Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six, back with our newest team member Ammon Teare for his second episode. Today we’ll be talking arts, traffic, dogs and an upcoming course to quit unhealthy habits.

Alright, let’s get into the news!

TOPIC 1: A word from the Park City Summit County Arts Council

At Wednesday’s council meeting, representatives from the Park City/Summit County Arts Council shared their progress on a new arts and culture master plan and more public art coming soon to the Jeremy Ranch roundabouts.

The master plan is a collaboration between public and private organizations focused on promoting creativity and community partnerships. In the last four months, planners have been gathering public input, identifying primary goals, and offering recommendations to advance community engagement with the arts. Five key challenges identified include: funding, visibility and accessibility, community engagement, visitor vs resident priorities, and cost of living. The master plan will identify opportunities to address these challenges and make recommendations to the county, city, and chamber of commerce. 

If you are a local artist or represent a local gallery or community arts organization, you can send an email to jocelyn@pcscarts.org or jasmine@designinglocal.com to participate in their last call for stakeholder interviews. You can offer your insight and help inform the arts master plan before the community engagement period ends in mid-April.

During this week’s council meeting, Jocelyn Scudder, executive director for the Arts Council, said that she will present to council again in June to seek a resolution of support for this draft master plan. This process, initiated as part of the sustainable tourism plan for Summit County, will help the county, city, and chamber of commerce collaborate to support local arts and tourism.

Following discussion of the master plan, the arts board shared an update on two sculptures going in the roundabouts at the Jeremy Ranch/Pinebrook exits in the Snyderville Basin. The Summit County Public Art Advisory Board began seeking quotes from artists in 2023, asking that submissions embody the local landscape, culture, history, or wildlife; that the art celebrates a strong sense of place; engages the viewer and is highly visible while adhering to public safety guidelines.

The winning team, artists Don Kennel and Lisa Adler, were announced in May 2024. They committed to sculpt, assemble, and install two larger-than-life animal statues: a moose on the Pinebrook side and a sandhill crane with two chicks on her back for the Jeremy Ranch side. An artist rendering of the completed statues plus some progress photos are available to view in the show notes.

Starting in late April, members of the artist team will arrive to begin assembly and to present at four schools near the site to explain how the sculptures are made, why they chose these wildlife subjects, and to share about being professional sculpture artists.

Students will get to suggest names for both the moose and crane and then vote on their favorites. Each school’s top submissions will go head-to-head and be put to a community vote. Stay tuned for more details on the community name contest as the project nears completion in this early summer of 2025.

TOPIC 2: Kimball Jct. Road Project Update

Up next, the council heard an update on the Kimball Junction Draft Environmental Impact Statement (or EIS) from county and state transportation officials, including UDOT Project Manager Becky Stromness and Carl Miller, Summit County’s Director of Transportation Planning. 

Let’s go back in time for a moment to 2019, when UDOT identified the intersection of I-80 and SR-224 in Kimball Junction as a potential safety and mobility hazard, especially considering future traffic conditions. Through public input and consultation with community planners, 30 alternative concepts were considered to address travel and safety concerns.

Initial screening eliminated 27 alternatives, leaving just 3 (labeled A, B, and C) to undergo more rigorous screening for environmental impacts and potential benefits. In March of this year, UDOT identified Alternative C as the preferred solution. Its primary benefits over other proposals was that it offers faster travel speeds during peak hours, shorter lines on the I-80 off ramps, and the project would be the least costly to the state. It’s $49 million compared to approximately $124 for Alternative A (the only other proposal to clear all four stages of screening).

The EIS is now in another public comment period. You can learn more about the project and share your input at kimballjunctioneis.udot.utah.gov. Comments can be submitted via phone, mail, email, or online comment forms through April 28, 2025. 

UDOT has scheduled two public hearings in April. There will be ann in-person hearing at Ecker Hill Middle School on April 8 from 5:30-7:30 pm and a virtual hearing on April 10 from 6-7:30 pm. We hope you’ll take the opportunity to get informed and make your voice heard!

TOPIC 3: Licensing your dog

For the month of March, Summit County Animal Control would like to remind residents that all dogs over the age of four months must be licensed within 10 days of acquiring the animal or moving to the county. The license tag must be attached to the collar and worn at all times along with their rabies tag.

Licenses can be renewed annually or every three years. Licensing dogs has several benefits:. Licensed dogs wearing their tags can be easily returned to their owners if they run away or are lost. Licensing also helps remind owners to stay on top of rabies vaccinations, and helps animal control officials to ensure dogs are not overcrowded at individual residences.

Service dogs and dogs working with government agencies must be licensed, but are exempt from the fees. For more information or to register for a license online, visit: summitcountyutah.gov/animalcontrol.

TOPIC 4: Upcoming course to quit Tobacco

Are you interested in quitting or reducing your tobacco use? The Summit County Health Department is offering a free six-week support group to help you quit tobacco. Whether you are ready to stop using tobacco or just thinking about it, you can get the support and knowledge you need to make the right decision for you through the DIMENSIONS: Tobacco Free Group. This six-week group will be hosted at the Summit County Health Department at 650 Round Valley Drive in Park City in the downstairs conference room on Wednesdays beginning April 23. A little bit more about what this groups provides:

• A supportive and non-judgmental environment to help you through your process of quitting tobacco
• Information on how tobacco use affects your health, how to manage cravings, and how to change your habits
• A flexible program designed to meet your needs and help you make healthy choices in all areas of your life
  

To sign up or get more information, please contact Matt Wolbach by email or phone at: mwolbach@summitcountyutah.gov or 435-333-1508.

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Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six. Today, we cover this week’s County Council meeting, which included a legislative recap and an update on a childcare scholarship program launched last year. Then, we give a quick preview of some key events happening next week. Alright, let’s get into the news! 

