Uintah County Commission approves $3.47 million in warrants and several routine contracts, amends revitalization master contract
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Summary
The Uintah County Commission approved warrants totaling $3,467,037.07 and a series of routine contracts and lease amendments, including a $5.77 million master funding contract amendment for the Uinta Basin Revitalization Fund and a three-year ESRI GIS agreement. All motions were passed by voice vote; no public comment was recorded.
Vernal, Utah — The Uintah County Commission on an early January 2026 meeting approved $3,467,037.07 in warrants and a package of routine contracts and amendments, including lease changes, a revision to the county’s Uinta Basin Revitalization master funding agreement and a three‑year GIS software contract.
County staff presented the warrants dated Jan. 15, 2026, noting large line items including a Central Canal payment of $994,039, Mack Truck equipment financed last year for $776,704 (to be reimbursed by loan), a $500,000 contribution to the care center and a $70,733.48 grant pass-through to Lucky Acres. County staff said the Mack Truck and Central Canal payments will be reimbursed; the commission approved the warrants by motion and voice vote.
Jenny Bird, purchasing and grants, asked the commission to approve an amendment to the Uinta Basin Revitalization Master Funding Agreement administered through the Utah Department of Workforce Services (contract DWS-0035). Bird said the amendment increases the master contract by $2,638,003.50, bringing the total contract amount to $5,770,441.16 and enabling more efficient drawdowns of severance-tax-funded annual allocations. "The amendment increase is $2,638,003.50 and 67¢," Bird said. She added that the county is still awaiting detailed accounting from the Division of Finance but that the amendment amount will not change; the commission approved the amendment by voice vote.
Jess Herman from the facilities department asked for approval of two lease amendments. The UTSSD lease amendment increases office space from 252 to 440 square feet, raising monthly rent from $307.50 to $537 and adding a 2.5% annual inflation adjustment; the new term begins May 6, 2025, through December 2030. Herman said the SITLA amendment reduces leased space from about 1,305 to 1,085 square feet and lowers monthly rent from $2,101.25 to $1,747, also with a 2.5% annual inflationary increase. Both amendments were approved by motion and voice vote.
Scott Hardman of the road department presented a Class D road easement for a reroute described as a dead‑end road entirely on the property owner’s land near Independence. Hardman gave the location as "Township 2, South Range 1, Section 32" and said the route has been inspected by the county surveyor and legal staff. The commission granted the easement by motion and voice vote; a commissioner requested that the precise township/section be included in the minutes for future clarity.
Matt Kazeer of Community Development presented a three‑year agreement with ESRI for GIS software at $42,200 per year, with an optional Drone2Map service for an additional $1,750 per year (bringing total annual cost to about $44,000). Kazeer said the license covers county users including GIS, community development, the assessor’s office, recorder and emergency management, and supports public online maps. Commissioners approved the agreement by motion and voice vote.
There were no public comments recorded during the meeting. Commissioner Lefebvre moved to adjourn, and the chair declared the meeting adjourned.
Votes at a glance: • Approval of warrants dated 01/15/2026 (total $3,467,037.07): approved by voice vote (several commissioners responded "Aye"). • URS service agreement (add 401(k) Roth and 457 Roth; automatic enrollment change): approved by voice vote. • UTSSD lease amendment (increase to 440 sq ft; rent to $537/month): approved by voice vote. • SITLA lease amendment (reduce to 1,085 sq ft; rent to $1,747/month): approved by voice vote. • Uinta Basin Revitalization master funding agreement amendment (DWS-0035; +$2,638,003.50 to $5,770,441.16): approved by voice vote. • Class D road easement near Independence (Township 2S, Range 1, Section 32): granted by voice vote. • ESRI three‑year GIS software agreement (approx. $42,200/year; $44,000/year with Drone2Map): approved by voice vote.
What’s next: The county will finalize contract signatures and incorporate the requested township/section detail into the minutes for the road easement; staff will provide detailed accounting from the Division of Finance related to the revitalization fund when it becomes available.
