INTRO
Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! We hope all the area school districts had a great first week of school…and we are wondering to ourselves…”How is labor day weekend only one week away?”

In today’s episode, we are going to give a recap of this week’s County Council meeting, learn some details about the next installment of the Climate Change and Public Health Speaker Series, and hear from Dan Pena, County Weeds Enforcement Officer with information about our weed of the month!

Alright, let’s get into the news!

– Council Meeting Recap
First we have an update about the referendum related to the Dakota Pacific development, Summit County Council voted 4-1 to wait to repeal Ordinance No. 987 pending Judge Mrazik’s Third District Court ruling. The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, August 26th.
Keep updated about this issue by reviewing Summit County Council agendas and meeting minutes by visiting summitcounty.info/agendacenter

Sheriff Frank Smith made public his formal resignation effective September 5, 2025. After 45 years of public service, he is looking forward to beginning a new chapter of enjoying retirement with his loving and supportive family. In his announcement, Sheriff Smith endorsed Chief Deputy Kacey Bates to serve as Interim Sheriff.

– Climate Change + Public Health Speaker Series – Sept. 30
The Summit County Climate Change and Public Health speaker series is designed to elevate public health as a critical consideration of climate change action in Summit County. The speakers series aims to:

• Raise awareness on the local level about the impact of climate change on environmental, physical, and mental health in Summit County
• Identify community themes and possible strategies to enhance community and individual resilience, awareness, and preparation to the health effects of climate change

We wanted to let you know about our next event in the series coming up on Sept. 30 at the Kamas City Event Center (next to the Kamas rodeo grounds).

The event is titled, “The Air We Share: Changes in local air quality and how it impacts your health”.

At this event, you will learn how:

– Nature, humans, and a changing climate affect air quality
– Bad air days negatively impact our health + what we can do

Details and registration at summitcountyhealth.org/speakerseries 

– Weed of the Month: YELLOW STAR THISTLE
[Bridget] Up next is a segment we like to call Weeds of the Month! In the studio with us today is the Summit County Weed Enforcement Officer, Dan Pena, to talk about Yellow Star Thistle. So, Dan, why is it important to talk about Yellow Star Thistle right now? 

[Dan] So this is about the time of the year you would treat for Yellow Star Thistle. We don’t have a lot of it in our county, so we’re always looking to make sure it’s not having an outbreak somewhere. That’s why I always put it in the Weeds of the Month during August, because if someone finds it, we want to know about it. 

[Bridget] And, what is the best control method for Yellow Star Thistle if you do find it here in the county? 

[Dan] I found that herbicide works probably the best on this. You can pull it. It is a perennial plant, so you do need to get as much of that root as you can. I would say tillage or herbicide would be your option for Yellow Star Thistle. 

[Bridget] And, herbicide is something your team provides to residents of Summit County, right? 

[Dan] Yes. You can visit our shop, where we sell herbicides at cost. We also loan out equipment free of charge. You have two weeks to use it. When you visit the shop, we’ll do our best to provide you with the best options for treating the noxious weeds on your property. 

[Bridget] Awesome, and if our listeners want to know more information about the herbicide or the spray loaner program, they can visit bit.ly/sprayrentals. Alright, Dan, so if our listeners want more information, specifically on Yellow Star Thistle, where should they go? 

[Dan] They can visit our website at summitcounty.info/idweeds. There are really great pictures and descriptions of the plant on there. You can also always talk to me, Dave, or Juan (one of the guys who sprays for our county – you’ve probably seen him out and about). We’ll always try to give you the best solution for your problem. 

[Bridget] Yeah, I can tell you from firsthand experience, this team is a great resource for you to take advantage of if you want to figure out the best ways to treat noxious weeds on your property. Dan is there anything else you want to add here? 

[Dan] Like I said, we’re always ready to talk to our community and help you find the best solution for your property – whether that’s herbicide, hand pulling, tillage, or more creative solutions like biocontrol, grazing, and so much more. Please reach out or come by the shop! 

[Bridget] Ok, so in addition to just being a great resource our community can call on, you also are also really focused on education opportunities. Can you tell us about anything that’s coming up? 

[Dan] We’ll be having our annual Noxious Weed Tour for the fall here on September 6 – that’s a Saturday. Please come out, ask us questions (we love getting the questions) and we’ll help you find the best solution for your noxious weeds woes. 

[Bridget] Yeah, that tour is a great event to tap into. There will be partners like Swaner, Basin REc, USU Extension, and even Utah’s leading biocontrol expert, Amber Mendenhall at the tour here in September. It’s a great event for residents to join because noxious weeds are a community problem that we’re tackling together! Alright Dan, well thank you so much for being here. I think that’s it for today! 

[Dan] Thanks for having me!

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Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! A new school year is just around the corner, and we’re wondering how summer has passed so quickly.

In today’s episode, we are going to cover the results from primary elections, a few updates from this week’s county council meeting, a heads-up on road construction for I-80, and a deep dive into one of the noxious weeds that plagues Summit County. Alright, let’s get into the news!

TOPIC 1: Primary Election Results

The 2025 Primary Elections took place earlier this week on Tuesday, August 12. Preliminary results as of Wednesday afternoon, August 13, are available through the Summit County Clerk’s Office at: summitcounty.info/2025primaries.

The canvass for the Primary Elections will take place on August 26, 2025, at the entity holding the election, so at Coalville City, Henefer Town, Francis City, and Park City. Our listeners should check their municipality’s website for canvass information.

As a reminder, a canvass is when the governing body of the entity holding an election receives the election results, examines them, and decides whether to approve them as final or request more information, clarification, or documentation. Once approved, the results of the election for that entity are final.

If you’d like to view preliminary results or find out more about the election process, go to summitcounty.info/2025primaries.

TOPIC 2: County Council Updates

At Wednesday’s county council meeting, the work session began with interviews for two candidates to fill vacancies on the Summit County Arts & Parks Advisory Committee (also known as the RAP Tax Cultural Committee).

