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Emery County approves BLM right-of-way permits, Main Street grants and library technology funds; authorizes RFP for appraisals
Summary
Commission approved BLM right-of-way permits, awarded $237,000 to 30 Main Street businesses, accepted a $15,000 library technology grant, authorized staff to pursue a commercial appraisal RFP and directed posting of industrial park property per county policy.
Emery County commissioners on March 3 approved a set of routine and programmatic items including two BLM right-of-way permits, $237,000 in Main Street business grant awards, and a $15,000 library technology grant, and directed staff to pursue appraisal and posting steps for county property.
On the agenda, commissioners approved right-of-way permits described in the discussion as UTUDash062047 and UTUDash06121 (permit identifiers were read during the item and a later readback included UTUDash066121). Staff and commissioners said the permits would allow cleaning of sediment and maintenance of cement dips along the Buckhorn Wash right-of-way to help control drainage.
Patsy told the commission that 30 businesses applied for the 2026 Main Street business grants and the grant review committee recommended awards totaling $237,000 in reimbursement funds. “We had 237,000 to award,” Patsy said. The commission moved and approved the awards as presented.
A library representative reported the Utah State Library Division awarded Emery County Library System $15,000 in reimbursement funds for technology purchases: $5,000 to purchase patron counters; $5,000 allocated to the Castle Dale branch for patron computers and staff workstation upgrades; and $5,000 to the Huntington branch for computers and a staff workstation. The grant timeline is compressed: funds must be extended by June 1 and the equipment must be operational by June 10, the presenter said; the commission approved acceptance of the funds.
Commissioners also discussed commercial property valuation and processes for selling or leasing county industrial property. Legal counsel advised that a recent state statute change requires licensed commercial appraisals and that fair market value may be presumed to equal the average of two independent commercial appraisals. The assessor’s office told commissioners an RFP is prepared and targeted to meet a May 22 deadline to address required commercial appraisal work.
On the industrial park property (previously approved for posting in January), commissioners moved to follow county policy to post the site for sale or lease, and to investigate leasing with an option to purchase to expedite development and get the property back on the tax rolls. Legal counsel emphasized the statute change may affect appraisal and minimum-bid procedures.
What happens next: staff will issue the commerce appraisal RFP and proceed with posting under county policy while planning and zoning studies the draft solar ordinance referred by the commission.
