[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6345997,"mediaKeyId","2247698-b94119fc7a27bddd8445639b4b3e7ec9","parentId",2247698,"title","Local leaders tout commercial growth, warn of housing pressure; urge support for bills on nightly rentals, EMS funding","audioSeconds",2060,"startMs",1320000,"endMs",3380000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2247698-b94119fc7a27bddd8445639b4b3e7ec9&start=1320&end=3380","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2247698-b94119fc7a27bddd8445639b4b3e7ec9/thumbnail_1320000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6345997/Utah/Local-leaders-tout-commercial-growth-warn-of-housing-pressure-urge-support-for-bills-on-nightly-rentals-EMS-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345997-16702e0d6a652722ec0a3a42f59c6dbe/orig.mp4?Expires=1770953845&Signature=bvW370iehVdCZ5sdd9lj-tKC1h3-WvkdbxsZphtvl0kOFwOcdUwxZ4n9nAgSH4FsMx1tRb3H6mkf5-8xI9NrgmcfZUCTOCsIV3j5o8NOVaYZcTYAn-~beLFxmrq6ulGjXsof4Ag1zRu9qBJuiz3ZE9fjuCBl1zvYXyE-g7idxNp2bz7nDlOrmwPYhfPG0865DUthRxtf7Ooc4x7wwQ-PzAAgcVROt2ydAFxrwcCzD1fiuj2-zxnZw9~3mchoTS2Z3YDSZEWgcpIUR8pJ-bBcCIS1iLZIjdPY0g~fM4PB8AuQW0J8BLchjpxsn4XJo4qQMFhxLUfkeG~PMtDWklnU5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-07T08:09:47Z","article","Panelists at the Washington County Republican Women meeting described a wave of private development and commercial projects across the county and linked growth to pressure on housing affordability.

Jordan Hess, representing Washington City, said sales tax finances roughly 65% of the city's revenue and credited sales-tax–driven commercial growth with allowing the city not to raise property taxes \"in almost 30 years.\" Hess described multiple planned projects, including a Hyatt House hotel at Exit 13, a Homewood Suites by Hilton at Green Springs, a Star Nursery and WinCo, and an RFP for three downtown blocks intended to create a walkable downtown with dining and recreation. He also described a planned George Washington Plaza, including a life-sized bronze statue and Mount Vernon–style gates.

Sean Christiansen of the St. George Area Chamber of Commerce and Ed Tracy of the Washington Area Chamber emphasized the chamber role in connecting new businesses to local resources. Tracy and others listed large logistics and distribution projects near the airport and a recent Amazon facility; speakers said Washington County's location makes it attractive for logistical space and distribution centers.

Panelists repeatedly tied growth to a lack of attainable housing and hiring difficulties. \"Hiring is really hard,\" said a chamber representative, and multiple speakers said housing affordability constrains the local labor market. One panelist said a national mapping project put Utah third in the nation by number of 9-to-5 days an employee must work to afford a mortgage.

Several speakers urged members to follow legislation they said affects local quality-of-life and municipal operations. Councilwoman Michelle Tanner urged members to support HB401, which she described as a bill \"to protect our children in public spaces from adult content\" and said it \"attaches penalties\" to certain adult entertainment in public spaces. Tanner also discussed concern about state intrusion into local zoning decisions.

Panelists discussed a sales-tax measure described as SB 67 during Q&A: Representative Eliason was identified as carrying a proposal allowing a one-third of 1% sales tax earmarked for fire and EMS in areas where tourist demand places disproportionate burdens on emergency services. Speakers said the measure had passed committee and a senate vote and was being shepherded through the House.

The meeting included a broader policy debate about how transient room tax (TRT) revenue is allocated. A commissioner urged reallocation of some TRT funds toward fire, EMS and roadways that are heavily used by visitors, saying current marketing allocations contribute to tourism-driven housing demand.

Panelists and chambers promoted private-sector solutions such as neighborhood commercial nodes, public–private trail and amenity investments (Tech Ridge, Solentia reservoir commitments), and capital programs that offer favorable terms for businesses locating in the area. They emphasized the role of private developers in building workforce housing while urging regulatory and permitting flexibility to facilitate private investment.

Speakers urged members to contact legislators on bills they flagged and to support local businesses affected by growth and housing pressures.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","WCRW February Luncheon 2024","oneSentenceSummary","Washington County officials and chamber leaders said major commercial and logistics projects are coming to the county, but warned that tourism-driven demand and new development are increasing pressure on housing affordability.","taxTitle","Washington County Republican Women, Utah Lobbyist / NGO, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",77249,"location","Utah","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6346002,"Water officials warn of historic drought, outline regional reuse, storage plans",1665,1215000,2880000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2247698-b94119fc7a27bddd8445639b4b3e7ec9&start=1215&end=2880","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2247698-b94119fc7a27bddd8445639b4b3e7ec9/thumbnail_1215000.jpg","/articles/6346002/Utah/Water-officials-warn-of-historic-drought-outline-regional-reuse-storage-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346002-349bc5027689d1f4ceb1d6c77cf40fc0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770953845&Signature=FpCRKuQ5~ORQkadhSD8IjAfVolVCwOhlFKV5J4Jo3A2Xzhfp2oyxIijObx94vn6v8y0Q0a0jwFHOQhFpCCmbrYpHVtK0FDMgqz0SScZcG8jP3X6IuCV3-bfaNv6mAnOaEdkd0MPRk5Z36K7m6YIry1h4FOCad17dhQu1ge8bt9y7fz2fajmV-4dVwwwr3gDyTyahkIcTatmneT~tkXBSg90upBhmBxaPZRoPEO3FhdgHD-AUIILY4e0Hrqw4~s2KWyT9-Flb2JGWB0y6kYI~EJU3ElNQlRqVb7dZJOocOfc-8HR7mgrqeb7jSVHOuHCOqE~qH0qV~~fxkrtuPVYkHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carrie Raske, of the Washington County Water Conservancy District, told the Washington County Republican Women on Feb. 1 that the region is facing an \"extremely, severe drought\" and that current snowpack sits at about 21% of average. \"It is the driest winter on record since 1895,\" Raske said.