Joe Frazier, Summit County historian and Oakley City councilman, joined Vincent Novak, a community resident and former member of the committee whose term recently expired. After discussing their qualifications and their ideas for the RAP Tax committee, both candidates were approved by council later in the meeting.

Council also heard from Jess Kirby and Rachael Brard of the County Lands and Natural Resources Department. Kirby and Brard asked the council members to approve changes to the term length of members sitting on the Open Space Advisory Committee. The proposed changes would stagger the terms of board members and allow a couple members currently serving to extend their term for a year or two.

The Open Space Advisory Committee receives recommendations and makes evaluations of properties that the county might acquire for open space, conservation easements, or constructing recreational amenities or environmental and wildlife mitigation measures.

Formerly, the advisory board served as a liaison between regional groups representing North, South, and West Summit County, respectively. However, to simplify the process, the regional groups will be dissolved and the advisory committee will be required to have 3 representatives from each region on the committee.

If you’re interested in learning more about how locals can shape open space preservation in the county, visit: summitcounty.info/osac. The county ultimately approved the suggested amendments to term limits.

Brard and Kirby also provided an update in the ongoing acquisition of the 910 Ranch property. They presented a Baseline Documentation Report that details the ecological condition of the property at the time a conservation easement is established. The conservation easement allows the county to outline certain allowed activities on the property (like recreation, research/education, forest management and grazing) while restricting further development and things like motorized use, deforestation, drone flights, etc.

Council acknowledged the hard work that our county lands staff and state officials have poured into the project, and ultimately accepted the Baseline Report unanimously. If you’d like to know more about the 910 Ranch, go to summitcounty.info/910ranch.

TOPIC 3: UDOT Maintenance on I-80

We have some more updates for ongoing road construction on I-80 between Kimball Junction and Silver Creek. Night owls may have experienced lane closures in the past week while crews worked in the dark. The overnight lane closures will start again on Sunday, Aug. 17 and run through Friday, Aug. 22.

During this time, I-80 will be reduced to one lane for either eastbound or westbound traffic alternating each night on the east half of the project area (closer to US-40).

Later next week — as early as Thursday, Aug. 21 — the US-40 on and off-ramps at Exit 146 will temporarily close overnight for paving. The closest detour will be through Kimball Junction at Exit 145. Finally, beginning as early as Sunday, Aug. 24, crews will be working on the shoulders during daytime hours. Drivers can expect alternating eastbound and westbound shoulder closures as crews install guardrail and the concrete barrier.

To see a map of the project area, visit udotinput.utah.gov/pavingi80 or call (435) 565-6070 for questions. To avoid delays in the project area, we recommend you:

• Plan ahead
• Travel before or after the construction work hours
• Use alternate routes when possible.

Please note that nightly lane closures may still be in place on I-80 during regular work hours. Drivers should expect minor travel delays and follow the posted signage and traffic control.

TOPIC 4: Weed of the Month — Canada Thistle

Up next is a segment we like to call Weeds of the Month! In the studio with us today is Summit County Weed Enforcement Officer, Dan Pena, to talk about Canada Thistle. So, Dan, why is it important to talk about Canada Thistle right now?

Well, right now is actually the best time to be treating this plant. It’s a perennial plant, so the best way to treat this plant is by using a herbicide because you want to get down into those roots. Canada Thistle has a really extensive root system, and if you don’t get all of the root system, most of the time they will come back. That’s not to say you’re going to wipe it out in one shot, but you’re going to put a pretty good dent in it the first year as long as you can time it correctly.

Ok, so herbicide right now, so we’re in mid to late August, is the best way to control this plant. Where can people get the herbicide to tackle this weed on their property?

So that’s a great question. The county offers a loaner program, so you can get the herbicide from us as well as loaner equipment. You have up to two weeks to use the loaner equipment, and then we’ll start harassing you for our equipment back.

And you can get all those details on both the herbicide and the loaner program at bit.ly/sprayrentals. So Dan if our listeners want more information on Canada Thistle, summitcounty.info/idweeds is still the best place to go, right?

Absolutely, or you can even try to contact me, Dave, even Juan, he’s one of our sprayers out and he talks to the public quite frequently. Just let us know what kind of weeds you got, and what kind of issues you’re dealing with, and we’ll try to come up with a solution.

And, even though herbicide is often one of the most effective control methods for these plants, that’s not the only tool in your toolbox right?

No, like I said we’re always ready to talk to our community and find the best solution for your property – whether that’s herbicide, hand pulling or tillage, or more creative solutions like biocontrol, grazing, and so much more. Please reach out anytime or stop by the shop, and find more info at summitcountyutah.gov/weeds.

Yeah, I can speak from first hand experience this team is a GREAT resource for you to take advantage of if you have noxious weeds on your property. They’ve taught me so much!

We are really focused on education. In fact, twice a year, we host a Community Noxious Weeds Tour, visiting sites around Summit County to show how to identify and control specific weeds. Partners like Swaner, Basin Rec, USU Extension, and Utah’s biocontrol expert, Amber Mendenhall, join us. It’s a great event for residents to join because noxious weeds are a community challenge, and we’re tackling them together.

The Community Noxious Weeds Tour is my favorite event of the year! Our next one is right around the corner on Saturday, September 6. If our listeners want more information on that tour, visit summitcounty.info/weedstour25. Alright, I think that’s it for now. Thanks for being here today, Dan, and for sharing all your knowledge on noxious weeds.

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Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! Today, we 1) cover the latest on the Beulah Fire, 2) give a quick update on districting here in Summit County, 3) talk about some important primary election information, 4) and so much more. Alright, let’s get into the news!

TOPIC 1: Beulah Fire 

The latest update we have on the Belulah Fire as of 3:30 PM today, Friday, August 8, 2025.

