Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! While we had a crazy cold snap earlier this week, it looks like summer is here to stay!

In today’s episode, we are going to go over primary election day next week on Tuesday, June 25th, the weeds of the month for June, the Zero Waste Food Compact, an upcoming event with Recycle Utah in Oakley, and some wildfire prevention tactics.

Alright, let’s get into the news!

June 25 Primary Election
Let’s talk about some important information for the upcoming Primary Election happening THIS COMING TUESDAY, June 25! Early voting began this week! Summit County voters can still vote early today, June 21, Saturday, June 22 and on Monday, June 24. For locations and hours, please visit summitcounty.info/earlyvoting.

• If you plan to vote by mail, ballots must be postmarked by Monday June 24, 2024, the day before Election Day.
• If you plan to vote using a drop box, ballots must be in a drop box on or before 8:00 p.m. June 25, 2024, Election Day. For a list of dropbox locations, visit: summitcounty.info/dropbox.

And, finally, if you plan to vote in-person on election day, June 25, you can do so from 7 AM – 8 PM at Coalville City Hall, Park City Hall (the Marsac Building), the Kimball Junction Branch of the Summit County Library, and at the South Summit Services Building in Kamas. A list of these locations can be found at summitcounty.info/votinglocations.

Please be aware that as the June 25 Primary Election approaches, voters can only vote in ONE party’s primary election. Each ballot is assigned a unique ballot number, which is connected to a specific voter. The Summit County Clerk’s Office will count the first ballot they receive from you. If a second ballot is received, it will alert the Clerk’s Office that you have already voted. The second vote will not be counted, and the Clerk’s Office will notify the Sheriff that you attempted to vote twice (which is illegal).

Weed of the Month
Another Weed of the Month for June is Garlic Mustard! Garlic Mustard is native to Europe and is found in deciduous forests and wetlands, along roadsides, and in disturbed areas like new construction zones. It thrives in shady sites, and can form dense areas covered by the weed. Garlic mustard is especially harmful to our community because it chemically inhibits the growth of other nearby plants, including our beloved aspen stands, not to mention it is toxic to some native butterflies.

If you’re trying to spot Garlic Mustard in your community, look out for a plant that is up to 4-feet tall. Its rosette leaves have a rounded kidney shape, and its mature leaves are arrow shaped with unevenly toothed margins. Branch tips produce clusters of four-petaled white flowers, and narrow seed pods grow upright from the stalk. Seeds are sticky when wet, and can remain viable for 5 years in the soil. Finally, when a garlic mustard plant is broken or smushed, parts of it can actually smell like garlic!

For control, hand-pulling or digging before seed production is effective, but make sure to  completely remove roots and destroy plants that have seed pods. Cutting stems at ground level prevents seed production. Herbicides can also be effective.

For more information on Noxious Weeds in Summit County, please visit: summitcounty.info/idweeds.

Zero Food Waste Compact
What we eat and how that food is grown is not the only connection between our food systems and our health – what happens with our food scraps and leftovers after a delicious meal is part of the picture too! Get involved in the local movement to eliminate the food waste that winds up in the Summit County landfill by signing the Zero Food Waste Compact and, if you live in zip codes 84098 and 84060, consider signing up for curbside food waste collection. Keep in mind: discounted rates for this collection service are available for folks that need it. The compact and food waste collection programs are part of the Park City Community Foundation’s Zero Food Waste initiative, which our Health Department and County at large supports.

July 9 Green Drinks
Mark your calendars for Recycle Utah’s next “Green Drinks” on July 9 @ 6pm at 3 Springs Ranch in Oakley! What’s “Green Drinks”, you ask? Green Drinks is a Recycle Utah-sponsored event which originated in 2016. It aspires to educate adults about our environment including recycling, energy and water conservation, local food systems and more. At the July 9th event, attendees will learn about numerous local farms and food-related businesses so we can all be better at buying local! Please carpool if possible. This family-friendly event is also “bring your own picnic”. Sign up TODAY at summitcounty.info/greendrinks.

Wildfire Prevention Tactics
Temperatures are rising, and summer is in full swing. As of Thursday, June 20th, the Summit County Fire Warden has designated our area to “Moderate” fire danger. The warm dry weather of the past few weeks have contributed to this increased level of wildfire risk. Do your part to be Fire Wise and practice your #FireSense.
Just one more thing to share related to wildfire risk and our role as humans in preventing it: According to the National Park Service, nearly 85% of wildland fires in the United States are caused by humans. This includes fires that are unintentional, unwanted, or escaped, such as campfires left unattended, debris burning, and discarded cigarettes. Other causes include malfunctioning electrical equipment and arson.

