San Juan Commission approves emergency comms and public health items, gets update on public safety building project

The San Juan County Commission approved items related to emergency communications, public health and received an update on efforts to build the expansion to the County Public Safety Building at their latest meeting.
Members of the San Juan County Commission approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the city of Monticello for emergency public communications as part of their October 6 meeting.
City Manager Kaeden Kulow presented the agreement showing that the MOU gives city staff direct emergency notification access during crises. The city and county noted the need for this agreement as part of lessons learned during the Babylon Fire. A similar system has been established with the city of Blanding.
Members of the commission approved a contract for accounting oversight with DS Accounting Services. Seeking an oversight contract was recommended by an external audit to assist the County Clerk/Auditor’s office with financial reconciliations, general ledger maintenance and budget management.
Members of the commission also approved a resolution updating the county consolidated fee schedule. Fees were raised for permits and inspections related to wastewater systems, facilities, and food services.
Purchases for the County Road Department were also approved including an electronic tool to diagnose heavy equipment computer systems as well as vehicle alignment systems. The commission also approved a contract to replace outdated rooftop swamp coolers at the Blanding road shed with larger ground-mounted units.
Members of the county commission also approved several items related to public health.
Public Health Director Rebecca Benally presented an outreach and education contract with the University of Utah on behalf of the Utah Poison Control Center supporting poison prevention education across the community including at elementary schools, senior centers and community health fairs.
The commission also approved a grant with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services aimed at providing services for expectant mothers and young children including an amendment to the Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
Benally reported growing WIC enrollment across the county including Monticello, Blanding, Aneth, Red Mesa and Monument Valley. One highlight was the addition of the Gouldings Grocery Store in Monument Valley as an authorized WIC vendor.
Commissioners also provided reports on efforts with Commissioner Jamie Harvey sharing information on a pilot partnership with USU Blanding’s Heavy Equipment and CDL program. The partnership will use 3D mapping drones in the Aneth Chapter to evaluate damaged private access roads serving vulnerable elders and medical transport patients while the information will benefit the local community USU Blanding students should gain hands-on road repair experience.
Commissioner Silvia Stubbs reported on visits to Navajo Nation chapters inside the county and reporting on Navajo Revitalization Fund (NRF) meetings providing homebuilding material assistance. Stubbs also reported on efforts supporting an outdoor classroom grant providing $10,000 for events in the county.
Commissioner Lori Maughan shared a large update in the form of news about the County Public Safety Building update.
Maughan shared that county officials secured supplemental funding from the Community Impact Board (CIB) for the building update.
Maughan shared she along with Sheriff Lehi Lacy and county facilities maintenance director Sam Long, visited the board.
“So hopefully we are on the trajectory to get that project going as soon as possible and to make sure that we can start fulfilling that commitment. The original money was awarded back in 2023. And so that was one of the questions. Why hadn't we moved quicker on that project with the funding, but due to all the circumstances, we worked through it and they were able to grant us the funding that we needed. So we look forward to that project moving forward.”
Maughan also reported she represented the county at a regional watershed council meeting and shared that she, Harvey, Representative Logan Monson and State Senator David Hinkins recently attended the San Juan School District Civics day and were able to talk to local students about public service and answer questions.