Uintah County approves grazing lease for vacant parcel near high school with easement and payment conditions

The Uintah County Commission voted to approve a grazing lease for county-owned land located between the high school and 2500 West, authorizing nearby residents to pasture horses on the vacant parcel under specific conditions.

County staff said the property was purchased for future housing but has been left vacant and presents a fire-liability risk because of tall grass. Lauren Anderson told commissioners neighbors had requested to lease the ground and agreed to fence, maintain the fencing and water the animals. Anderson said the county holds a water allocation tied to the parcel and that the draft lease would require the tenants to pay for use of the water.

Commissioners and staff discussed contract edits before the vote. Anderson said the county attorney prepared the agreement but that easement language needed to be added to the property description; commissioners asked that the lease require the lessees to pay the county directly so the county could remit water taxes and avoid reliance on lessee payments. Commissioners set an annual payment schedule and asked for the payment due date to be November 1 each year. A commissioner amended the motion to include that verbiage and the amendment was accepted.

The commission passed the motion to approve the grazing lease as amended. Commissioners said the changes were intended to reduce fire risk and ensure the county’s water taxes are paid on time.

The lease referenced neighbors (the Morrells) as the prospective lessees; they were not present at the meeting but had requested the use, staff said.