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Washington County Commission approves consent agenda, purchases, multiple tourism and infrastructure grants, lease and annexation
Summary
At its September 2024 regular meeting, the Washington County Commission approved the consent agenda, multiple purchase requests including fleet and public‑works contracts, accepted a $225,000 state cooperative marketing grant (with $25,000 county match), authorized TRT and TOT event funding, approved a trailhead grant and COG recommendations, approved a 3‑year lease to the state and annexed the Town of Virgin into Ash Creek SSD.
The Washington County Commission on Sept. 17 approved a package of routine and policy items, including purchases, tourism grants, infrastructure funding and an annexation that completes a multi-step process for sewer service.
Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the consent agenda, which covered county claims for Aug. 21–Sept. 3, meeting minutes, planning board minutes, administrative adjustments for personal and real property, three property tax abatement applications, grant certifications for the Sheriff’s Office, contract amendments and a nonbinding MOU for the Guacamole Trail.
Ray, presenting purchase requests, outlined several acquisitions the county will fund this year: two used 2022 vehicles (a Toyota Tacoma for $31,000 and a Chevy Suburban for $44,000); geotechnical field exploration and lab testing for Kolob Terrace Road ($26,100); utility mapping for Legacy Park ($46,975) to update utilities last mapped in 1996; replacement human‑resources software including implementation and 2025 licenses ($23,947.65); and six new patrol trucks for the sheriff’s office ($52,020 each) with trade‑ins totaling $129,500 (net purchase total $182,620). "This service will include detailed mapping and identification of underground utilities," Ray said of the Legacy Park mapping project.
The commission authorized purchase requests by voice vote after a motion and second.
On tourism funding, the commission approved a cooperative marketing grant agreement with the Utah Office of Tourism. Presenters said Washington County applied for $250,000 for a paired marketing activation; the state awarded $225,000 and the county committed $25,000 in matching funds, for a total project budget of $250,000. The grant agreement (which the commission authorized contingent on final attorney review and signature authority adjustments) will pay 75% up front and the remaining 25% at project completion.
The board also approved Transient Room Tax (TRT) funding for two Vacation Races events — the Zion half marathon and Zion ultra trail events — expected to bring roughly 3,500 participants and an estimated economic impact in the millions. Separately, the tourism tax advisory board recommended and the commission approved Tourism (TOT) marketing and event funding for several nonprofit projects, including local film festivals, community sports events and visitor maps; the approved lists totalled the amounts presented by the advisory board.
Leslie presented a fiscal assistance agreement with the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation and the Bureau of Land Management to expand the Wire Mesa Trailhead (including a restroom); the county will pair about $80,000 in local funds with a roughly $100,000 state grant. Todd summarized the Council of Governments recommendations to de‑obligate leftover funds back to preservation and construction grant funds (amounts cited by staff), transfer roughly $1,000,000 from the revolving loan fund into the preservation fund, and adopt several housekeeping policy changes; the commission approved those recommendations.
The commission voted to approve a lease of roughly 3,000 square feet at 197 East to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services for a three‑year term with a renewal option, contingent on attorney review and allowing the chair or chair pro tem to sign the final lease.
Finally, the commission adopted a resolution annexing property within the municipal limits of the Town of Virgin into the Ash Creek Special Service District so Ash Creek can provide sewer services; the annexation resolution will be forwarded to the lieutenant governor’s office for final review.
The commission handled the items largely by motion and voice vote, with multiple presenters answering brief questions but no roll‑call tallies recorded in the meeting transcript. The meeting adjourned after completing the regular agenda; video rebroadcasts and on‑demand recordings are available through county channels.