The Beulah Fire was reported the morning of Thursday, August 7, 2025 and is burning on the north slope of the High Uintas Wilderness on the Evanston-Mountain View Ranger District. The fire, estimated to be 1,400 cares, is located 7.5 miles southeast of the Bear River Ranger Station on Highway 150. There are critical fire weather conditions in effect for today, Friday, August 8th. The area is experiencing high winds and very low relative humidity. Fuel conditions are at critically low levels. Yesterday, firefighters observed erratic and extreme fire behavior. Initial attack and air resources responded to the incident. Campers in the East Fork of the Bear River, Mill Creek, and the West Fork of the Blacks Fork areas were evacuated by the Summit County Sheriff. Firefighter and public safety are the number one priority. Approximately, 140 people are working on the fire with resources engaged in full suppression activities. Today, crews will be focused on structure protection in the Hinkley Boy Scout Camp and mapping the fire perimeter. Challenges to firefighters include steep rocky terrain, accessing the fire, and fire weakened and standing dead trees.

This morning, on Friday, August 8, the Uinta Wasatch Cache Forest put Stage 1 Fire Restrictions in place. This means that on Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest land: 

• Fires are only allowed in Forest Service-made fire pits or approved gas/liquid stoves in cleared areas—NO open fires or charcoal fires allowed outside those designated spots. Rock fire rings are NOT allowed.
• Smoking is NOT allowed unless you are in enclosed spaces (like a car or building) or clearings at least 3 feet wide.

As a reminder, ALL UTAH STATE LANDS AND UNINCORPORATED SUMMIT COUNTY LANDS have Stage 2 restrictions are in place. THIS MEANS NO OPEN FIRES OF ANY KIND. 

• To clarify: If you live within a city’s limits you are incorporated in Summit County. Residents of Park City, Henefer, Oakley, Francis, Kamas, Coalville cities should check their municipal websites for more clear restrictions.
• If you are NOT within a city’s limits, you live in unincorporated Summit County and NO open fire is allowed.

For the latest information during wildfires, please visit summitcounty.info/emergency. Visit summitcounty.info/fire to sign up for emergency alerts, active fire updates, fire conditions & more.

TOPIC 2: Districting Commission

Also this week, on Monday, August 4, the Summit County Districting Commission approved new districting map boundaries. To view the new district map, visit summitcounty.info/districtsmap. As a reminder, the change in districts is a result of House Bill 356, which mandated that Summit County transition from an at-large election system to district-based representation. 

TOPIC 3: Elections Info

The 2025 Primary Elections are NEXT WEEK, on Tuesday, August 12! As a reminder, there are races for the Coalville Mayor and City Council, Henefer Mayor, Francis City Council, and Park City Council. 

Let’s recap all the ways YOU can cast your ballot: 

• Early Voting: The last day to cast your vote early is TOMORROW, Saturday, August 9, at Park City Hall OR the Summit County Courthouse in Coalville from 8 AM to 1 PM.
• By Mail: You can return your ballot by mail. As a reminder, due to legislation passed by the Utah Legislature, ballots must be RECEIVED by the Clerk’s Office by 8 PM on Election Day (Tuesday, August 12, 2025). In the past, ballots had to be postmarked the day before Election Day. Voters should be aware of the shorter timeline to return their ballots.
• Drop Box: You can also utilize drop boxes for the 2025 Primary Elections. For a full list of available drop box locations, please visit summitcounty.info/2025primaries.
• In-Person Voting: Finally, in-person voting on Election Day, Tuesday, August 12, will be available! Cast your vote anytime between 7 AM and 8 PM at Coalville City Hall, the Kamas Branch of the Summit County Library, or at Park City Hall/Marsac Building.

Please note: if you or a loved one are temporarily or permanently disabled and need an accommodation to vote, please call 435-336-3040 or email elections@summitcountyutah.gov. 

TOPIC 4: County Fair 

And don’t forget, the annual Summit County Fair is in full swing this week! Tickets are still available for the PRCA Rodeo events happening TONIGHT, Friday, August 8  and TOMORROW, Saturday, August 9. There are also a ton of free events, including the parade, livestock show, live music, and more. For a full schedule and links to tickets, check out summitcountyfair.org/schedule. 

TOPIC 5: Back-to-School Vaccination Reminders

Up next, with school right around the corner, the Summit County Health Department wants to remind parents to check that their child’s vaccines up-to-date so that they are protected and ready to learn! 

The Health Department is committed to providing affordable immunizations to clients at all of our clinics, offering immunizations for insured and uninsured individuals. For those that qualify, the vaccines are low to no cost.

Call a Health Department Office today to make an appointment.

• For Coalville, call: 435-336-3234.
• For Kamas, call: 435-783-3161.
• For Park City, call: 435-333-1500.

TOPIC 6: August is Overdose Awareness Month

Finally, August is Overdose Awareness Month. Overdose affects more people than you might think.

An overdose happens when someone takes more of a substance than their body can handle—this could be anything from alcohol to street drugs to prescription medications. It’s not just about illegal drugs; even medications prescribed by a doctor can be dangerous if misused.

What’s one big risk factor? Tolerance. When someone builds up a tolerance to a substance, they need more of that drug or alcohol to feel the same effects. But using more can push the body past its limit—sometimes with deadly consequences.

It doesn’t take long to become dependent on a substance, either. In just 5 to 7 days, someone can start down the path toward addiction. Here’s a shocking fact: according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 80% of heroin users started with a prescription opioid.

So, what can you do to help prevent overdoses?

• Safely dispose of medications you’re no longer using. Click here for drop-off locations in Summit County.
• Keep prescriptions locked up or out of reach—half of all misused prescriptions are taken by friends or family.
• Talk to your doctor about non-opioid options for managing pain—for yourself and your loved ones. Visit knowyourscript.org for tips and resources on how to be safe and keep your loved ones safe.

Every action counts. Let’s work together to raise awareness and save lives.

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Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! We’ll cover election news and early voting, preview some property tax info you may receive in the mail soon, warn about fire danger, and talk about the county fair and Dakota Pacific development.

