Mike Milovich
It has been my honor and pleasure to serve as your Carbon County Commissioner for the past 12 years. The time has been loaded with challenges, successes, and a period of adjusting to living within our means.
When I was elected in 1992, there was only $50,000 of surplus in the various county funds; we now have in excess of $2,000,000 in surplus. In addition, our tax stability trust fund has increased to over $1,000,000. These surplus funds came as a result of good fiscal management, increases in royalties from the mineral lease funding the county receives, and prioritizing and planning for the funding of needs each year rather than a “shotgun approach’ to funding.
Over the past 12 years, many projects have been completed and added to the infrastructure of Carbon County: A new senior center was built in East Carbon City, and the Senior Center in Price was remodeled. The fairgrounds have been updated with new facilities, bleachers, horse barns, an activity center, and a concession stand. We have also improved the motocross track, provided landscaping, and improved parking facilities. The ambulance department has been updated with new ambulance coaches and current equipment; hopefully, a new ambulance garage will be built in the next six months. Helper, Wellington, East Carbon and Sunnyside cities received new fire trucks in the last 18 months. A new Hazmat truck was acquired, outfitted, and placed into service for Carbon County and training provided to man the unit.
The airport improvements continue and allow us to boast of having the third longest runway, with modem facilities, in the state. The road shop has continued to receive updated machinery including trucks, heavy machinery, and a new road shop to be built in 2005. The Active Re-Entry building, that was much overdue in our county, was built to provide for those individuals with special needs.These are just a few highlights of accomplishments over the past years and if I am successful in the upcoming election we will continue to upgrade the county’s infrastructure.
Most of the projects identified would not have been possible without funding received from the Permanent Community Impact Board (CIB), a very important board which determines how state mineral lease monies will be distributed. In March of 2003, former Governor Mike Leavitt appointed me as a board member. This is the first time in the history of the CIB that a member was appointed from Carbon County.
If the voters of Carbon County elect me to a new term in office, representation on that board will continue from this area, and the citizens will be the beneficiaries of this vital source of funding for Carbon County.
When the Legislature decided two years ago to restructure the formula that determines the amount of mineral lease royalties that we can receive from the lands that were exchanged when President Clinton created the Grand Staircase Monument, the legislation was costly to our county. That legislation, sponsored by Senator Leonard Blackham of Sanpete County, passed in the last minutes of the session and cost Carbon County over $2,000,000. By working with Senator Dmitrich and key legislative members, we were able to have those dollars restored to our county in the following session. I have consistently been able to work and lobby the Legislature to make meaningful differences for Carbon County.
Our single most important problem that we have been working on for the past 60 years has been the Gooseberry Narrows Dam. We have successfully been able to stop the building of the dam although the cost has been high. We have only one source of affordable water in our area, and that is the water stored in Scofield Reservoir which comes from the Narrows drainage. With ongoing negotiations, formation of partnerships, and some common sense approaches to the “age old problem,” we hope that a compromise can be reached in the near future.
Gerald E. Lloyd
Gerald Lloyd is 51 and lives in Price. He is self-employed, an a graduate of Carbon High School and CEU. He spent 17 years in the coal mining industry.
My wife Jeanette supports me in this effort and that speaks volumes. If elected I would have the time to work at the commission office everyday for two to four hours. Water is the big issue and the reason I am running. Carbon County is a great place, but we can make it better. We must become a destination, not just a stop on the way to Lake Powell. Identifying and advertising all reasons for coming to and staying in the area is a priority. Tourism should focus on the national and global market. We have world class museums and scenery. Carbon County should actively pursue becoming a retirement destination. Business development should center on production and manufacturing.
We need to stop the Gooseberry project and build a Gordon Creek Reservoir, utilize Kenilworth and Willow Creek Mine water as well as the water from the gas wells in Miller Creek. All canals need to piped. Water should be on every commission agenda
We need to fight to maintain multiple-use of our lands and to prosper from our natural resources. We need to expand the manufacturing sector and use political connections to enhance our opportunity to be given the “opportunity to bid” on projects.
We should work to improve “tech training” for residents. Carbon County must join Utah and reap the benefit of doing so.
My best characteristic for the commissioners position is that “I do not become offended.” As long as people are civil; I will listen to their comments and suggestions.
My management philosophy is that every employee should approach their job as a “business man” as if they are trying to make a profit. All work and decisions should be made on good economic principle. Everyone should be accountable. Planning and resource management can, and should, be major topics of training.
I have the time to visit and interview the county workers.
Introducing the candidates for 2004: Carbon County Commission
