Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County building/zoning and landfill reports flag staffing progress and potential budget hit from elevator work; landfill staff warn of battery fires
Summary
Terry Palmer reported steady permit activity and recent hires in building and planning; he said unexpected elevator modernization work will add costs. County landfill staff warned rising lithium-ion battery fires and said the state DEQ is forming a best-practices committee.
During the Sept. 20 Iron County Commission meeting, the building and zoning planner and county public-works staff delivered updates that combined operational details with two items commissioners said warrant follow-up: an elevator modernization with additional, not-yet-finalized costs and an increasing number of lithium-ion battery fires at the county landfill.
Terry Palmer, the county’s building and zoning planner, said regular permits are close to 2024 levels (416 in 2024 vs. 406 year-to-date in 2025), commercial permits are up (25 to 40), and about 450 plan reviews have been completed this year. Palmer credited staff for steady operations, announced recent hires — part-time administrative assistant Ellie Navarro (started Aug. 1), a new zoning/code enforcement officer Riley Westwood (started Sept. 2), and planning hire Brett Hamilton — and said planning staff are working to meet new state regulatory compliance deadlines.
Palmer also said elevator contractors and county electricians identified additional modernization items midproject. Parts have been ordered and 'half of it's been paid' he told commissioners; he did not give a final total and said staff expect to return with an exact dollar figure in the coming weeks. Palmer said the likely cost will affect the department’s year-end budget and that staff are re-prioritizing some projects to cover the expense.
Bruce Anderson, public-works director, reported landfill tonnage of roughly 71,630 tons year-to-date and said the state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is conducting a recycle survey at the site. He warned landfill managers are seeing more lithium-ion battery fires that can enter thermal runaway, noting those fires are difficult to extinguish, can damage liners and infrastructure, and produce toxic smoke. Anderson said the DEQ has convened a statewide committee to develop best practices and recommended counties may need to budget for additional PPE and faster suppression systems at landfill sites.
Commissioners asked staff to follow up with detailed cost estimates for the elevator work, to coordinate with the DEQ committee on landfill-fire best practices, and to return with recommended budget adjustments or funding options if required.