Alright, let’s get into the news!

— Topic 1: Election Info

Attention Summit County Voters! The 2025 Primary Elections are under two weeks away! The primaries this year include races for Coalville Mayor and City Council, Henefer Mayor, Francis City Council, and Park City Council.

Did you know? When you vote early you ensure that school, work, long lines, or a bad commute on Election Day won’t stop your ballot from being counted.

Here in Summit County, you can vote early by dropping your ballot in a dropbox. Dropbox locations for the primaries can be found at summitcounty.info/2025primaries.

Early in-person voting will also be taking place next week, from Wednesday, August 6, 2025 through Saturday, August 9, 2025 Park City Hall and the Summit County Courthouse

Like we’ve mentioned in previous episodes, due to legislation passed by the Utah Legislature, ballots must be RECEIVED by the Clerk’s Office by 8 PM on Election Day (Tuesday, August 12, 2025). In the past, ballots had to be postmarked the day before Election Day. Voters should be aware of the shorter timeline to return their ballots. Just another reason voting early makes sense!

Again, find more information on the 2025 Primary Elections at summitcounty.info/2025primaries.

— Topic 2: Notice of Valuation (Property Taxes)

Summit County Residents should keep an eye out for their Notice of Valuation statement, which is sent through the mail by the Auditor’s Office annually on or before August 1 (TODAY)!

There is a 45-day window of opportunity to review your property valuation with a deadline to appeal by September 15, 2025.

As a taxpayer, you should be watching for market changes, check whether your property is coded correctly, and look up which exemptions, if any, may be applicable.

Questions on property valuation info? Visit summitcountyassessor.org.

For questions on how to appeal your property’s value through the Board of Equalization, visit summitcounty.info/boe.

— Topic 3: EXTREME Fire Danger and Stage 2 Restrictions

As of Friday, August 1, hot and dry conditions across the county have raised the fire danger to “EXTREME.” That means fires will start and spread rapidly, and every fire start has the potential to become large.

Stage 2 Fire Restrictions go into effect statewide today (8/1/25) for all unincorporated and state lands in Summit County.

As opposed to Stage 1 restrictions where fires are allowed in campground, picnic areas, and improved fire pits, now there should be NO OPEN FIRES OF ANY KIND on state and unincorporated lands.

Devices using pressurized liquid or gas fuels with a shut-off valve (like stoves, grills, or lanterns) are allowed when used at least 3 feet away from flammable material.

All other restrictions from Stage 1 remain in effect and can be reviewed at utahfireinfo.gov.

Visit summitcounty.info/fire to sign up for emergency alerts, active fire updates, fire conditions & more.

— Topic 4: Summit County Fair

The county fair has returned! The festivities kick off at 10 am on Saturday, August 2, with an open horse show at the Peoa Arena.

Later that day at 5 pm, come enjoy live music and sample delicious food from vendors at the county fairgrounds (located at 202 E Park Rd in Coalville). There will also be a free foam cannon, free axe throwing, and a free bounce house!

Next week, there will be 4H competitions, livestock shows, home goods and art exhibitions, a carnival, and of course the rodeo! For a complete schedule and more details, visit summitcountyfair.org/schedule.

And, if you want to skip the hassle of finding parking or waiting to exit the fairgrounds during a rush, you can ride your bike to the fair and enjoy a free bike valet August 7, 8, and 9.

So come out to Coalville this weekend or stop by next week and don’t miss this one of a kind celebration of all things Summit County!

— Topic 5: Dakota Pacific development approved according to state mandate

Following the process outlined in Senate Bill 26 from the 2025 legislative session, Summit County has approved an administrative development agreement for the Dakota Pacific Real Estate project in Kimball Junction.

This allows Dakota Pacific to move forward with their plans for an 885-unit, mixed-use development that would also include a new transit center, commercial spaces, and parking structure as part of a public-private partnership.

The formal design plans and payment contributions from Dakota Pacific, High Valley Transit, and Summit County will now be negotiated over a 180-day period following this approval. Over the years, Summit County has integrated resident feedback into the project design by reducing density, seeking traffic solutions, and advocating for community features.

Kimball Junction has been at the center of several announcements in recent months: a draft plan for traffic improvements was released by UDOT in April, the county announced plans to relocate their library and some civic offices to the Skullcandy building last week, and now the Dakota Pacific development approved this week will bring more changes. Stay tuned for updates and news across the county!

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Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six!
In today’s episode, we are going to cover elections info and give a little upcoming events roundup! Alright, let’s get into the news.

– ELECTIONS INFO
Attention Summit County Voters! Ballots for the 2025 Primary Elections were mailed this week, so keep an eye out in your mailboxes! The primaries this year include races for Coalville Mayor and City Council, Henefer Mayor, Francis City Council, and Park City Council. Our listeners can learn more about the 2025 Primary Elections, including when, where and how to vote, at summitcounty.info/2025primaries.

Legislation passed by the Utah Legislature has brought some important changes related to voting and elections that we wanted to highlight for voters.

First, ballots must be RECEIVED by the Clerk’s Office by 8 PM on Election Day (Tuesday, August 12, 2025). In the past, ballots had to be POSTMARKED the day BEFORE Election Day. Voters should be aware of the shorter timeline to return their ballots.

Second, voters will notice a line on their ballots where they can opt in to receiving ballots by mail going forward. After 2029, voters will need to opt in to receive mail-in ballots. You won’t just automatically receive one anymore. The Summit County Clerk’s Office is giving voters a chance to opt-in early.

The final change voters might notice on their ballots is a section to put their driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security Number. By 2029, these numbers will be the only way to match each ballot with each voter — replacing signature verification.

If you have any questions about these changes, please don’t hesitate to reach out at elections@summitcountyutah.gov.