TOPIC 1: Legislative Recap  

At this week’s County Council meeting, Deputy County Manager, Janna Young, went over the outcomes of the 2025 Utah State Legislature’s General Session – what bills passed, what they might mean for Summit County, and more. 

Today, we’ll only highlight a few of those. If you want to listen to Janna’s recap, please visit: summitcounty.info/councilrecording. On the right-hand side of that screen, an agenda will be displayed. Find the item titled “2025 Legislative Recap” and click on the staff report linked to review the full list of bills that passed. 

• First up, let’s talk about Senate Bill 26, which focuses on Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zones Amendments. This bill makes several modifications to the Housing and Transit Reinvestment statute, primarily regarding convention facilities. It however also includes language providing Dakota Pacific Real Estate (DPRE) with the authority to build a development in Kimball Junction in the density and uses consistent with the amended development agreement the Summit County Council approved last December.

• Up next, we want the public to know about House Bill 356, called County Governance Amendments. This bill targets Summit County’s form of government by requiring all five council members to be elected from districts instead of at-large – which is the current structure. Summit County has several concerns with HB356 the most important being that we believe the ability to determine representation at the local, not state, level is a cornerstone of democracy. Our current council structure was chosen by voters in 2006 and this bill overturns that decision and the will of our community. Additionally, districts would disproportionately favor incorporated cities and towns over the county’s larger unincorporated population. Two-thirds of Summit County’s population live in the unincorporated county with one-third living in the cities and towns. HB356 gives each of the six cities and towns a seat on the Districting Commission and provides only one seat for the unincorporated area. Further, to transition the county to the new district system, the bill arbitrarily assigns current council members to districts “by lot,” potentially placing them outside their own communities. Lastly, the bill reduces voters’ representation from five to one, eliminating at-large seats and weakening broad accountability. At-large representation serves an important and unifying role on the council and in the county. 

• Let’s move onto an elections-related bill that changes mail-in voting systems a bit. Starting January 1, 2028, House Bill 300 will now require voters to opt into receiving a ballot by mail. After they opt in, voters can continue receiving by-mail ballots for eight years, as long as they continue to be active voters. Additionally, upon returning their voted ballot to the Clerk’s Office, voters must write the last four digits of their government issued identification card (like a driver license or another state ID) on their ballot’s return envelope. The bill also now requires mail-in ballots to be received by the Clerk’s Office by 8pm on Election day instead of the current postmark rule, which is that your ballot must be postmarked by the day before Election Day. 

• Now, let’s talk short-term rentals. House Bill 256 updates Utah’s rules on short-term rentals (like Airbnb and VRBO), giving cities and counties more control over how they operate. The bill allows local governments to require business licenses, use rental listings as evidence of illegal rentals and request websites to remove listings that break local laws. The bill also ensures short-term rental owners pay applicable fees and makes other legal clarifications. The bill takes effect May 7, 2025.

• And, finally there were several tax-related bills: 

• • Senate Bill 197 replaces the circuit breaker/homeowner’s tax credit with a tax deferral, which effectively ending the tax credit for anyone not already enrolled. Counties fought hard against this change as many of our low-income or senior residents rely on the circuit breaker program to remain in their homes. A deferral program only saddles the heirs of these homeowners with debt as the tax deferral also accrues interest over the years.

• • House Bill 106 gives Utahns a fifth year of tax cuts, lowering the income tax rate from 4.55% to 4.5%. The average Utah family will see annual savings of about $45. The bill also gives businesses a 20% tax credit for creating new child care options for employees and expands the child tax credit to include children who are 5 years old and under the age of one.

• • Senate Bill 91 aims to provide parity in the restaurant tax between restaurants and prepared foods sold at groceries and convenience stores. Currently, there is a carve out for prepared foods sold at groceries and convenience stores, which are not subject to the tax. This bill would remove that carve out. It can be seen as a tax increase but again the intent is parity. Counties will receive additional revenues as a result of this bill.

• • And, House Bill 456 passed modifications to the TRT or Transient Room Tax. The version that was adopted  includes a new definition of “establishing and promoting,” which is concerning to the Park City Chamber of Commerce, Visitor’s Bureau. They are unsure if they can still use TRT revenues on the visitor center, bike share program, sustainable tourism, and other efforts to manage and educate visitors. Other than that concern, Summit County is comfortable with the bill. It allows us flexibility to use TRT revenues on establishing and promoting, capital projects for tourism, and tourism mitigation. 

From here, Summit County staff will meet sometime in April to discuss all the bills that passed and better understand what, if any, actions the county needs to take to comply with new legislation. 

The interim session will begin during late spring and throughout the summer months when the Utah Legislature meets once per month in joint committees between the House of Representatives and the Senate. Summit County will use the interim to collaborate with legislators on issues we care about and focus on relationship building. The County plans to share our good stories and continue to highlight our challenges, innovative solutions, and partnerships around water, public lands and natural resources, transportation and transit, housing, childcare, and Olympics planning.

TOPIC 2: Childcare Impact Report  

Last year, Summit County pledged $130,000 to Park City Municipal Corporation’s community childcare scholarship program. These funds expanded the program to families who live and work outside of Park City boundaries, extending eligibility to the entire county. 

The county’s expansion officially kicked off in July 2024 and the funds were exhausted within the first four months! After that, in October 2024, the county committed an additional $53,850 to cover enrolled families until the end of the year. 

At this week’s Council meeting, Deputy County Manager, Janna Young, shared that the program’s administrator, Upwards, released an Impact Report that provides key data about the program’s inaugural year. 

Some highlights included that… 

• In the first year of the program: 125 families, 150 children, and 28 childcare providers were supported.
• 79% of families reported significant relief from financial stress.
• 60% of parents were able to select a childcare provider they could not have otherwise afforded.
• 82% of participating childcare providers experienced increased enrollment. 

