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MINUTES OF THE SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING HELD
The San Juan County Commission met in regular session on Monday, March 19, 1984, at the hour of 10:00 a.m. in the San Juan County Courthouse at Monticello, Utah,
The following members were present: Commissioner Kenneth R. Bailey
Commissioner Robert Low Commissioner Black was excused to attend NACo meetings in Washington, B.C.
Minutes of the previous meeting were approved with the specified corrections on the motion of Commissioner Low. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Bailey and carried unanimously.
HEALTH CARE SERVICES REPORTED ON
Commissioner Low reported on the Hospital Committee meeting he attended where the upgrading and remodeling of the hospital was discussed. Commissioner Low also reported on that the Health Care Services has applied for a weatherization grant for the hospital.
FAIR BOARD CHAIRMAN APPROVED
Commissioner Low made a motion to appoint Shirley Steffan of Monticello as the Fair Board Chairman. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Bailey and carried unanimously,
ROADS COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULED
Commissioner Bialey reported that he will be attending a Roads Committee meeting in Kanab on March 22nd and 23red to discuss formula changes in appropriations.
OLD MEDICAL CLINIC BUILDING IN BLANDING
Commissioner Bailey reported that he spoke with Reece Thomas from the School District in regards to their request for the use of the old clinic building in Blanding. Mr. Thomas stated that this and another possible solution tc a facility to operate a school and a sheltered workshop for the mentally disabled will be reviewed at the March 19th School District meeting. Commissioner Bailey recommended the Commission postpone their decision on this matter until the March 26th Commission meeting.
BLUFF TO MONTEZUMA CREEK ROAD DISCUSSED
Commissioner Bailey reported that the engineering firm of Creamer & Noble is proceeding on the Bluff to Montezuma Creek bridge design.
Commissioner Bailey also reported that the bid advertisement for the oiling of the Bluff to Montezuma Creek road was in the Salt Lake Tribune on March 17th, Commissioner Bailey has requested Doug Pehrson get a copy of it and make sure the advertisement is run in the San Juan Record.
HEALTH CARE SERVICES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDS DISCUSSED
John Fellmeth, Chief Deputy Auditor, met with the Commission to discuss how to accounty for the general obligation bond proceeds that will be used to finance the Health Care Services capital improvements. Several options were reviewed and the Commission requested the County Attorney research the options and work with Mr. Fellmeth.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT LAWSUIT
Bruce K. Halliday, County Attorney, met with the Commission to report on the progress of the agreement with the U.S. Justice Department in regards to the at-large method of electing County Commissioners.
NEW UTAH PROPERTY TAX RULING DISCUSSED
Commissioner Bailey reviewed a March 16th newspaper article in the Salt Lake Tribune in regards to the new Utah property tax ruling declaring the 1978 rollback unconstituitonal. Commissioner Bailey drafted a letter to the Salt Lake Tribune responding to the article. Copies of the letter will be sent to the following:
State Tax Commission
Representative C. Hardy Redd
Jack Tanner
Bill Peters
San Juan County Assessor
San Juan County Attorney
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The letter is as follows: March 19, 1984
Salt Lake Tribune
Box 867
Slat Lake City, Utah 84110
Attention: Harry Fuller
Dear Sir,
I called today and talked to Robert Blair concerning your Friday March 16, 1984 editorial titled, New Utah Property Tax Mess Belongs to Its originators. I agree with the title if we could find the originators. This problem is not as simple as your editorial makes it sound.
Concerning the Supreme Court decision referred to, I do not read the case as substantiating anything as stated in the editorial. As I read the decision I see that there are many things wrong with the method of assessment, but the burden still rests on the mentioned companies to prove that becasue of some inequity they were over assessed as compared to locally assessed property. I still doubt that they can do this.
I am taking Mr. Blairs word that you are a fair individual and would like to know the truth and the facts. Please take about an hour and study through the enclosed documents to gain a true understanding of the facts. In all fairness it would make a very interesting editorial to include the true facts concerning this very complex problem. For further information please contact Mr. Bill Peters phone no. 801-364-8644.
