San Juan County Commission reviews training, approves grant

Members of the San Juan County Commission received start of year training and assignments, approved a grant to digitize county records dating back to the 1800’s and approved the purchase of a new crack seal machine at their latest meeting.
As with the start of every year members of the county commission received a mandatory training session on the Utah Open Meetings Act at their January 6 meeting.
Deputy County Attorney Jens Neilson presented to the commission highlighting the issues of blurred lines that modern technology can make regarding texts and emails. Neilson explained that if a quorum of commissioners deliberates on county business in person or through text or email it could constitute a violation of the act.
"The basic concept here is that when the government takes action or deliberates on the action to be taken, it be done in public."
Neilson added that while administrative or managerial tasks don’t always require a public forum, any discussion that changes policy, appropriates unbudgeted funds or involves legislative decisions-making should be transparent.
Members of the commission also approved receipt of a $7,200 grant from the Utah State Historical Record Advisory Board.
County Deputy Treasurer Marty Shupe explained the grant funds will be used to digitize around 100 microfilms containing property tax records dating back as far as 1898.
The project will look to offer a historical window into the county’s past providing information not only on land ownership but also on numbers of cattle and sheep assessed in the early 1900’s.
While the information is stored on microfilm the county’s reader is no longer working making the information inaccessible. The program will seek to digitize those records via a grant from the state.
Members of the San Juan County Commission also approved the purchase of a new crack seal machine for $86,000. Road Superintendent TJ Adair recommended a model that was estimated to be $1,000 more expensive than the other bid as they slightly more expensive unit offered 40 gallons of additional capacity which Adair says would allow crews to work more efficiently once the material is heated.
During public comment members of the commission also heard briefly from Linda Lewis who had been appointed to chair the county’s celebration marking the nation’s 250th anniversary this summer. Lewis shared they plan to coordinate closely with Blanding’s July 4th organizers and plans to return with formal budget requests as planning moves forward.
Members of the commission also scheduled interviews for judicial nominees this month to fill a vacancy. The work to fill the vacancy continues as the county and the city of Monticello negotiate on an interlocal agreement for court services.
Members of the commission also voted to maintain their committee assignments from 2025 into 2026.
Commissioners also again highlighted the upcoming Suicide Prevention Conference at USU Blanding on January 31.