Today, we cover…

• A recap of this week’s county council meeting
• Cedar Crest Village Overlay public hearing
• Two important community input opportunities happening right now

BUDGETS 

In some quick budget related news, at this week’s County Council meeting, the Council approved the 2024 budgets of Park City Fire District, Mountain Regional Water Special Service District, North Summit Special Recreation District, and North Summit Fire District. 

The Council also discussed the County’s proposed 2024 budget. They had a conversation around new programs for 2024, any areas of significant increase from the year prior, and anything that might have been left out of next year’s tentative budget. 

Next week, the council will continue their general discussions related to the proposed 2024 county budget. These discussions might be interesting to our listeners because the 2024 budget is precisely how your tax dollars will be spent. These discussions, which are part of planning for a finalized 2024 budget, are a look into how those decisions are made. You’ll also have the opportunity to comment on the budget before it is approved later this year:

Next month, on December 6 and December 13, there will be public hearings on the proposed 2024 county budget. We will be sure to keep our listeners updated on the details surrounding those hearings as they get closer. 

PINEBROOK 

Also at this week’s County Council meeting, the Council held a public hearing regarding the Pinebrook Townhomes Rezone and Conditional Use Permit for a 22-unit townhome project. 

The land the Pinebrook Townhomes project sits on was previously used as a tennis court for the Homeowners Association of the surrounding Elk Run at Pinebrook Condominiums. In 2015, Staff determined that the land parcel was a Lot of Record because it didn’t actually fall within the Elk Run at Pinebrook Subdivision. Therefore, the property was eligible for development under the requirements of the Snyderville Basin Development Code. Following the determination that the property was a Lot of Record, the Homeowners Association sold the property.

The review process for the current development proposal has been ongoing since September of 2020 when the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission first held a work session related to it. 

After hearing from several dozens of community members on Wednesday night, all of whom had mixed reviews on the project, the Council ultimately decided to approve the rezone with some restrictions. The vote was 4-1. 

The council was in favor of the lower density option, which would allow for up to 12 units. They also required that the units must be all deed-restricted affordable, meaning the 50% of the units have to be at 60% AMI and the other 50% of units will be 80% AMI. In addition, they specified there would be no commercial uses and no nightly or short-term rentals allowed. 

From here, and before the developer can break ground, they must return to the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission to get a conditional use permit or CUP. Following the decision on the CUP, the applicant will go back to the Council for a Development Agreement process which will hone in details like density, AMI and use requirements/restrictions, as well as other details not covered in depth by the initial rezone decision. The CUP will be an exhibit to the Development Agreement. We’ll keep our listeners updated on this process as it moves along.

CEDAR CREST 

Yesterday, on Thursday, November 2, the Eastern Summit County Planning Commission held a public hearing related to the Cedar Crest Village Overlay Rezone and Master Planned Development. 

For some background context on this project, back in April of 2018, the County approved the process for creating a Village Overlay Zone. A village overlay zone is basically a property owner-driven master planned area, intended to reestablish and revitalize existing communities in Eastern Summit County.

A year later, in April of 2019, an application for the Cedar Crest Village Overlay Zone was submitted by 25 property owners, which has since grown to 30 property owners, and is currently still going through the review process. The Cedar Crest Village Overlay is asking to rezone approximately 1,085 acres to a mix of residential and commercial uses. 

The County has not taken any final action in regard to this proposal.

At this week’s public hearing dozens of members of the greater Hoytsville community expressed their opinions on the proposed zone. There were concerns raised related to the density of the project and the number of people it could bring to Hoytsville. It seemed the community was wary about the effects the proposal might have on the culture and character of Hoytsville, as well as on its existing infrastructure like roads and water. Others, who are in support of the project, advocate for the need for affordable housing and the importance of getting involved in inevitable change to make it the best it can be for the community they love. 

From here, the opportunity for public comment related to Cedar Crest will continue at a December 7 public hearing. We will be sure to keep our listeners updated on the details of that meeting as they become available. 

In the meantime, if our listeners are interested in learning more about the project, please visit www.cedarcresthoytsville.com. This website has background on the project, details about the proposal, and a feedback tab where community members can express their opinions about the project ongoing, and outside of formal public hearings. Again that’s www.cedarcresthoytsville.com. 

SBS SURVEY 

Summit Bike Share closed for the season last week on Thursday, October 26. 

We encourage residents and visitors (even if you didn’t use the bikes this year) to take Summit Bike Share’s end-of-season survey at summitcounty.info/bikesurvey. 

Your answers will help guide Summit Bike Share’s future system improvements and expansion efforts. The best part? The survey only takes five minutes to complete!

OUR SUMMIT 

The Our Summit Community Visioning and Strategic Plan is ready for the public’s review and comment at oursummitcounty.com. 

Reading through the draft will show you, firsthand, how YOUR input over the last year has influenced the Summit County vision. 

And guess what? If you have feedback on the drafted plan and vision, this is the time to continue to use your voice! The feedback window closes on November 26. 

Again, check it out and give comment at oursummitcounty.com.

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BRIDGET 

Hey everyone and welcome to a special edition of our weekly news podcast, Summit in Six. 

Earlier this year, we sat down with Summit County Clerk, Eve Furse, to talk about all things Municipal Primary Elections. We covered when the primaries were taking place, how, where and when you could vote, the importance of voting in local elections, and much more. 