– Summit County Fair Begins August 2!
The Summit County Fair is held annually during the first full week of August. It’s a traditional small town county fair with cowboys and bucking broncos, a carnival midway, beauty queens, home canned goods, flowers, vegetables, and more. Events are held throughout Summit County and the home base is quiet, scenic Coalville, Utah. Visit summitcountyfair.org for more details and a full schedule of events.

Bike Valet at Fair (NEW THIS YEAR!)
Ride your bike to the Fair and save yourself the trouble of parking thanks to a free bike valet from  August 7–9! If you live within biking distance of the fairgrounds, we hope you’ll consider visiting the fair on two wheels. Help us make the fair more convenient and enjoyable than ever!

Enjoy this new perk thanks to a team-up between Summit Bike Share and the Sustainability Division of Summit County Health Department. The valet service will allow attendees to safely and securely store their bike while they enjoy the festivities. Just drop off your bike with county staff directly across from the Ledges Event Center, and retrieve it when you’re ready to leave!

Using the bike valet will cut down on traffic, make coming and going a breeze, and support an active and sustainable lifestyle. Plus it’s fun for the whole family!

— One Book, One Community
Join Summit County Library and Park City Library at the culmination of their “One Book, One Community” program for 2025!

Listen to author John Valliant talk about his book, “Fire Weather,” next week on Tuesday, July 29 at 7:00 p.m. in the Jim Santy Auditorium at Park City Library (1255 Park Ave.). There will be a Q&A and book signing after the presentation. The book details the devastating Fort McMurray fire in 2016, and delves into the human and environmental factors that have accelerated the frequency and destruction of wildfire.

“Fire Weather” was named best book of the year for 2023 by the New York Times, Washington Post, TIME, and more! It was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award in Nonfiction.  We hope you’ll join us for this special opportunity to hear from the author. Special thanks to Friends of the Park City Library, Friends of the Summit County Library, and Dolly’s Bookstore.

— Fire Danger Very High
High temps and scant rain mean no relief from the threat of fire. Summit County is currently at “Very High” fire danger and Stage 1 restrictions are in place for all municipal, state, and county lands in Summit County.

For all things wildfire, including emergency alerts, active fire updates, fire conditions & more, visit summitcounty.info/fire to sign up for notifications and information.

– Family Movie Night in Coalville this Saturday

Join Summit County Health for a fun and relaxing evening at the Ledges Event Center with a FREE outdoor movie for the whole family!

Movie: “The Day the Earth Blew Up” (Looney Tunes)

Details: Family Picnic with food trucks: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Movie starts at 7:00 PM

Where: Ledges Event Center: 202 Park Rd., Coalville, UT

What: Bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Free dinner and popcorn provided.

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Hi everyone and welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! We’ve got some updates about the County’s lease agreement with the Skullcandy Building at Kimball Junction, an update on wildfire conditions and resources, voting info and more! Let’s get into the news.

— Topic 1: Skullcandy Lease

Summit County signed a new lease agreement with Skullcandy, Inc. allowing the company to vacate its current headquarters by the end of September 2025. This milestone clears the way for the County to move forward with its vision to transform the building into a landmark government facility in Kimball Junction.

The building, purchased earlier this year for $17.5 million, will eventually house a range of County services and offices, including a library branch, DMV operations, County Council meeting space, conference rooms, and other public-facing programs.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a vibrant, accessible, and modern civic hub in the Snyderville Basin,” Summit County Manager Shayne Scott said. “We’re excited to build a space that reflects the County’s commitment to service while making essential programs more accessible for residents.”

At this time, Summit County does not intend to relocate services from the County Courthouse in Coalville. Only services and offices currently located in the Snyderville Basin will transition to the new Kimball Junction facility. Planning and design for the transformation is actively underway.

In addition to the Skullcandy building acquisition, community infrastructure investments, like a new regional transit facility on the site of the Sheldon Richins Building are also planned, with demolition of the Richins Building scheduled to begin within the next year. These improvements are part of a broader county-wide facilities plan in development, which also includes future updates to county facilities in North and South Summit.

— Topic 2: Fire Danger Very High

It’s no secret that it’s been hot and dry lately. Due to extended high temperatures and low moisture, Summit County’s Fire Danger Level has increased to Very High. As a reminder, Stage 1 Fire Restriction is in place for all municipal, state, and county lands in the county.

For all things wildfire, including emergency alerts, active fire updates, fire conditions & more, visit summitcounty.info/fire to sign up for notifications and information.

— Topic 3: Clerk’s Office Tests Voting Equipment

Every election, the Summit County Clerk’s Office hosts a Logic and Accuracy Test, which is an important step to ensure that the election and voting equipment are functioning as expected and accurately count votes as marked.

The Logic and Accuracy Test for August’s Primary Elections will take place this coming Monday, July 21 at 10 AM. The test is open to public observation, and County Clerk, Eve Furse, and her team will be available to answer questions. Join them!

Again, that’s on Monday, July 21, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Clerk’s office in the Summit County Courthouse (60 N. Main Street, Coalville, ). Want more information on the upcoming primary elections? Visit summitcountyutah.gov/elections.

— Topic 4: I-80/HWY-40 Paving Project

The work suspension for the I-80 Kimball Junction to U.S. Highway 40 Paving project will now extend through Monday, July 28, to allow a nearby project on I-80 in Parleys Canyon to wrap up. During this time, no construction or lane closures will take place on I-80 between Kimball Junction and US-40. This approach will minimize traffic impacts for through traffic on I-80.

Construction activities and nightly lane closures will resume in this area the night of Monday, July 28. For any questions or concerns, please call 435-565-6070 or email pavingi80@utah.gov.

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Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six. Today, we’ll recap this week’s county council meeting, talk about the most recent development on the Dakota Pacific Real Estate application, share some wildfire preparedness information, and, finally, we wrap things up with some community engagement opportunities either coming up or happening now. Alright, let’s get into the news! 

– Topic 1: Council Recap 

Despite some technical difficulties, this week’s County Council meeting moved forward with the ratification of certified tax rates for taxing entities across Summit County. While the county has 34 taxing entities in total, only 21 are required to come before the County Council for rate certification.

