| Work on the Spring Canyon trail extension to the Helper Parkway began last week. Officials eventually see a connection between all the trails in the county with walkers and bicyclists being able to travel from Wood Hill near Price to Spring Canyon on one long paved trail that will traverse the miles. |
After months of wrangling over the details of funding and putting together a tourism and promotion project proposed by Price city to the restaurant tax committee last year, the Carbon County Commission approved the funding for the endeavor to go ahead.
The request that began as basically a Price city project only has now evolved into a total county project with the compact disc promotional vehicle being expanded to include businesses and attractions from all over the Castle Valley area.
“We’re ready to go now that I think we have met all your criteria for including the county’s attractions,” Nick Tatton, Price city community director told the commission.
When Price requested the original funds be approved by the restaurant tax committee and the commission, the CD project (which will now be run in conjunction with an internet site) the project was mostly about the Price area only.
Commissioners then told Tatton, who represented the city at that first commission meeting months ago, that they felt any kind of project like that should include the entire county.
“I think we have now developed it so that it does represent the community as a whole,” said Tatton. “However, from the beginning it was our intention to involve things outside Price to begin with.”
Commissioner Mike Milovich commented that it appeared to him the price for the project had gone up considerably.
“Actually, if you will look at the cost, based on the increase scale it has actually gone down over $3,000,” Tatton replied. “Our original request was on a much smaller scale, since Price city was what was mostly involved.”
Tatton also pointed out that upon request of the commissioners, a longer test period for the program would be run. It has been expanded from one to two years.
“I see that an evaluation of the project is built in as well,” commented Commissioner Bill Krompel.
“This project is being taken very seriously by Price city,” stated Tatton.
Commissioner Steve Burge brought up the fact that Neil Breinholt, the chair of the restaurant tax committee, had requested that the committee be able to look at the project one more time since it had changed so much since they first recommended it to the commission.
“I would like us to be able to do that as a courtesy to them,” said Burge. “They are willing to meet on a quick basis so that the project can move ahead.”
The commission then approved the $31,057 for the project with a final review of it with the restaurant tax committee within a week.
In other business the commission dealt with the following items.
•They discussed the problem of county right-of-ways being restricted in the Nine Mile area and Kenilworth. Reportedly, certain residents of both areas have put up fences across roads that are actually right-of-ways.
“We haven’t sent out the letters yet, but we will,” said county attorney Gene Strate.
Burge said that the evidence and research has shown that the fences are encroachments on public access.
“We need to require these people to remove those fences,” said Milovich. “Otherwise if they don’t, we will have county personnel go out and remove them and we will bill those who put them up.”
•The commission approved a project to put in a fiber optic system in the Four Mile Hill communications facility. The new system will modernize data and voice communications. However, commissioners were concerned about the costs involved and if the money was budgeted for the project.
“These particular costs are not directly in the budget,” stated Bob Pero, Carbon County clerk. “But there was money for other equipment at that site. This installation will make it so that the county will not need that equipment now.”
The approval was for $10,500.
•Harvey Howard, who owns the dirt race track on Airport Road approached the commission about the fact that he would eventually like to develop a drag strip along with the stock car track he now has in the same area.
“I have been hearing about the idea of a lot of development going on around the airport and I just wanted to let you know that I am actively pursuing the idea of building a drag strip out there to go along with the track we already have,” Howard told the commission. “I simply wanted you to know about my future plans.”
Discussion then ensued about obtaining the approximately 50 acres he would need for such a project, the direction of the strip (to the north of the present track) and what affect airport restrictions by the Federal Aviation Administration there may be toward such development.
It was agreed that Howard should first meet with the airport advisory board before he moved any further on his plans in conjunction with the idea.
•Steve Christensen, director of county recreation, presented the fact that work on the Spring Canyon trail system extension that will connect it with the Helper Parkway has begun.
“Most of the easements are in place, and Joe Bonacci ( Helper’s mayor) is still working on one of the easements with Utah Railway,” Christensen told the commission.
•The commission appointed Cloris Sealey and Paul Winger to the Scofield Reservoir special service district board.
•The commission heard a request from Anndee Wilkins, who was representing the new College of Eastern Utah club softball team, concerning the use of a softball field in the complex near the fairgrounds.
“We would like to begin practicing next Monday,” she told the commission. “We will need to use the field for 17 practice dates and will probably need the lights for two hours a day. At this point we do not plan on having any games here, although Weber State has talked with us about possibly having a double header on March 15.”
The commission turned to Christensen for comments about what could be done.
“I see no problem with scheduling,” he said. “But I’m not sure what kind of condition the fields are in.”
He pointed out that the complex has had no care since the fall and that there is no schedule field preparation until later in the spring.
The commission approved the use and asked Christensen to see what he could do to get one of the fields in shape for the club.