San Juan County offers support for Monticello ADA park, approves stock contractor for rodeo

by David Boyle
News Director
Members of the county commission gave support to Monticello’s ADA park, adjusted contracts for the public safety building remodel and approved stock providers for the Stampede Rodeo at their latest meeting.
Members of the San Juan County Commission approved a memorandum of understanding with Monticello city as well as a letter of support for a city project at their March 18 meeting.
City Assistant Manager Megan Gallegos went to the county commission for their support on a grant application to make playground equipment at Veterans Memorial Park in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Gallegos explained the current playground equipment was installed in 2007 and is not ADA compliant.
Replacing the equipment has a price tag of $255,000, but the city is well on its way thanks to a grant from the San Juan County Clean Energy Foundation which granted $70,000 toward the project.
The city is also applying for a Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant (UORG) – with the Community Parks and Recreation Grant.
The project would also include expanding the cement sidewalk to the parking area and making the other amenities at the pavilion ADA accessible as well as shifting the playground equipment to get out from underneath an existing pine tree that drops needles on the play area.
That shift will place some of the equipment on the county property near the library.
The county approved a memorandum of understanding allowing the city to utilize a portion of county-owned property adjacent to the library for the playground, with the city assuming full responsibility for construction, maintenance, and operation.
County Administrator Mack McDonald also noted that the project when completed would be the first ADA-accessible park in the county.
The county commission also approved an amendment to the architectural services contract for the remodel at the county Public Safety Building. The amendment reflects the increase in the project budget to $22 million with fees adjusted accordingly for architectural fees as well as the inclusion of hiring a consultant to address additional concerns should the building need it.
The county commission approved a lease revenue bond of $21.3 million for the public safety building remodel in May of 2024.
Members of the county commission also approved standardizing their contract with Legacy Pro for Rodeo Stock Contractor Services for the upcoming Stampede Rodeo.
The three-year agreement was approved last year with the county approving the $54,366 for 2025 and $54,934 for 2026 to the stock contractor including promotion of the event as part of the PRCA circuit, as well as a commitment of $40,500 in prize money.
The Stampede Rodeo is set for June 12-14 this year, with the event again coinciding with events in Montezuma County, Colorado to allow cowboys and cowgirls to compete in two events nearby in the same weekend.
Members of the commission also approved items for the county road department. Among the items were the purchase of a tire machine replacing an older machine at the south county shop. The commission also approved annual purchases of chip seal and fog oil for road maintenance as well as dust suppressant and stabilizer for county roads. The commission also approved trade-ins of wheel loaders and a truck for the north county office patch crew.
Members of the commission also heard from county resident Tara Benally. Benally asked for a status report on the county’s project to make Navajo Nation Chapter buildings ADA accessible, with county staff sharing that they’ve got contractors in place but are waiting for warmer weather to pour concrete at the projects.
Members of the commission also heard from Tammy Squires, the executive director at San Juan Counseling. Squires noted that the local mental health authority board has been down two members and asked for the commission’s help in promoting the openings. While those board openings have been advertised commissioners agreed to aid in the search for board members.
Members of the commission also recognized that April will be prevention month against child abuse. The county Children Justice Center and other organizations are raising awareness to protect children from physical, sexual abuse and neglect. A kickoff event was held on March 25 with a guest speaker Cory Jewell Jensen who spent 35 years providing services to adult sex offenders and their families.
Throughout the month of April the county is encouraging residents to decorate homes with lights to be on each night from 8-10 pm to increase awareness. A family movie night will be held on April 26th in Blanding as part of the event.
During the consent agenda the commission also approved a letter of support to Congressman Kennedy for funding of a $13.5 million La Sal Water Infrastructure project.