As a reminder, certified tax rates are determined based on overall property values in Summit County. When property values increase, the certified tax rate decreases to make sure that revenue remains stable. If the County wants to increase its revenue, it must go through the Truth in Taxation process. The rates certified by the Council this week are based on 2025 property valuations.

It’s important to note that while the revenue remains steady, individual tax bills can still fluctuate depending on how a property’s assessed value has changed. Some property owners may see increases, while others may see decreases. These changes are driven by property values, not the tax rates themselves.

Most taxing entities saw little to no change in their rates from last year. County Auditor Cindy Keyes flagged two notable exceptions: the Snyderville Basin Cemetery District, which is a new taxing entity this year, and Service Area 8, which experienced a significant rate reduction.

For those interested in reviewing the newly certified tax rates, visit summitcounty.info/25taxrates. 

– Topic 2: Update on DPRE Application

Also this week, the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission forwarded a positive recommendation to the Summit County Manager for the Dakota Pacific Real Estate Agreement. As a reminder, the final land use authority now rests with the Manager because Senate Bill 26 shifted this from a legislative to an administrative process. Summit County Manager, Shayne Scott, could make a decision on the agreement at a public hearing as early as July 28. We’ll be sure to keep the community informed on details as they become available. 

– Topic 3: Wildfire Preparedness 

With the Woodland 35 Fire sparking along Highway 35 near Woodland earlier this week, we wanted to remind our listeners of how to stay informed and safe during wildfire season. During active emergencies, like a wildfire in Summit County, you can find the latest updates at summitcounty.info/emergency. Stay up to date with active fires, red flag warnings, and more by following us on social media. We’re @summitcountyut on Facebook, X and Instragram. You can also text SCFIRE to 91896 to receive this information straight to your phone. 

– Topic 4: Food Waste   

Did you know? Food waste takes up nearly 50% of the air space at Summit County landfills, which is both costly and environmentally harmful.

As part of the County’s commitment to responsible waste management and sustainability, we’ve teamed up with the Park City Community Foundation to expand participation in the Zero Food Waste initiative, which aims to eliminate food waste from the local landfills by 2030.

With the new incentive program, new residential customers in Summit County will receive free weekly curbside food waste collection from Momentum Recycling through the end of 2025. Existing customers can also benefit, receiving two months of free service for every successful referral to the program.

Give a scrap and learn more at: parkcitycf.org/curbsidecollection. 

– Topic 5: Logic and Accuracy Test  

In just under two weeks, the Summit County Clerk’s Office will be hosting a Logic and Accuracy Test for the 2025 Primary Election. The Logic and Accuracy Test ensures that the election and voting equipment function as expected and accurately count votes as marked.

The test is open to public observation, so join County Clerk, Eve Furse, and her team on Monday, July 21, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at their office in the Summit County Courthouse (60 N. Main Street, Coalville, UT).

– Topic 6: Summit Arts Market

If you want to experience great art, music, and food this weekend, stop by the Summit Arts Market on Saturday, July 12th, from 10 am – 6 pm at the Oakley Red Barn!

Summit Arts Market is an annual summer art event in Oakley that promotes local artists and cultivates collectors living on the eastern side of Summit County. Almost 40 creatives will showcase their work in all kinds of visual arts: from sculpture and painting to jewelry-making and photography.

Attendance is free, and we encourage those interested to stop by and appreciate the talents of our local artists! While there, you can also:

• Enjoy live music from the bands Shannon Runyon & Three Kings, River Trip, and the Silver King Rocking Company.
• Try a variety of dishes from local food trucks
• Shop for handmade goods and collect fine artwork

Summit Arts Market is one of the longest running programs of the Arts Council of Park City and Summit County. The arts council is committed to supporting local arts through programs and events that benefit artists, residents, and visitors. If you would like to know more about the market or the arts council, visit: pcscarts.org/summit-artsmarket.

Remember: Summit Arts Market on Saturday, July 12, at the Oakley Red Barn. We’ll see you there!

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Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! We’re looking forward to celebrating Independence Day this weekend and we hope you have a safe and fun holiday!

In today’s episode, we’re going to cover ongoing fire restrictions, guidelines from Animal Control on pets and fireworks, the Zero Food Waste initiative, and the application window for nonprofit grants. Alright, let’s get into the news!

— Stage 1 Fire Restrictions

Due to increasing fire activity and rising fire danger, Stage 1 Fire Restrictions have expanded to include all state and unincorporated lands across Utah beginning June 28, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. There are currently no restrictions for the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest as of July 3.

In addition to state and unincorporated lands, every municipality in the county except for Henefer has adopted Stage 1 fire restrictions.

The following acts are prohibited under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions:

• No open fires of any kind except within established public Facilities in improved campgrounds, picnic areas -OR- in permanently constructed fire pits at private homes where running water is present.
• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, trailer or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area that is paved or free from dry vegetation.
• Discharging or using any fireworks, tracer ammunition or other pyrotechnic devices including exploding targets.
• Cutting, welding or grinding metal in areas of dry vegetation.
• Operating a motorcycle, chainsaw, ATV, or other small internal combustion engine without an approved and working spark arrestor.

Any of the above acts are a violation of state law and punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. These restrictions will be enforced by county law enforcement.

As the Fourth of July holiday approaches and fire conditions remain dangerous, remember to practice Fire Sense. Anything that makes a spark can start a fire! Only build campfires in established rings and never leave a fire unattended if coals are too hot to touch.

Text SCFIRE to 91896 for updates on Summit County’s fire outlook, Red Flag Warnings, fire conditions, prescribed burns & more.

— Protect Your Pets From Fireworks

With the abundance of fireworks in the month of July, Animal Control would like to share some tips on how to help your furry friends stay safe and comfortable!