This time, we’re back to cover the 2023 Municipal GENERAL Elections. This conversation with Eve will give YOU the information you’ll need to successfully cast your vote later next month! 

With that said, Eve, thanks for being here AGAIN! 

EVE > BRIDGET  

Thanks for having me back, Bridget! I’m happy to be here not only to help share the information related to this year’s general elections, but also so that I can emphasize to your listeners the importance of voting in these local elections. 

They are the time where YOU are really deciding on the people who make decisions that truly impact our day to day lives. So, if your city or district is holding an election this year, please, please get out and vote!  

EVE > BRIDGET

Absolutely! Like I said last time, I hope today’s conversation makes this year’s local elections more accessible to our community. 

Ok, Eve, let’s get into it. First things first, if you’re listening to this and not YET registered to vote but want to vote in this year’s general election, is it too late? 

EVE > BRIDGET

No! The deadline to register and receive a vote by mail ballot for the General Election is Monday, November 13, 2023. 

The easiest way to register if you have an up to date driver’s license is to go to voter.utah.gov. Voters who are not registered by that date, but are otherwise eligible to vote, may vote provisionally in early voting and in person on Election Day. 

BRIDGET > EVE

And, can you explain what voting provisionally means for your listeners? 

EVE > BRIDGET

Yes! So, when somebody votes provisionally its because we don’t have them registered in our system and they need to bring two forms of identification, one showing who they are and the other showing where they live. We need the opportunity to be able to verify that and make sure they are eligible to vote. We don’t want people to loose the ability to vote. What we do is have people but their completed ballot into a particular envelope that has that particular proof. My office checks the proof. If it matches then we count the ballot, if we can’t verify it then we don’t count the ballot. 

BRIDGET > EVE

Great! So it’s just a way to allow people to vote, with the condition that more information is required to validate their eligibility to vote.  

EVE > BRIDGET

Exactly! 

BRIDGET > EVE

Ok, so now let’s get into the details of the upcoming elections. When are this year’s Municipal General Elections happening?  

EVE > BRIDGET

In case your listeners missed it, back in June of this year, the Governor and Legislature moved both the primary and general election dates for this year in order to accommodate for a special election following the resignation of Utah Congressman Chris Stewart. 

This year’s General Election date has been moved and will take place on Tuesday, November 21, 2023. 

BRIDGET > EVE

Thanks, Eve. This isn’t a permanent change right?  

EVE > BRIDGET  

No! It’s important to note that this change is not permanent and only pertains to this year’s elections. 

BRIDGET > EVE 

Ok awesome! Thanks for clarifying. 

So, what districts are hosting general elections this year? 

EVE > BRIDGET 

There will be General Elections held for… 

• Coalville City (residents with 84017 zip code) 
• Kamas City (residents with 84036 zip code) 
• Park City (residents with 84060 zip code) 
• Oakley City (residents with 84036 and 84055 zip codes) 
• Snyderville Water Reclamation District (generally residents with 84098 zip code) 
• And, South Summit Fire District (residents who live in the following precincts: Francis East and West, Kamas North and South, Oakley North and South, Peoa, South Summit East, South Summit West, South Summit South, and Weber Canyon.) 

BRIDGET > EVE 

What if people aren’t sure what precinct they fall in? 

EVE > BRIDGET 

That could be understandable, especially after the redistricting in 2020. Luckily, we have a great online Interactive Map that helps our community identify their voting district — all they have to do is type in their address! You can access the map at summitcounty.info/precinctmaps. 

BRIDGET > EVE 

That sounds like an awesome tool! Thanks for sharing that. 

And, ultimately, you’ll know if you live in a district having an election because you’ll receive a ballot in the mail! 

So, now folks know when the elections are happening and IF they’re community is having an election. Now, how do they find out WHO the candidates they can vote for are? 

EVE > BRIDGET 

For candidate information for the General Elections, please contact your city, town, or special service district. If you don’t know who to contact, don’t worry, my office has gathered all relevant contact information for each municipality, and it can be found on the Clerk’s Webpage at summitcounty.org/elections right there on the landing page. 

Also vote.utah.gov is the Lt. Governor’s page and will have links to candidate bios. 

BRIDGET > EVE 

And what about sample ballots, which are a great tool to help folks prepare for the elections. 

EVE > BRIDGET 

Yes! Sample ballots usually contain an image of what the actual ballot looks like, including candidates, questions, and instructions for voting.

People can find sample ballots for their precincts at the Clerk’s Webpage at summitcounty.org/elections right there on the landing page. 

BRIDGET > EVE 

Alright, now that we’ve covered registering to vote, preparing to vote, and talked about what elections are actually happening…let’s talk about HOW people can vote. 

EVE > BRIDGET 

Let’s! So, active registered voters will receive a ballot in the mail about three weeks before the election (so around the end of October / beginning of November) and there are several ways to return their ballot: by Mail, through Dropbox and In Person! 

BRIDGET > EVE 

And, we’re going to cover each method, but first, let’s talk about early voting. Is that an option for folks for the General Elections this year? 

EVE > BRIDGET 

Yes, of course! Early voting for the General Elections will take place on November 16, November 17, November 18 and on November 20. Voters will be able to vote early at the Kimball Junction Branch of the Summit County Library and at my office, the County Clerk’s Office in the Summit County Courthouse, from 8am – 5pm. 

