Travel board backs grant applications to create seasonal trail‑signage crew and buy equipment
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Summary
The board approved applying for an OHV signage‑crew grant (partner match from Chantepet County, Onyx, and Forest Service donations) and a companion RTP equipment grant to purchase a side‑by‑side and trailer; staff said the combined one‑year effort would be about $100,000 if funded.
The Emery County Travel Bureau voted on Feb. 10 to support grant applications that would fund a seasonal trail‑signage crew and related equipment if awarded.
Travel office staff (Speaker 2) outlined a proposal to apply for a state OHV grant to pay wages and materials for a signage/maintenance crew to work on local trail systems (staff cited the Airplane Trail System and other trails in need of maintenance). The presenter said the project would use county staff time and a leased county truck as match and expects partners to contribute in‑kind and cash support: Chantepet County would donate about $8,000 in supplies and Onyx would contribute $5,000. The Forest Service would donate materials, pay for necessary signage/sticker purchases and provide staff time to supervise weekly field work.
"This is going to be about a $100,000 project for one year," the presenter said, and added that the grant would pay wages, tools and equipment the county would not otherwise provide. Staff noted the grant deadline is March 1 and that hiring may start before the county receives final notice because of seasonal timing.
Board members asked about crew size and work schedules. Staff said the original plan was a two‑person crew but hours restrictions could allow three people if hourly limits apply, and the county’s HR office is working on whether seasonal hires can be scheduled at 29.5 or 40 hours per week.
The travel office also presented a companion RTP (Recreational Trails Program) application to acquire a side‑by‑side and trailer for the crew. The RTP application carries a 20 percent match requirement; staff said the county would use an existing leased truck and other match sources to meet that requirement.
The board moved and approved both applications. The action does not obligate county funds beyond approved match commitments if the grants are awarded.
Next steps: staff will finalize and file the OHVR and RTP grant applications by the March 1 deadline and start the county hiring process contingent on grant timelines and HR approval.