Washington County Commission approves purchase requests, ordinances, road funding and appointments

The Washington County Commission approved a package of routine and substantive items during its April 15 meeting, including purchase requests, two county ordinances, resolutions to pursue road improvements and a federal aid agreement, and two appointments to a special service district administrative board. All motions were adopted by voice vote.

The consent agenda — which included approval of claims for payment, minutes, and administrative adjustments for real and personal property — was approved at the start of the meeting after a motion and second and a unanimous voice vote.

Among the purchase requests ratified or approved: a $32,000 ratification for rodeo contract services tied to the county fair; $183,860 to repair a skylight at the Dixie Center using polycarbonate panels; a vehicle order for the sheriff's office that included multiple 2025 Ford models with trade-ins (the request described net vehicle-related costs totaling $396,664); a Microsoft Windows Server data center license/upgrade for $39,823.11; an assessor's office vehicle purchase (a 2025 Subaru Legacy) with trade-ins reducing the net to $13,299; a $10,000 Utah Tourism Industry Association membership for tourism; and routine diesel fuel purchases of $25,882.98.

The commission adopted two ordinances. Ordinance 2025-1287 rezoned six parcels near New Harmony, consolidating them into three lots (Lot 1: ~17 acres; Lot 2: ~10 acres; Lot 3: ~10.48 acres) to bring parcel sizes into compliance with the requested A-10 zone; the Planning Commission had unanimously recommended approval. Ordinance 2025-1288 approved the dedication and plat for the 900 North roadway (also referred to as Silver Cliffs Drive in places), which will be paved and will serve new development connecting into Leeds and Toquerville.

The commission also approved several resolutions: R-2025-3498, a letter of intent to The Nature Conservancy to acquire property for the Sheep Ridge (Sheep Ridge Road) public right-of-way; R-2025-3499, a federal-aid agreement with the Utah Department of Transportation for safety improvements to Gunlock Road (a project described as roughly $2.1 million with Washington County's local share budgeted at about $145,000); R-2025-3500, an $8,000 sponsorship for the Utah Summer Games intended to support local events and hotel stays; and R-2025-3501, appointing two members to the Damron Valley Fire Special Service District Administrative Control Board (names in the meeting packet).

The appointment resolution named two candidates for the fire district board and established their term expirations as listed in the resolution. Staff said interviews had been conducted and recommended appointment; the commission approved the appointments by motion, second and unanimous voice vote.

Each item above was approved following a motion, a second and voice vote recorded in the public meeting. Where budget or contract amounts were discussed, county staff indicated the items were budgeted or had funding identified.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: approved (motion, second, unanimous voice vote). - Purchase requests and ratifications (including rodeo, skylight, vehicles, IT server, assessor vehicle, tourism membership, diesel fuel): approved (motion, second, unanimous voice vote). - Ordinance 2025-1287 (rezoning in New Harmony): approved (motion, second, unanimous voice vote). - Ordinance 2025-1288 (dedication and plat for 900 North / Silver Cliffs Drive): approved (motion, second, unanimous voice vote). - Resolution R-2025-3498 (Sheep Ridge right-of-way letter to The Nature Conservancy): approved (motion, second, unanimous voice vote). - Resolution R-2025-3499 (federal-aid agreement for Gunlock Road safety improvements): approved (motion, second, unanimous voice vote). - Resolution R-2025-3500 (Utah Summer Games sponsorship, $8,000): approved (motion, second, unanimous voice vote). - Resolution R-2025-3501 (appointments to Damron Valley Fire Special Service District Administrative Control Board): approved (motion, second, unanimous voice vote).

The meeting packet and on-record remarks indicated the Gunlock Road improvements are intended to add guardrail, widen run-out zones, improve signage and shoulders to reduce run-off-road crashes, especially involving motorcycles; county staff said the local share is budgeted for the current fiscal year.

The commission adjourned and noted the meeting is rebroadcast on local cable and posted to YouTube.