BRIDGET > EVE 

Awesome! These locations can be found at summitcounty.info/2023elections. Let’s move on to voting by mail. What does that look like for this year’s general? 

EVE > BRIDGET 

Sure, so for the General Elections, ballots must be postmarked by November 20, 2023. 

BRIDGET > EVE 

What address do voters return their completed ballots to? 

EVE > BRIDGET 

If you were wondering where to mail your completed ballot to, don’t stress! All ballots are mailed out with a preprinted return envelope that voters must sign, so voters do not need to worry about a return address.

BRIDGET > EVE 

That’s awesome! I’ll reiterate for our listeners that if you’re returning your ballot by mail, please remember to sign it before mailing it back! 

Ok, so what about utilizing drop boxes this year? 

EVE > BRIDGET 

Of course. So, you can drop completed ballots for the General Elections at the following locations until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, November 21, 2023.  

• Park City Hall/Marsac Building
• The Market at Park City 
• Quinn’s Health Department                
• Summit County Library, Kimball Junction Branch (outside DMV Entrance) 
• Summit County Library, Coalville Branch 
• Summit County Library, Kamas Branch 
• Oakley City Hall 
• Jeremy Ranch Park and Ride

Voters might be used to having a drop box location in Jeremy Ranch at the Macey’s, formerly fresh market. That drop box will now be at the Jeremy Ranch Park and Ride on the backside of the bus shelter.  People can walk or drive up to drop their ballots.  

Additionally, some of those Drop Boxes are located inside, for example, the one at The Market and the Courthouse, so make sure to check operating hours which can be found at summitcounty.info/2023elections.

BRIDGET > EVE 

Thanks, Eve! Again, these locations can be found at summitcounty.info/2023elections. We’ll also update the Jeremy Ranch location at this URL once it’s finalized.  

Ok, so we’ve covered early voting, voting by mail, and drop boxes. Let’s discuss election day voting locations. 

EVE > BRIDGET 

Definitely! As we’ve stated, General Election Day is November 21, 2023. Voters will be able to get assistance voting and vote in person at the following locations from 7am – 8pm: 

• Park City Hall/Marsac Building
• Summit County Library, Kimball Junction Branch in the Large Auditorium 
• Summit County Library, Kamas Branch 
• Coalville City Hall Council Chambers

BRIDGET > EVE 

You mentioned assistance voting. What are the options for folks who might have trouble using a by mail ballot? 

EVE > BRIDGET 

The first option is to come in on either early voting or day of the election in-person and we have devices that can assist you (ex: increasing text size on ballots). We also have other devices for people with other disabilities that might have trouble marking a ballot. Again, these options are for in-person voting.

If you don’t want to come in-person, we have electronic voting that Enhanced Voting runs. We communicate with you via email to utilize this tool and so you will need to contact us to get signed up for this option.

If you have any other special needs, we are happy to figure out how to accommodate those. You can reach us at elections@summitcounty.org or call 435-336-3040.

BRIDGET > EVE 

Awesome! It’s great that we have so many options for folks who need assistance. 

So, election day happens. When and where can people follow the results of their local elections? 

EVE > BRIDGET 

Sure. We post unofficial results the night of the election on our webpage summitcounty.org/elections. They’re also always linked right on the homepage of summitcounty.org. 

We update the unofficial results the day after the election. Then, we’ll post the final once after the canvas takes place.  

BRIDGET > EVE 

Ok, let’s talk about the canvas. What exactly is a canvas? 

EVE > BRIDGET 

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

BRIDGET > EVE 

Ok that makes sense. When is the canvass for the General happening? 

EVE > BRIDGET 

The canvass for the General Election will take place on December 5, 2023 at the entity having the election, so at Coalville City, Kamas City, Park City, Oakley City, Snyderville Water Reclamation District, and South Summit Fire District. 

BRIDGET > EVE 

Thanks, Eve! I think that’s pretty much all the questions I have for you. Do you think there’s anything I’m missing? 

EVE > BRIDGET 

Because the election is late this year and is close to the Thanksgiving Holiday, vote as early as you can. Educate yourself on candidates and issues too! Park City, for example, Park City has a bond on their ballot this year, in addition to the council races, so its important to understand what these things are before you make a decision on your ballot. Once you do, get those ballots to a drop box or come to an early voting location. This way you don’t have to worry about your vote getting lost in the mix of the busy holiday season!

I also would just reiterate the important of voting in these local elections. They are so close to our daily lives and this year, these council races are electing three people to a five person council. That has the potential to be a majority vote on decisions that effect your city for the next four years! I really encourage you to get to know who’s running and decide who most aligns with what you envision for your community in the future.

BRIDGET > EVE

Wow that really shows that every vote, especially in these local races, DOES count! 

OK, Before we wrap up, I’ll say one last plug for summitcounty.info/2023elections. All the information we talked about today is right there for you to refer back to! 

In addition, please follow the County’s social media channels for more information and updates on all things elections moving forward. Our handles are @summitcountyut on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! 

Eve, thank you SO much for being here. 

EVE > BRIDGET 

Thank you for having me! 

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Today, we cover…

• This week’s county council meeting cancellation
• Ward Away Energy Vampire Event (Nov. 2)
• 2023 General Elections Info.
• Summit Bike Share End-of-Season Survey
• SHARP survey results presentation
• Yard Waste Opt-In Program
  

Council Meeting Canceled

In case you missed it, this week’s County Council meeting was canceled in the final hour. With two council members traveling and one out sick, the Council was unable to reach a quorum, which is just the minimum number of members of the council that must be present at any of its meetings to make the proceedings of that meeting valid.

