San Juan County offers support for recycling program, splash pad

by David Boyle
News Director
San Juan County commissioners signaled support for a Blanding splash pad, spoke about a grant for a recycling program and recognized Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s) at their latest meeting.
Members of the San Juan County commission heard a report for a grant application to provide a mini Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) at the county landfill at their December 3 meeting.
Landfill manager Jed Tate explained the county is applying for a federal grant through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to aid in the construction of a housing facility as well as purchase of equipment to operate a mini-MRF.
The competitive grant award ranges from $50,000 to $5 million with the county planning to apply for the full amount of the grant aimed to help rural areas.
Tate added that he knows recycling is a difficult proposition in the county.
“A lot of citizens won’t participate, some will, and there’s an overall feeling in the county that we should have it, but we don’t. It doesn’t exist anywhere in the county.
“What this type of equipment allows to happen is it allows you to take the raw garbage that’s coming in the regular garbage truck”
The Mini MRF equipment uses a variety of processes, including magnets, filters and other processes to mechanically sort garbage into recyclable materials.
The project would also include recycling bins at county transfer stations as well as bins for communities in the county.
While larger MRF’s exist throughout the US at a cost of $20-30 million, the mini MRF should fit the county’s lower garbage output.
The project would include the building of a facility 150 feet long, 100 feet wide and 35 feet tall to house the equipment with estimated engineering and construction of the building at $3 million with the mini MRF equipment estimated to cost $1.6 million, with 30 yard recycling bins, bailer, fork lift, education and outreach and other items on the proposed $5 million project budget as well.
Tate said the equipment would increase the amount of metals the county is recycling by about 30-percent, with the addition of cardboard recycling likely to help fund two additional county employees.
“The funding for those employees can come out of what’s going to be recycled. We found in our initial surveys that cardboard was a really high percentage of what we’re getting in our trash.
“Cardboard next to metals is the next closest to being a profitable type recyclable that there is. metals is a true uh profitable recyclable, but cardboard roughly helps you pay the bills.”
The grant does not need a letter of support from the county but the commission gave informal approval to move forward with the grant application.
Members of the San Juan County commission also approved a letter of support for a grant application by the county for a splash pad in Blanding.
The grant to the local San Juan County Clean Energy Foundation by Commissioner Sylvia Stubbs requests $145,000 from the organization to build a splash pad facility in Blanding.
The application notes that $35,000 has been committed from other local organizations and businesses along with the property donation from Blanding City.
The application estimates just under $40,000 for the splash pad equipment and $137,000 for construction and installation of the project.
The county’s approved letter goes along with other letters from Monticello and Blanding cities supporting the project.
Stubbs shared with the commission that it’s been a couple year process bringing the application forward adding that after research the plan is to use a system that allows users to turn the splash pad on while using culinary water that drains into an underground tank to water nearby grass to keep the project waterwise and lower maintenance.
Members of the commission approved a letter of support for the grant application.
At the meeting San Juan County officials recognized a handful of first responders for their years of service including Dave Bradford, Kathy Garson, Michelle Sonderegger, Linda Simmons, Pam Burgess and Theresa Rutter for 20 years of service, Eric George, Dennis Hoggard, Jeremy Hoggard and John Fellmeth for ten years of service, and Ben Breedlove, Brittney Bastian, Sage Benally and Sarah Haller for five years of EMT service.
McDonald shared the county’s appreciation for years of service, and willingness to respond to calls.
“If there is a 911 call for ambulance services that we do have somebody that’s willing and capable of taking that run, forsaking their family time or their work time and coming out and serving the public.
“The most important thing to remember here is these are valiant servants for the public. They’re the front lines that go out in times of need when people are in you know whether it’s a tragic event or an accident or life-saving event.”
At the meeting the county also recognized Anna Fredericks for her years of service as the County Fair Director and Karah Naye’s years directing the county rodeo, with the county expressing thanks especially for Naye as this previous year was her last organizing the rodeo.
Members of the commission also approved an update to the 2025 county fire warden agreement. Chief David Gallegos shared that the $2,300 increase was due to a consumer price index adjustment reflecting a 4.1-percent cost of living increase that was allocated by the state of Utah.
Members of the commission also approved items related to the maintenance and upkeep of the Cal Black Airport located near Halls Crossing.
Commissioners approved an agreement for runway and apron pavement maintenance upgrades, approved agreements with the department of transportation and a solar replacement project at the airport.