Davis County Commission approves board appointments, contracts and tax register; accepts animal-shelter reports

Davis County Commission Chair Loreen Kamalu on Tuesday presided over routine business that included confirmations to two local boards, approval of multiple county contracts and agreements, acceptance of animal-care adoption and donation reports for October and November 2024, and approval of the county property-tax register and an abatement action.

The actions clear routine administration and grant-related funding, while commissioners praised county staff and community volunteers for recent Code Blue warming center operations.

The commission approved adoption and donation reports from Davis County Animal Care showing 208 adoptions in October 2024 (144 cats, 53 dogs and 11 other animals including chickens, fish, birds, rabbits, turtles/tortoise and guinea pigs) and 168 adoptions in November 2024 (112 cats, 43 dogs and 13 other species). Animal Care Director Ashley Young told commissioners the October donations totaled $888.47 and November donations totaled $938.45. A commissioner moved to adopt items 2 through 5 on the agenda; the motion passed on a voice vote with commissioners responding “aye.”

The commission confirmed two appointments. Justin Wright was appointed to the Davis County Library Board for a term beginning Feb. 1, 2025 and running through Jan. 31, 2029. Wright, who said he works at Hill Air Force Base supporting an Air Force contract, told commissioners he was “looking forward for your approval to serving our communities and bolstering the strength of our democracies through robust library systems and the growth of literacy our communities.” The commission also appointed Tony Lawson to the Bountiful Irrigation District Board of Trustees for a term beginning Jan. 1, 2025 and ending Dec. 31, 2028; commissioners clarified during the meeting that the position carries a four-year term.

On funding and contracts, the commission approved amendment No. 52 to Davis County contract 2020-283 with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services to add passthrough funding for the State Opioid Response program and to correct a Medicaid expansion fund error. The amendment adds $29,922, with the contract period listed from Sept. 30, 2024 through June 30, 2025. Chair Loreen Kamalu moved approval of item 8 and Commissioner Stevenson seconded; the commissioners approved the amendment on a voice vote.

Community and economic development items also passed. Director Kent Anderson presented and the commission approved: an agreement with the Utah Transit Authority for ski-bus service for the 2024–25 season (payable in the amount of $85,641, service dates listed 12/8/2024–4/12/2025) that will be cost-shared with Snowbasin and Layton City; a ratification of a UTA agreement to purchase discounted bus passes for Code Blue transportation (up to $1,000, 12/30/2024–12/30/2026); a service agreement with PlayOn Inc. for sports destination marketing services (payable $9,995, 1/14/2025–1/13/2026); and acceptance of a quit-claim deed from Farmington City to vacate a trail easement on property adjacent to Farmington Creek (the deed was described by staff as vacating the north-side trail easement while the south-side trail remains Farmington City’s responsibility). A motion to approve items 9 through 12 carried on a voice vote.

Parks and golf operations presented a purchase agreement for a new golf-cart fleet for Davis Park and Highland Golf: 70 lithium-ion carts to replace the 2021 fleet. The amount was listed in the presentation as $404,404.39 (presented with inconsistent spacing and formatting in the transcript); payment and delivery terms were described with a February 2025 delivery window and receivable completion date of Feb. 28, 2025. A motion to accept item 13 passed by voice vote.

The health department presented a memorandum of agreement with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services to provide hepatitis C rapid-test kits and supplies at no charge. Diana Rich, identified in the meeting as Division Director, Administration Services, said the agreement begins Jan. 1, 2025 and continues until terminated. Commissioners approved the MOA (item 14) on a voice vote.

The library presented a renewal agreement with Data Axle for the Reference Solutions database, listed at $9,927 total ($3,309 annually for three years) with a contract period Jan. 15, 2025–Jan. 14, 2028. The commission approved that renewal (item 15).

The sheriff’s office reported three service/operational agreements: SCRAM monitoring agreements for individuals under court order (item 16, receivable terms tied to participant enrollment), a service-provider contract with Waste Management of Utah Inc. for a 6-yard and 30-yard compactor estimated at $51,585 over three years (service period Feb. 1, 2025–Jan. 31, 2028), and a contract with Precision Power Inc. for generator preventative maintenance services (payable $4,984; contract terminating Dec. 31, 2026). The commission approved those items (16–18) on a voice vote.

