Commission okays rock name, moves on fire change, hears from PAC

by David Boyle
News Director
Members of the San Juan County Commission moved forward on handing fire fighting equipment to the Navajo Nation, approved the name of rock formations in Beef Basin and heard a survey report from citizens about unincorporated San Juan County at their latest meeting.
Members of the county commission approved a letter to the San Juan School district regarding the operation of fire stations and equipment in Monument Valley and Montezuma Creek at their May 6 meeting.
The fire station in Monument Valley is owned by San Juan County with half of the construction costs covered by the county and half by the Navajo Nation.
That station sits on land owned by the school district which the county leases.
The county originally entered into an agreement with the Nation in 1992 to provide equipment, training and voluntary personnel for fire and rescue services in those locations.
The Navajo Nation has recently expressed interest in taking over those services in the county with San Juan County in agreement that the new operation of the stations could improve jurisdictional clarity, liability and staffing levels under the Navajo Nation.
While the Montezuma Creek location is on tribal owned land the move in Monument Valley would require the school district to approve a change on the lease of their land from the county to the Navajo Nation.
Members of the commission approved the letter to the district.
Members of the county commission also approved the naming of two rock formations just off Beef Basin Road.
The two names were proposed by a man from Washington, Utah.
County Administrator Mack McDonald explained that hikers who discover formations have the ability to name them if no names exist.
After going through the US board on geographic names, a local jurisdiction is given the option for final approval on the names.
The proposed names of Bucks Balancing Rock and Mammoth Arch were approved.
The Bucks Balancing Rock is a larger rock formation balanced on a smaller vertical base, while commissioners also noted that the Mammoth arch does resemble an ancient mammoth.
Members of the commission also received a report from the Public Awareness Committee, a group of volunteer citizens who conducted a survey among landowners and residents in unincorporated portions of the county.
The group shared they had received 236 unique responses on the survey.
Dave and Sarah Goodman, presented to the commission, recommended the county pause and revise the proposed land use management ordinance and invite further public comment on the project.
Among results shared included an argument of a disconnect between the county and survey respondents.
58-percent of respondents said that they didn’t know if the county’s general plan was being followed while 38-percent said it was not. 73-percent of survey respondents said they feel dissatisfied with representation regarding planning.
Presenters made a case that there is disconnect between county leadership and the public, including a communication disconnect.
The committee shared that survey respondents have definitions of rural that do not align with eventual development of those lands.
The committee argued that policies should not align with future development of rural lands in order to keep the character landowners currently enjoy.
Survey respondents also expressed a preference for autonomy in the unincorporated county with 89-percent saying they believe agricultural zones should allow for microenterprises; with respondents arguing for less regulations.
Results also showed survey respondents would be opposed to hiring an official to seek out and enforce land use violations.
Regarding enforcement PAC member and Monticello area resident Shannon Brooks brought concerns about the county job listing for a building official earlier in the meeting during public comment. Brooks noted that while a building inspector made sense, he had concerns about language in the job description listed responsibilities included code compliance.
Brooks noted concerns that the code compliance verbiage would indicate the role would be to enforce the county land use ordinance which he added people in the county have spoken out against.
Later in the meeting the county clarified that the position is for building code enforcement and not land use enforcement.
The county added the need for enforcement is due to lack of time from the sheriff department to address nuisances and also clarifying the intent is not to have heavy handed enforcement or seeking out issues.
Members of the commission also approved a letter of support to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for a proposed communication tower on Black Ridge.
The proposed 250-foot tower would be located on Black Ridge off highway 191 between Spanish Valley and La Sal Junction.
The county notes that the tower would benefit emergency services as well as travelers in the area. The BLM took comment on the project through May 8.
Members of the county commission also approved a contract through June 2028 with the Utah State Court Administrative Office. The contract will lease space in the county public safety building and continue a $29,000 annual revenue stream for the county for hosting the district court.
County staff noted a new contract and rate negotiation should take place once the new county public safety building is completed.
Members of the commission also approved a letter of support to Utah congressional representative Mike Kennedy with a request for federal funding for an environmental impact study for a road between Oljato and Navajo Mountain.
Commissioners also approved a grant agreement and request to the USDA for $30,000 for engineering services for the proposed La Sal Water Distribution project.
The funds would help finalize engineering to make the estimated $30 million project shovel ready for future state or federal funding requests.
At the meeting members of the commission also approved a contract with the Utah Attorney General’s Office to acquire recording equipment for the new county Children’s Justice Center in Blanding.
The $15,000 contract will provide funds for the forensic interview equipment expected to be installed by the end of June and will improve recordings for interviews of children who are witnesses or victims of crimes.
Members of the commission also approved a memorandum of understanding between the library system and the Utah Education Telehealth Network (UETN) the memorandum allows the branches in the county to connect to the network and save an estimated $100,000 in costs over the next five years in network costs.
Members of the commission also approved a contract with the National Institute for Jail Operations Program (NIJO) to provide software with legal based training for jail operators and staff.
The program allows operators to access legal guidelines and reference materials to keep facilities operating within the constitution. The expenses for the services will be paid by the inmate phone provider.
Members of the commission also approved purchase of updated election equipment including replacing nine poll pads at county polling centers.
The $4,600 purchase will be reimbursed by the Lt. Governor’s office.
A public hearing erroneously scheduled for a rezone request by the Lisbon Valley Mine was tabled. County Chair Sylvia Stubbs raised concerns about the hearing not being properly noticed.
The proposed rezone would change a portion of the mine from industrial to mixed-use to allow for onsite housing.
Clint York of Lisbon Valley Mine noted the company sometimes has difficulty recruiting staff who cannot immediately find local housing, with the rezone allowing the company to build temporary workforce housing.
Members of the commission tabled the item to allow for re-noticing on the hearing.