In the words of Utah Fire Info “You know the fire drill, let’s help protect Utah’s great outdoors”– and communities!

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Today we have some information around some upcoming roads projects, the conversation about Lake Rockport Estates Request to connect with Mountain Regional Water, a reminder for The Eastern Summit County General Plan Open House, and some information on the upcoming June 25 Primary Election. Let’s get to it!

Upcoming Roads Projects
It’s no secret in Utah that if it’s not ski season, it’s road projects season! We want to give our listeners a heads up about a big project along US-Hwy 40 beginning Monday, June 17 and continuing through the fall. 

If you are familiar with the massive backup that happens on the southbound I-40 off ramp at exit 2 then you know the area we are talking about, and our engineering and transportation planning teams have been hard at work to remedy that with a new roundabout on the West side of the overpass that connects the Silver Creek Village/Home Depot area and the Trailside neighborhood/Highland Drive area. Most drivers have become accustomed to the temporary traffic signals that have been there since the fall. This roundabout will replace those stop lights and improve traffic circulation.

Summit County received the go ahead from UDOT this week to begin construction on this new roundabout on the West Highland Drive side of the I-40 overpass. So beginning next Monday, June 17, drivers exiting Southbound I-40 at Exit 2 will be guided slighting to the east side of the existing offramp. Traffic shouldn’t be significantly impacted. Drive with caution and obey all signage. We’ve had 6 messaging boards up in the affected areas over the past few weeks to alert travelers about the upcoming construction. If you can avoid driving through this area at peak times, please do so.

Lake Rockport Estates requests to connect with Mountain Regional Water
In Wednesday’s Council meeting, Mountain Regional Water General Manager Andy Garland brought a proposal from the Lake Rockport Estates Board of Trustees requesting a connection of the two water systems.

To provide some background, Lake Rockport Estates was established in 1971 as a seasonal summer cabin community. The water system at the time was designed for seasonal use only.

As growth happened over the past decades, including a spike in occupancy due to the pandemic in 2020, well production failed to keep up with increased full-time residency in the area.

After securing a $3.65 million loan, Lake Rockport Estates completed a new well in February 2024 that was expected to generate 100 gallons per minute. Unfortunately, the source is only producing 21 gallons per minute, leading to the request to connect to Mountain Regional Water’s system.

Connecting the two systems poses a number of challenges and would require an overhaul of the entire Rockport Estates system costing millions of dollars. In addition, annexation into the system would also require 100% of the Lake Rockport Estates landowners to approve the connection unless Council is willing to consider a forced annexation.

Eastern Summit County General Plan Open House
Summit County is hosting a second public open house in Kamas to gather the public’s input as the Planning Department prepares to write a new General Plan for Eastern Summit County.

Tuesday, June 18 at the Kamas Library/ South Summit Services Building from 6-8 pm.

The General Plan is a comprehensive plan addressing the present and future needs of our communities. It is also an advisory document for land use decisions made by the planning commission, county council, and county staff.

The goal of the Eastern Summit County General Plan is to use information gathered during the 2023 visioning process to create a specific, actionable, and usable plan. Staff will update policies, objectives, and strategies based on community feedback.

Feel free to show up at any time during the 2-hour block. We hope to see you there!

June 25 Primary Election Info
Let’s talk about some important information for the upcoming June 25 Primary Election!

Early voting begins next week! Summit County voters can vote early from Thursday, June 20 through Saturday, June 22 and on Monday, June 24. For locations and hours, please visit summitcounty.info/earlyvoting.

If you plan to vote by mail, ballots must be postmarked by June 24, 2024, the day before Election Day.

If you plan to vote using a drop box, ballots must be in a drop box on or before 8:00 p.m. June 25, 2024, Election Day. For a list of dropbox locations, visit: summitcounty.info/dropbox.

And, finally, if you plan to vote in-person on election day, June 25, you can do so from 7 AM – 8 PM at Coalville City Hall, Park City Hall / the Marsac Building, the Summit County Library – Kimball Junction Branch, and at the South Summit Services Building in Kamas. A list of these locations can be found at summitcounty.info/votinglocations.

Please be aware that as the June 25 Primary Election approaches, voters can only vote in ONE party’s primary election. Each ballot is assigned a unique ballot number, which is connected to a specific voter. The Summit County Clerk’s Office will count the first ballot they receive from you. If a second ballot is received, it will alert the Clerk’s Office that you have already voted. The second vote will not be counted, and the Clerk’s Office will notify the Sheriff that you attempted to vote twice (which is illegal).