I am enclosing some position papers and information gathered during 1982 and 1983.
Please refer to my Exhibit A which shows a gradual shift from 1950 to 1980 of hundreds of millions of dollars from the State assessed properties to the home owners and small businesses as a result of inequitable methods of assessment.
Exhibit B by Commissioner Calvin Black explains and reviews the real issues on fair taxation as required by the State constitution and expains the reason for the inequitable shift from State assessed properties to the homeowners and small businesses.
Exhibit C reviews what is commonly referred to as the 20% rollback. Your editorial indicates that this supposed 20% rollback for the homeowners promped the lawsuit. Please make a call to Jack Tanner of the Utah Association of Counties also the State Tax Commission and verify that this 20% rollback for the homeowners was also (not according to State law) given to the State assessed property also.
Exhibit D explains the great inequities in methods and results in assessing property in the State of Utah.
Exhibit E further explains the inequities in assessing mines as does exhibit D.
The bottom line is that the State of Utah is not assessing State assessed property on the same formula and in equity with the locally assessed proeprty causing a massive shift in the tax burden from utilities, mines and railroads to the homeowners and small businesses amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars.
My opinion is that if the State assessed property was assessed using the same yardstick as the homes and small business the great short falls in revenue by the State, Education and other programs in the State would be alleviated.
Please do not destroy this information without first giving it your close attention. I solicit your support to be constructive in bringing about equity in the solutionof these problems.
Sincerely,
/s/ Kenneth R. Bailey
Kenneth R. Bailey
San Juan County Commissioner
cc: State Tax Comission
Representative C. Hardy Redd Jack Tanner Bill Peters
A copy of the letter and the enclosed material will be kept on file in the Clerk's office. DISTRICT FIRE WARDEN MEETS
John Baker, District Fire Warden, met with the Commission and reported that there had been three (3) minor fires last week.
REMODELING OF THE INSIDE OF THE MONTICELLO POOL BUILDING
Sue Halliday and Heidi Redd met with the Commission to discuss the specifications for remodeling the inside of the Monticello pool building. Bid specifications will be sent out to licensed contractors in the County and a public notice will be in the San Juan Record. All bids should be submitted to the Clerk's office by April 2., 1984.
Bills Approved for Payment
A & M Propane Utility 601.33
Abajo Electric Lamps purchased 129.00
Greg Adams Firefighter 7.00
AED R & S Corporation Book for Bernal 26.75
Agricultural Communications Publications 5.47
John Baker Travel 91.22
Blue Cross - Blue Shield Reimbursement invoice 18,722.01
Coca-Cola Bottling co. of Price Soft Drinks 22.50
Continental Tel Co of the West Telephone charges 45.84
L.N. Curtis and Sons Fire extinguishers 52.45
Dalton, Gail L. Travel 156.50
Future Electronics Video Camera and T. V. 300.00
Hajoca Corporation Supplies purchased 72.15
Himmelberger, John Firefighter 10.50
Hugentobler, Merz W. Travel 64.48
International Business Machine Service Agreement 145.26
KRTZ FM Advertising 300.00
Kensley , George Firefighter 17.50
Kensley, Jim Firefighter 14.00
Knight, T. J. Rental of Cafe/Bond election 20.00
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Rosella Mustache Interpreter for Bond election 20.00
Rex Nielson Restitution 50.00
Charlie Purcell Parts for propane tank 7.29
Redex, Inc. MC 250 1,166.99
The Ribbon Division Ltd. Supplies 225.72
Rocky Mountain Machinery Co. Parts 1,654.69
Howard M. Rogers III Firefighter 7.00
The San Juan Record Legal Notice 9.00
San Juan School District Supplies 195.31
State of Utah Dept. of Finance Rolls of 16-MM AHU 57.24
Texaco, Incorporated Gasoline purchased 40.87
Travelodge (Tri-Arc) Travel 52.00
Utah Navajo Industries Supplies 93.25
Utah State Library Service rendered 11,982.00
There being no further business for this day the meeting adjourned at approximately 1:30 p.m.
Commissioner Calvin Black, Chairman Carol T. Hoggard, Deputy Clerk