Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! This week, we’ll kick things off with a recap of the June 4 County Council meeting, which included discussions on Richardson Flat environmental clean up efforts and federal funding cuts & impacts. Then, we’ll talk about an upcoming open house for the SR-32 Corridor and City Centers Plan, and wrap things up with some news from Summit County Animal Control. Alright, let’s get into the news!
– Topic 1: Council Recap
- Richardson Flat Site
Staff from the Environmental Protection Agency were in front of the council this week to talk about the Richardson Flat remediation efforts. Our area is known for its rich mining history, and while its important to honor that history, some of the artifacts it left behind are harmful to both our environment and bodies. The EPA reported that there are about 1 million cubic yards of tailings spread between Richardson Flat and Prospector, including materials like zinc and arsenic, and so they’ve been researching and analyzing possible alternatives to “clean up” this area and make it safer for all who live and recreate in it.
Now that the EPA’s assessment phase has concluded, they came to council to give our community a heads up that they’d be releasing their findings in the form of a Engineering and Evaluation Cost Analysis or EECA document sometime in the coming months. This document summarizes their findings and proposes a more specific plan for removal of these harmful contaminants.
There will be a public comment period for our community to give input on the proposed removal plan, that will also include an open house.
We’ll make sure we keep you up-to-date on when that engagement opportunity arises as this process continues to move forward. Like we said, the EPA staff estimated its likely to begin within the next few months.
In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more or sign up to receive emails on this topic, please visit summitcounty.info/richardsonflat.
- Federal Funding Cuts & Impacts
County Lands and Natural Resources Director Jess Kirby and Health Director Phil Bondurant were in front of the council this week to present on how projected federal funding cuts will impact the work their teams do here in Summit County.
For County Lands and Natural Resources, the main challenge federal cuts are likely to impose are increased wildfire risk and decreased recreation management.
The current administration’s shift toward ‘Sound Forest Management’ promotes expanded logging and streamlined permitting processes. It is important to note that the Summit County logging industry is a vital component of our economy and rural livelihoods, and it can play a constructive role in forest management and wildfire risk reduction. However, it is essential to recognize that not all logging practices contribute equally to wildfire mitigation. Scientific evidence shows that while targeted thinning and fuel reduction can reduce fire intensity, large-scale or mismanaged logging may inadvertently increase fire risk, degrade ecosystems, and undermine long-term forest resilience. As grant programs increasingly favor projects aligned with timber production and economic development, this potentially sidelines key factors like public safety, climate resilience measures, and habitat conservation efforts.
At the federal level, there also appears to be a growing emphasis on public-private partnerships in place of a federal-centric workforce. The recent administration’s workforce reductions have had a significant impact on recreation management and wildfire response capacity across federal land management agencies. Locally, the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest has faced a 10% reduction in force, mainly within recreational and administrative roles. Seasonal wildfire staff, who play a crucial role in clearing hazardous fuels and assisting with initial attack efforts, have been drastically reduced due by hiring freezes and budget cuts. While core firefighting crews were largely retained, the support staff—including those responsible for logistics, communications, and coordination—have been cut, forcing frontline personnel to take on additional duties. This shift will increase the risk of delayed or less effective wildfire response, especially during peak fire season. Additionally, the inability to fund programs and hire seasonal staff will result reduced maintenance of trails, campgrounds, and recreation sites, delay or cancel contracts that carry out essential services like trash removal and restroom maintenance, and potentially close or restrict access to popular public lands due to lack of staffing.
While there are no guarantees or concrete answers in place right now, the Lands and Natural Resources Department plans to adapt new funding/grant strategies to better align with the new narrative at the federal level, continue to strengthen their partnerships locally and throughout the state, and identify ways to fill gaps with existing resources especially in times of emergency.
For the Health Department, as of May 22, 2025, the federal government has proposed roughly $80 billion in cuts to the public health system. Locally, that would leave the Summit County Health Department with only 63% of its anticipated budget is secure to provide staffing and programming to our community. Again, not much is clear and things continue to change regularly, but the Health Department leadership is committed to navigating these unknown waters is a productive and strategic way. One key step they’ve taken is writing to our state representatives as they begin to prepare for the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process. Specifically, Health and County leadership wrote to John Curtis to ask for support in maintaining funding for:
- Medicaid funded programs administered by local health departments
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funding passed through to counties for critical programs
- Health and Human Services (HHS) programs that directly support county-level public health initiatives
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA) programs that directly impact vaccine preventable diseases, especially those in our children and vulnerable populations
These funding streams enable counties like ours to provide critical services to our residents-ranging from maternal health to infectious disease control, chronic disease prevention, and emergency preparedness. They also support essential programs such as:
- Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutritional assistance
- Behavioral and mental health services
- Substance use prevention and treatment
- Early prevention and intervention programs
- Environmental health initiatives including air and water quality monitoring
- Outreach and care coordination for vulnerable and underserved populations
While this isn’t the best news, and can feel scary, please know county staff are working tirelessly to stay on top of the latest information so that we remain strategic and poised to serve Summit County well. We’ll be sure to keep our community updated on how the budgeting process and federal funding cuts may impact us.
– Topic 2: SR-32 Planning Open House
The SR-32 Corridor and City Centers Plan team wants your feedback on ideas for the future of the SR-32 highway in Kamas Valley.
Join the planning team at their open house on Monday, June 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Summit County Library Kamas Branch Auditorium.
The planning process started in October of 2024 with stakeholders from three cities (Oakley, Kamas, and Francis) met with officials from Summit County, Utah Department of Transportation, and the Mountainland Association of Governments.
The goal of the planning process is to maintain SR-32’s critical function as a regional connection while making the cities’ downtown areas more pedestrian friendly and accessible.
Following Monday’s open house, the study will continue to run through summer and into fall and will likely include more opportunities for public engagement and input. Find out more online at: SR32.org.
– Topic 3: Love ‘Em and Leash ‘Em
Summit County Animal Control wants to reward responsible pet owners! From June through September, animal control officers will be on the lookout for residents who are walking their dogs on a leash.
When they spot a responsible pet owner, they will stop and ask for some basic information about you and your dog. Your name will then be entered into a monthly raffle drawing for a chance to win a prize. The program is called “Love ‘Em and Leash ‘Em.”
As a reminder, according to Summit County code, when a dog is not contained on private property, it must be on a leash, lead, or on an electric collar with a leash on the person at all times — unless in a designated dog exercise area.
Trust us: Animal Control would much rather be entering more people in a raffle for responsible pet ownership than write more citations for dogs off-leash.
Remember to “Love ‘Em and Leash ‘Em” and you might be the lucky pet owner who will be rewarded for helping keep our community safe and enjoyable for everyone!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download