June’s second Weed of the Month is Leafy Spurge!
What is this history of Leafy Spurge?
A native plant of Eurasia, Leafy Spurge is an aggressive invader of pastures, rangeland, stream banks, and waste areas. It reproduces by seed and rootstock. It is toxic to cattle and may result in their death.

What does Leafy Spurge look like?
This creeping herbaceous perennial plant grows up to 3-feet tall. The leaves are narrow, and 1-to-4 inches long. In late spring, yellow-green flower bracts appear, which cup tiny, inconspicuous flowers that develop in early summer. Seeds are contained in a three-celled capsule, with one seed per cell. When dry, capsules can shoot seeds up to 15-feet from the parent plant. Stems exude a milky fluid when damaged. An extensive root system, up to 20-feet long and more than 14-feet deep with multiple shoot-producing buds makes this plant very difficult to control.

What is the best way to control Leafy Spurge?
Biocontrol is extensive and control is fair to excellent. Herbicides can offer fair to good control, especially when combined with biocontrol. Apply herbicides from spring to the killing frost.

For more information on Noxious Weeds in Summit County, please visit: summitcounty.info/idweeds.

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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.  

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WE COVER…

• Upcoming open houses for the Eastern Summit County General Plan Update process
• Important information regarding your ballots for the upcoming primary elections
• Information on some of Summit County’s most-wanted noxious weeds! 

TOPIC 1: UPCOMING OPEN HOUSES 

Summit County is holding two public open houses in Kamas and Coalville to gather the public’s input as the Planning Department prepares to write a new General Plan for Eastern Summit County.

The General Plan is a comprehensive plan addressing the present and future needs of our communities. It is also an advisory document for land use decisions made by the planning commission, county council, and county staff.

The goal of the Eastern Summit County General Plan is to use information gathered during the 2023 visioning process to create a specific, actionable, and usable plan. Staff will update policies, objectives, and strategies based on community feedback.

The first open house is Tuesday, June 4 at Ledges Event Center from 6-8 pm.

The second is Tuesday, June 18 at the Kamas Library/ South Summit Services Building from 6-8 pm.

Feel free to show up at any time during the 2-hour block. Presentations will be the same at both events.

TOPIC 2: 2024 PRIMARY ELECTION

Heads up Summit County Voters! Your ballots for the June 25 Primary Election will be mailed NEXT WEEK on Tuesday, June 4. Local voters should have their ballots around June 7. Learn more at summitcounty.org/elections OR if you have questions you can contact the Summit County Clerk’s Office directly at elections@summitcounty.org.

TOPIC 3: COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT  

The Summit County Health Department officially launched its Community Health Assessment! This is a survey that is run every five years and gathers data on social and economic factors such as education, transportation, housing, and healthcare access, that impact the lives of our residents.

We know you might be tired of taking surveys, but this is an important opportunity to share your experiences to help shape future health programming and initiatives, lending our health professionals perspective on gaps in services provided in Summit County.

Take the 15-minute survey today, and help us build a healthier community for all! Visit summitcountyhealth.org/cha24 for more information.

TOPIC 4: MAY WEEDS OF THE MONTH

Welcome to a new segment we’ll be introducing this summer: Weeds of the Month! During this segment, we’ll cover one or more of Summit County’s most-wanted noxious weeds.  

May’s Weeds of the Month are Dyers Woad, Hoary Cress, Myrtle Spurge, and Black Henbane. 

For images of all of May’s Weeds of the Month at various stages of their growth as well as information on how best to control them on your own property, please visit  summitcounty.info/idweeds. 

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WE COVER…

• Some opportunities for a virtual birding class with the County Lands and Natural Resources Department
• Upcoming Open Houses for the Eastern Summit County General Plan 
• Community Health Assessment is now LIVE and we need your help taking this survey 

TOPIC 1: Virtual Birding Course
Are you interested in learning how to spot and identify local birds? Want to learn more about local avian wildlife? Summit County’s Lands & Natural Resources Department is teaming up with some of their awesome volunteers to bring the community a virtual birding program. We highly recommend attending our “Virtual Introduction to Birding” next Wednesday, May 29 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. as a precursor to future in-person events the department will be holding on the 910 Ranch. More information at: summitcounty.info/virtualbirding

TOPIC 2: Proclamation Declaring June as Pride Month
During this week’s council meeting, LGBTQIA+ Taskforce members Kris Campbell and Virginia Solomon recited a proclamation recognizing June as Pride Month. Here is an excerpt from the proclamation which was approved by Council:

“Pride Month serves as a reminder of how much we have to celebrate, and should prompt us to never let up in our efforts to ensure full equality, inclusion, and empowerment for every member of our LGBTQ+ community, and all communities.