County Council Chair, Roger Armstrong, said in response to the cancellation of the council meeting: “It was unforeseen. We thought we were in pretty good shape. We always are a little off kilter when we have people traveling because we do have the risk of someone getting ill and rendering short. In the 11 years that I’ve been on Council, we’ve not had to cancel a Council meeting so this is a first.”

The agenda items initially slated for this week, including a discussion on child care, winter trash services, a 2023 work plan update, and continued 2024 budget discussions, will be rescheduled to a later council meeting.

We’ll be sure to keep listeners updated on that rescheduled date here on Summit in Six, on the county’s website (summitcounty.org), and on our social media channels (@summitcountyut on facebook, twitter and instagram).

“Ward Away Energy Vampires” Family-Friendly Event

In the spirit of spooky season, learn how “Energy Vampires” can steal energy and water resources from your home at the “Ward Away Energy Vampires” family-friendly event! Join us anytime between 4-6 p.m. next Thurs., Nov. 2 in the Richins Auditorium at the Kimball Junction Library to learn how you can save energy, water, and money at home through DIY strategies. Representatives from utility companies will be present to teach you about incentives, rebates, and tax credits. Learn about all of the affordable ways you can conserve electricity, gas, and water resources through interactive booths and crafts for kids! Register for free today at summitcounty.info/energyvampire.

General Elections are Nov. 21

This year’s General Election date has been moved to November 21, 2023. Please note, this change is not permanent and only pertains to 2023’s elections. 

The deadline to register and receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the General Election is by 5:00 PM on November 13, 2023. The easiest way to register if you have a current driver’s license is to go to voter.utah.gov. 

Voters who are not registered by Nov. 9, but are otherwise eligible to vote, may vote in early voting and in person on Election Day.

Find more info on General Elections such as early voting, voting by mail, voting assistance, visit summitcounty.info/2023elections.

Summit Bike Share End of Season Survey

Summit Bike Share closed for the season yesterday, on Thursday, October 26. We encourage residents and visitors to take the bike share’s end-of-season survey. Your answers will help guide Summit Bike Share’s future system improvements and expansion efforts. Access the survey at summitcounty.info/bikesurvey.

Opt-In Yard Waste Program

Got leaves? The Summit County Curbside Yard Waste Program is an optional curbside yard waste program that Republic Services is planning to offer to selected locations in Summit County in Spring 2024. In order to successfully launch the program, we need 3,500 residences in the selected area to opt into the program. If the minimum number of signups are received, participating residents will receive 95-gallon yard waste carts to place residential yard waste. Learn more about the program and how to sign up at summitcounty.info/optin.

SHARP Survey Results Presentation

Earlier this year, the SHARP survey was administered to 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders in Summit County schools. This anonymous and voluntary survey gave students the chance to voice their views on topics such as mental health, substance use, bullying, and other health issues. The results have been compiled and will be presented on November 6th from 5pm – 6pm at the monthly Board of Health meeting at the Summit County Health Department office at 650 Round Valley Drive in Park City.

In-person attendance is welcome and encouraged, but the presentation will also be streamed live via Zoom. The recording will be made available on the Summit County Health website as well.

Learn about the challenges and issues our students face every day. Hear directly from SHARP Survey research expert Mary Johnstun with the research firm, Bach Harrison. After the half-hour presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions. 

We will have the Zoom link and dial-by-phone info in our show notes:

• Zoom Link: https://summitcountyut.zoom.us/j/93451820697
• Dial in by Phone: 1-253-215-8782

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Today, we cover…

• Recap of this week’s county council meeting
• Summit Bike Share end-of-season + input opportunity
• Ward Away the Energy Vampire event

2024 BUDGET 

At this week’s County Council meeting there was another discussion surrounding the county manager’s proposed 2024 budget. The discussion mostly centered around employee merit and a possible cost of living adjustment. 

A reminder that focused discussions, like this one, related to the 2024 budget will continue in the coming weeks. 

Next week, on October 25,. On November 1, they will discuss potential department appeals and areas they, as a council, are interested in diving deeper into. On November 8, there will be discussion related to the Council’s 2024 work plan and priorities. And, on November 29, they will discuss county service districts, unfunded projects, capital projects, and any unresolved concerns. 

These discussions might be interesting to our listeners because the 2024 budget is precisely how your tax dollars will be spent. These discussions, which are part of planning for a finalized 2024 budget, are a look into how those decisions are made. You’ll also have the opportunity to comment on the budget before it is approved later this year:

Two public hearings on the final proposed budget are scheduled for December 6 and December 13. On December 13, the 2024 budget and any 2023 budget amendments are scheduled to be adopted. We will be sure to keep our listeners updated on the details surrounding the December public hearing and input opportunities. 

SUMMIT BIKE SHARE

It’s (almost) closing time for Summit Bike Share. The bike share’s 2023 season will come to a close next week on Thursday, October 26.

The bike share team has already begun closing individual stations, including The Forum, US Ski and Snowboard, Park Ave and North City stations.

We encourage residents and visitors to take Summit Bike Share’s end-of-season survey at summitcounty.info/bikesurvey. 

