Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Government topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners approve broadband support, agritourism ordinance and fair book contract; several items tabled
Summary
Box Elder County Commissioners voted to send letters supporting two BEAD broadband applications, approved an agritourism RV-facility ordinance and awarded the fair book contract; the commission also appointed planning commissioners and tabled two Garland annexation-related agreements until April 23.
Box Elder County Commissioners voted during their regular meeting to approve a letter of support for Comcast and Strata Networks’ applications to Utah’s BEAD broadband program, adopt Ordinance No. 6-20 governing RV facilities for agritourism, and award fair book production to the Box Elder News Journal. The commission also approved minutes, ratified a compensation adjustment for an administrative law judge and appointed members to the county planning commission. Two separate property agreements tied to a Garland City annexation were tabled until the April 23 meeting.
Commissioners said the broadband letters simply acknowledge that the companies may operate in unincorporated Box Elder County and do not obligate county funds. “It does not cost county tax dollars any money whatsoever,” a commissioner said while describing the state and federal reimbursement process for BEAD grant projects. The commission approved a motion to provide letters of support for Comcast and Strata Networks’ BEAD applications; the motion passed unanimously.
Why this matters: BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) funding is federal money administered by states to expand high-speed internet. County support letters are a routine local step that can help applicants demonstrate local awareness as part of state grant reviews.
On land use, the commission approved Ordinance No. 6-20, which replaces the county’s Chapter 3-6 (mobile home parks) with new standards for RV facilities used for agritourism. Community development staff said the ordinance allows low-density agritourism RV facilities (described in the staff report as roughly one RV site per two acres, up to a five-site maximum) and streamlines permitting but restricts onsite water and septic connections to reduce the risk of lots becoming permanent residences. The ordinance was moved, seconded and approved by the commission.
Procurement and appointments: County staff reported they received a single RFQ response to produce the fair book; the commission awarded the contract to the Box Elder News Journal, which had produced prior editions. The commission also moved to appoint three planning commission members; the motion recorded in the minutes named Ed Pugsley, Melanie Wilder and a person identified only as Jared; the motion passed and the appointments were confirmed.
Other formal actions: The commission ratified Agreement 2522, a compensation adjustment for the county’s administrative law judge identified in meeting discussion as Richard Keaton (the agenda paperwork contained a variant spelling). The commission also approved the meeting minutes from March 26, 2025, at the start of the session.
Items tabled: Two agreements related to properties on Garland City’s outskirts — previously approved but expired after an annexation attempt failed — were tabled to the April 23 meeting so staff can collect more information and contact affected property owners. Commissioners said Garland City is updating annexation code language and that pending code revisions and property-owner concerns merit further review before the county acts.
Votes at a glance: approve minutes (motion carried); ratify Agreement 2522, compensation adjustment for administrative law judge (motion carried); support letters for Comcast and Strata Networks BEAD applications (motion carried); award fair book production to Box Elder News Journal (motion carried); appoint planning commission members (motion carried; names in motion: Ed Pugsley, Melanie Wilder, and Jared); adopt Ordinance No. 6-20 (agr i tourism RV facilities) (motion carried); table items C and D (Garland-related agreements) to April 23 (motion carried).
What’s next: Staff were directed to gather additional information on the Garland-related agreements, contact the out-of-state property owner identified in the discussion and consult Garland City staff before the April 23 meeting. The commission moved into closed session after the public comment period to discuss personnel and legal matters.