It’s awesome to see the impact this program expansion has had on our community so far! In the 2025 budget, the County Council approved a new allocation of $300,000 to continue these needs-based scholarships to families who live or work in Summit County. 

If you’re interested in learning more about this program, please visit: upwards.com/childcare-assistance/park-city. 

 
TOPIC 3: Preview of Next Week 

We’ll wrap things up today, with a peek into what our listeners can expect next week in the county! 

• UDOT presentation on the Kimball Junction EIS: On Wednesday of next week, which is March 26, at the regularly scheduled County Council meeting, the Utah Department of Transportation (or UDOT) will present its draft Kimball Junction Environmental Impact Statement or EIS. The draft EIS includes a detailed evaluation of alternatives A and C, taking into consideration things like land use, neighborhoods, residential and commercial properties, noise, air quality, water resources and floodplains, ecosystem resources and special status species, and visual setting. In the draft EIS, UDOT also identified their preferred alternative as Alternative C. If our listeners remember, this alternative includes features like: extra lanes on the I-80 ramps and SR-224, a second lane at the Ute Boulevard and Landmark Drive roundabout, a new pedestrian underpass near Ute Boulevard, shifted and improved trails, new bike lanes on SR-224, and intersection upgrades at Ute Boulevard and Olympic Parkway.  We encourage our listeners to tune into next week’s County Council meeting! Again, that’s happening Wednesday, March 26. You can get more information on that meeting in the county’s Agenda and Minutes Center at summitcounty.info/agendacenter. UDOT is also currently hosting a public comment period on the Draft EIS that runs through April 28. Take a look at the published report and share your input with them at kimballjunctioneis.udot.utah.gov.   

• Roots of Conservation Event: Also next week, the Summit County Lands and Natural Resources Department is launching an educational series titled Roots of Conservation: Growing the Conversation. This series will bring in partners to speak on various conservation-related topics. Their first session, which will take place on Tuesday, March 25 from 5-7 PM at the Kamas Valley Library, will focus on Conservation Easements 101 and will feature Summit Land Conservancy and independent landowners who have chosen to conserve their land through conservation easements. If you’re interested, again, join the County Lands and Natural Resources Department next week on Tuesday, March 25 from 5-7 PM at 110 N Main Street in Kamas!

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Welcome back to another episode of Summit in Six. This week is short and sweet. We’ve got a few updates from Summit County Health and a reminder about an important open house for the 910 Ranch. Let’s do it!

TOPIC 1: MAMMOGRAM CLINICS

Mobile mammogram clinics are coming to Coalville next week on March 20 and to Kamas next month on April 23.

To make an appointment for the Coalville bus on March 20th through Intermountain Healthcare, call 385-266-4437. This clinic will be held between 7:30 am and 5:30 pm.

To make an appointment to visit the Kamas bus on April 23rd through the University of Utah, call 435-783-3161. The clinic will be held between 9 am and 4:30 pm.

And as an important reminder, please check with your insurance provider to ensure coverage before you receive service.

If these dates don’t work for you, we’ll have more dates this fall: UofU in Coalville on September 22nd. And IHC in Kamas on September 29th.

TOPIC 2: MEASLES 101

With Measles cases on the rise around the country, Summit County Health wants to remind residents where you can go to look up vaccine history for you or your children.

If you’d like to instructions on how to access your immunization records or want to learn more about the measles virus, including case counts nationwide, visit summitcountyhealth.org/measles. 

TOPIC 3: BOARD OF HEALTH – SNYDERVILLE OPENING

The Summit County Manager is seeking an individual representing the Snyderville Basin area to serve on the Summit County Board of Health. 

The mission of the Board of Health is to enforce state health laws, Department of Health and Department of Environmental Quality rules, regulations, and standards within the unincorporated and incorporated areas of Summit County. The board meets once a month at 4:00 p.m. usually on the first Monday.

Interested applicants can submit their application at: summitcounty.info/volunteer. For further information contact: Amy Jones at 435-336-3042. The deadline for applications is 5:00 p.m., Friday, March 28, 2025.

TOPIC 4: 910 RANCH OPEN HOUSE #3

Shape the future of the 910 Ranch by attending Open House 3!

Join us on March 18 from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Sheldon Richins Building at Kimball Junction

Expect a recap of the data gathered from the survey and January Open House sessions.

Questions? Contact countylands@summitcountyutah.gov with any questions.

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Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! We have a lot of health-related updates today, as well as some upcoming public engagement events the community should be aware of. Let’s get into the news!

– RADON AWARENESS + TESTING
Test your home for radon before winter turns to spring.

Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that can cause lung cancer. It seeps through the ground and into our homes through cracks in the foundation, walls, and floors, as well as through water systems, making the air we breathe unsafe.

Summit County Health offers radon test kits for you to sample the air in your home. The cost for each kit is $10 and includes lab analysis

Protect your family by testing for radon in your home and help Summit County track high areas of radon in our community. Testing kits can be purchased at all three Summit County Health locations. For more information, please contact 435-333-1511 or visit summitcountyhealth.org.

– MMR VACCINE
Protect yourself and your loved ones from measles! This virus spreads very easily, even before symptoms appear. Make sure you’re protected with the MMR vaccine, which is over 97% effective in preventing measles.

Vaccine recommendations vary:

• Children: 1st dose at 12-15 months, 2nd dose at 4-6 years
• Adults born before 1957 are generally already immune
• Adults vaccinated before 1968 may need a 2nd dose

Check your immunization records and consult your healthcare provider. The MMR vaccine is widely available at local pharmacies, doctor’s offices, or from Summit County Health.

Call 435-333-1500 to schedule a vaccination appointment at a health department clinic.