Your answers will help guide Summit Bike Share’s future system improvements and expansion efforts. The best part? The survey only takes five minutes to complete!

WARD AWAY ENERGY 

The “Ward Away the Energy Vampire” event is right around the corner on NOVEMBER 2 @ the KIMBALL JUNCTION LIBRARY from 4pm-6pm. At this open-house style event for ALL AGES, you’ll learn tips and tricks to “Ward Away Energy Vampires!” 

There will be interactive booths and kid-friendly crafts and activities to learn easy, affordable ways you can conserve precious electricity, gas and water resources in your home all while helping you save money. Get to know utility and community representatives and learn how you can earn rebates, incentives, and tax credits, and get help paying your utility bills.

Register for free today at summitcounty.info/energyvampire.

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Today, we cover…

• 2024 County Budget Process / Important Dates 
• Truth in Taxation
• County-wide EMS Update
• Our Summit Update 

2024 COUNTY BUDGET

At this week’s County Council meeting the County Manager’s Office presented their recommended 2024 budget.  

The manager’s proposed budget will be presented in several upcoming meetings:

• October 18 – COLA, Personnel, Recommended new Positions
• October 25 – New Programs, Areas of Significant Increases
• November 1 – Potential Departmental Appeals, Areas of Council Interest
• November 8 – Budget discussion in terms of Council Work Plan and Priorities (alignment)
• November 13 – Special Revenue Funds, including TRT, RAP, Restaurant, etc
• November 29 – County Service Districts, Discussion related to Unfunded Projects, Capital Projects; Unresolved Concerns

County Council and staff will also meeting in a strategic planning retreat on October 30 & 31st to discuss 2024 work plan priorities and how they will impact the 2024 budget.

Two public hearings on the final proposed budget are scheduled for December 6 and December 13. On December 13, the 2024 budget and any 2023 budget amendments are scheduled to be adopted.

TRUTH IN TAXATION

Also at council this week, the county notified the Council of its intent to levy a tax rate which exceeds the County’s Certified Tax Rate. This notification of intent is the first step in a longer Truth in Taxation process that will take place over the next few months. 

The truth in taxation encourages transparency and provides an opportunity for residents to comment on the proposed increase before the County Council makes a final decision.

Presented at this week’s council meeting a tax increase that would bring in almost $5.5 million to cover what Council Chair, Roger Armstrong, described as a “needs-based” 2024 budget. The additional funds would help cover unfunded projects next year, including the countywide EMS system, as well as heightened staffing needs. 

For the County’s General Fund, a 15.6% increase was proposed which would bring in $2.8 million. For the average primary resident with a home value of $1.3 million this would equate to a $45.49 increase on this line item of property their tax bill. We want to be clear that this is not a 15% increase in the OVERALL tax bill – in this case it’s just that amount in the Summit County General Fund, which is a single line item on the property tax bill.

For the Assessing and Collecting Fund, the proposed increase would cost the average primary resident $22.88 on this line item of their property tax bill. The General Fund and the Assessing and Collecting Fund are collected from ALL parcels in Summit County.

For the Municipal Services Fund, which funds services like garbage and law enforcement to county residents that live outside of cities/towns, the proposed increase would cost the average primary resdient in unincorporated Summit County $12.02 on this line item of their property tax bill. 

Finally, the proposed increase to Service Area #6 would support road maintenance in subdivisions outside of cities & towns. The cost to the average primary resident in SA6 is $91.39 on this line item of their property tax bill.  

Please keep in mind that these proposed increases represent the ceiling in which the county could increase the tax rate. Through the Truth in Taxation process these numbers are not to be exceeded. The council could choose to increase by the full amount, settle on a lesser amount, or decide not to increase at all. 

Tax rates are certified on June 22, 2024, so the Council will have until then to decide. The public hearings on the rates will be Dec 6 and 13 of this year. We’ll be sure to keep our listeners updated on more specific details surrounding those meetings as the process moves forward. 

COUNTY EMS UPDATE

Next up, the Council convened as the governing body of Park City Fire Special Service District. 

For some context before we dive in, last year the interlocal agreements between the County and Park City Fire were amended and extended for Park City to continue to provide ambulance service to the area covered by each of the three fire districts (Park City, North Summit, and South Summit). They are one-year agreements that will expire November 2 of this year. 

In late September of this year, the County Council decided to fund basic 911 EMS service countywide moving forward. The County has entered into a contract with each of the three fire districts to do so. Each Fire District will be responsible to provide EMS within its boundaries.  These contracts don’t go into effect until January 1 of 2024. If you want more detail on this go back and listen to our September 22 episode where we dive a bit deeper on the future of EMS service in the county. 

Anyway, this leaves us with almost a two-month gap in ambulance coverage or service, so at this week’s council meeting the Council approved to extend the status quo, if you will. This means that Park City Fire will continue to provide ambulance service to all three fire districts through the end of the year until the new agreements take effect in January when each fire district will take over EMS services within their boundaries, as funded by the county.

OUR SUMMIT COMMUNITY VISIONING

County staff and the project team from Logan Simpson provided an update to County Council and both the Snyderville Basin and Eastern Summit County Planning Commissions on the year-long community visioning process. This meeting was the first time that County Council has met with both planning commissions jointly.

A draft of the vision statement was discussed in addition to the key objectives that emerged from public input. Planning commissioners responded to the visions statement and overall findings and discussed potential next steps once the visioning process concludes, including how to take action on the findings.