First, prepare in advance:

1. Make sure all your pets are wearing their ID tags and confirm the information on them is current.
2. Take a clear, current picture of all your pets.
3. Make sure your home and yard are safe and secure for your animals.

During fireworks displays or when fireworks are likely to go off nearby, you can help pets in the following ways:

• Leave your pets at home. Keep them safely tucked away in a safe/familiar room or in their crate.
• Take them for a walk or play their favorite game beforehand to tire them out.
• Give your pet a new treat or toy to help distract them from all the celebration activities.
• Make sure all doors and windows (including blinds and curtains) are shut. You can also leave the TV on to mask the noise.
• Keep sparklers, glow sticks, and fireworks away from pets.
• After celebrations conclude, check your yard for any debris before allowing pets outside.

Animal Control would like to wish all residents and local pets a happy and safe Independence Day!

— Zero Food Waste Initiative

Did you know? Food waste takes up nearly 50% of the air space at the Summit County landfill, which is both costly and environmentally harmful.

As part of the County’s commitment to responsible waste management and sustainability, we’ve teamed up with the Park City Community Foundation to expand participation in the Zero Food Waste initiative, which aims to eliminate food waste from the local landfill by 2030.

With the new incentive program, new residential customers in Summit County will receive free weekly curbside food waste collection from Momentum Recycling through the end of 2025. Existing customers can also benefit, receiving two months of free service for every successful referral to the program.

Give a scrap and learn more at: parkcitycf.org/curbsidecollection.

— Nonprofit Grant Applications Now Open

Summit County is now accepting applications from nonprofits for Fiscal Year 2026 grant funding. The Summit County Non-Profit Entities Grant Application and grant policies can be found at summitcounty.info/grantinformation.

Some criteria that will be used to evaluate applications are as follows (in order of priority):

• Does the nonprofit fulfill one or more of the County’s core governmental functions (such as supporting police, fire, water, sewer, roads, public health, etc.)
• Does the nonprofit fulfill one or more of the policies within the Snyderville Basin and Eastern Summit County General Plans?
• Does the nonprofit fulfill one or more of the County Council’s goals?
• Has or will the nonprofit received funding from the County’s Restaurant and/or RAP Tax Funds?

Possible grant funding for 2026 is not guaranteed, and the amount of granted funds is subject to revision by the County Council.

The deadline for the grant application is 5:00 PM, Thursday, July 31, 2025. Applications must be submitted online. If you have any questions, please contact Annette Singleton at 435-336-3025.

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Hi everyone, welcome back to another episode of Summit in Six. With the first full week of summer almost behind us, let’s get into the latest news. We’ve got fire outlook information, construction updates, a resolution against the sale of public lands, and more!

— Support of Utah Public Lands County Council Resolution

Utah Senator Mike Lee’s proposal to sell public lands has made waves around the state and country. This week, the topic came to County Council.

Council unanimously adopted a resolution in “strong support for the continued federal management and stewardship of public lands within Summit County.”

Summit County is home to a significant portion of public lands, which make up almost 40% of our county’s total area. The public lands are integral to the county’s economy, environment, and quality of life and provide essential resources, including grazing lands for agricultural operations, habitats for wildlife, and opportunities for outdoor recreation.

As an example, the Mirror Lake Highway, a world-renowned destination in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, sees two million visitors each year.

Across the state, the 2023 U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis found that outdoor recreation in Utah contributed $9.5 billion to the state’s GDP, supported nearly 72,000 jobs, and generated $4.3 billion in wages.

Megan McKenna, the County Council member who brought the petition for the Council’s consideration said the following: “Not only are we telling the residents of Summit County that we represent them and their values but hopefully it will inspire other counties and municipalities to do the same,” 

While council members pointed out that the initial language regarding the sale of public lands was pulled from the budget bill, it is anticipated this proposal will resurface in some format in the coming days.

— Referendum Petition Results

On Monday, June 23, Summit County Clerk Eve Furse provided a final update and certification of the Ordinance 987 referendum petition, declaring the numbers insufficient to add it to the November 2025 ballot.

This petition was an effort to put the Dakota Pacific development agreement decision for its “tech park” in Kimball Junction on the ballot for Summit County voters. The development agreement was previously approved 4-1 in a vote by Summit County Council.

After extensive review, the Summit County Clerk’s Office verified 3,214 signatures for the Ordinance 987 referendum petition.The total number of verified signatures required was 4,554.

The petition also did not meet the required number of signatures for three of the four Voter Participation Areas, falling short in all four.

As announced in February, the Clerk’s Office was unable to verify a number of packets because they had not been bound as a unit throughout the petition process in alignment with state statute. Signatures that were unreadable, duplicative, undated, and not matching, along with signers who were not registered voters, had a different address than their voter records, or lived outside of Summit County could not be counted.

In the time since Ordinance 987 was passed, Dakota Pacific Real Estate (DPRE) applied for an Administrative Development Agreement to implement modified zoning provided by Senate Bill 26. Passed during the 2025 General Session of the Utah State Legislature, Senate Bill 26 allowed DPRE to obtain a change of zoning, a change of approval process, and an additional funding source for the development, which could render Ordinance 987 irrelevant.

— Old Ranch Road Construction Closures

Due to increasing safety concerns—particularly as construction activity intensifies in the coming months—crews have made the difficult decision to close Old Ranch Road to all recreational bicycling and pedestrian traffic. This closure is effective immediately and will remain in effect for the duration of the project (estimated September 15, 2025).

This also includes the dirt path on Quarry Mountain Road that is also part of this project. For more information & details on this project, please visit summitcounty.info/oldranch25.

— Statewide Fire Restrictions & Summit County Fire Danger moves to “High”

With hotter weather returning and vegetation drying out, Summit County’s Fire Danger Level has moved from Moderate to High.

Due to increasing fire activity and rising fire danger, Stage 1 Fire Restrictions have expanded to include all state and unincorporated lands across Utah beginning June 28, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. There are currently no restrictions for the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest as of Friday, June 27.

