[{"_1":2,"_104":-5,"_105":-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",[32,75,84,94],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6542440,"mediaKeyId","3528727-856175f68ebec9446bbf03989d3c8a48","parentId",3528727,"title","Council on Aging reports rising Meals on Wheels demand, vehicle and facility issues","audioSeconds",433,"startMs",961000,"endMs",1394000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3528727-856175f68ebec9446bbf03989d3c8a48&start=961&end=1394","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6542440/Utah/Council-on-Aging-reports-rising-Meals-on-Wheels-demand-vehicle-and-facility-issues","mediaUrl","author","Iron County Commission","date","2025-05-27T09:00:00Z","article","The Iron County Council on Aging reported increases in demand for its services and described facility and transportation needs to the commission.

The Council on Aging director (name not specified in the record) said the program delivered 6,666 meals between January and April, an increase driven partly by new residents who lack local family support. \"That takes anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour longer, and most of my drivers are all volunteers,\" she said, warning that growing route length in Enoch may soon require splitting routes or adding another vehicle.

She described facility problems at the Cedar Center, including repeated basement leaks after wet snowstorms, warped flooring and damaged trim. Repairs to exterior asphalt and sidewalk cracks were completed; staff and county crews discussed longer-term floor solutions such as epoxy or harder-wearing finishes. The director also reported a $3,300 unplanned cost to replace an elevator transformer.

On transportation, staff said the current Goshen buses have steep narrow steps and are difficult for seniors to board safely. The director requested one accessible transit van for each center (Cedar and Parowan) with lower steps and wider openings and noted the county will explore used vehicles and possible conversion options.

Commissioners asked operational questions about routes and potential procurement; fleet staff indicated they would research options and surplus sources. The council plans a \"senior prom\" on June 13 and has launched a newsletter to highlight services and volunteers.

No formal funding request was voted at the meeting; commissioners acknowledged the operational concerns and tasked staff with exploring van and flooring solutions and reporting back.","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","Iron County Commission Meeting - 05-27-2025 Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Council on Aging told commissioners Meals on Wheels deliveries rose by about 6,666 meals from January through April, driven by new residents and volunteer strain; staff requested new accessible vans for two centers and reported repair and leak problems at the Cedar center addition.","taxTitle","Iron County Commission, Iron County Boards and Commissions, Iron County, Utah","taxId",67566,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":50,"_51":81,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":82,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":83,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6542445,"Emergency management raises alarm over surge in lithium-battery fires at county landfill; requests PAPRs and screenings",0,5429000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3528727-856175f68ebec9446bbf03989d3c8a48&start=5429&end=5429","/articles/6542445/Utah/Emergency-management-raises-alarm-over-surge-in-lithium-battery-fires-at-county-landfill-requests-PAPRs-and-screenings","Iron County's emergency management office told commissioners it has seen a rapid increase in lithium-battery fires at the county landfill and proposed buying powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) for landfill staff and pursuing medical screening to identify cancer risk among personnel exposed to toxic smoke.

\"We're now having 60 a year,\" the emergency management presenter said, describing a jump from one or two fires annually. The presenter said landfill crews have inhaled toxic fumes from burning lithium batteries and that self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) would not be practical for continuous landfill operations because of tank refill and operational limitations. Instead, the presenter recommended PAPRs with appropriate filters and proposed using existing departmental funds to buy the equipment if the commission agreed.

Emergency management also said FEMA had extended a deadline to December to submit receipts for the 2023 floods and reported receiving an initial FEMA check of one small payment. The office said it had applied for a mitigation grant to build retention ponds and had toured sites with state officials.

Commissioners and staff discussed whether the county's indemnity pool (USIP) and other insurers could assist with medical screening costs. The emergency manager recommended screening landfill workers for cancers on a periodic basis to detect occupational illnesses early.

