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Planning commission accepts $10,000 PLIPCO contribution to start Emery County resource plan
Summary
The Emery County Planning Commission voted unanimously to use $10,000 from the Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office to pay BioWest to begin the county resource-management element of its general plan; PLIPCO and county staff will coordinate contract and reimbursement steps.
The Emery County Planning Commission voted to accept $10,000 from the Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office (PLIPCO) and use those funds to pay contractor BioWest for work on the county’s general plan, specifically the resource-management element required by state guidance. The motion to use PLIPCO funds was made and seconded and passed with all commissioners voting in favor.
Nicole Nelson, introduced by staff as a PLIPCO representative, told the commission the funds are reimbursable and that PLIPCO would prefer the county use the money before the end of the fiscal year so PLIPCO can clear it from their books. Nelson said the state’s resource-management plan includes required elements and that counties may add local topics — she suggested Emery County consider strengthened language on travel management, wild-horse management and solar siting.
Commissioners discussed specific local priorities that should be reflected in the plan, including maintaining desert visual integrity, limiting large-scale solar farm siting to areas near highways and substations, and using the resource-management section to better coordinate with federal agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management. A commissioner summarized the approach as producing a county policy framework that documents where the county is consistent with state and federal plans and where it seeks different local outcomes.
Staff said BioWest will be the contractor on the update and that county staff and BioWest will review each paragraph with the commission. The county’s planning staff will work with Brenda in county finance to ensure the PLIPCO check is accepted in compliance with county procedures and that reimbursements follow the contract’s reimbursable terms.
Nicole Nelson offered to gather sample county resource plans (Beaver, Duchesne, Garfield) and provide copies and links to commissioners for review. She confirmed she plans to return to the commission’s March 12 meeting to continue coordination.
The commission closed the item by approving the motion to apply PLIPCO’s funds to pay BioWest and directed staff to finalize contract and fund-transfer steps before moving into detailed plan drafting.
