsored by Delegate Herman Daniels Jr, and was also signed by President Buu Nygren, with support for the legislation coming from the Oljato Chapter where Goulding’s resides.
Commissioner Jamie Harvey added that the news should reinvigorate discussions to get mutual assistance between law enforcement agencies up and running.
Harvey shared a meeting was being organized with the hopes to bring Navajo public safety agencies together to discuss the issue, one idea Harvey mentioned would possibly have the tribal government cover some costs that would allow San Juan County Sheriff’s Deputies to work in southern San Juan County.
“If the nation can cover the insurance costs for county officers coming into Navajo reservation lands and making those agreements, I think there’s potential there, and maybe that could be the solution.”
Harvey also shared that Navajo Nation Council Delegates have also been working on a law enforcement mutual aid agreement, with Delegate Curtis Yanito advocating for a mutual aid agreement at a recent meeting with the Utah Governor’s office, and Delegate Herman Daniels Jr. working on a draft agreement with the Navajo Nation Council Law and Order Committee.
Harvey also shared that in the meeting with the governor the Navajo Nation advocated for $2.9 million from the state to go towards an environmental impact study for the proposed Navajo Mountain to Oljato road, as well as a request that more voting machines be made available for the upcoming November general elections.
Commissioner Harvey also reported that a recent Navajo Revitalization Fund meeting focused on requests of library funding through the Aneth Chapter.
At the meeting members of the commission also approved renewal of communication lease sites located within lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
McDonald explained the Upper Horse Flats and Cedar Mesa communication sites broadcast very high frequency (VHF) communications system and state required tv communications throughout the county.
McDonald explained visitation during the annular eclipse in October 2023 saw the local cell phone system collapse even with temporary cell towers brought in. McDonald also reported the 800 megahertz system that is used throughout the state also failed.
“The one that stood up and stood the test of time was the VHF program, we considered trying to get out of VHF but because of our terrain there’s no getting around that old technology is super reliable.”
Members of the commission unanimously approved the agreements.
Members of the commission acting as the county community reinvestment agency also approved an agreement to allow the Utah Associations of Counties to aid San Juan County with a potential creation of a renewable energy project area. 
McDonald explained San Juan County was approached by UAC and a company interested in beginning a solar energy system in San Juan County.
This company likes to see a project area that’s created where they can receive some tax increment off of it, but then they pay it back through the renewable energy system.”
McDonald explained if the company moved forward that UAC staff would be willing to help the county with the legwork required to create the project area.
San Juan County Commissioner Sylvia Stubbs also reported on her efforts over the past year to explore the possibility of an installation of a splash pad in