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Stellar Vista Observatory asks board to recommend $107,000 gap be covered as bids exceed estimates
Summary
Stellar Vista Observatory founder Rich Senge told the Kane County Travel Council that contractor bids left the project about $107,000 short of its budget and asked the board to add the project to its recommended list to the county commission; the board voted to add the request to its list of 10 projects.
Rich Senge, founder and president of Stellar Vista Observatory, outlined plans for a public observatory at Jackson Platte Reservoir and asked the Kane County Travel Council to recommend county support after contractor bids exceeded internal estimates.
"I'm here today to inform the board about our project and to request support for the project," Senge said during a slide presentation that reviewed site plans, programming and partnerships. He described Stellar Vista as a 501(c)(3) that runs monthly free star parties, school programs and paid private night‑sky experiences, and said Southern Utah University donated a 14‑inch telescope for the facility. He told the board his organization received four bids, selected RBI (Doyle Ray) as contractor, and faces a funding shortfall "about a $107,000."
Senge said the Kane County Water Conservancy District is providing the land and will own the buildings, while the nonprofit will provide programming. He listed a mix of contributors and in‑kind donors and said he personally donated more than $125,000 to the project.
Board members discussed process and authority: the chair cautioned the board that it makes recommendations rather than awarding county funds directly. After discussion, a member moved to add the Stellar Vista Observatory request to the board's list of 10 projects to recommend to the county commission; the motion was seconded and the chair announced the item "will be added" following a voice vote in favor.
The board did not record a formal roll-call tally in the transcript; the action recorded in the meeting minutes is that the board added the SVO request to the recommendation list and will forward the full list to the county commission for consideration.
