2020-08-18 Grand County Council Meeting Preview

The agenda packet for this Tuesday’s County Council Meeting (August 18, 2020) is quite lengthy (295 pages) and there are some fairly significant items on the table. We begin with a 2pm workshop on the 2020 midyear budget and proposed midyear amendments (discussion only – approval will take place during the regular meeting). A brief administrative meeting of the Thompson Springs Special Service Fire District (TSSSFD) Board will follow at approximately 4pm. Regular County Council Meeting will begin immediately following the TSSSFD meeting. If you wish to view the agenda with supporting documents please click on the following links:

TSSSFD: https://www.grandcountyutah.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08182020-1228

County Council: https://www.grandcountyutah.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08182020-1229

Join any (or all three) of the meetings by following the instructions below (instructions are also listed at the beginning of the agendas):

To give public comment via Zoom:    

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84436989906?pwd=NEZYUzJ2RWJqZXpHMHJUSEd6dG1MQT09

Meeting ID: 844 3698 9906 #     Password (if needed): 871662 Or Dial: (669) 900 – 6833

You can watch on YOUTUBE – search for: “GRAND COUNTY UTAH GOVERNMENT”

Budget Workshop – 2pm

During this meeting, we will discuss the budget and necessary midyear amendments (begins on page 3) due to the COVID-19 economy. During the 4pm regular County Council Meeting, we will vote on the proposed mid-year amendment.

TSSSFD Administrative Board Meeting – 4pm

During this meeting we discuss and approve necessary business such approving the minutes from previous meeting and approving bills to be paid (see separate agenda above)

Regular County Council Meeting – 4:05pm (approximately)

Citizens to be Heard – this takes place at the beginning of the meeting and again at approximately 6pm. Citizens may be heard on any topic whether or not it is on the Agenda. See instructions above to call and speak on an issue.

Department Reports

2019 Grand County Library report, Carrie Valdez, Library Director

Agency Reports/Presentations

Item C: Presentation from Southeast Utah Health Department on Coronavirus Updates (Brady Bradford, Health Director and Orion Rogers, Environmental Health Director, Southeast Utah Health Department)

Item D, p.159: Presentation from the HOPE Squad of Southeast Utah Health Department (Amanda McIntosh, Suicide Prevention Specialist)

Item E, p.160: Presentation from the Planning Commission on the Small Area Plan vision, objectives and initial survey results (Emily Campbell, Planning Commission Chair and Kevin Walker, Planning Commission Vice-Chair). Discussion and presentation on the results of the Small Area Plan Survey thus far…

Item F, p.170: Approving the extension of Grand County and South Eastern Utah Health Department’s Face Covering Order for Grand County (Brady Bradford, Health Director and Christina Sloan, County Attorney)

Item I, p.213: Approving resolution amending the Grand County 2020 budget (Chris Baird, Council Administrator/Budget Officer)

Item N, p.267: Discussion regarding amendments to Grand County’s Form of Government and the potential to advance voters choices and options (Curtis Wells, Council Member). This is a fairly complicated topic that I encourage you to study closely and perhaps tune in to listen to/take part in the discussion. Since it is quite complex, please see agenda packet, starting on page 267; it gives a good overview of what is being proposed.

Other Updates and Looking Ahead

No Grand County Parcels in September Oil & Gas Lease Sales: You may have read this in the paper but for those of you who haven’t, you can read BLM press release.

Small Area Plan (Hwy 313/US 191): There is still time to give your input on this continuing discussion. The goal is to have the final proposal going to public hearing and being voted on by both the PC and the Council by the beginning of December 2020. Initial public input is being requested. Here is the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SAP313

Arches Hot Spot Funding: The Arches Hotspot Coordinating Committee, consisting of Grand County, the City of Moab, a community representative, and the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), is exploring concepts to create additional on-street parking in the downtown area. The purpose is to create appealing and functional streetscapes that strengthen community life, expand business opportunities, and mitigate traffic congestion on and around the central Main Street area. 

• The Hotspot Committee is also exploring several other projects, including a shared-use path connecting Spanish Valley to existing paths in Moab. Additional community outreach and surveys will be available in the near future as more details are available for those potential projects.

• The current effort is focused on downtown parking and the committee welcomes your input through participation in this survey.

COVID-19 Case Counts: According to the Southeast Utah Health District, Grand County has had 6 cases since the update of 8 days ago for a total of 52 (2 hospitalizations; 0 current) and 51 recovered. Sadly, Grand County has experienced its first death due to coronavirus. Statewide (Utah Coronavirus Update), there are 46,321 cases (increase of 2,946); 2,760 hospitalizations (up 182); and 363 deaths (up 28) as of today, August 15, 2020. On a positive note, Utah’s 7 day rolling average of new cases per day has been below 500 for over two weeks and the 7-day rolling average of percent positive rate in relation to tests administered has been below 10% for that same time period.

• Yellow Phase: Again, no changes – all remains the same across the state. I won’t bog you down with the details until/unless something changes.

That’s all I have for now! Thanks so much for your comments and input!

Jaylyn Hawks, Grand County Council, District 3