Rich County Commission Meeting

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

RANDOLPH, Utah, April 3, 2013.  Kim Wilson, County Assessor, presented several personal property exemptions for approval by the Commissioners.  She noted that there are several parcels of property in the Bear Lake Area that had been taken out of greenbelt in 2007 and 2008, and taxes had not been paid on them since that time.  They will be placed in the May 22, 2013, tax sale.  The owner thought that at the time of leasing the property to a rancher that it would automatically be placed back in the greenbelt.  However, it is a completely separate procedure and requires alerting the assessor of the status of the parcels.  The owner is currently attempting to take care of the tax matter as well as the greebelt matter.  

Making sure that all businesses are licensed either in the City or County is a difficult matter.  Many individuals assume that because they work out of their homes, no license is required.  There are many short term rentals in the County that should be paying their share of taxes.  The Commissioners noted that they need to get some ordinances in place that will assist in making sure individuals who are renting or working without a license obtain one.  

Taylor Payne, the keeper of the grant monies in the Three Grazing Project (see separate article concerning this project), reported to the Commissioners the current financial situation of the project.  He noted that the amount of the money involved was, $340,000.  He noted that the grazing association put in $150,000 and the NRCS put in $190,000.  Currently, $234,593 has been spent leaving $105,407.   The project will probably require more than this, but they will move forward and see how things work out.  He noted that the legislature should come up with some monies and the state grazing organization may contribute some to the project as well.  He estimated that an additional $500,000 would be needed to complete everything. 

With the progress that has already been made with the writing of Chapters 1 and 2 of the written document, the project will move forward more quickly.  He noted that analysis and completion work is much easier than what has already been done.  The Commissioners thanked Payne for his good work and encouraged him in completing his work on this project.

Ruth Smith, County Treasurer, noted that the tax sale will be May 22 at 10 a.m.  She had some property issues involved in the sale and presented them to the Commissioners.    Some decisions were made, and the sale will be held as planned.