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Residents urge funding for rec center; STR owner warns against over‑regulation
Summary
Several residents told the supervisors that a county recreation/wellness center would support families, seniors and winter tourism; an STR operator cautioned the board against micromanaging short‑term rentals, urging practical, safety‑focused rules.
During the public‑comment periods, multiple residents urged the Board of Supervisors to continue pursuing a county recreation and wellness center and to keep the planning process moving.
Christine Sennett said a rec center is more than a building and would create year‑round health, recreation and tourism opportunities that help keep families in Page County. Debbie Van Blanderen and Karen Gookenauer also spoke in favor of the project, saying it would support seniors, youth and winter tourism and asking the board to fund the project with care.
In open comments, Patrick Burns, a local short‑term‑rental operator, cautioned officials about over‑regulating STRs. He objected to proposals that would require 24/7 owner availability or prescriptive operational rules and urged reasonable safety requirements — for example, requiring means to put out campfires rather than mandating fire extinguishers where those would scatter embers. He said he has operated local rentals for 30 years and asked the county not to impose micromanagement that would hamper small operators.
Board members thanked the commenters and said they would continue studying options for the rec center and that STR regulations would return after planning commission recommendations and public input.