Raske said the district's 20-year water-supply plan relies on additional conservation, reuse, groundwater optimization, agricultural transfers and development of remaining local supplies. She said the district has replaced more than 2,000,000 square feet of grass in the last two years — \"about 30% of the grass statewide\" replaced under the program — and has passed what she described as \"Utah's strictest ordinances for new construction\" to reduce new-development water use.

The district is pursuing a regional reuse system that will treat wastewater to a high standard and return it to the system for irrigation, Raske said. She estimated reclaimed water would provide about half the county's needed supply over the next 20 years — roughly 24,000 acre-feet, enough water to serve about 40,000 homes. \"This will be a tremendous source of reliable, drought-proof water,\" she said, describing new reservoirs, pipelines, pump stations and expanded treatment plants as part of the regional system.

Panelists from multiple cities described storage projects tied to the reuse effort. Raske and other speakers said Graveyard Wash Reservoir (Santa Clara area) is expected to start construction this year to store highly treated reclaimed water from the Saint George Regional Water Reclamation Facility. Another new reservoir under construction, Chief Temple Reservoir, was also named as storage for treated water.

During a question-and-answer session, Raske clarified how district contracts interact with municipal approvals. She said the district has a \"regional water supply agreement\" under which municipalities request water and the district is contractually obligated to provide it if a city approves a development. A member of the audience raised concerns about a private development's earlier statements on its water use; Raske declined to discuss an ongoing complaint in a large group and invited the questioner to speak with her afterward.

Panelists repeatedly stressed the need to prioritize water in planning. Raske said the county's conservation and reuse work is already receiving national recognition. \"In a water year like this year, we are 100% living off of infrastructure that was developed for us a hundred years ago,\" she said, urging continued investment in water infrastructure.

The panel urged residents and local leaders to continue conservation practices and noted that reuse and storage projects are intended to make the county more resilient without relying solely on new surface supplies.","Washington County water officials told the Washington County Republican Women meeting the region is in an \"extremely, severe\" drought, citing 21% of average snowpack, and outlined a regional reclaimed-water system, new reservoirs and conservation measures intended to supply roughly half the county's needs over 20 years.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6345992,"Washington County Republican Women elect Kristen Crowe to executive board, approve first-quarter budget",923,145000,1068000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2247698-b94119fc7a27bddd8445639b4b3e7ec9&start=145&end=1068","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2247698-b94119fc7a27bddd8445639b4b3e7ec9/thumbnail_145000.jpg","/articles/6345992/Utah/Washington-County-Republican-Women-elect-Kristen-Crowe-to-executive-board-approve-first-quarter-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345992-8674689dab5eb3d06b2e561901158276/orig.mp4?Expires=1770953845&Signature=jY9k2ZRI29kjy4GA4ZeZs9lHehDcQbPiQTOS8gNycki04XIntaMqwxf6ErSXOP7jiAZnQjEmjHMLVlYNBNQ5KdYK~W9PjRY8~lbac6bWp2EGMRvwP1FLAx0QhLoVuWNsXCmpaLT9EW7Z-pY4QekZZfRbZ7ZgXDkCA-lzNghT6wdxq6sSpxa-6sQllqZRWQtMISdWzcOIbM1chlJl9yxavxCJr9iJG9qbR38en4~3NsyvMKHdpdlk0R5TeEkNVGJWZTn6ymyJdeYWTyhCh~ZgBD~kpglTIn9PBn8FaqdF75QLgr~8qDhi4r9zEu43TQMxTE~iRjLBBxio4U6H2MxYYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a regular meeting of the Washington County Republican Women, members voted to install Kristen Crowe as the club's third vice president and approved the organization's proposed budget for the coming quarter.

Club leadership announced that, under the bylaws, the executive board fills vacancies; the group voted in Crowe to become third vice president. Club officers also noted the member-at-large position is open after a resignation.

Jennifer (membership representative) reported six new members for 2025 and described associate-membership levels available to supporters (silver, gold, diamond) with corresponding benefits and fees. The club reported 42 members and 8 or 10 associate members (speaker gave differing counts during the report).

Treasurer LaSarr (introduced for the budget report) provided members copies of the proposed budget and asked for a motion to accept it. A member moved to \"approve the budget,\" and the membership voice-voted the motion: \"All in favor say aye. Aye,\" after which the president closed the vote.

Leadership highlighted upcoming events and volunteer opportunities including Lincoln Day (this weekend), the Utah Federation of Republican Women legislative day in Salt Lake City, and a United We Pledge gala on Feb. 27. Members were invited to submit questions for the meeting's guest panel and to record volunteer hours (both political and nonpolitical).

The meeting adjourned after brief closing remarks and an announcement about a county-sponsored America's 250 pageant and historical village project at the county fair.","Members of the Washington County Republican Women voted to install Kristen Crowe as third vice president and approved the proposed budget for the upcoming quarter in a voice vote. The club also announced membership counts and upcoming events.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Local leaders tout commercial growth, warn of housing pressure; urge support for bills on nightly rentals, EMS funding

Water officials warn of historic drought, outline regional reuse, storage plans

Washington County Republican Women elect Kristen Crowe to executive board, approve first-quarter budget