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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Hello everyone! Welcome to another week of news here on Summit in Six. We hope you are enjoying the sunshine and crisp air while it’s here. Today we cover an update regarding the Cedar Crest Village Overlay, some history in Summit County and some community engagement opportunities our listeners may be interested in.

CEDAR CREST VILLAGE OVERLAY:
Mark your calendars! On Thursday, April 18 beginning at 6 PM at the Ledges Event Center in Coalville, the Eastern Summit County Planning Commission will meet for a work session and public comment period related to the Cedar Crest Village Overlay. A virtual option for this meeting is also available and can be found, along with a lot more information about the project, at: summitcounty.info/cedarcrest 

ROAD SAFETY OPEN HOUSE:
Did you know? Mountainland Association of Governments is working closely with city and county leaders to develop a Safety Action Plan and roadway safety projects to reduce the number fatal and serious injury crashes in Summit County.

On Tuesday, April 16 from 4:30 – 6:30 PM at the Sheldon Richins Auditorium in Kimball Jct., they are hosting a Roadway Safety Open House to share information about where in our community the greatest number of crashes take place, what’s causing them, and how Mountainlands Association of Governments and our local leaders plan to lower the number and impact of serious and fatal crashes in Summit County.

The agency’s Safety Action Plan is part of a national grant project giving $5 billion in funds to communities for projects that improve transportation safety. So far, the plan has identified “high injury” networks where numbers of serious and fatal crashes are greatest and developed a potential list of projects that will improve conditions in these areas. Once the plan is complete this spring, Mountainlands or local governments may apply for funds to build the identified projects.

Visit their website to learn more about the project and how you can get involved: www.mountainland.org. 

TRAILS TRASH TUNES EVENT ON MAY 11!
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 from Pixie and the Partygrass Boys, presented by Mountaintown Music.  There will be food for purchase, a beer garden with brews for sale by local brewery Offset Bier for the 21+ crowd, a “Kids Corner” for the younger ones thanks to the Summit County Library with activities such as coloring, books and games.

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

The event is sponsored in part by Big-D construction and Blue Sky Ranch. We are encouraging 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.

HISTORY SEGMENT
This episode, we wanted to share some history in honor of National Garden Month about the old Echo Depot that once served as an agricultural and community railway hub. Outside the Echo Depot it is said that Mike Tsoukatos, a railroad employee and native of Greece, designed and planted this garden in the early 1940s. Tsoukatos spent his own money to purchase the plants and flowers. After his retirement, unfortunately the spectacular   garden fell into disrepair. The Echo Depot was moved to Coalville in 1975 where it now serves as the North Summit Senior Center.

HEALTHY FOCUS ON GARDEN MONTH

What better way to celebrate the beauty of spring than by diving into National Garden Month! National Garden Month encourages people of all ages to dig in the dirt, connect with nature, and experience the joy of gardening. But National Garden Month is about more than just growing plants—it’s about fostering a deeper connection to the natural world and reaping the countless benefits that gardening brings. Research shows that spending time outdoors and engaging in gardening activities can reduce stress, boost mood, and improve overall well-being. Plus, growing your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs empowers you to make healthier food choices and reduces your carbon footprint. For some helpful gardening tips this month follow the Summit County Health social media @SummitCountyHD on instagram and Facebook.

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In today’s episode, we cover Summit County’s revised proposal to Dakota Pacific Real Estate, an upcoming Rocky Mountain Power Outage, a Zero Food Waste Compact the County signed this week, and International Dark Skies Week. Alright, let’s get into the news!

> DPRE REVISED PROPOSAL

On Thursday, April 4, Summit County presented Dakota Pacific Real Estate, or DPRE, with a counterproposal to DPRE’s request to modify the development agreement that governs the land commonly referred to as the Park City Tech Center.

Highlights of the revised proposal include: 

• 600 residential units which is an increase from the county’s proposal of 500 units earlier this year, but a decrease of DPRE’s proposed 695 units. 
• A public-private partnership between the county and DPRE that would include a civic plaza, transit center, parking, and more.

You can view the entire revised proposal on the homepage at summitcounty.org under the news item titled: Summit County’s Revised Proposal to Dakota Pacific Real Estate.

So what happens next? DPRE will take time to formally react to the counterproposal. No date has been set for another work session. Stay tuned on summitcounty.org and @summitcountyut on all social media channels for more information as it becomes available.

> RMP OUTAGE
Rocky Mountain Power is conducting a scheduled power outage Wednesday, April 10, 2024 from 8am to 6pm. The estimated duration is 10 hours.

• What neighborhoods are affected?
  All of Summit County Service Area 3 + their constituents + businesses and all of Tollgate and Red Hawk (minus the east creek ranch HOA). You can view a detailed map of the affected areas at: bit.ly/aprilpoweroutage.
• So, what exactly is being done?
  Rocky Mountain Power poles have been relocated on Mammoth Drive. Now that they have been installed, the company needs to transfer the power to these new lines and they estimate it will take 10 hours to complete the task.
• And, how do affected residents prepare?
  Rocky Mountain Power has organized some awesome tips on how to prepare for power outages at bit.ly/poweroutagetips2024.