Learn more at summitcountyhealth.org

– SHARPS DISPOSAL @ PARK CITY HEALTH CLINIC

A quick announcement that the Summit County Health Department’s Park City Clinic has a sharps disposal bin in the entryway for personal use. If you use sharps, collect them in a puncture-proof container and dispose of it safely in this bin at 650 Round Valley Drive!

– FREE GUN SAFES @ PARK CITY HEALTH CLINIC
For gun owners, protecting your family involves more than keeping them safe from accident or attack. It also involves being aware of the warning signs of suicide and the steps to prevent it. 86% of firearms deaths in Utah are suicides. 48% go from having the thought to attempt in 10 minutes or less. Any strategy that builds some time between someone in crisis and a gun will keep them safer. We also want to mention that if you are in a crisis or just for help/advice for yourself or a loved one, call or text 988. Fill out a survey and pick up a FREE gun safe at the Park City Health Clinic.

– 910 RANCH OPEN HOUSE #3
Shape the future of the 910 Ranch by attending Open House 3!
Date: March 18
Location: Sheldon Richins Building – Kimball Junction
Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Expect a recap of the data gathered from the survey and January Open House sessions.
Questions? Contact countylands@summitcountyutah.gov

– RECYCLING EVENT IN COALVILLE
Recycle Utah will be holding another FREE recycling collection event on March 8th from 10-2 in the Ledges Event Center parking lot in Coalville. They will be collecting:

• Cardboard 
• Plastics
• Electronic waste
• Batteries

Come recycle and share your input with Recycle Utah. They received a grant from @usdagov and they are looking for ways to expand recycling resources in Coalville!

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Welcome to another week of news here on Summit in 6! Today we are going to give another update of what’s going down in the legislature this week, then we will share some info about an upcoming recycling opportunity in Coalville, give a recap about Summit Bike Share services provided in 2024 and share info about an upcoming public open house next week to discuss the future of High Valley Transit.

TOPIC 1: Legislative Update
With less than a week to go in the 2025 Utah State Legislative Session, we’ve got updates on some important bills that could impact Summit County:

SB 91: Restaurant Tax Revisions

• This bill aims to provide parity in the restaurant tax between restaurants and prepared foods sold at grocery and convenience stores. Currently, prepared foods sold at grocery and convenience stores are not subject to the tax. This bill would change that.

SB 295: Property Tax Modifications

• This impacts the assessment process for ski resorts in Summit County and the Montage. The County is working to delete some lines from the bill so that these entities go through the appeal process like everyone else.

SB 333:Major Sporting Event Venue Financing Amendments

• The intent of this bill is to support funding for key infrastructure upgrades to various sports and event venues to solidify Utah as a worldwide premier destination for both winter and summer sports. These improvements will provide local communities with the opportunity to boost local economies, showcase local communities on a global stage, and create a destination for future athletes and competition with world-class venues and amenities. This would also give Summit County the option to implement the resort communities tax. 
• Some of the infrastructure that could benefit from this include past Olympic venues across the state, the Delta Center, and here in Summit County, our ski resorts, and the Utah Olympic Park.

As a reminder, the General Session runs until March 7 which is one week away! Every week of the session, we’ll remind our listeners that you can watch the 2025 legislative session in real time through the online tool at le.utah.gov. Click on the “calendar” button then the desired meeting and the committee webpage will have links to materials and the audio/video recording.

You can also follow individual bills and receive email alerts whenever action is taken on the measure. To sign up for alerts, visit le.utah.gov and click on the “Bills” tab at the top of the page to perform a bill request or keyword search. Once you’ve located the desired bill, click “Track this” or “Email notification.” The website for each bill also provides the bill text, status information, audio/video of any committee hearings or floor debates, and details on the bill sponsor.

TOPIC 2: HPV Awareness Day

March 4th is HPV Awareness Day. HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a common virus that can cause cancers later in life. Nearly everyone will get HPV at some point in their lives.

Each year in the United States, HPV causes about 36,000 cases of cancer in both men and women. Most people will not have any symptoms from an HPV infection.

Being vaccinated is the best way to prevent HPV infection, cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers.

Now let’s talk about the HPV vaccine… Did you know:

• The vaccine is safe and effective and is backed by 30 years of research.
• It can be given starting at age 9.
• The vaccine can prevent 90% of HPV cancers

Contact the Summit County Health Department today to inquire more about our cancer screening services and about appointments for the HPV vaccine at 435-333-1500

TOPIC 3: Recycling Opportunity in Coalville
Attention Coalville residents: Recycle Utah will be holding another FREE recycling collection event on March 8th from 10-2 in the Ledges Event Center parking lot. They will be collecting:

• Cardboard 
• Plastics
• Electronic waste
• Batteries

Come recycle and share your input with us. We received a grant from the USDA and we are looking for ways to expand recycling resources in Coalville! Share with your family and neighbors—see you there!

TOPIC 4: 2024 Summit BikeShare Recap

As we’re looking forward to spring and the return of Summit Bike Share, the Transportation Department shared some numbers on the success of the 2024 season in Council this week.

The 2024 Season ran from May 14 to October 30 and reached several exciting benchmarks:

• Added new stations at Park City Hospital & Lincoln Station for a total of 23 stations
• The top 3 most popular stations were the Old Town Transit Center, Canyons Transit Hub, and New Park Plaza
• Summit Bike Share Riders burned 4.1 million calories, and rode over 74,000 miles over 17,976 rides

We can’t wait to kick off the 2025 season in a few short months!

TOPIC 5: High Valley Transit Open House
Do you have thoughts on how High Valley Transit can improve its service? Maybe it’s more frequent bus routes or expanded service to new areas that are currently hard to reach by transit?

Join the HVT team at their 2025 Public Meeting next week, Thursday March 6, at 6pm at the Summit County Health Department Building in Quinn’s Junction near the PC Hospital. The address is 650 Round Valley Drive. The meeting will be held in the downstairs conference room.