LGBTQ+ Pride month is the positive stance against discrimination and violence toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus (LGBTQ+) people; promotes their self-affirmation, dignity, and equality rights; increases their visibility as a social group; builds community; and celebrates sexual diversity and gender variance.

Summit County is committed to learning how to advance inclusion for LGBTQ+ residents by creating and supporting policies and programs that stand against discrimination and by promoting equality and opportunity for all members of the LGBTQ+ community.”

Visit parkcitypride.org for upcoming events information related to Pride Month, and to learn more about the taskforce.

TOPIC 3: Community Health Assessment is LIVE!
The Summit County Health Department officially launched their Community Health Assessment! This is a survey that is run every five years and gathers data on social and economic factors such as education, transportation, housing, and healthcare access, that impact the lives of our residents.

We know you might be tired of taking surveys, but this is an important opportunity to share your experiences to help shape future health programming and initiatives, lending our health professionals perspective on gaps in services provided in Summit County.

Take the 15-minute survey today, and help us build a healthier community for all! Visit summitcountyhealth.org/cha24 for more information.

TOPIC 4: Eastern Summit County General Plan Open Houses
Summit County is holding two public open houses in Kamas and Coalville to gather the public’s input as the Planning Department prepares to write a new General Plan for Eastern Summit County.

> The first open house is Tuesday, June 4 at Ledges Event Center from 6-8 pm.

> The second is Tuesday, June 18 at the Kamas Library/ South Summit Services Building from 6-8 pm.

The information presented will be the same at both events and residents can stop by any time during the two-hour event to share their thoughts and ideas. For some background, the General Plan is a comprehensive plan addressing the present and future needs of our communities. In Summit County, we have two General Plans: one for Eastern Summit County and one for the Snyderville Basin.

So why does this matter to residents? The goal of the Eastern Summit County General Plan is to use information gathered during the 2023 visioning process to create a specific, actionable, and usable plan. The General Plan is also an advisory document for land use decisions made by the planning commission, county council, and county staff. Staff will update policies, objectives, and strategies based on community feedback.

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WE COVER...

• The county’s new agenda and meeting minutes platform
• Some exciting grant funding news
• The launch of Elektron Solar
• How you can bid on surplus county vehicles 

TOPIC 1: GRANICUS
As of Wednesday, May 15, the Summit County Agenda Center has been replaced with a new meeting platform called Granicus, which can be found at www.summitcounty.org/meetings. This new platform provides greater functionality for residents and staff and allows for greater compliance with the state’s legal requirements for minutes. Features include a search function for meeting minutes and agendas and time-stamped minutes, which allows the public to easily jump ahead to topics in the meeting recording via embedded links. Older meeting recordings, minutes, agendas, and packets will continue to be available at https://summitcounty.org/AgendaCenter.

TOPIC 2: 910 GRANT FUNDING
This week, the United States Forest Service (USFS) awarded $40 million in funding from the Forest Legacy Program (FLP) to Summit County’s Wasatch Back Forest Conservation Project for the purchase of the 8,588-acre 910 Cattle Ranch property. The property is now 100 percent funded by this grant award in combination with the $15 million in funding from the General Obligation Bond for open space that Summit County voters passed in 2021. It could be as late as next summer 2025 when the County assumes full ownership of the property. In the meantime, it will be stewards of the land, developing and implementing plans for land management. This includes documenting current conditions of the land, what animal species are present and identifying sensitive areas such as spaces for elk calving.

The County has trained and vetted volunteer ambassadors to assist in monitoring the property, and the Summit  County Sheriff’s mounted posse and deputies will be actively patrolling the area. As we welcome springtime, the County reminds everyone that recreating is only permitted on the dirt East Canyon Road, and to obey all signage. In addition, bringing your dog with you is a privilege, so leash and clean up after your animal to prevent further “poo-lution” of East Canyon Creek—the fish will thank you. Visit summitcounty.org/countylands to follow the latest efforts of Summit County’s Lands and Natural Resources Department.

TOPIC 3: ELEKTRON SOLAR
Big news for sustainable energy: the Elektron Solar Project, a solar facility located in Tooele County, has reached commercial operation and will serve several Utah customers including, Summit County, Park City Municipal, Park City Mountain, and Deer Valley Resort. Elektron Solar is expected to generate enough clean energy to power approximately 19,700 homes each year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. “The Elektron project exemplifies Summit County’s core value of collaboration, demonstrating how renewable energy initiatives can deliver results for the environment and economy,” said Sumit County Council Chair, Malena Stevens. “We are proud to be part of this project that will help us meet our goals for using renewable electrical energy to power County operations.”