This weekend is your last chance to participate in Phase 3 of Our Summit. Your responses will directly impact and guide the future of Summit County. You’ll help us understand how YOU prioritize certain features of your local community, what enhancements you would like to see and how you think growth should be handled. Take Questionnaire 3 BY SUNDAY NIGHT (October 15) at oursummitcounty.com.

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Hey everyone, welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! We’ll kick things off with a couple tax-related items, then we’ll quickly cover some parking news and wrap things up with some exciting community engagement opportunities coming up that our listeners might want to get involved in. Ok, let’s get into the news!

TAX BILLS

Heads up Summit County! Your tax bills will be mailed by the Summit County Treasurer’s Office on October 20 so be on the lookout! Taxes are due November 30! 

You might notice an insert in this year’s bill that discusses the Primary Residence Exemption. If your home is coded as a secondary residence but you think that coding is incorrect, now is the time to apply for the Primary Residence Exemption. 

To qualify for the exemption:

• You and all the owners of the property must be legally domiciled Utah residents
• AND all the owners must provide a Utah driver’s license (or Utah I.D. Card) with an address that matches the property address
• AND you live in the home for 183 or more consecutive days in the year.

OR…

• You have a tenant that is a legally domiciled Utah resident with a Utah driver’s license (or Utah I.D. Card) with an address that matches the property address
• AND you can provide a copy of the lease agreement with your tenant
• AND your tenant lives in the home for 183 or more consecutive days in the year.

If this sounds like you, please visit summitcounty.org/assessor and click “primary residence exemption” to begin the process. Application approval can take several weeks. Your property taxes must be paid by November 30 to avoid a penalty, even if you have applied for the exemption. Any excess taxes paid prior to receiving the Primary Residence Exemption will be refunded.

NORTH SUMMIT RECREATION DISTRICT 

Also at this week’s meeting, the County Council convened as the governing board of North Summit Special Recreation District. On September 28, North Summit Rec gave the Council notice via email of their intent to raise their certified tax rate. This week’s council agenda item was a courtesy that followed that initial notice. 

In 2019 North Summit residents voted to approve a tax rate cap of .000104. The district’s current tax rate sits at .000061. North Summit Rec’s proposed increase would bring the tax rate up to the previously authorized cap of .000104. 

The proposed increase is projected to generate roughly $75,000 for the district. For a North Summit resident with a home value of $785,000 the increase would equate to $18.57. 

There will be a public meeting held next week on October 11 at the Ledges Event Center, located at 202 Park Road in Coalville. It is slated to start at approximately 4:20 PM. 

At the meeting, residents will be able to listen to the reasons behind the percentage increase, the gross amount of the increase, the details of the process and so on. To be clear, a public meeting No public comment will be taken on the proposed tax rate increase but everyone is welcome to attend.

However, later this year, North Summit residents will have the opportunity to comment on the increase at a December 6 public hearing. We will be sure to keep listeners updated on the details of that meeting.

So stay tuned on Summit County social media channels and keep listening to this podcast to remain informed!

PARKING NEEDS ASSESSMENT 

Moving onto some exciting parking-related news! This week, the Council approved an interlocal agreement with Park City Municipal for a Parking Needs Assessment and Policy Review. 

For some context, back in April of this year, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) awarded Summit County and Park City Municipal Corporation (PCMC) a Technical Planning Assistance (TPA) grant of $175,000 to conduct a Regional Parking Needs Assessment and Policy Review. 

Fun fact! It’s the first UDOT Technical Planning Assistance grant the county has ever received and it was the highest funded grant they’ve ever done through that program! 

PCMC offered to provide up to an additional $50,000 in matching funds. The Interlocal Cooperative Agreement establishes formally that PCMC will do so. The Summit County transportation division will manage the project and is not obligated financially. 

The Regional Parking Needs Assessment and Policy Review will evaluate existing and planned park & ride facilities, as well as current prospective properties, parking practices such as parking requirements for developments and parking technology. After this eval, the stakeholders will receive recommendations to make sure that the region is planning for future park and ride needs and following national best practices. 

This assessment and review is an important step to find a long-term, lasting solution for the parking challenges our community faces. We’ll be sure to keep our listeners updated on the process as it continues! 

WIC GRAND OPENING 

The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program is hosting a halloween-themed Health & Resource Fair on Friday, October 13 from 3-6 at the Kamas services building, located at 110 N. Main Street in Kamas. This event is a celebration of the grand opening of WIC’s brand-new Kamas Clinic! 

We hope the event will help to educate the community on all services that are available to them through the WIC program and beyond. It’ll be an evening full of fun and information! All community members are welcome. Learn more at facebook.com/summitcountyhd. 

OUR SUMMIT #3 

And finally, we know we’ve talked about it a lot, but PLEASE don’t miss your chance to participate in Phase 3 of “Our Summit,” the county-wide community visioning process! Questionnaire #3 closes NEXT WEEK on Sunday, October 15. Your responses will directly impact and guide the future of Summit County. In this phase, you’ll help us understand how YOU prioritize certain features of your local community, what enhancements you would like to see and how you think growth should be handled. Take Questionnaire 3 at oursummitcounty.com.  

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Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! Today, we’ve got a community engagement-focused episode for you. 

For some context, because we’re engagement junkies over here, community engagement refers to the many ways Summit County works to inform and involve our community in the decisions and actions of local government. 