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Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six. Today, we dive into another legislative update, highlight adoptable animals at the Summit County Animal Shelter, and share some exciting volunteer-related news items. Alright, let’s get into the news! 

TOPIC 1: Legislative Update 

We are wrapping up week 5 of the Utah Legislature’s 2025 General Session. Deputy County Manager, Janna Young, was back in front of the County Council this week to discuss key bills Summit County is monitoring. We’ll discuss one of those bills here today, but if you want to listen to Janna’s full recap, please visit summitcounty.info/councilrecording. 

The main discussion regarding the Legislative Session at this week’s County Council meeting was about House Bill 356 which requires Counties with a Council-Manager form of government, like Cache County and Summit County, to have at least 65% of Council Members each representing a single district rather than be elected at-large. In Summit County, all of our County Council Members are elected at-large. 

As Summit County understands the bill language at this time, HB356 would mean that all five current county council member’s terms would end on December 31, 2026, and five newly elected council members would begin their terms on January 1, 2027. 

As we understand it, this bill intends to bring a stronger voice to rural parts of counties. However, the council pointed out that with at-large seats it is more likely to have broader representation. 

We’ll keep our listeners updated on this bill as it continues to move through the session. 

As a reminder, the General Session runs until March 7 which is one week away! Every week of the session, we’ll remind our listeners that you can watch the 2025 legislative session in real time through the online tool at le.utah.gov. Click on the “calendar” button then the desired meeting and the committee webpage will have links to materials and the audio/video recording. 

You can also follow individual bills and receive email alerts whenever action is taken on the measure. To sign up for alerts, visit le.utah.gov and click on the “Bills” tab at the top of the page to perform a bill request or keyword search. Once you’ve located the desired bill, click “Track this” or “Email notification.” The website for each bill also provides the bill text, status information, audio/video of any committee hearings or floor debates, and details on the bill sponsor.

TOPIC 2: Adoptable Pets

Summit County Animal Control would like to invite you to their shelter to visit with some of their current residents! These pups are all super sweet and would love to find their fur-ever homes. Come on by the shelter at 1745 S Hoytsville Road and meet any one (or all!) of these sweet animals that could be your new best friend. No appointment is necessary! Our shelter hours are Monday – Saturday: 10:30am-4:30pm. Questions? Call (435) 615-3985 or visit summitcountyutah.gov/animalcontrol. 

TOPIC 3: Volunteer Spotlight

We wanted to take a moment to share a VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT from our Senior Citizens Department! Meet Kate and Gale Pace! This husband and wife duo are the ultimate volunteers. Two times a week they pick up a Summit County resident at 5:30 am to drive them to their medical appointment. They wait five hours while the individual completes their appointment, then they take them home. In 2023 they made 87 trips for seniors in need of transportation to a medical appointment, and in 2024 they made 148 trips! Isn’t that amazing?!

That is just one of the many examples of Kate and Gale’s service to others. Thank you for supporting our community! If you are a Summit County resident and need a ride to a medical appointment, please reach out to our Senior Citizen Services department to inquire about the availability of volunteer drivers. We are always looking for MORE volunteer drivers to apply! For info about both our driving resources and volunteering, call: 435-336-3014 or visit summitcountyutah.gov/seniors. 

TOPIC 4: Volunteer Opportunities – Eastern Summit County Planning Commission

The Summit County Council is seeking two individuals to serve on the Eastern Summit County Planning Commission. The Commission meets on the first and third Thursday of each month.

 Interested citizens must be residents of the Eastern Summit County planning district for at least one year before appointment. The Commission’s role is to hear land use proposals and adhere to the Eastern Summit County Development Code.

A vacancy is published after a current member’s term expires. If eligible, the member can reapply. All term-expired members are eligible to reapply.

Interested applicants must submit their online application at: summitcounty.info/volunteer. For further information contact: Peter Barnes at 435-336-3129. The deadline for applications is 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

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Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! We have a quick episode for you today! We discuss week 4 of the Utah State Legislature’s 2025 General Session and then share some cool collaborations between the Summit County Sustainability Division and the Summit County Library. Alright, let’s get into the news! 

TOPIC 1: Legislative Update 

And, we’re back again with week 4 of legislative updates from the Utah State Legislature’s 2025 General Session! This week, Deputy County Manager, Janna Young, highlighted several bills the county is following on the hill. We’ll mention a few here today, but if you want to listen to Janna’s full recap, please visit summitcounty.info/councilrecording. 

Up first, Janna discussed a bill related to the Transient Room Tax. Details of the bill seem to be constantly changing, but in its most recent form there is potential for counties, like Summit, to use a portion of the revenues from the Transient Room Tax generated within their borders to spend on things like Search and Rescue, Emergency Medical Services, and, even, roads. Janna mentioned that if passed Summit County could explore using these funds for the Bus Rapid Transit, or BRT, project on SR-224. 

After that, Janna dove into a couple energy-related bills. 

• The first was House Bill 241 which prohibits solar development in the State of Utah on cropland, grazing land or forests and some other types of property. Some of the successful online and planned solar facilities in Utah couldn’t be built if they had to meet the requirements outline in the bill. As you know, Summit County, is already a part of a large-scale solar facility in Toelle County that supplies net 100% renewable energy for our county buildings and we have aggressive renewable energy goals that this bill would hamper.
• Up next, Janna talked about House Bill 249 which supports nuclear power development in the state. Summit County supports that, but there is language in the bill we object to. That language limits the ability of counties and cities to negotiate financial incentives for energy developments unless it is proposed in one of these to-be-established “electric energy development investment fund”. Also, for the tax incentives and tax increment financing negotiated, those benefits would flow partially to the state, not stay entirely within the local government. 