TOPIC 4: BIDDING OPEN FOR COUNTY SURPLUS VEHICLES
The Summit County Auditor’s Office is accepting bids to purchase county surplus vehicles. Check out the available stock at summitcounty.info/surplus You can place a bid via the online bidding form found in the description of each vehicle. Bidding ends May 20. The winning bid will be the highest reasonable submitted. If a tie occurs, the Auditor’s Office will accept the bid that was placed first. If you have questions, contact the Summit County Auditor’s Office at (435) 336-3027 or auditor@summitcounty.org.

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WE COVER…

• Council’s approval of an agreement for the purchase of the Skullcandy headquarters building
• Bidding is now open for County Surplus Vehicles
• A TON of community engagement opportunities happening now

TOPIC 1: SKULLCANDY PURCHASE   

On Thursday, May 9, the Summit County Council voted to approve the execution of an agreement for the purchase of the Skullcandy headquarters building for $17.5 million using sales tax bonds. Located at 6301 North Landmark Drive in Park City, the 7.38-acre property includes a 45,000 square-foot building with dedicated parking areas. The purchase agreement represents the culmination of a widely marketed sales process by the building’s owners, an affiliate of Dakota Pacific Real Estate. 

County Council Chair, Malena Stevens, said in a quote: “Summit County has worked for years to identify a suitable location for a new county facility in the Snyderville Basin. The Council has explored options to acquire an existing property such as the Skullcandy headquarters compared to the cost feasibility of building a new facility. Existing infrastructure may best serve our community in a more fiscally responsible manner.”   

The approved agreement means Summit County will inherit Skullcandy’s lease agreement. The County Council intends to explore potential modifications to the lease with Skullcandy to facilitate shared use of the building to allow for County specific uses. To fund the purchase, the County will pledge its existing sales tax revenues to pay off bonds issued. The County Council does not intend to impose additional taxes or increase sales taxes to acquire the property.  

There is no definitive timeline on when Summit County will move into the space or what services and amenities will be located there. While the Skullcandy property is not included in the proposed Dakota Pacific project, the property could become part of a larger public-private partnership in the area. There are no plans to relocate the County Seat from the courthouse in Coalville to this facility.  

TOPIC 2: COUNTY SURPLUS VEHICLES

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 ends May 20.

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

Questions? Contact the Summit County Auditor’s Office at (435) 336-3027 or auditor@summitcounty.org.

TOPIC 3: COMMUNITY EVENT ROUNDUP 

• • The Third Annual Trails, Trash & Tunes event is happening on Saturday, May 11th from 12pm – 4pm at the Wanship Trailhead (1975 Hoytsville Rd). RSVP (for free!) at summitcounty.info/trailstrashtunes24.
  • Summit Bike Share opens for its eighth season on Tuesday, May 14. Explore the expanded pass options and join in on the fun this summer at www.summitbikeshare.com. 
    

• • The Summit County Health Department Climate Change & Public Health Speaker Series is back! Join us for a conversation on health + our changing environment on Tuesday, May 14: 5:30 – 7:00pm @ Kamas Services Building OR join Monday, May 20: 5:30pm – 7:00pm @ Swaner Preserve + Eco Center. summitcountyhealth.org/speakerseries.
    

• • The Green Business Program is hosting a Lunch + Learn for Summit County-area businesses on May 15 from 12pm – 1pm at the Blair Education Center at Park City Hospital. Register for this FREE lunch today to hear from industry experts about water efficiency, with a focus on minimizing landscape water waste. RSVP at summitcounty.info/greenbusiness.
  • The Eastern Summit County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the Cedar Crest Village Overlay on Thursday, May 16, beginning at 6 PM at the Ledges Event Center. You can also join and give comments virtually on zoom. More details can be found at summitcounty.org/cedarcrest. 
  • And, finally, the Summit County Weeds Division will host its FOURTH Community Noxious Weeds Tour on Saturday, May 18 from 9 AM – 12 PM starting at the Richardson Flat Park and Ride. Join us to learn how to identify and control noxious weeds on your own property! Learn more and RSVP for FREE to let us know you’re coming at summitcounty.info/weedstour24. 
    

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Welcome to the first week of May and the latest county news here on Summit in Six! Today, we’re covering a County revenue and budget discussion, updates in the county’s behavioral health services, and information about the Noxious Weeds Tour and other events taking place this month. Let’s get into the news!

County Council revenue discussion

In this week’s Council meeting, Summit County Finance Officer Matt Leavitt gave a presentation on potential revenue and funding for county programs, which included a discussion about the Truth In Taxation process and the Rural Hospital Sales Tax.