It’s a really important aspect of local government. When we interact with the community, Summit County is better able to address YOUR values, needs, and concerns while also ensuring transparency and accountability.

So, let’s get into the upcoming ways our listeners can engage with different departments in the county organization! 

WIC GRAND OPENING 

First up, the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program is hosting a Health & Resource Fair on Friday, October 13 from 3-6  at the Kamas services building, located at 110 N. Main Street in Kamas. This event is a celebration of the grand opening of WIC’s brand-new Kamas Clinic! 

We hope the event will help to educate the community on all services that are available to them through the WIC program and beyond. It’ll be an evening full of fun and information! All community members are welcome. Learn more at facebook.com/summitcountyhd. 

ENERGY VAMPIRE EVENT 

Sticking with the spirit of spooky season, Summit County residents and their families are encouraged to attend the “Ward Away Energy Vampires” event on November 2nd from 4pm – 6pm at the Kimball Junction Library and learn how these sneaky “Energy Vampires” can swiftly steal energy and water resources from your home! 

Area utility companies, Park City and Summit County Sustainability Teams will be there to teach tips and tricks on easy, affordable ways you can conserve precious electricity, gas and water resources in your home and help you save money! This FREE event is open house style and will have interactive kid-friendly activities. Costumes are encouraged! Register today at summitcounty.info/energyvampire. 

OUR SUMMIT #3 

And finally, we know we’ve talked about it a lot, but PLEASE don’t miss your chance to participate in Phase 3 of “Our Summit,” the county-wide community visioning process! Your responses will directly impact and guide the future of Summit County. In this phase, you’ll help us understand how YOU prioritize certain features of your local community, what enhancements you would like to see and how you think growth should be handled. Take Questionnaire 3 at oursummitcounty.com. 

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Today we cover…

• County-wide EMS Update
• Grand Opening of Women, Infant, and Children’s (WIC) Kamas Brach
• Our Summit Questionnaire #3. 

EMS 

At this week’s County Council meeting there was some major movement in the conversation regarding county-wide EMS services. Here is a quick recap of where we’re at now… 

Summit County decided that it would fund a Basic 911 EMS Service  countywide.  The County has contracted with each of its three fire districts: Park City Fire, North Summit Fire, and South Summit Fire, to provide this Basic Service within each fire district’s geographic boundaries. The three fire districts will  provide fire protection services and as a result of the EMS Interlocal Agreements, which were signed on Wednesday, each will also now provide EMS service. 

On Wednesday, the county signed Interlocal Agreements with each of its fire districts.  All of the cities within each fire district also signed the Interlocal Agreement pertaining to the fire district that will provide their residents service.  This is because Utah law requires that each city be responsible to provide basic 911 ambulance service within its city boundaries. 

There was also discussion of mutual aid agreements at Council. Fire districts typically enter into Mutual Aid Agreements with each other.  A Mutual Aid Agreement allows one fire district to help out another fire district when the need arises.  For example, there is a fire in Coalville and its such a large fire that North Summit Fire calls Park City Fire to help out.  They can engage in this activity because of the Mutual Aid Agreement.  With respect to EMS, it may be that there are multiple traffic accidents in Kamas, which overwhelms the number of ambulances they have.  South Summit Fire can request help from Park City Fire for additional ambulances.  Again, they can engage in this activity due to a Mutual Aid Agreement.  

The Mutual Aid Agreement allows one fire district to provide service in another fire district’s geographic area with the consent of that fire district. 

 In the past, the Mutual Aid Agreements have only included firefighting.  With the change in EMS, we need a more expansive Mutual Aid Agreement that includes fire protection and EMS.  In addition, the County has a Wildland Fire Service Area which has a Wildland Fire Unit that handles fire suppression on vacant lands in unpopulated areas that are not within a fire district.  There are times when a fire district needs to help out the Wildland Fire Unit with Initial Attack on wildfires or EMS.  The Mutual Aid Agreement will allow for that as well. 

The County and its fire districts have not entered into that Mutual Aid Agreement yet. The agreement is currently drafted and has been circulated to each fire district.  The reason the County and fire districts have not yet entered into that Mutual Aid Agreement is because South Summit Fire will be contracting out its EMS service to another fire district.  At this time, South Summit Fire has not yet chosen who that fire district will be.  That contracted fire district will need to be a part of the Mutual Aid Agreement.  

Therefore, we have to wait until South Summit Fire makes their decision before signing the Mutual Aid Agreement.  We expect that South Summit Fire will make their decision within the next 30 days and soon thereafter, we will be signing the Mutual Aid Agreement. We’ll be sure to keep our listeners updated on that process right here on Summit in Six! 

WIC Kamas Grand Opening 

The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program is hosting a Health & Resource Fair on Friday, October 13 from 3-6 at the Kamas services building, located at 110 N. Main Street in Kamas. This event is a celebration of the grand opening of WIC’s brand-new Kamas Clinic! Join us for a night full of fun, information and health services! This event is open to the community and will be hosted at the Summit County Services Building in Kamas. It’s going to be a fa-boo-lous time. Learn more at facebook.com/summitcountyhd. 

Questionnaire #3

Don’t miss your chance to participate in Phase 3 of “Our Summit,” the county-wide community visioning process! Your responses will directly impact and guide the future of Summit County. In this phase, you’ll help us understand how YOU prioritize certain features of your local community, what enhancements you would like to see and how you think growth should be handled. Take Questionnaire 3 at oursummitcounty.com. 