Every week of the session, we’ll remind our listeners that you can watch the 2025 legislative session in real-time through the online tool at le.utah.gov. Click on the “calendar” button then the desired meeting and the committee webpage will have links to materials and the audio/video recording. 

You can also follow individual bills and receive email alerts whenever action is taken on the measure. To sign up for alerts, visit le.utah.gov and click on the “Bills” tab at the top of the page to perform a bill request or keyword search. Once you’ve located the desired bill, click “Track this” or “Email notification.” The website for each bill also provides the bill text, status information, audio/video of any committee hearings or floor debates, and details on the bill sponsor.

TOPIC 2: Summit County Library x Sustainability Collaborations 

The Summit County Sustainability Department and the Summit County Library Branches have partnered to offer our community FREE resources to help their homes run more sustainably! 

If you’re interested in figuring out how your home may be wasting energy and money, you can now check out a FREE energy detective kit at any Summit County library! Whether you’re a homeowner or a renter, this interactive kit can help you find where energy and money are wasted in your home. A thermal camera, watt meter, smart plug, and refrigerator thermometer are included in the kit. For more information visit: summitcounty.info/energydetective.

And, if you need simple ways to improve energy and water efficiency in your household, all Summit County libraries are now offering FREE take-home conservation kits with items such as a toilet tank bank and weatherstripping foam, designed to save energy, water, and money! For more information visit: summitcounty.info/energydetective.

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Hey everyone and welcome back to Summit County News here on Summit in Six. Today, we’ve got some interesting findings based on community feedback from the General Plan updates, more info on the 2025 Legislative session and its impacts on Summit County and a reminder for Summit County Parents. Let’s get into the news!

GENERAL PLAN  UPDATES
Earlier this week, the Community Planning Department presented on the Eastern Summit County and Synderville Basin General Plan updates to the Council of Governments. Here’s what residents have told us so far in this process:

In Eastern Summit County, residents identified the following priorities:

Preserve open spaces for ecosystems & recreation:

• 79% of residents value open spaces for protecting natural ecosystems, wildlife, and water bodies
• 65% consider open spaces important for supporting local agriculture
• 56% want more spaces for passive recreation like bird watching and walking 
• Only 2% of residents consider their own homes as “development” that impacts open space 

Expand affordable housing options thoughtfully

• 53% support making apartments and condos available and affordable for community members 
• 75% support limiting short-term rentals in certain areas 
• 65% favor developing new housing near existing commercial areas and public facilities 
• Most residents want “Little Growth” or “No Growth,” yet the majority support more attainable housing 

And in Transportation & Economy, residents want to reduce traffic with smart planning, and support local businesses & small scale growth.

• 87% of residents drive alone when traveling within the community 
• 34% believe the region’s economy needs more diversification 
• The community prefers local small businesses over national chains 
• 66% say architectural style is the most important factor in commercial areas 

In the Synderville Basin, residents shared similar concerns:

Open Space for ecosystems and recreation is a top priority

• 82.5% value open spaces for protecting natural ecosystems, wildlife, and water bodies
• 60% love open spaces near their homes and neighborhoods 
• 76% feel the Basin is rural due to its mountain setting and preserved spaces 
• Only 5% consider their own homes as “development” impacting open space 

Housing & Development: Residents want more attainable options near transit and services

• 70% support development near public facilities and transit 
• 66% favor adding housing to existing commercial areas 
• 62% say more attainable housing is needed 
• 55% indicate a need for more single-family housing options 

Walkability, Transportation & Accessibility

• 87% currently drive alone in the community but many hope to rely less on cars
• 68% want to use public transit more 
• 55% would like to bike to local destinations 
• The community wants cars to have a less visual presence while maintaining access 

Community Character

• Local businesses preferred over national chains 
• 70% prioritize walkable commercial areas 
• Community service and volunteerism were highlighted as key values 
• 44% believe community boards need more diverse representation 

Want to stay involved or give your input? Visit summitcounty.org/GeneralPlans to share your feedback!

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
And now we’ve got a few updates on bills in this legislative session that could impact Summit County and Summit County residents. 

HB 332 – This would require the state to withdraw from ERIC (Electronic Registration Information Center), which acts as a clearinghouse for information on people moving from state to state within the U.S. for elections, ultimately reducing the accuracy of our voter roles. This bill is a concern with Clerks across the state who are working with the Lt. Governor’s office on it.

HB 342 – allows farming operations to compost animal waste without state oversight from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). 

HB 368 – Limits local land use restrictions, increases state oversight of zoning decisions and requires faster processing of development applications to reduce delays. This is a large bill (more than 7,000 lines) and the County is working to understand the impact it could have at the local level.

SB 197 – fully repeals the homeowner credit and replaces it with a tax deferral. The home owner credit is an option for individuals 66 years or older with an annual income of $40,000. Many Summit County residents utilize this program to keep their homes. Tax deferrals only pass the tax burden on to the heirs of the property.

As a reminder, you can watch the 2025 legislative session in real time through the online tool at https://le.utah.gov/. Click on the “calendar” button then the desired meeting and the committee webpage will have links to materials and the audio/video recording. 

You can also follow individual bills and receive email alerts whenever action is taken on the measure. To sign up for alerts, visit le.utah.gov and click on the “Bills” tab at the top of the page to perform a bill request or keyword search. Once you’ve located the desired bill, click “Track this” or “Email notification.” The website for each bill also provides the bill text, status information, audio/video of any committee hearings or floor debate, and details on the bill sponsor. 

SHARP SURVEY REMINDER
Hey Summit County parents of 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders! The Utah Student Health and Risk Prevention or SHARP survey provides the youth in our community a chance to share their voices on community climate, school safety, underage substance use, mental wellness, and more.