For some background, Summit County Council went through the Truth in Taxation process last year in 2023 and ultimately decided to only increase the Assessing and Collecting fund, and to not increase the General Fund or the Municipal fund. This left the county with a $5.25 million ongoing shortfall in operating funds.

As the county grows, things like a Local Housing Authority, Landfill expansion, long-term planning for county properties, emergency medical services, mental health programming, and senior citizen services all require additional funding. 

Matt listed three potential options for Council to consider to meet these rising costs of service. The first is a “null” option which reduces the budget in other areas to fund these additions. The second is a property tax increase through the Truth In Taxation process for the General Fund and/or the Municipal Fund. The third is to increase sales tax revenue as allowed under the new Rural Hospital Sales Tax.

The Rural Hospital Sales Tax would allow Summit County to increase sales tax on certain items by up to 1%. This is intended to mitigate the impact of visitors to the County by using these funds to support EMS, solid waste disposal, Search & Rescue, law enforcement, fire protection, and avalanche forecasting, for example. 

It is estimated that visitors and tourists to Summit County result in an approximately $11.8 million dollar impact on these services. A potential sales tax increase of less than .4% could cover those costs. However, it should be noted that a sales tax increase must be approved by Summit County voters.

Moving forward, County Council expressed an interest in communicating with county residents to understand if voters prefer a sales tax or property tax increase to fund these needs. Matt and County Manager Shayne Scott were tasked to provide additional information on all funding options before any decisions are made.

The future of mental health services in Summit County

In September of 2019, Summit County signed a contract with Healthy U Behavioral to provide mental health and substance abuse services in the county. These services are set to expire on June 30th, 2024 and unfortunately, due to issues related to the cost of providing care in Summit County, a long-term extension agreement was not made.

As a result, Council approved a maximum six month extension to provide time to develop a plan to ensure ongoing care for current clients. For the months of July, August, and September, the county will pay $50,000 for ongoing services from Healthy U Behavioral. That amount increases to $75,000 if the extension continues into October, November, and December.

As a long-term solution, Behavioral Health Director Aaron Newman asked County Council for their support to develop a plan to operate a behavioral health clinic within the behavioral health division of the Summit County Health Department. 

Council unanimously supported this move and asked Aaron to return in a future meeting to present a transition plan for bringing these services in-house. The Summit County Health Department is committed to making this transition in an effective and sustainable manner with no disruptions to service for current clients.

Weeds Tour

The Summit County’s Weeds Division is hosting a Community Noxious Weeds Tour on Saturday, May 18 from 9 AM to 12 PM to educate residents on the “most-wanted” weeds here in Summit County. 

Residents will meet Dave Bingham, Weed Superintendent, Dan Pena, Weed Enforcement Officer, and representatives from Summit CWMA, Basin Recreation, Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter, Mountain Trails Foundation, and Park City Municipal, at Richardson Flat Park and Ride (located at 3345 E Richardson Flat Rd in Park City) to learn to identify and control noxious weeds on their own properties.

Please RSVP (for free!) at summitcounty.info/weedstour24 to let us know you’re coming. Gloves are suggested, but not required.

Event Roundup

Before we go, here’s a roundup of all the exciting Summit County events happening in May:

• • The Third Annual Trails, Trash & Tunes on Saturday, May 11th from 12pm – 4pm at the Wanship Trailhead (1975 Hoytsville Rd).
  • Summit Bike Share opens for the 2024 season on Tuesday, May 14
  • The Summit County Health Department Climate Change & Public Health Speaker Series
    • Tuesday, May 14: 5:30 – 7:00pm @ Kamas Services Building
      OR
    • Monday, May 20: 5:30pm – 7:00pm @ Swaner Preserve + Eco Center
  • The Cedar Crest Village Overlay Public Hearing  
    • On Thursday, May 16 | 6 PM | Ledges Event Center

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Hi everyone and welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six, your local news podcast for all things Summit County Utah.

This week, we’ve got info on an important interlocal agreement between Summit County and the cities of Kamas, Francis, and Oakley, a bunch of important upcoming dates for events & some volunteer opportunities.

Let’s get into the news!

Interlocal agreement with South Summit cities

Summit County partnered with the cities of Kamas, Oakley, and Francis to receive a Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) Technical Planning Assistance (TPA) grant of $150,000 to conduct a State Route 32 Corridor and City Centers Plan.

For some background, State Route 32 is a regional corridor that connects Oakley, Kamas, and Francis to recreation and economic activities in Summit and Wasatch Counties. The highway also forms the main streets for community life in those cities. 

The SR-32 Corridor and City Centers Plan will create a vision and plan for addressing transportation, land use, and economic development issues along Highway 32.

