[{"_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",6786816,"mediaKeyId","5671304-3ce63c5e2aaa530136a9a93c66a26276","parentId",5671304,"title","Garfield County commissioners back probing lost water rights, consider state appropriation for studies","audioSeconds",689,"startMs",4106175,"endMs",4795550,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671304-3ce63c5e2aaa530136a9a93c66a26276&start=4106&end=4795","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6786816/Utah/Garfield-County-commissioners-back-probing-lost-water-rights-consider-state-appropriation-for-studies","mediaUrl","author","Garfield County Commission","date","2025-08-25T10:00:00Z","article","Garfield County commissioners agreed to help an irrigation company search for long‑lost water rights and to explore state funding for engineering and legal work to restore storage capacity on the Sevier River.

At the meeting, irrigation representatives told the commission they need assistance to determine where historic storage credits went after earlier reservoir changes. The group asked the county to consider an initial appropriation to hire counsel and consultants to research records and, if necessary, pursue rights. An irrigation representative said an initial $10,000 would “get the ball rolling” to retain an attorney to track rights.

County staff and commissioners discussed options to reduce upfront costs by first asking the state engineer’s office to compile existing documents. Speaker 1 (presiding commissioner) said county staff already have a large file compiled during a 2018 governor’s initiative and that the state engineer’s records could save money. Speaker 3 (public works/roads staff) recommended NRCS feasibility programs if the water right can be reestablished: \"NRCS will do feasibility, design and contribute toward construction,\" staff said, noting NRCS can cover a large share of project costs once water rights and feasibility are in order.

Commissioners described prior storage figures as a key issue: participants said the original reservoir capacity was about 6,000 acre‑feet but current permitted storage is approximately 2,300 acre‑feet, and recovering the missing storage would change the feasibility of new reservoir construction. Chair noted a 2018 feasibility study, including core sampling and engineering, cost roughly $500,000 to reach its recommendations.

The board directed staff to ask the state engineer for records and to prepare a formal request (a request for appropriation) for consideration at the next commission meeting. The commissioners emphasized they preferred using free or low‑cost state resources first and then seeking a state appropriation to establish a county fund for attorneys and consultants only if necessary.

What's next: County staff will follow up with the state engineer’s office and return to the commission with an appropriation request and recommended next steps at a future meeting.","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","August 25, 2025 Commission Meeting - 08252025","oneSentenceSummary","County commissioners agreed to pursue records and potential funding after an irrigation group asked the commission to help locate historic Sevier River storage rights and to explore repairs or new storage capacity; staff and commissioners agreed to consult the state engineer before spending local funds.","taxTitle","Garfield County Commission, Garfield County Boards and Commissions, Garfield County, Utah","taxId",67555,"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},6786807,"County hears from local TV/radio translators; commissioners pledge support without raising taxes",954,1908795,2863340,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671304-3ce63c5e2aaa530136a9a93c66a26276&start=1908&end=2863","/articles/6786807/Utah/County-hears-from-local-TVradio-translators-commissioners-pledge-support-without-raising-taxes","Representatives for the county’s over‑the‑air TV and radio translator network updated the commission on recent outages, FCC discussions about ATSC 3.0 broadcasting standards, and a request that the county continue or adjust an annual sponsorship to help pay for equipment and programming.

Mike Parsons and a colleague described technical challenges from upstream power shutdowns by Rocky Mountain Power during wildfire risk and the age of much of the equipment. They asked the county to consider continued support of roughly $28,000–$30,000 annually or to set aside equipment funds within the county budget. \"It's a lot more than just the games,\" a translator representative said, describing equipment, repairs and content costs.

Commissioners agreed not to raise taxes for the service; Speaker 1 said the county would seek to set aside funds and to review the translator sponsorship in the November budget cycle. Staff asked the translators to send a formal request and budget figures in October so the county can include the line item for budget approval.

What's next: Translators will provide budget figures in October; county administration will consider a reserve or budget allocation during the November budget process.","Representatives for local TV/radio translators asked Garfield County to continue sponsorship to keep translators and KTTA on-air as equipment ages; commissioners pledged to fund maintenance from reserves rather than raising taxes and asked staff to include requests in the November budget review.",{"_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},6786812,"Commission approves $2,000 to help Panguitch sixth-graders visit Washington, D.C.",462,2906725,3369600,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671304-3ce63c5e2aaa530136a9a93c66a26276&start=2906&end=3369","/articles/6786812/Utah/Commission-approves-2000-to-help-Panguitch-sixth-graders-visit-Washington-DC","Garfield County commissioners voted to donate $2,000 to Panguitch Elementary to help sixth‑grade students complete fundraising for a planned December trip to Washington, D.C.

Students described raising more than $21,000 through concessions, landfill cleanups and other fundraisers but said they remained roughly $1,722 short of a listed minimum of about $23,400. The students asked the commission for assistance so every child could attend. One student said the trip would let them “connect with our country’s history in a way that folks just can’t.”

Commissioners discussed using a contingency fund or applying a one‑time county payment; after brief discussion a motion to provide $2,000 was approved by voice vote.

What's next: The commission directed staff to process the donation and the students said they will report back after the trip.","Garfield County commissioners unanimously approved a $2,000 donation to Panguitch Elementary’s sixth-grade class to help close a roughly $23,400 fundraising goal for a December trip to Washington, D.C.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Garfield County commissioners back probing lost water rights, consider state appropriation for studies

County hears from local TV/radio translators; commissioners pledge support without raising taxes

Commission approves $2,000 to help Panguitch sixth-graders visit Washington, D.C.