The survey is anonymous, voluntary, and confidential. Results are used by numerous local organizations that provide valuable services for our children. The Health Department asks that parents give permission and encourage their children to take the SHARP Survey this year. To help you and your child prepare, a frequently asked questions page is available at  https://summitcounty.info/SHARP25 

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Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six. This week, we’ll cover some key items from this week’s County Council meeting, including a weekly report on the Utah State Legislature’s General Session and an update on a Summit County housing authority for our community. Then, we’ll give a forecast from our friends over at UDOT Wasatch Back and wrap things up with some messages from the Summit County Health Department. Alright, let’s get into the news! 

Topic 1: Legislative Update 

On Wednesday’s County Council meeting, Deputy County Manager, Janna Young, reported on the activity happening at the Utah State Legislature’s General Session this week. 

Some key bills Janna highlighted were:

• House Bill 256 which is the short-term rental bill working its way through the legislature. In general, Janna noted that this bill could help the county because it would allow easier regulation of short-term rentals in Summit County.
• Another bill Janna highlighted was House Bill 300 which, if passed as currently written, would do away with the mail-in ballot voting option in the State of Utah as well as other voting-related stipulations. 90% of voters in Summit County choose to vote by mail which means this bill is concerning to Summit County as it would make voting more difficult and goes against the preferred method of voting for our voters.
• And there are two school-based health care services bills that could affect the County: House Bill 281, which would prevent the organizations the county contracts with to provide behavioral health services in our K-12 schools from providing those school-based services, and House Bill 102, which would defund health services in K-12 schools and would get rid of dual-language programs in our schools. Summit County is very concerned about these two bills and will continue to follow them closely.

For more details on the bills we’ve mentioned and other legislative updates, visit summitcounty.info/councilrecording and click item number 4 listed below the video. 

Interested citizens can watch Utah’s 2025 legislative session in real-time at le.utah.gov and click on the “calendar” button. Click on the desired meeting and the committee webpage will have links to materials and the audio/video recording. 

Additionally, the State Legislature’s website allows citizens to sign up to follow individual bills and receive email alerts whenever action is taken on the measure. To sign up for alerts, go to le.utah.gov, and click on the “Bills” tab at the top of the page. Then either perform a bill request or keyword search. Once you’ve located the desired bill, click on “Track this” or “Email notification” underneath the photograph of the bill sponsor. The website for each bill also provides the bill text, status information, audio/video of any committee hearings or floor debates, and details on the bill sponsor.

Topic 2: Housing Authority Update 

Before we dive into the Housing Authority update, for some context, the Housing Authority was created by the County Council on December 11, 2024. The purpose of the Housing Authority is to manage and provide affordable housing, especially for low- and middle-income families, located within the jurisdiction of the Authority. The Housing Authority boundaries are the unincorporated area of Summit County (no towns or cities are included in those boundaries).

At this week’s County Council meeting, draft bylaws for the Housing Authority were brought before the Council. There was a lengthy discussion regarding the terms and conditions related to the Board of Commissioners for the Authority – including how many commissioners should sit on the board, term limits for commissioners, the qualifications of commissioners, and the County Council’s involvement with the board and housing authority overall. 

Council requested that the Commission be comprised of: 

1. One member that lives in the North Summit School District
2. One member that lives in the South Summit School District
3. One member that lives in the Park City School District
4. Two County Council Members
5. One member who lives in deed-restricted housing
6. One member at large

Council also requested that Commissioners serve no more than three (3) consecutive terms, including portions of unexpired terms; and asked staff to draft preliminary interview questions for the potential commissioners and some recommendations regarding background.

If any of our listeners are interested in serving on the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, Summit County will advertise the vacancies at a future date on summitcountyutah.gov. 

TOPIC 3: Council of Governments Meeting Reminder 

Before we move on from our Council recap, we wanted to mention to our listeners that there will be a Council of Governments meeting next Tuesday, February 4. At the meeting the Council, along with each city mayor, will review and discuss feedback the Summit County Planning Department received from General Plan surveys that were administered to the community last year. The group will also review Transportation Sales Tax Revisions and a reprogramming request for the Old Ranch Road project as it relates to Transportation Sales Tax funding. 

The community is invited to attend this meeting in-person at the Council Chambers located within the Courthouse in Coalville (60 N Main Street, Coalville) OR tune in on Zoom at summitcounty.info/cogzoom (that’s cogzoom in all lowercase). The meeting will begin at 6 PM again on Tuesday, February 4. 

Topic 4: Weekly UDOT Update & Dashboard Reminder 

ICYMI: earlier this month, the Utah Department of Transportation (aka UDOT) launched UDOT Wasatch Back to bring increased communication to drivers traveling in Parleys Canyon and the Park City area.

UDOT Wasatch Back provides real-time updates and driver education on social media (@udotwasatchback on Instagram, Facebook, and X) and at wasatchback.udot.utah.gov. 

This week’s forecast from our friends at UDOT Wasatch Back is: 

Traffic will remain busy this weekend in and around Park City, especially with winter weather in the forecast. Make plans to carpool, or ride Park City Transit and High Valley Transit for free. Use public transit from the Ecker Hill (I-80) and Richardson Flat (US-40) Park & Rides.

Another weekend storm is on tap, with snow moving in late Friday through Sunday. Snow looks to return Wednesday, so expect increased weekday crowds at the resorts. Winter driving skills will be needed, check traffic cameras at wasatchback.udot.utah.gov. 

And Sundance wraps up this weekend, so expect crowds to die down Monday — but not for long. The FIS World Cup kicks off next Thursday at Deer Valley. Catch a free bus at Richardson Flat Park & Ride to avoid parking hassles.

Topic 5: Health Dept. Messages 

We’ll wrap things up today with a few messages from the Summit County Health Department! 