Staff requested the council approve the Interlocal Agreement, including a local funding match of $15,000, with Summit County committing to $5,000, with the remaining $10,000 from the partner cities. The county matching funds have been allocated to the transportation department budget for 2024. 

The project begins this summer with an expected completion of Summer 2025.

Council unanimously approved the funding in this week’s meeting. Next steps are formal adoption by all three municipalities, which is expected.

May Speaker Series
The health of the environment around us has a direct impact on our human health. The Summit County Health Department encourages the public to attend their next session in the Climate Change and Public Health Speaker Series this May 2024 focused on “Health + Our Changing Environment”.

Attendees will have the opportunity to share their ideas, concerns, and questions about how a changing environment along the Wasatch Back is impacting their health, and that of their family and community.

We will be hosting two events with the same topics and format to encourage participation and gather feedback from both the Eastern and Western sides of Summit County. The details are as follows:

• The first option is May 14: 5:30 – 7:00pm @ Kamas Services Building
• The second option is on May 20: 5:30pm – 7:00pm @ Swaner Preserve + Eco Center

For more info and register visit: summitcountyhealth.org/speakerseries

Summit Bike Share launch

Exciting news! Summit Bike Share will officially kick off its eighth season on Tuesday, May 14!

Summit Bike Share is the country’s first fully electric bike share. With stations located throughout the Snyderville Basin and open 24/7, Summit Bike Share offers an easy, fun and comfortable transit option for residents and visitors to explore all the greater Park City area has to offer. Learn more about the 2024 season (including our expanded pass options and brand new stations) at summitbikeshare.com.

Trails, Trash & Tunes

The Summit County Stormwater Coalition and the Summit County Planning Department are presenting the THIRD Annual “Trails, Trash and Tunes” event on Saturday, May 11th from 12pm – 4pm at the Wanship Trailhead (1975 Hoytsville Rd). 

The purpose of the event is to welcome in springtime and celebrate the Earth with some rail trail cleanup, education about stormwater, noxious weeds identification and more! There will be LIVE music, food for purchase, a beer garden, and a “Kids Corner” for the younger ones thanks to the Summit County Library.

Registration is free and not required to attend, but we would like to know who is coming! Please register at: summitcounty.info/trailstrashtunes24.

We encourage event goers to bring water and an umbrella or hat for shade. We will have some seating available, but picnic blankets, camp chairs are welcome. Carpooling and biking/e-biking to the venue is highly encouraged.

VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE OPPORTUNITIES

Applications are due next week on May 1 to serve as a Volunteer on Citizen Committees within Eastern Summit County or Snyderville Basin. These committees are focused on providing feedback and recommendations to county leadership regarding the County’s Moderate Income Housing strategies for both of these regions.

Summit County is seeking: Two individuals to serve on the committee representing Eastern Summit County Moderate Income Housing Plan and two individuals representing the Snyderville Basin Moderate Income Housing Plan.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. next week on Wednesday, May 1. The requirements and additional details can be found online at: summitcounty.org/VolunteerBoards.

For questions, contact Summit County’s Economic Development & Housing Manager, Elyse Kats, ekats@summitcounty.org. 

Upcoming Events

And, last but not least, here are some additional dates for important upcoming meetings:

• Cedar Crest Village Overlay Public Hearing  
  • Thursday, May 16 | 6 PM | Ledges Event Center
• Eastern Summit County General Plan Open Houses  
  • Tuesday, June 4 | 6 PM – 8 PM | Ledges Event Center
  • Tuesday, June 18 | 6 PM – 8 PM | Kamas Services Building aka Kamas Library  
• Cline Dahle Open House  
  • Thursday, June 13 | 5 PM – 7 PM | Richins Building

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Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! The signs of springtime are in the air—The tulips and daffodils are starting to make an appearance. In today’s episode, we are going to highlight an exciting partnership between the Sheriff’s Department and South Summit School District, give details about upcoming speaker series events hosted by the Health Department, cover the latest updates on the Cedar Crest Overlay project in Hoytsville, and go over some important tick awareness and safety tips—remember when temps start to climb, these unwelcome hitch-hikers appear!

Alright, let’s get into the news!

 COUNCIL RECAP – SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER HIGHLIGHT

At this week’s Council meeting, Summit County Sheriff Frank Smith and Chief Deputy Kacey Bates honored and delivered thanks to South Summit School District Superintendent, Greg Maughan for his idea turned into reality— to bring a School Resource Officer into the South Summit School District. Summit County helped make this possible by providing half the funding for the position. Deputy Wes Stewart is the officer making strides in this important role in keeping students and staff safe at South Summit Schools.

