[{"_1":2,"_95":-5,"_96":-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",[32,75,85],{"_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",6528761,"mediaKeyId","5374170-9f7093d499c83a67474f39bf33736f99","parentId",5374170,"title","Utah County approves resolution to opt in to 250th anniversary programming; Freedom Festival to be a partner","audioSeconds",147,"startMs",1795000,"endMs",1942000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5374170-9f7093d499c83a67474f39bf33736f99&start=1795&end=1942","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6528761/Utah/Utah-County-approves-resolution-to-opt-in-to-250th-anniversary-programming-Freedom-Festival-to-be-a-partner","mediaUrl","author","Utah County Commission","date","2025-06-11T00:00:00Z","article","Utah County commissioners approved a resolution on June 11 to participate in statewide programming marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Commissioner Beltran, who introduced the item, said the state had allocated funds and programming to honor the milestone and that the county seeks to enroll and coordinate local events across cities and partner organizations.

“Next year's the 250th year of the country,” Beltran told the commission, and the county will “look into adding additional things” while partnering with existing events such as the Freedom Festival and lectures from the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University.

Commissioner Gardner reiterated that the county already hosts many celebrations and said the Freedom Festival provides weeklong events including flag-day activities and devotionals. Several commissioners discussed aligning the county fair and other local programming with the 250th theme.

A motion to approve the resolution to opt in was moved and seconded and passed by voice vote. No citizen comment was offered on the item.","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","Meeting Audio - Jun 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners approved placing the county in the state’s program for the United States’ 250th anniversary, citing existing local events such as the Freedom Festival and planned partnerships with UVU’s Center for Constitutional Studies.","taxTitle","Utah County Commission Meeting Minutes, Utah County Commission, Utah County Commission and Boards, Utah County, Utah","taxId",80485,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":50,"_51":82,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6528766,"Utah County opens public hearing on land swap for Bridal Veil Falls, residents push for protections and no gondola",851,750000,1601000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5374170-9f7093d499c83a67474f39bf33736f99&start=750&end=1601","/articles/6528766/Utah/Utah-County-opens-public-hearing-on-land-swap-for-Bridal-Veil-Falls-residents-push-for-protections-and-no-gondola","Utah County commissioners held a public hearing on June 11 on a proposed land exchange with the U.S. Forest Service that would transfer the base of Bridal Veil Falls to county ownership in exchange for federal lands on adjacent mountainsides.

County staff described the swap as a way to reduce management conflicts between federal and local authorities and to make improvements consistent with an existing conservation easement and the county’s adopted concept plan. Richard (county project manager) said the goal is to place amenities and maintenance responsibilities for the falls on contiguous, county-owned land that the county already manages.

“Anytime the county proposes disposing property or transferring it out of our name to somebody else, we have to by law have this hearing,” Richard said, describing the request as a land exchange rather than a purchase.

A public commenter, Mark Allen of Protect and Reserve American Fork Canyon, urged caution and stronger safeguards. Allen said opponents remain “adamantly opposed” to any gondola and asked for protection of the site’s character. He also raised concerns about access, prior special-use permits and information requests; he said a GRAMA request did not return all materials he expected.

Richard responded to a commissioner question bluntly about one contested amenity: “There will be no gondola. Period. K. The commission made that decision several years ago as it went into the the conservation easement that was taken off the table.” He said tram infrastructure removed years ago has not been rebuilt and that the current, adopted concept plan contains no plans for a gondola.

Commissioners who spoke in favor characterized the swap as returning stewardship to local control and enabling safety and visitor-management improvements. One commissioner thanked Rep. John Kennedy (congressional staff referenced) and Gov. Spencer Cox for support in negotiating the exchange and said work on improvements to county-owned areas would begin this year; staff confirmed construction on county-owned parcels would start in the coming season but that work on parcels subject to the swap would await completion of the federal process.

