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Eureka council hears state plan for High Desert Trail, residents raise Fitch Cemetery concerns
Summary
County and state representatives presented the proposed High Desert Trail routing and economic benefits for Eureka; residents and council members raised concerns that the main trail’s proximity could increase vandalism and disturbance at the privately owned Fitch Cemetery. The state said it would consider mitigation steps and hold a public input period.
A state and county representative described plans for the High Desert Trail, a multi-county OHV route that state lawmakers partially funded with a $1,000,000 appropriation, and asked the Eureka City Council whether the city wants the main trail routed close to Eureka for economic benefit.
“It's the closest — the only place that has fuel along the trail,” the Juab County representative said while reviewing proposed route alternatives and signage plans. She said the state has offered signage donations, potential stewards and additional patrols, and that a public input period is planned in April once routing is solidified.
Residents and council members pushed back over a proposed route that runs near the privately owned Fitch Cemetery, which several speakers described as a sensitive site. A written letter read into the record said the proposed alignment “is adjacent to both Eureka City Cemetery and the Fitch Cemetery” and warned of increased dust, noise and a higher risk of vandalism if the route were designated as the main trail.
Council member Tom Nederberg and others acknowledged the town could benefit economically but urged that the family that owns the private cemetery be acknowledged and consulted. “It doesn't seem right that we just roll over a private cemetery,” one council member said, urging negotiation and protections rather than unilateral routing decisions.
Steven Hawkins, a board member with the Utah Public Lands Alliance and liaison to the Utah ATV Association, recommended establishing kiosk signage, maps and marked trails, and said ATV users “are responsible people” who largely avoid private property if they know where public routes and private parcels begin. Hawkins also encouraged a small council/staff workgroup to prepare grant applications and matching in-kind volunteer commitments for trail amenities.
Next steps: council members asked staff and the Chamber of Commerce to gather the 2019 trail-study materials and grant contacts so the city can participate in funding opportunities. The council did not take a formal vote on routing during the meeting; representatives said the state will return for public meetings after solidifying trail alternatives.
