Davis County commission approves hotel vouchers for families during code-blue nights and routine contracts, grants

The Davis County Commission on Tuesday approved a series of routine contracts and grant amendments, including a $10,000 agreement to place families experiencing homelessness in hotel rooms during code-blue nights.

The action came during the commission’s Jan. 7 meeting in which commissioners approved a package of department requests ranging from facility upgrades to public‑health grant amendments and contracts for jail services. Most items were approved by voice vote with commissioners responding “Aye.”

The Open Doors agreement authorizes the nonprofit to place families identified during code‑blue responses in a private hotel room. Ryan Steinbeagle, grant administrator in the Office of Community and Economic Development, told commissioners that county planners had determined “it would be best to not have families in a congregate space and rather have them in a private space,” and that the county has contracted with the Sheraton in Clearfield for that purpose. Steinbeagle said the agreement is payable for $10,000 and is funded from the State of Utah contract funds that support the county’s code‑blue response.

The commission also approved two facilities items presented by Lane Rose, director of Facilities. The commission authorized a $46,366 contract with New Concepts Construction to replace and weather‑seal several doors to improve security and weatherproofing, with terms running from Jan. 7, 2025, through July 31, 2025. Commissioners also signed a work‑order agreement with Rocky Mountain Power so the utility can install a new meter for an exterior restroom building at Western Sports Park; Rose said that item requires no county payment and needs only a signature to begin service installation on Jan. 7, 2025.

Health‑department items approved included an amendment to the county’s Preschool Development Grant (PDG) with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services increasing funding by $200,000 and extending the program’s age scope. Health staff said the amendment allows the county’s home‑visiting program to serve children through age 8 (previously birth to 5). The commission also approved smaller amendments to sexually transmitted disease intervention services (an increase of $2,000 with a February 2025 contract term) and to a public‑health infrastructure grant (amount and account line read on the record). A separate extension related to the federal Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act (PPEA/PHA) changed only the contract end date, extending the grant term through July 31, 2026, with no additional funds.

Sheriff’s Office requests approved included authorization to install a gas line to the new emergency operations center (payable $7,918.80); a $2,033 payable contract to a vendor listed in the record for showing movies as part of in‑custody programming; and a 2025 maintenance contract with Prism Systems for touchscreen/security computer support at the correctional facility (payable $38,400 for the contract year). Sheriff Sparks confirmed the monthly breakdown shown in the packet was part of the presented total and not an additional charge.

The commission accepted the county property‑tax register presented by Curtis Coke, the county comptroller, which included a variety of recommended assessor and Board of Equalization adjustments, abatements and corrections as presented to the commission on Jan. 7. Elected Assessor Andy Hanson returned to the dais to present a staff‑recommended refund tied to a rollback payment; Hanson said the refund had already been issued and was on the agenda so the commission could authorize it to comply with the applicable law.

Commissioners also approved routine consent items including minutes from the Dec. 10 and Dec. 17, 2024 meetings. No members of the public spoke during the public‑comment period.

Votes at a glance (all items approved by voice vote unless otherwise noted): • Item 3 — Agreement with Open Doors for hotel/motel vouchers for families during code‑blue nights; payable $10,000; funding: State of Utah code‑blue contract funds. Motion to approve made from the dais; voice vote “Aye.” • Facilities item — Contract with New Concepts Construction (door replacements/weather stripping); payable $46,366; term 1/7/2025–7/31/2025. Approved by voice vote. • Facilities item — Work order with Rocky Mountain Power for meter installation at Western Sports Park exterior restroom; no county payment; signature to begin service 1/7/2025. Approved by voice vote. • Health item — Amendment to Preschool Development Grant (PDG) with Utah Department of Health and Human Services; payable $200,000; extends home‑visiting program to serve children through age 8; term 12/30/2024–12/30/2025. Approved by voice vote. • Health item — Amendment to STD intervention services contract with Utah Department of Health and Human Services; increase $2,000; term 2/1/2025–2/28/2025. Approved by voice vote. • Health item — Amendment to public‑health infrastructure grant with Utah Department of Health and Human Services; amount presented on the record; term 12/1/2024–11/30/2025. Approved by voice vote. • Health item — Extension of COVID‑related Paycheck Protection/Healthcare Enhancement Act grant term (no additional funds); new end date 7/31/2026. Approved by voice vote. • Sheriff item — Gas line installation to new emergency operations center; payable $7,918.80. Approved by voice vote. • Sheriff item — Contract with vendor for inmate movie programming; payable $2,033. Approved by voice vote. • Sheriff item — Prism Systems touchscreen/security maintenance for 2025; payable $38,400; term 1/1/2025–12/31/2025. Approved by voice vote. • Property tax register / Board of Equalization matters presented by the comptroller: assorted appeals, abatements and corrections as listed in the register (amounts and parcel details as presented to the commission). Approved by voice vote. • Assessor item — Refund related to rollback payment for a local city (refund already issued; commission approval sought for legal compliance). Approved by voice vote. • Consent minutes — Regular meeting minutes for Dec. 10, 2024 and Dec. 17, 2024. Approved by voice vote.

The meeting opened with employee service recognitions and closed at 10:37 a.m. The commission declined public comment for the meeting. Several items were described as using state grant funds; staff repeatedly noted that some funds and contract terms were presented in the packet and on the record. No substantive policy changes, ordinances, appointments or contested votes were recorded during the meeting.