Sevier County commissioners approve hires, contracts and sponsor Monroe Canyon fire mitigation funding application

RICHFIELD, Utah — The Sevier County Commission on Aug. 11 unanimously approved a series of administrative actions including personnel hires, contract renewals and a decision to have the county serve as the applicant for potential federal and state funding to mitigate damage from the Monroe Canyon Fire.

The commission — Commissioners Scott Johnson, Ralph Brown and Greg Jensen — opened the meeting at 1:30 p.m. and acknowledged the presence of County Attorney Casey Jewkes and Clerk/Auditor Steven C. Wall. Commissioner Jensen thanked deployed Type 1 wildfire firefighting teams and noted the community’s support for firefighters.

The meeting’s most consequential policy step was the board’s approval for Sevier County to act as sponsor/applicant for grant applications related to the Monroe Canyon Fire. Parker Vercimak of Jones & DeMille Engineering asked the county to be the applicant to pursue federal and state funding and to assist with project monitoring; the commission approved the request (motion by Commissioner Brown, second Commissioner Jensen). The commissioners said county sponsorship would streamline coordination between agencies involved in mitigation.

Commissioners also approved a number of operational items on unanimous votes. The board ratified a two-year funding agreement from the State of Utah for the county’s Victim’s Advocate program after a review by Victim’s Advocate Amy Sanders, who said the Office for Victims of Crime approved funding after an audit found the program in compliance (motion by Commissioner Brown, second Commissioner Jensen). The commission approved a lease for a temporary facility for the Richfield Senior Nutrition program while the senior center is renovated, contingent on indemnification language changes recommended by County Attorney Casey Jewkes (motion by Commissioner Brown, second Commissioner Jensen).

Personnel actions included approval of several hires: Colton Conder as full-time Fairgrounds Specialist (Grade 17, $24.82 per hour, start date listed as July 21, 2025); Levi Maxfield as full-time Events Coordinator (Grade 12, $20.93 per hour, start July 31, 2025); Jessica Hutchings as full-time Events Manager (Grade 17, $24.82 per hour, start Aug. 5, 2024); Kai Thomas and Nathan Young as full-time Deputy Sheriff Recruits (Grade 15.2, $25.51 per hour, starts Aug. 4 and Aug. 6, 2025); Amber Jensen as a part-time Nutrition Cook (Grade 7, $18.02 per hour, start Aug. 5, 2025); and Colten Breinholt as a full-time Landfill Operator 1 (Grade 14, $22.29 per hour, start Aug. 11, 2025). Commissioner Greg Jensen moved to approve the hires; Commissioner Ralph Brown seconded.

Other approved actions included:

- Payment of $1,100 to Springer Turner Funeral Home for an indigent burial for Brenda Jacobsen, approved after the commission reviewed eligibility information (motion by Commissioner Jensen, second Commissioner Brown).

- Denial of several tax abatement applications that did not meet program qualifications (three exceed allowable limits and one applicant did not own the property), following a staff recommendation from Clerk/Auditor Steven C. Wall (motion by Commissioner Brown, second Commissioner Jensen).

- A $450 refund to Michael J. Proud for an overpayment on vehicle registration after an assessor’s review (motion by Commissioner Jensen, second Commissioner Brown).

- Assessor adjustments to property records, including residence-status and square-footage corrections, upon Assessor Terri Hartle’s recommendation (motion by Commissioner Brown, second Commissioner Jensen).

- Renewal of the county’s printer/copier maintenance agreement with Les Olson Company on IT Director Dirk Jensen’s recommendation (motion by Commissioner Jensen, second Commissioner Brown).

- Authorization to proceed with nuisance abatements on parcels 3-192A-42 (Elsinore Addition) and 5-43-24 (near Joseph) after Building Department representative Trever Peterson and Deputy County Attorney Josh Christner reviewed enforcement steps and court actions (motion by Commissioner Brown, second Commissioner Jensen).

- Declaration of specified county items as surplus and authorization for disposal (motion by Commissioner Jensen, second Commissioner Brown).

- A Professional Services Agreement with Ensign Engineering to set section corners, to be paid from a State of Utah grant noted by Recorder Jason Monroe (motion by Commissioner Brown, second Commissioner Jensen).

- Approval of an amendment extending the county’s inmate telephone services agreement for one year, presented by the sheriff (motion by Commissioner Jensen, second Commissioner Brown).

All motions recorded in the minutes passed unanimously. The meeting concluded with no further business and adjourned at 2:34 p.m.

The commission’s next procedural step on the Monroe Canyon mitigation item is to proceed with applications and interagency coordination; no specific funding award or timeline was recorded at the meeting.