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Today, we cover…

• Flu vaccines
• Exciting community engagement opportunities
  • COG 
  • Speaker Series 
  • Our Summit

Back to School: Vaccine Check Ins 

School is back in session which means it’s that time of year again when the flu can impact our health and well-being. Get your flu shot and build a strong defense against this contagious virus. Contact your healthcare provider today to schedule an appointment. For more information on immunizations, visit summitcountyhealth.org. 

Community Engagement 

Council of Governments

Mark your calendars, Summit County! This Tuesday, September 19th, beginning at 6 pm the Council of Governments will host a meeting at Ledges Event Center. The Council of Governments, or COG, is made up of each mayor in Summit County and representatives from the Summit County Council. COG meetings are a great opportunity for collaboration to happen throughout our local government. For more information about next week’s meeting, visit summitcounty.org/agendacenter and scroll down to the Council of Governments meeting. 

Speaker Series 

The 2023 Summit County Climate Change and Public Health Speaker Series is designed to elevate public health as a critical consideration of climate change action in our community. The second session of the speaker series will highlight how local risks to the natural environment influence the public’s physical and mental health. More details and FREE registration can be at summitcountyhealth.org/speakerseries. 

Questionnaire #3

Don’t miss your chance to participate in Phase 3 of “Our Summit,” the county-wide community visioning process! Your responses will directly impact and guide the future of Summit County. In this phase, you’ll help us understand how YOU prioritize certain features of your local community, what enhancements you would like to see and how you think growth should be handled. Take Questionnaire 3 at oursummitcounty.com. 

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Today, we cover…

• 2023 Municipal Primary Elections Unofficial Results
• Upcoming Community Engagement Opportunities (Fall Noxious Weeds Tour, Climate Change and Public Health Speaker Series, Our Summit Questionnaire #3, 2024 County Calendar Photo Contest)
• National Suicide Prevention Week 

Elections Update 

The 2023 Municipal Primary Elections took place for Coalville City, Park City and South Summit Fire District earlier this week on Tuesday, September 5. Unofficial results shared by the County Clerk’s Office on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 6 show the following results. 

Coalville City Council will have the following 6 candidates on the General Election ballot: 

• Lynn Wood
• Shaun H. Powis
• Stefanie Bowen
• Brandon Brady
• Tyler Rowser
• Cindy Padgett

Park City Council will have the following 6 candidates on the General Election ballot: 

• Ryan Dickey
• Ed Parigian
• Matthew Nagie
• Bob Sertner
• John Greenfield
• Bill Ciraco

And, South Summit Fire District Commission will have the following 4 candidates on the General Election ballot: 

• Julie Anna Black
• Thayne D. Stembridge
• Larry Leifson
• David Ure

The canvasses to certify these results will take place on September 19, 2023 at each entity that held an election, so at Coalville City, Park City, and South Summit Fire District.

As a reminder the 2023 Municipal General Elections will take place on November 21, 2023. We’ll be sure to keep our listeners updated with information on the general elections in the coming weeks.

Community Engagement Opportunities 

Noxious Weeds Tour

Did you know fall is the best time to take care of noxious weeds? Summit County’s Weed Control program is hosting a Fall Community Noxious Weeds Tour TOMORROW Saturday, September 9 from 9 AM to 11:30 AM beginning at Richardson Flat Park and Ride to learn about the “most-wanted” weeds here in Summit County. There will be a specific focus on rosette identification and treating biennial weeds. Transportation will be provided for up to 14 people. RSVP for free at summitcounty.info/fallweedstour. 

Speaker Series

The 2023 Summit County Climate Change and Public Health Speaker Series is designed to elevate public health as a critical consideration of climate change action in our community. The second session of the speaker series will highlight how local risks to the natural environment influence the public’s physical and mental health. More details and FREE registration at summitcountyhealth.org/speakerseries.

Questionnaire #3 

Don’t miss your chance to participate in Phase 3 of “Our Summit,” the county-wide community visioning process! Your responses will directly impact and guide the future of Summit County. In this phase, you’ll help us understand how YOU prioritize certain features of your local community, what enhancements you would like to see and how you think growth should be handled. Take Questionnaire 3 at oursummitcounty.com. 

2024 County Calendar

Calling everyone who loves to photograph Summit County scenery! We want to include YOUR photos in our 2024 Summit County Calendar. Submit now through Sept. 15 at summitcounty.info/calendar24 for a chance to showcase your photography.

All images must:

• Be taken in Summit County
• Be YOUR original work
• Be high-resolution (no smartphone photos)

Winners will receive 3 calendars and will be featured on Summit County’s social media channels!

Suicide Prevention Week  

And finally, in honor of National Suicide Prevention week, we want to share a mantra of hope. “Live On” is a statewide effort here in Utah to prevent suicide by promoting education, providing resources, and changing our culture around suicide and mental health. Together we can get through, reach out, lift up, look ahead, and Live On. 

Talking is the first step to preventing suicide. Make a difference by learning the warning signs and risk factors, having REAL conversations with people you care about, and sharing resources and creative ways to help those who are struggling. 

If you or a loved one needs to speak with a licensed clinician text or call 988.

For more information and resources on suicide prevention please visit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at afsp.org. 

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