In addition to state and unincorporated lands, Park City, Coaville, and Henefer have enacted or will soon be enacting fire restrictions within city limits. At this time, we are not aware of any restrictions pending or in place with Oakley, Kamas, or Francis.

You can learn more about what is included in Stage 1 Fire Restrictions by clicking the alert bar for Fire Restrictions at our website, summitcountyutah.gov.

As the Fourth of July holiday approaches and fire conditions remain dangerous, remember to practice Fire Sense. Anything that makes a spark can start a fire! Only build campfires in established rings and never leave a fire unattended if coals are too hot to touch.

And don’t forget, you can text SCFIRE to 91896 for updates on Summit County’s fire outlook, Red Flag Warnings, fire conditions, prescribed burns & more.

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Today’s the Summer Solstice: traditionally the “first day of summer” and the longest day of the year. That means we can expect temperatures to steadily rise over the next few weeks and we should prepare for potential wildfires!

This week’s episode covers the current fire danger, promotes upcoming community events, recaps the development of new voting districts, and warns about an ongoing outbreak of bark beetles in Summit Park.

Alright, let’s get into the news!

– Summit County Fire Danger Increases to “Moderate”

With the lack of rain and increasing temperatures drying things out over the past week, Summit County’s Fire Danger Level has increased from Low to Moderate. As a reminder, the following activities are prohibited in Western Summit County:

*No open fires of any kind except within established public facilities in improved campgrounds, picnic areas -OR- in permanently constructed fire pits at private homes where running water is present.

*No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, trailer or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area that is paved or free from dry vegetation.

*No discharging or using any fireworks, tracer ammunition or other pyrotechnic devices including exploding targets.

*No cutting, welding or grinding metal in areas of dry vegetation.

*No operating a motorcycle, chainsaw, ATV, or other small internal combustion engine without an approved and working spark arrestor.

Visit summitcountyutah.gov and click the fire restriction alert at the top of the page to see a map of the restricted area.

Text SCFIRE to 91896 for updates on Summit County’s fire outlook, Red Flag Warnings, fire conditions, prescribed burns & more.

– One Book, One Community

Speaking of wildfire, this year’s focus for the One Book One Community partnership between Summit County Library and Park City Library is the appropriately titled “Fire Weather” by John Vaillant.

There are several community events spreading awareness of the dangers of wildfire and educating the public on fire trends leading up to a book signing and author’s visit on July 29th.

On Saturday, June 28 from 10 am to 1 pm there will be a safety fair at the Information Center Parking Lot (1794 Olympic Parkway in Park City). Organizers include Park City Fire District, Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Summit County Health, both library systems, and more! There will be free kids activities, food trucks, prizes, and crafts to promote community safety and fire awareness.

On Monday, June 30 starting at 6 pm there will be a public lecture on “Learning to Live with Wildland Fire on the Wasatch Back” hosted by Park City Library in their community room (1255 Park Ave). Listen to presenter J. Bradley Washa, assistant professor of wildland science and expert in wildland fire management from Utah State University.

Come check out these great events and get in the know about wildland fires! Everybody has a role to play in preventing human-caused fires and making our community more fire-safe.

– Districting Commission Holds First Meeting to Draw New Voting Lines

County council didn’t meet this week, but one development local residents should know about is the first meeting of the Summit County Districting Commission. To comply with the requirements of Utah House Bill 356, Summit County must divide its population into voting districts of roughly equal population.

Each district will elect a representative to sit on the county council and this new system will replace the current “at-large” system where all five seats on the county council are open to and voted on by residents throughout the county.

To decide how the voting lines are drawn, the council created a districting commission composed of mayors from all six municipalities in the county plus the mayor of Hideout (since they annexed land in the county in 2024) and one representative for unincorporated areas in serving as the commission chair.

At their Monday meeting, the commissioners began drawing preliminary maps using school district boundaries and existing voter precincts for local offices. That means trying to keep communities and municipalities intact as much as possible.

The “magic number” for each district is a population of about 8,500, with a 10% margin either way to accommodate the aforementioned restrictions. For example, the commissioners plan for now is to leave the South Summit School District as its own district: and it has a total population of around 8,980.

North Summit would need to absorb some of the population in unincorporated Snyderville Basin, and Park City municipal boundaries may serve for its own district given the relatively high population density. The remaining two districts would divide the remaining unincorporated areas in northwest and central Summit County.

The districting commission will meet again on July 17 from 6-8 pm, with at least five more meetings scheduled between the 17th and their deadline to present a final proposal on Oct. 1. Information about the location and format of future meetings will be available at https://summitcounty.info/agendacenter.

– Douglas-fir beetle outbreak

We want to once again remind our listeners that you can help us curb an outbreak of destructive bark beetles in Summit Park!

Earlier this year, foresters discovered a cluster of dead and dying Douglas-fir trees off Matterhorn Dr in Summit Park. The affected trees were discovered on privately-owned vacant lots and a small portion of open space. 

The county lands and natural resources department is teaming up with the local HOA as well as state forestry experts to notify homeowners in the surrounding area and stop the infestation in its tracks.

Join us for a Douglas-fir beetle education and mitigation workshop at 385 Matterhorn Dr on Thursday, June 26 from 46 pm. Hear from PJ Abraham, northern area forester, and Colleen Keyes, forest health coordinator with the Utah Division of Forestry Fire and State Lands.

Participants will learn how to:

• Identify Douglas-fir trees and their bark beetles
• Spot signs of beetle damage on trees
• Manage affected trees
• And prevent future attacks

The workshop will conclude with a question-and-answer session. Summit Park HOA is able to provide a non-toxic pheromone repellent to homeowners. The repellant is proven effective at protecting healthy trees from beetle attacks.

 If you live in or near Summit Park, we hope you’ll attend and learn how to protect the trees on your property and warn your neighbors about the dangers of the bark beetle. If you’d like to learn more and get involved, visit summitcounty.info/foresthealth

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