Daggett County commissioners receive update on railroad court ruling, CIB meeting and possible White House executive order

At the Daggett County Commission and Redevelopment Agency meeting on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, a commissioner updated the body on a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision related to a proposed railroad project, an upcoming Community Impact Board (CIB) request on a change of scope and a possible White House executive order expected Friday that could affect the project.

The update came during a short “issue updates” segment before the commission recessed to hold a Municipal Building Authority meeting. The commissioner said the Supreme Court had ruled in a way the speaker described as “in favor of the railroad” and that the case would be remanded to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for further proceedings on remaining issues, including those related to the Endangered Species Act and financial questions.

The commissioner said the commission is scheduled to appear before the CIB on June 5 to request a change in scope of work for an MBA project; the commissioner and two named colleagues — Jesse and Bart Jensen — planned to attend in person. The same commissioner said an executive order from the White House “should be signing on Friday morning for the railroad,” and that either the commissioner or Greg Miles might attend an event tied to that signing.

The speaker described the Supreme Court outcome as narrowing some aspects of the dispute but leaving two issues for the D.C. district court to address, specifically “to do with ESA and the financial part of it.” The update also referenced possible funding to cover the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process; the speaker cited figures in the meeting that were not stated clearly on the record (reported as “$26,000,000 a month or $29,000,000” in the transcript) and said the CIB funding would be important to advancing the NEPA process.

The commissioner framed the developments as an opportunity for Daggett County, saying a railroad, depending on how the project proceeds, could provide workforce or other benefits but that outcomes remain uncertain. The speaker said a remand to the D.C. district court is expected within roughly 30 days after the Supreme Court’s order.

No formal action on the railroad was taken during the June 3 meeting; the items reported were informational updates and plans for staff and commissioners to pursue the CIB agenda item and to monitor the executive-order signing and subsequent court proceedings.

The commission recessed the regular meeting to convene the Municipal Building Authority meeting following the update.