Here is what Superintendent Greg Maughan had to say about the partnership during the council meeting:

“And that’s what this whole partnership has felt like is: the right people in the right place, at the right time to make this happen. So thank you to you as a council for  supporting that, thank you to the Sheriff’s department, and thank you, personally, to the Board for also being willing to invest in that kind of a partnership. IT’s already been fantastic and kids are already benefiting just from the relationship piece of things. They love our SRO, and that’s what it’s all about…”

CEDAR CREST OVERLAY UPDATE

The Eastern Summit County Planning Commission held another work session related to the Cedar Crest Village Overlay project on Thursday, April 18. 

The primary purpose of the meeting was to hear from the applicant and have an open discussion on their proposed enabling ordinance document, which includes development standards and the community structure plan. 

The applicant is hopeful that the ordinance will receive a recommendation from the planning commission soon. From there, it would be presented to the county council for their final approval. 

To be clear, an approval of the ordinance would not mean final project approval. Basically, the possible approval of this ordinance would provide guidelines for what the applicant’s future land map has to include. 

The Planning Commission had the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback for the applicant on the ordinance. From here, they will take the feedback and come back for a public hearing. The next tentatively scheduled meeting is on Thursday, May 16 at 6 PM. For more information about the project please visit summitcounty.org/cedarcrest.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT SPEAKER SERIES EVENTS IN MAY

The health of the environment around us has a direct impact on our human health. The Summit County Health Department encourages the public to attend their next session in the Climate Change and Public Health Speaker Series this May 2024 focused on “Health + Our Changing Environment”.

Attendees will have the opportunity to share their ideas, concerns, and questions about how a changing environment along the Wasatch Back is impacting their health, and that of their family and community.

We will be hosting two events with the same topics and format to encourage participation and gather feedback from both the Eastern and Western sides of Summit County.

The details are as follows:

• May 14: 5:30 – 7:00pm @ Kamas Services Building
• May 20: 5:30pm – 7:00pm @ Swaner Preserve + Eco Center

For more info and register visit: summitcountyhealth.org/speakerseries

TRAILS TRASH TUNES

We’ve been talking about this event for the past few weeks on the podcast…but we’re here to spread the good word that The Summit County Stormwater Coalition and the Summit County Planning Department are presenting the THIRD Annual “Trails, Trash and Tunes” event on Saturday, May 11th from 12pm – 4pm at the Wanship Trailhead.

There are some exciting new developments to share about this already spectacular event: the first 50 attendees to arrive at the event to get a FREE meal voucher for food by Savoury Kitchen Park City!!!

The purpose of the event is to welcome in springtime and celebrate the Earth with some rail trail cleanup, education about stormwater, noxious weeds identification and more.

There will be LIVE music from Pixie and the Partygrass Boys, presented by Mountaintown Music, a beer garden with brews for sale by Offset Bier, kids activities thanks to Summit County Library with coloring, books, and games.

Registration is FREE and not required, but we would really like to know how many people to expect, so do us a favor and register TODAY to let us know you’re coming at: summitcounty.info/trailstrashtunes24

TICK SAFETY

Tick season has begun. Spending time outside could bring you in close contact with ticks. Ticks live in grassy, brushy, and wooded areas, or even on animals. Many people get ticks in their own yard or neighborhood. Long-sleeved clothing and certain insect repellants can help keep the ticks away. Light-colored clothing also makes the ticks easier to spot.

We want to encourage everybody to take protective action as the bugs come out this season. Here are things you can do to prevent tick and other bug bites:

• Use (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE)
• Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass 
• Walk in the center of trails
• Treat clothing and gear with 0.5% permethrin

If you find a tick attached to your skin, remove the tick as soon as possible. There are several tick removal devices on the market, but a plain set of fine-tipped tweezers works very well.

If you get a tick bite and develop symptoms like rashes, aches and pains, and the fever/chills within a few weeks, see your healthcare provider.

VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE OPPORTUNITIES

Apply now through May 1 to serve as a Volunteer on Citizen Committees within Eastern Summit County or  Snyderville Basin. These committees are focused on providing feedback and recommendations to county leadership regarding the County’s Moderate Income Housing strategies for both of these regions.

Summit County is seeking: Two individuals to serve on the committee representing Eastern Summit County Moderate Income Housing Plan and two individuals representing the Snyderville Basin Moderate Income Housing Plan.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. on May 1. The requirements and additional details can be found online at: summitcounty.org/VolunteerBoards

For questions, contact Summit County’s Economic Development & Housing Manager, Elyse Kats, ekats@summitcounty.org.c

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