After public comment the commission recessed the hearing and later closed it by motion. No final land-transfer deed was recorded at the meeting; staff said federal steps remain and that Congress’s review is ongoing.

The commission directed staff to continue coordinating with the Forest Service and federal representatives while proceeding with improvements on lands the county already holds.","The commission held a public hearing on a proposed land swap with the U.S. Forest Service to consolidate county ownership at the base of Bridal Veil Falls. Staff said the conservation easement removes commercial options such as a gondola; a public commenter urged care to avoid overdevelopment.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":50,"_51":92,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":93,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":94,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6528770,"Utah County reviews HB 456 changes to transient room tax, weighs 0.25% increase to fund trails, search-and-rescue and marketing",609,107000,716000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5374170-9f7093d499c83a67474f39bf33736f99&start=107&end=716","/articles/6528770/Utah/Utah-County-reviews-HB-456-changes-to-transient-room-tax-weighs-025-increase-to-fund-trails-search-and-rescue-and-marketing","Utah County staff briefed commissioners on June 11 about changes to the transient room tax under HB 456 (2025) and the county’s options to adopt an additional 0.25 percentage point before a July 1 deadline.

County planner Ezra (staff member) told the commission the legislation, effective July 1, changes how TRT revenue may be used and allows counties of Utah County’s size to implement an extra 0.25% on hotel and similar lodging, raising the total to 4.5% and producing “about $400,000 of additional revenue annually.”

The new law simplifies eligible uses, Ezra said, making the first 2% explicitly available for tourism promotion and allowing a broader set of items to be paid from the remainder. For counties generating more than $1 million annually in TRT revenue, the law now explicitly lists trails, sanitation for county parks, emergency medical services, search-and-rescue support and law enforcement in unincorporated areas among eligible uses.

Why it matters: county staff said the changes give local officials more flexibility to address tourism-driven impacts—especially on trails and canyon infrastructure—without tapping general funds. Ezra noted the fund currently supports marketing through Explore Utah Valley, a convention center bond payment, the Freedom Festival and partnerships to market Utah Lake.

County staff identified candidate projects and cost estimates for possible TRT-funded work. Examples cited include paving a segment from 800 North to 17600 West (rough estimate $4,000,000), Provo Canyon Trail pavement rehabilitation (estimated $3,500,000) and a range of Jordan River Trail and local trail pavement projects ranging from roughly $500,000 to $2,000,000. Staff also suggested potential partnerships with the state and the Utah Lake authority for upgrades near Utah Lake State Park.

Ezra described search-and-rescue needs and volunteer costs: “all of our volunteers, they pay entirely out of pocket for all their equipment, their uniforms,” and noted the county had 17 members with some certifications and could expand training and uniform allowances with dedicated TRT funding.

Commissioner Gardner emphasized statutory limits on use, saying, “These funds can only be used for marketing tourism,” to clarify that not every local spending priority would be eligible under current law.

Staff also noted a constraint on timeline: if the commission votes to adopt the additional 0.25% before July 1, the county could begin collecting the increase on Oct. 1; adopting it after July 1 would delay implementation to the following year. Staff flagged that fire mitigation—though tied to tourism-driven fire calls—was not currently an eligible use but could be a legislative priority to pursue in a future session.

No formal vote to adopt the 0.25% was taken June 11; the presentation was a work session to inform commissioners and identify priorities for a potential future action.

The commission directed staff to continue developing specific project lists and cost estimates for possible future consideration at a subsequent meeting.","County staff outlined changes from HB 456 (2025) to the transient room tax (TRT), estimated $400,000 in new revenue if the county adopts a 0.25% increase before July 1, and possible uses including trail repairs, search-and-rescue support and targeted tourism marketing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Utah County approves resolution to opt in to 250th anniversary programming; Freedom Festival to be a partner

Utah County opens public hearing on land swap for Bridal Veil Falls, residents push for protections and no gondola

Utah County reviews HB 456 changes to transient room tax, weighs 0.25% increase to fund trails, search-and-rescue and marketing