County supports Spanish Valley frontage road

by David Boyle
News Director
Members of the San Juan County Commission heard presentations about energy efficiency in low-income homes, approved public health initiatives to combat youth vaping, and asked for help on an eventual frontage road in Spanish Valley at their latest meeting.
The commission approved a corridor preservation agreement with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) along highway 191 in Spanish Valley at their November 5 meeting.
The idea has been discussed as part of a collaboration regarding transportation planning with UDOT, Grand County, and Moab City for the area.
The agreement approved at the commission meeting will help preserve the area for the future development of a frontage road system for Spanish Valley residents on both sides of the highway.
County Administrator Mack McDonald noted that the area is already dangerous, noting people cross highways allowing speeds up to 55 miles per hour just to get their mail.
“There have been collisions. There has has been crashes and deaths that are along this that we need to to work towards a mitigation. This frontage system is the way that we can mitigate that”
The current suggestion would start at Blue Hill and go all along the valley, with a bike lane likely to be included in the infrastructure.
Even though the development could be several years away, county staff wants to see the agreement in place to let developers know it is coming and to prevent future headaches.
“It's easier if we can get this corridor preservation up front to try to mitigate the future costs to get the frontage road system installed,” said McDonald.
Members of the commission approved the corridor preservation agreement.
The commission also heard from representatives with the Southeastern Regional Development Agency (SERDA), which offers programs in Southeastern Utah.
Commissioners heard reports about SERDA weatherization programs, as well as the Building Up Project.
The weatherization program includes an energy auditor who comes into homes and performs an audit.
The audit takes data from each home and prepares a work order for technicians to create a budget to make homes more energy efficient. SERDA staff reports the goal is a 30 percent reduction in energy bills with weatherization including attic and wall insulation, air sealing, repairing damaged heating systems and evaluation of replacing windows.
SERDA staff explained that the Buildings Up Project is a new program that seeks to add to the weatherization program by installing high-efficiency heat pump equipment in low-income homes.
The project is currently in its early stages in Moab but SERDA hopes to expand into all areas served by SERDA, including San Juan County.
SERDA said heat pump technology offers both heating and cooling capabilities that more efficiently move air. The program is again in its infancy but SERDA hopes to expand the program to homes that are 200 percent of the poverty level or below to have the program reach far into their service area.
Members of the commission thanked SERDA for their presentation and emphasized the importance of providing information about the programs, especially once the Buildings Up project goes live in San Juan County.
Commissioners also approved a letter of support for SERDA efforts to expand the Building Up project through grant applications.
Members of the commission also approved additional funds for marketing of the Monticello Cancer Screening Program. The program offers cancer screenings for people who lived, worked or went to school in Monticello during the operation of the government uranium mill and before the government cleanup prior to 2003.
Federal funds secured by Representative John Curtis have been used to reimburse the screenings, as well as market the effort to raise awareness.
The commission approved an additional $48,000 with BWP communications, for a total of $96,000 to aid in marketing the program to those who used to live in Monticello during the time period as they are eligible for the cancer screenings.
Members of the commission approved the contract.
The commission also approved items related to public health. Zoe John, a health educator with the county Public Health Department, presented an interlocal agreement between the county and Utah State University Extension to provide $15,000 of state funds towards USU Extension services.
This includes the 4-H and Create Better Health programs to supplement E-Cigarette, Marijuana and other drug prevention programs into their scheduled events and workshops.
McDonald said a recent survey of San Juan County youth showed they are exposed to and even experimenting with vapes as early as sixth grade.
“That was pretty shocking our sixth graders now are faced with that and actually partaking of that,” said McDonald. “And so all of these efforts kind of go hand in hand to help prevent that bring more awareness to the kids especially with the e cigarettes and the harm that those cause.”
In the consent agenda, the commission approved interlocal agreements for e-cigarette, tobacco and other drug prevention efforts with the Hozho’Go Lina 365 Program with UNHS and Drug Safe Utah.
Members of the commission also approved an educational agreement with the Utah Poison Control Center to increase education of residents of all ages about poison prevention, including safe medication storage, recognition of hazardous substances and responding to animal bites.
During public comment, members of the commission heard from La Sal resident Marjorie Haun regarding changes to the structure of county Emergency Medical Services.
“There's been a lot of misinformation, a lot of confusion and some hurt feelings over the changes in the structure of county EMS services,” said Haun.
Haun asked the county to hold a public listening session in La Sal to address impacts of changes.
Members of the commission also ratified a letter submitted to the Bureau of Land Management as part of the 30-day protest period for the Bears Ears National Monument management plan.
The county letter outlined protests related to livestock grazing exclusions in Johns Canyon, parts of the lower Indian Creek area and other items of concerns for the county, including travel and transportation management in certain areas of the monument, as well as county protest of additional lands with wilderness characteristics.