Commission approves Uinta Basin one-year CIB project list after UBAG presentations

The Uinta Basin/Uintah County Commission on March 3 held a special public hearing and approved the one-year Permanent Community Impact Fund capital improvements list for fiscal year 2027 after hearing presentations from local water, sewer, transportation, fire and city entities.

Chair opened the meeting at 1:35 p.m. and said the main purpose was "to go over our 1 year community impact permanent community impact fund board list, CIB list." UBAG staff then walked through project-by-project presentations and answered questions about portal entries and project priorities.

UBAG adviser Nate Zilles told attendees the state is transitioning from spreadsheets to an online tool: "we're making a transition this year from the spreadsheet that you normally fill out for CIB to an online portal called the Utah Project Portal," and stressed that any project intended for the FY2027 one-year list must be completed in the portal by May 1 to be considered for that funding cycle.

Local presenters outlined dozens of projects across the basin. Highlights included Ashley Valley Sewer Management Board’s plan to update a 2009 sewer master plan and a 1,500 East sewer-line replacement, Ashley Valley Water & Sewer’s Naples sewer and water improvements and Canyon line replacement, Vernal City’s sewer infiltration and street-reconstruction priorities, Jensen Water’s Brush Creek Road PRV and 12-inch line work, UNFIRE requests for a rescue truck and brush trucks, and multiple large transportation projects presented by the transportation special service district (Independence Road Phase 2, Stanton Road, Glenbench Road).

Several presenters gave cost estimates and local-match information; for example, Richard Wallace described a master-plan update listed as $130,000 and said the district would request $50,000 from CIB with local funds covering the remainder. UBAG staff repeatedly cautioned that the printed handout and the portal sometimes differ and that UBAG will reconcile entries before the May 1 deadline.

After presentations, Chair closed the public hearing and called for a motion. Mark Raymond moved to approve "the projects as presented on the list," Keith Despain seconded, and the body approved the list by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

UBAG staff said they will review portal entries after the hearing to ensure submitted projects match the information presented and reminded entities that UBAG cannot edit an entity’s portal submissions without that entity’s consent. The commission adjourned after the vote.