No formal vote was recorded on procurement of PAPRs during the meeting; the emergency manager asked for commission approval to proceed with the purchase.","County emergency management reported a sharp increase in lithium-battery fires at the county landfill—rising from one or two per year to about 60 annually—and recommended purchasing powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) for landfill workers and cancer screenings for first responders.",{"_33":85,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":86,"_41":87,"_43":88,"_45":89,"_47":90,"_49":50,"_51":91,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":92,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":93,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6542450,"Commission approves county—share for sewer upsizing at BZI Innovation Park; county portion set at 37.7%",1055,4546000,5601000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3528727-856175f68ebec9446bbf03989d3c8a48&start=4546&end=5601","/articles/6542450/Utah/Commission-approves-countyshare-for-sewer-upsizing-at-BZI-Innovation-Park-county-portion-set-at-377","The Iron County Commission voted to approve a reimbursement agreement framework with Cedar City and BZI Innovation Park for sewer upsizing that assigns Iron County a 37.7% share of the upsizing costs.

County staff and Cedar City engineering described the plan as \"future-proofing\" infrastructure: developers are building larger sewer mains and an upgraded lift station to accommodate projected buildout in and around the industrial park. County staff said the county's portion applies only to the incremental upsizing costs above what a developer would need for its standalone project.

The county representative presented a zoning-based allocation that assumes roughly 62.3% of future development will occur inside Cedar City's limits and 37.7% in unincorporated Iron County; those percentages determine how the upsizing costs will be shared. The county will use collected sewer impact fees and anticipated connection fees to fund its portion and intends not to use the general fund for the work.

Speakers emphasized that final dollar amounts were not yet available because the list station and force-main design work is ongoing; the commission approved the percentage allocation and asked staff to return with a finalized agreement showing exact amounts and payment timing. The motion to approve the county\u0000share at 37.7% carried by voice vote.

County staff noted the county will retain a 10% warranty holdback on inspections and that the payout schedule and reimbursement terms will be included in the final contract. Commissioners said they favored using impact fee balances to address older outstanding fees and clear accounting before year-end.","Iron County commissioners approved a reimbursement framework with Cedar City and BZI Innovation Park that allocates 37.7% of the sewer upsizing costs to Iron County; the exact dollar amount will be finalized after detailed design and cost estimates are provided.",{"_33":95,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":96,"_41":97,"_43":98,"_45":99,"_47":100,"_49":50,"_51":101,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":102,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":103,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6542455,"Iron County approves $1,500 to start youth gopher-abatement program",293,4211000,4504000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3528727-856175f68ebec9446bbf03989d3c8a48&start=4211&end=4504","/articles/6542455/Utah/Iron-County-approves-1500-to-start-youth-gopher-abatement-program","The Iron County Commission voted to provide $1,500 in financial support to a youth gopher-abatement program proposed by USU Extension and the E&I Conservation District.

Becca Esplin, USU Extension and E&I Conservation District, described the program during the May meeting and said it would pay a bounty on gopher tails brought to the extension office, while offering traps and training to youth. \"So we're asking you guys to kick in a dollar 50, so the total bounty would be $3,\" Esplin said, proposing a $1,500 county contribution that would cover up to 1,000 tails in the program's first year.

The program will provide traps and a workshop to teach safe handling; Esplin said participating farmers had agreed to contribute $1.50 per tail when gophers were trapped on private irrigated ground. Commissioner Ken expressed support for the idea before a motion was made and seconded. The motion to approve $1,500 passed on a voice vote.

County staff and presenters said the program will focus first on irrigated farmland and coordinate directly with landowners to avoid conflicts with farm operations. As a precaution, a local farmer advised ensuring all traps are retrieved before harvest operations to avoid damage to equipment.

The extension office will administer payments. Esplin said Beaver and Garfield counties have run similar programs and offered to bring their extension agent to advise during the youth workshop.

The commission recorded no roll-call vote tally in the meeting minutes; the motion carried by voice vote.","The Iron County Commission approved a one-time $1,500 reimbursement to help launch a youth gopher-abatement program led by USU Extension and the E&I Conservation District, establishing a $3 bounty per gopher tail ($1.50 from the county plus $1.50 from participating farmers).","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council on Aging reports rising Meals on Wheels demand, vehicle and facility issues

Emergency management raises alarm over surge in lithium-battery fires at county landfill; requests PAPRs and screenings

Commission approves county—share for sewer upsizing at BZI Innovation Park; county portion set at 37.7%

Iron County approves $1,500 to start youth gopher-abatement program