The board recessed to carry out Board of Equalization duties. Tax administration staff presented the property-tax register and supporting corrections and appeals. The packet included appeals and corrections totaling $1,687,493 under auditor adjustments (with one adjustment over $1,000,000), corrections/abatement items and veteran exemptions and three qualified abatement errors totaling $17,156.93, and assessor adjustments totaling $1,911,477. The commission voted to approve the property-tax register and the related abatement register actions. For the abatement register there was one item the commission voted to deny and to request a hearing. The BOE actions were presented by a tax administration representative who identified themself in the meeting as “Suikalawewoo” from tax administration.

In closing remarks Chair Kamalu thanked staff and community volunteers for help running the county’s Code Blue warming operations during an extended cold spell and specifically recognized staffers Ryan Steinbeagle, Amber Herrick, Dakota Worth and Chanel Flores.

Votes at a glance

- Items 2–5 (Animal Care adoption and donation reports, Oct.–Nov. 2024): approved on voice vote. Details: Oct. adoptions 208 (144 cats, 53 dogs, 11 other); Oct. donations $888.47. Nov. adoptions 168 (112 cats, 43 dogs, 13 other); Nov. donations $938.45. (Mover not specified in transcript; voice vote recorded “aye.”) - Item 1 (agenda): tabled. (Motion to table carried on voice vote.) - Item 6 (appointment) Justin Wright to Davis County Library Board, term Feb. 1, 2025–Jan. 31, 2029: approved by voice vote. - Appointment Tony Lawson to Bountiful Irrigation District Board of Trustees, term Jan. 1, 2025–Dec. 31, 2028: approved by voice vote; commissioners clarified term is four years. - Item 8 (Amendment No. 52 to Contract 2020-283 with Utah Dept. of Health & Human Services — State Opioid Response passthrough): approved; amount listed $29,922; dates Sept. 30, 2024–June 30, 2025. - Items 9–12 (UTA ski-bus service agreement $85,641; UTA discounted bus-passes for Code Blue up to $1,000; PlayOn Inc. services $9,995; Farmington City quit-claim deed vacating a trail easement): all approved on voice vote. - Item 13 (purchase of 70 lithium-ion golf carts for county golf operations): approved; amount presented as $404,404.39 (transcript formatting for the amount was inconsistent). - Item 14 (MOA for hepatitis C rapid testing with Utah Dept. of Health & Human Services): approved; begins Jan. 1, 2025 and continues until terminated. - Item 15 (Data Axle/Reference Solutions renewal): approved; $9,927 total ($3,309/year for three years), Jan. 15, 2025–Jan. 14, 2028. - Items 16–18 (SCRAM agreements; Waste Management of Utah contract estimated $51,585 over three years; Precision Power preventative maintenance $4,984): approved on voice vote. - Board of Equalization (property-tax register and abatement register): property-tax register approved. One abatement item on the register was denied and a hearing requested.

What the meeting does not show

The meeting record consists largely of routine approvals and presentations; the transcript shows no roll-call vote tallies or recorded ‘no’ votes on the listed items. Several motions and seconds were made on the record but the transcript records approvals as voice votes with commissioners answering “aye.” No ordinance readings, land use appeals, large-budget reappropriations, or contentious public hearings are recorded in the transcript provided.

Notes and clarifications

- The transcript contained minor formatting and transcription inconsistencies (for example, the golf-cart purchase amount was presented with inconsistent spacing and punctuation). Where numeric values were read into the record, the article reports figures as presented by staff. When a presenter’s title or the spelling of a name was unclear in the transcript, the article uses the wording given in the meeting record (for example, the tax administration presenter identified themself as “Suikalawewoo”).

- Quotations in this article are verbatim excerpts from the meeting transcript and are attributed to the speakers listed below.

Ending

The commission adjourned after thanking staff and volunteers supporting the county’s Code Blue warming center; no future agenda items or dates were announced in the transcript excerpt provided.