June 7, 2024 – Council Approves Parameters Resolution to authorize Approximately $30M of Sales Tax Revenue Bonds, Childcare Needs-Based Scholarship Program Expansion, Cline Dahle Open House, and More!



WE COVER…

  • Council’s approval of a parameters resolution to authorize the issuance and sale of $30M in sales tax bonds for the Skullcandy Property
  • Childcare Needs-Based Scholarship Program Expansion
  • Upcoming Cline Dahle Open House
  • Dominion Energy News
  • June’s first Weed of the Month 

TOPIC 1: PARAMETERS RESOLUTION 

In case you missed it, in early May of this year,  Council voted to approve the execution of an agreement to purchase the facility known as the Skullcandy Building. The property includes a 45,000-square-foot facility located on

7.38 acres in the Kimball Junction area. The initial purchase price of the property is $17.5 million, with estimated renovation costs not to exceed $12.5 million for a total cost of $30 million. 

To finance the purchase and subsequent renovations, the County Council opted to issue sales tax revenue bonds. The county is using existing sales tax revenues to pay off any bonds issued. The County Council does not intend to impose additional taxes or increase sales taxes to acquire the property. 

In a few weeks, on June 26, the Council will hold a public hearing regarding the  Issuance and Sale of these bonds. The public will have the opportunity to comment on the proposal before any bonds are issued.

At this week’s Council meeting, the Council adopted a parameters resolution to authorize the Issuance and Sale of Approximately $30M of Sales Tax Revenue Bonds for this project. 

The resolution puts a cap on the amount of the bonds and the interest rates of the bonds. 

In other words, staff are allowed to pursue up to $30M in bonds. As the project moves forward, staff may or may not pursue that full amount, but they cannot go above the $30 million amount 

The resolution also: 

  • Caps the interest rates so as not to exceed 6.0%. 
  • Determines that the maturity of the bonds is not to exceed 21 years. 

We’ll be sure to keep our listeners informed about the June 26 public hearing in the coming weeks. 

TOPIC 2: CHILDCARE NEEDS-BASED SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM EXPANSION 

On Monday, June 4, Summit County, Park City Municipal and Upwards, a leading childcare network, announced the expansion of the Childcare Needs-Based Scholarship Program. This new chapter broadens the program’s geographical reach, to all those who live and work throughout Summit County, addressing the vital need for accessible quality childcare in the Wasatch Back.

In a press release, Council member Canice Harte said: “Summit County Council is proud to support this initiative to improve access to vital childcare services for our residents and workforce.This collaboration is an important foundation to address this vital need in our communities.”

The Summit County Program offers the following benefits, mirroring the pilot Park City initiative:

  • Needs-Based Childcare Tuition Scholarships: This program provides financial assistance to families with children up to kindergarten age. To qualify, at least one parent must reside or work within Summit County, and the total family income cannot exceed 100% of the Summit County Area Median Income (AMI).
  • Regulated Childcare Provider Incentive: This incentive program supports qualified caregivers who provide care for children enrolled in the DWS Childcare Assistance program in Summit County. 

Summit County scholarships and childcare provider incentives will be available on a first-come, first-served basis each month beginning now, in June 2024, and will be distributed directly to regulated child care providers by Upwards. Information on where to access full eligibility criteria and to sign up for the program can be found at summitcounty.info/childcare

TOPIC 3: CLINE DAHLE OPEN HOUSE

Summit County is hosting an open house for the Cline Dahle property near Jeremy Ranch Elementary. The open house is Thursday, June 13 from 5-7 pm at the Richins Building in Kimball Junction.

For some background, the Cline Dahle property is owned by Summit County and consists of approximately 15 acres of developable land located between Jeremy Ranch Elementary and the Summit Center on Rasmussen Road. 

The county is currently exploring many options for how the site could address community needs and enhance opportunities within the nearby neighborhoods.

This open house will help the county narrow the possibilities for the site to focus on what is most appropriate given the natural environment and surrounding areas. Now is the best time to get involved and share your ideas!

TOPIC 4: DOMINION ENERGY NEWS 

ABC 4 Utah reported Tuesday that “Dominion Energy is now operating as Enbridge Gas Utah as of June 1. The company says the change will be “seamless” to customers and they will be notified of any additional changes to come. Their website says gas and service rates, customer service numbers, and service programs won’t change due to the acquisition.”

TOPIC 5: JUNE WEEDS OF THE MONTH

June’s first Weed of the Month is Houndstongue! Houndstongue is a native of Europe. It thrives in disturbed soils along roadsides, trails, in pastures, and rangelands. Because of the bur-like seed, it spreads widely along travel corridors as a passenger on clothing or animal fur. It is toxic to livestock.

If you’re trying to spot houndstongue in your community, houndstongue is a 1-to-4 foot tall biennial. Leaves at the base of the plant are about 3-inches wide with a hairy surface. Upper leaves are more narrow, about 1-inch wide and have a curled appearance and partially clasp the stem. Small reddish purple flowers form in the upper portions of the plant along the stems. Each flower produces four green, bur-like fruits that turn brown as they mature. Bloom is in early summer.

Herbicides can offer good to excellent control when applied between the rosette and bloom stages for houndstongue. Digging before seed development can offer good control. For more information on Noxious Weeds in Summit County, please visit: summitcounty.info/idweeds