Davis County commissioners approve multiple grants, contracts and appointments; highlight housing needs

The Davis County Commission approved several agreements, contracts and appointments at a brief meeting that included votes to cancel two upcoming meetings, accept countywide grants and contracts, authorize real‑property transactions related to the West Davis Corridor and appoint new members to the Davis Community Housing Authority board.

Kent Anderson, director of community and economic development, told commissioners the county had been awarded a $182,250 receivable from the Utah Office of Tourism for the Utah Cooperative Marketing Program’s Discover Davis 2026 campaign and said it was a 1-to-1 match. Anderson said the grant begins 08/29/2025 and runs through 04/01/2027. He also described a $20,500 contract with Root Rudliff Solutions to develop a strategic plan for the county tourism division, with $10,250 to be paid in 2025 and the remainder in 2026.

Commissioner Lorraine Kamalu moved approval of agenda items 3 through 7, which the commission approved unanimously. Items 3–7 included the tourism grant and contract, appointments to the Davis Community Housing Authority board, a reimbursement agreement with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) to acquire remaining parcels for the West Davis Corridor to the Weber County boundary, and authorization to post a notice of sale for a small county surplus parcel (tax ID 021520040) in Centerville related to the I‑15 rebuild.

Anderson described the UDOT reimbursement agreement as payable in the amount of $19,999,998 with spending expected across 2025 and 2026. The contract’s stated start date was 09/30/2025; the ending date in the oral presentation was unclear on the record.

Commissioner Kamalu used the appointments vote as a moment to underline the county’s relationship with the housing authority and the local importance of affordable housing. "Housing is a huge issue in the state of Utah," Kamalu said, adding that "housing and the cost of housing ... is the main driver of housing instability and homelessness." She introduced appointees Grant Jex, Tricia Davis Winters and Ryan Steinbeagle to the housing authority board and thanked existing staff and leaders at the authority.

Grant Jex, serving as chair of the Davis Community Housing Authority, thanked the commission. "We are focused on trying to ... work towards solutions for lower income housing and expanding that in Davis County," Jex said.

Other approved items included:

- A five‑year contract to provide a hearing officer for Board of Equalization (BOE) hearings with Jeremy Manning at $100 per hour (item 8). Controller Scott Park presented the contract and commissioners approved it. - A contract with Certified Sales and Service Inc. for carpet removal and installation at the Kaysville branch library in the amount of $46,627.72 (item 9). Facilities director Lane Rose said this covers carpet under the book stacks as a second phase of the library project. - Two public‑health funding actions: an amendment to a contract with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services for sexually transmitted disease intervention services (a $7,500 receivable) and a funding agreement with the University of Utah’s Utah Poison Control Center for educational outreach ($3,000) (items 10–11). Health department director Bridal Hatch presented both items and commissioners approved them. - An agreement with Dr. Jason L. Taylor to provide emergency medical dispatch advisory services at $12,000 annually (item 12). Chief Deputy Butcher presented the item on behalf of the sheriff’s office and the commission approved the contract. - The Board of Equalization property tax register, which included 12 appeals, 11 abatements, 5 corrections and 11 assessor adjustments totaling about $1.1 million in value, was presented by Controller Scott Park and approved by the commission during the meeting recess to BOE and reconvening of the commission.

Earlier in the meeting the commission voted to cancel two upcoming commission meetings: October 7 (commissioners out on county business) and November 11 (Veterans Day). The clerk, Brian McKenzie, also announced public election events including a pre-election test and audit scheduled for Friday, October 10 at 10 a.m. in the county building and a public pre-election town hall on Wednesday, October 15 at 6 p.m.

Direct formal motions and votes were recorded on the public record as "all in favor" and "aye." The meeting record did not include roll‑call vote tallies for individual commissioners.

Commissioners closed the meeting after brief commissioner remarks and announcements and adjourned at 10:30 a.m.