> ZERO WASTE FOOD COMPACT
At this week’s Council meeting, the County was the first to sign a Zero Food Waste Compact presented by the Park City Community Foundation.

For some context, the Park City Community Foundation announced a goal to achieve Zero Food Waste by 2030 last April. They’ve since released a comprehensive strategic plan that serves as a roadmap for reaching that ambitious goal. The plan focuses on three main objectives and outlines steps to engage businesses, local governments, nonprofits, residents, and visitors in an effort to reduce food waste and divert food waste from Summit County’s Three Mile Landfill.

Summit County’s Solid Waste Superintendent, Tim Loveday, said of the compact:
“I’m excited about this because we have a third party now who is focused on doing something to divert from our landfill which saves money for every resident in the county. Food waste is over 30% volume of what’s going in that landfill so that’s a pretty significant piece that we can divert. What’s also really exciting is that there is no new technology involved. The technology is already there, already in place, there’s nothing experimental about this. This can actually work.”

Andy Hecht, PCF’s Climate Fund Manager, noted in the presentation that these efforts could save $1.47 million per year. If you’d like to read the Zero Food Waste Compact, please visit: summitcounty.info/zerofoodwaste.

> INTERNATIONAL DARK SKIES WEEK
Also at this week’s County Council meeting, the Summit County Council approved a proclamation declaring April 2nd to 8th as, “International Dark Sky Week”. The purpose of the proclamation is to promote International Dark Sky Week as a worldwide celebration to build awareness about light pollution and the importance of preserving the nighttime sky.

To help save Summit County’s night sky, all outdoor light bulbs in Park City Municipal and unincorporated Summit County must be 3,000 degrees Kelvin or less, and all outdoor lighting fixtures must be fully shielded and down-directed by December 31, 2024.

Wondering what all those fancy dark sky-compliant words and phrases mean? Visit: summitcounty.info/darkskies to see examples that help illustrate!

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TODAY WE COVER…

• Number of committee appointments
• Election Updates
• Rail Trail Corridor Plan
• Third annual Trails Trash and Tunes

Committee Appointments

During this week’s council meeting, there were a number of appointments to various committees:

• Congratulations to Stacey Keahon who will serve on the Recreation Arts and Parks Advisory Committee until 2025.
• Cheers to Don Sargeant and Alex Peterson for their reappointment to the Eastern Summit County Planning commission–their terms expire in 2027. 
• Tiane Mooney was reappointed and Matt Nagie was appointed for his first term Snyderville Basin Planning Commission. 

Congratulations to everyone. Summit County appreciates your dedication and service.

Legislative Session Highlights

Deputy County Manager, Janna Young, appeared before Council this week to recap the 2024 Utah State Legislature General Session and highlight bills signed by the Governor that impact Summit County residents or require some type of action from the County.

We won’t go in-depth this week, because next week, we’ll have Janna on for a special episode of Summit in Six covering the 2024 General Session in-depth. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, you can browse her presentation at the link in our show notes.

Elections Updates

During the Summit County Democratic nominating convention on Tuesday night, current councilmembers Roger Armstrong and Tonja Hanson won the nominations for council seats “A” and “B”. That leaves candidates Megan McKenna and Thomas Cooke vying for seat “C”. Voters will be able to choose between these two seat “C” candidates during the June 25 primary election.

Keep in mind that a new law is taking effect in May that allows unaffiliated candidates to get on the November ballot by gathering signatures, so there may be write-in candidates. As of right now, the following individuals do not have Republican challengers…Frank Smith is the democratic nominee for sheriff, Greg Wolbach for recorder, Stephanie Poll for assessor and Corie Forsling for treasurer.

The Summit County Republican Nominating Convention is Tuesday, April 2 and will also be held at Ecker Hill Middle School.

Rail Trail Award

Summit County has been selected as a recipient of the 2024 Vernon Deines Award, presented by the American Planning Association (APA), for the county’s Union Pacific Rail Trail Corridor Plan. The Vernon Deines award is presented annually to recognize outstanding individuals and projects for their contribution to planning excellence in small towns and rural communities. 

The Rail Trail Corridor (RTC) Plan envisions a unified land use strategy along its Corridor to encourage coordinated, sustainable planning adjacent to the Trail. The plan is designed to cultivate a strong sense of community and offer opportunities for revitalization and resource protection along the 24-mile Corridor. It considers improvements to trail conditions and connections while simultaneously supporting the diverse needs of community members, trail users, and local businesses.

The Rail Trail Corridor Plan was approved by the Summit County Council on May 24, 2023 and can be found by visiting summitcounty.org/railtrail.

Trails Trash Tunes

Speaking of the Rail Trail—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 located at 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 from SLC-favorite Pixie and the Partygrass Boys, presented by Mountaintown Music. There will be food for purchase, a beer garden with light bites and brews for sale by local brewery Offset Bier for the 21+ crowd, a “Kids Corner” for the younger ones thanks to the Summit County Library for activities such as coloring, books and games.

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

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