Rich County Commission

Anita Weston, reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah.  December 7, 2016.  Pat Argyle was on the Commissioners’ agenda.  However, there was confusion over the date, and she was unable to attend.  Nate Smoot with Epic Recreation had some issues with the Sanitation Department and was going to meet with the Commissioners on this issue.  However, he was able to work with the Sanitation Department to solve this problem.

Mitch Poulsen reported to the Commissioners about some grant monies that will be received.  He also asked the Commissioners to ratify the possibility of extending the bike path from Ideal Beach to Lady Bird Park.  The project will cost approximately 1.2 million dollars.  The County will put in $230,000 match in gravel to help build the path.  Mitch will head the project and will submit a letter of intent requesting that this project be moved forward.

There are three areas in the county (Benches, Eagle Spring, and Monte Cristo) that were originally zoned as agriculture. Eagle Spring was changed to be used for a planned community.   It needs to be rezoned back to agriculture.  There will need to be three hearings in order to make the requested changes.  The Commissioners accepted the Planning and Zoning recommendations to change Eagle Spring to an Agriculture 10 zone.  The other two will probably in the future also be changed back to agriculture.

David and Jill Mills appeared before the Commission to ask why they were charged such high taxes on their vacant lot.  Mr. Mills brought a list of several lots in the area that were sold for less than the appraised value of his lot.  He thought maybe the appraisal on his lot was too high, and he needed to know how to get it changed.  It was explained to him that several of the lots on his list were probably bankruptcy situations, repossessions, and/ or quick sales to divest the owners from such expense.  To find out the real market value, the lots must be sold in an arms length deal and not where people are just trying to get rid of their investment. 

The county appeals deadline for changing taxes was in October and the state appeals deadline was the end of November.  However, Mills was told that currently the County is reassessing quite a few areas on the west side of Bear Lake.  They asked  Mills to watch for his appraisal that should arrive around the first part of July.  At that time, if any appraisal changes have been made, they will be shown on that document.  However,  Mills was told that all of the lots in that particular area were all paying the same taxes on the undeveloped lots.

Reed Ernstrom appeared before the Commission.  He is the Director of Bear River Mental Health.  He presented the financial statements for the past year and what to expect for the coming year.  He congratulated the Commissioners for keeping the mental health budget in such good shape.  He noted that having a reserve is really a good thing and shows real responsibility.  The motion was made and passed to approve the Bear River Health Audit.

The Commissioners also held a budget hearing later in the day.