First up, is a call to Summit County parents of 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders! The Utah Student Health and Risk Prevention or SHARP survey provides the youth in our community a chance to share their voices on community climate, school safety, underage substance use, mental wellness, and more. The survey is anonymous, voluntary, and confidential. Results are used by numerous local organizations that provide valuable services for our children. The Health Department asks that parents give permission and encourage their children to take the SHARP Survey this year. To help you and your child prepare, a frequently asked questions page is available at  https://sumh.utah.gov/data-reports/sharp-survey/#survey-questions-and-privacy.  

Switching gears: the Summit County Health Department is holding a Stop-the-Bleed training on Feb. 12 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Downstairs Conference Room at their Park City Clinic (650 Round Valley Drive). This class is for anyone who would like to learn life-saving information. The course will be taught by Intermountain Healthcare and free tourniquets will be handed out after you complete the course. Email mrc@summitcountyutah.gov to reserve a space today! 

And, finally, January is Radon Awareness Month: Radon is an odorless, colorless, radioactive gas that can build up inside buildings and homes. Now is a great time to test for radon levels because windows and doors in your home are usually closed all day and that helps with a more accurate reading. Testing your home is the only way to know if radon levels are high which could cause an increased risk for lung cancer in you and your family. Test kits are available at ALL Summit County Health Department clinics. We have more info on how to test for radon in your home at summitcountyhealth.org.

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Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! This week, we dive into a quick preview of this year’s General Session of the Utah State Legislature. Then, we share some important public health information regarding norovirus including tips on how to help stop the spread. Finally, we wrap things up with a last call for community planning lab applications and surplus vehicle bids! Alright, Derek, let’s get into the news. 

TOPIC 1: LEGISLATIVE SESSION PREVIEW  

Earlier this week, on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, the general session of Utah’s 69th legislature began and will run until Friday, March 7, 2025. Over the next 45 days, Summit County will track activity at the State Capitol and provide updates to the County Council and to the public at the regularly scheduled weekly Council meetings. 

You can tune into those meetings every Wednesday on Zoom (https://summitcounty.info/councilzoom) or live on the Summit County, Utah Facebook Page. 

In case you’re wondering what the County’s areas of focus are for this session, key policy concerns relate to: 

1. Transportation. This includes securing support and funding for projects like the Kimball Junction/I-80 Interchange project, the SR-224 and Bus Rapid Transit or BRT project, and High Valley Transit’s Sego Lily Transit Campus and expansion plans.
2. Olympics Planning. The County is hoping to actively engage with the legislature and others to start planning for a 2034 Olympic Winter games, understanding the infrastructure needs, particularly around transportation, transit, solid waste, and sustainability measures, seeing this as an opportunity to use our community as a demonstration of innovation for the rest of the world.
3. Revenues for Counties. This includes looking for support from the legislature for counties to have access to revenue sources that cities do, particularly to fund infrastructure/capital projects. The county also hopes to stay engaged in the Transient Room Tax (TRT) conversations among legislative leadership to ensure the county’s revenues from this tax are preserved and the county has the flexibility to use its portion of the tax on tourism impacts.
4. Affordable Housing and Land Use. Summit County hopes the legislature will see the value of public-private partnerships between counties/municipalities and developers to negotiate affordable housing projects with significant public benefits. We will also continue to monitor land use bills that will likely be considered or move through the legislature this session and work to maintain the county’s authority to decide its land use locally. In addition, the county hopes to see a revision to the HTRZ statute to better fit with projects in Summit County and plans to request modifications to the Moderate Income Housing Plan statute so the county can receive credit for things it has done to encourage the development of affordable housing that do not count currently. Finally, we’ll follow and engage in the discussions about short-term rentals regulations.
5. Childcare. Summit County hopes the legislature will continue to fund start up partnership grants between employers and providers who want to expand childcare offerings in their communities. The county will also request state assistance to remove barriers to make it easier for employers to partner with providers and offer childcare benefit to employees, as well as request state funding for scholarships, grants, subsidies, or tax incentives to moderate- and low-income families to afford childcare. Finally, we’ll ask the legislature to continue to fund, and possibly expand, the Department of Workforce Services Childcare Assistance program.

We’ll continue to follow and report on the session’s progress, specifically as it relates to Summit County’s interests, each week right here on Summit in Six.  

TOPIC 2: NOROVIRUS

The Summit County Health Department wanted to share some information about Norovirus, as it’s a commonly spread virus this time of year that is very contagious and causes vomiting and diarrhea.  It is sometimes called the “stomach flu” or the “stomach bug.” However, norovirus illness is not related to the flu. The flu is caused by the influenza virus. Norovirus causes acute gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach or intestines. Most people with norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days; but they can still spread the virus for a few days after. 

Here are some ways to stop the spread of norovirus: Wash hands well with soap and water; hand sanitizer alone does not work well against norovirus. Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces. Do not prepare, handle food, or care for others when you are sick. Stay home when sick for 48 hours after symptoms stop.

If you are looking for more information on this topic, visit summitcountyhealth.org.

TOPIC 3: LAST CHANCE!  

And, last but not least, we’ll wrap things up with a last call for community planning lab applications AND surplus vehicle bids! 

The community planning lab is a 10-week course that can help YOU understand the processes that drive local planning and land use policy decisions. Learn more about the Community Planning Lab and apply today through this coming MONDAY, January 27 at summitcounty.info/planninglab. 

The Summit County Auditor’s Office is accepting bids to purchase county surplus vehicles. 

Check out the available stock at summitcounty.info/surplus. To place a bid, the online bidding form can be found in the description of each vehicle. Bidding concludes end-of-day also this coming MONDAY, January 27, 2025. 

The winning bid will be the highest reasonable bid submitted. If a tie occurs, the Auditor’s Office will accept the bid that was placed first. 

If you have any questions about how to bid or the process, contact the Summit County Auditor’s Office at (435) 336-3027 or auditor@summitcountyutah.gov.

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