08-04-2020 Grand County Council Workshop and Meeting Report

Workshop on Grand County Department Restructuring 2:30 PM

Chris Baird, county administrator, created a mock-up organizational chart as a suggested starting point for further discussions/workshops.  General agreement among GCC members, county attorney and county clerk that the current organizational chart is too flat and to meet best organizational practices, there should be more verticality by grouping several similar-issue divisions into overarching departments.

Chris and Quinn (county clerk) have been discussing a “grant writing” position for the County.  This could serve many county departments/agencies/boards, and could possibly pay for itself, as the Clerk’s office spends an undue amount of time on grant-related tasks.  All the grants are different, w/ different reporting and info requirements; position would require a good writer and someone who’s detail-oriented to be on top of all of the various grant possibilities and needs.

After discussion, GCC members expressed support for future workshops w/ department heads and citizens to draft a new county organizational chart.

Regular Meeting 4 PM

GCC members present: Mary McGann, Jaylyn Hawks, Evan Clapper, Greg Halliday, Gabriel Woytek and Rory Paxman. Curtis Wells absent.

Elected Official Reports

County Attorney. The hearings officer ruled in Grand County’s favor in the “takings” appeal filed by the developer of the proposed Willow Springs RV Park in the 191/313 area.

Council Administrator. Most furloughed staff are back at work; hiring freeze continues due to budget concerns.

Presentations

Dr. Cole and CEO Jen Sadoff, Moab Regional Hospital. Emphasized seriousness of covid19 even for young people and urged Council to continue requiring face mask use in GC. Covid19 is a long-term issue and all plans for moving forward (schools, businesses, etc.) will have to be flexible to integrate new info as it is available. Utah’s 10% positivity rate is currently the 14th highest in the country.

Emery Telecom’s application to provide phone services in Grand County. The non-profit coop owned by residents of Emery County is interested in expanding services in GC to: Castle Valley, Thompson Springs, and farther south in Spanish Valley. Not asking Council to do anything at this point, just providing info. ET hopes to finish the roll-out of fiber internet in Castle Valley within the next year.

General Business Discussion and Action Items

Letter of support for Moab Reg. Hospital expansion project. MRH applying for USDA loan for expansion to serve community during next 10-15 years, including ER, urgent care, lab and radiology, and outpatient nursing. MRH wants to take advantage of the current low interest rate. If loan approved, MRH’s monthly loan payments would be reduced by $62,000 – current loan w/ high int. rate could be re-financed w/ expansion loan. Letter of support approved 6-0.

Amend job description for the “Travel Council Director” position to include economic development duties, re-title Economic Development Director, and reclassify the pay Grade from 14 to 16. After discussion it was agreed that this re-title/reclassification should be viewed as temporary pending re-organization of county (see workshop discussion). Travel Council director Elaine Gizler will assume this new title and responsibilities as there are grant applications and reports that need timely attention. Approved 6-0.

Ratify Memorandum of Understanding between Grand County and the Bureau of Land Management as a Cooperating Agency for Development of the Environmental Assessment for the December 2020 Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale Parcels in Grand County. MOU gives GC early opportunity to provide local expertise on socioeconomic and other impacts of leasing in GC; Council has expertise and influence but not veto power over lease parcels the BLM includes in the sale. The Dec. lease sale includes only one parcel in GC (north of I-70), which is surrounded by already-leased parcels. Approved 5-1 (Paxman).

Approve the Phase 1 Final Plat for the Peak View Subdivision, a high-density housing overlay, located at 3640 South Spanish Valley Drive. After months of discussions, developers agreed to indemnify the owner of the property onto which the development’s floodwaters will be diverted. This has been the County Attorney’s position from the start, and will protect Grand County taxpayers from all future liability for any claims for damages due to floodwater diversion to this 3rd party’s property. Approved 5-1 (Halliday).