One goal of Carbon officials and people working on economic development is have the county airport become the center of part of the industrial growth in the local area.
The objective came closer to reality Jan. 7 when the commission approved a lease with Tom Akers and Gust Kalatzes to build a new hangar north of the present county structure.
“We had Evan Hansen (county engineer) prepare some development costs for our part of this project,” explained Commissioner Bill Krompel. “The cost to put in the apron and other areas there to support the hangers runs from $22,600 to $36,579, depending on whether we look at armor coat or asphalt.”
The discussion at the meeting then turned to what type of development was needed.
Commissioner Mike Milovich was concerned that armor coat would not be enough for planes to taxi on during the long run and the two petitioners for the lease agreed.
“However, the size of the area Evan has estimated may be bigger than we need,” said Akers. “For instance he estimated some of that cost behind the hanger in a parking area. Eventually, the county may need that to be asphalt, but it isn’t necessary right now. I think with that area out of the picture asphalt costs could be rolled back to around $22,000.”
If all the areas do need some type of covering, Milovich suggested part could be done with armor coat and the rest with asphalt.
“We could just pave the entry ways and put armor coat on the rest to protect the gravel,” stated Milovich.
The lease granted by the commission is for a space of 176 feet by 36 feet. That is the footprint of the new hangar the two will be constructing. Both men are anxious to get going on the project. The hangar will not only house the men’s aircraft, but will also be rented out to cover other planes.
In an unrelated matter, the commission addressed an open position on the Carbon Water Conservancy District.
During the last 40 years, it appears the county has gotten away from selecting board members by the original districts set up in the early 1940s.
Ben Clement from the Carbon County Geographical Information System generated a map based on research conducted on the original boundaries of the different areas. The representation is different than a court had ordered in the early days of the conservancy district.
The commissioners discussed the situation, especially since some districts on the map have no representation and other areas have two people on the board.
Commissioners discussed changing the boundaries and thought it could be done by a vote of the conservancy district’s board. However, attorney and board member Nick Sampinos felt differently.
“I think maybe we should just adhere to the districts the way they were set up originally,” stated Sampinos. “We could just let present members’ positions expire and replace them geographically as time goes on.”
Commissioner Steve Burge suggested studying the matter before the county made any appointments to the board.
“We have a position open with two applicants for it,” said Burge. “Clearly, there is a question on how to do this. Maybe we should fill the position on what is vacant rather than by the position itself.”
The commission decided to set back a decision until a later meeting so the problem could be resolved.
On another subject, Clement had a chance at the meeting to explain the counties new web site, which will provide information to county residents and those interested in visiting the area.
He also reported that an annual state grant that he uses to help operate his department has been drastically cut.
“In years past we have received about $20,000 but this year all that is available is $7,500,” he told the commission about the money that has been given to work on RS-2477 research. “However, as this whole thing has gone on I really think no one at the state or federal level really wants to fix it.”
The RS-2477 issue deals with which roads in the state are really roads and right of ways that the counties control and which aren’t. In the last 30 years, the federal government has been challenging counties on their road ownership and the state and counties have been trying to identify and justify why certain roads should remain under county jurisdiction.
“I think we have made some progress on this though,” commented Krompel.
However, Milovich agreed with Clement on the issue and the seemingly never ending battle.
“I don’t think there is any political will, either in Utah or nationally, to solve this situation,” concluded Milovich.
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