Helper city council is expected to make a decision this week on whether to accept additional funding allocated by the Utah Permanent Community Impact Board for the city’s proposed pool construction. Last week, the council chose to delay a decision on whether to accept the funds until construction bids are reviewed this week.
Mayor Mike Dalpiaz was not at the meeting last Thursday, but at a county economic development meeting in March, he said, ” We have a pool project, and it’s underfunded.”
In a single line, the mayor summed up a dilemma that seems to be hindering or delaying various proposed improvements in the county. Due to the rising costs of materials, notable concrete and steel, many projects have seen costs escalate 10 to 20 percent between the time that the project is approved and the time when construction crews break ground.
As a result, agencies that are relying on grants and loans are often forced to return to funding agencies to request additional funding. Helper has already done that, returning to the CIB, which remains the largest financial source for the city’s pool project.
When the CIB met on Thursday, it reviewed two additional requests for additional funding. One went to Sunnyside, a grant of $40,000 for the rehabilitation of a steel culinary water tank. The other went to the Castle Valley Special Service District in Emery County, receiving a $250,000 grant for various projects related to streets, sidewalks, and sewer and water lines.
Helper’s request was granted in the hopes that the funding will cover the additional costs the city has encountered. Now the city is waiting for a dollar amount from its construction manager estimating the total cost of the pool.
Councilmember Dean Armstrong explained last week that bids would not be received until today. Accordingly, total cost estimate for the city will not be available until sometime later this long coaching career at a couple of schools, but spent most of his over 30 years in education at Green River High School.
“I am glad I can call Tom Burr my friend,” said Jack Kobe, a well known retired coach in the Carbon area himself as he presented the award to Burr.
The college also presented awards to outstanding alumni as well. Those awards went to Jayceen Craven Walker, a well known actress, singer and education activist in the state of Utah, Alene Etzel Bentley, a Carbon native who has excelled in public relations, and worked for Congressman Jim Matheson and is presently employed by Utah Power and Light, and Dr. George Hatsis, a retired dentist whose career achievements include the design and development of dental equipment and innovative procedures along with major philanthropic and humanitarian projects.
CEU President Ryan Thomas spoke about each of the honorees and gave detailed backgrounds about their activities over the years.
Finally Thomas gave out the Eagle Award to Deb Svetich Dull who is the director of Utah Power’s community relation program for the Carbon, Emery, Grand and San Juan counties. Dull has been instrumental in the success of many community projects and events in the area.
The banquet and awards ceremonies have been taking place, every year for 58 years.
[dfads params='groups=4969&limit=1&orderby=random']
[dfads params='groups=1745&limit=1&orderby=random']