As part of their agenda on Wednesday, the Summit County council will celebrate the upcoming County Fair, will consider a critical national issue, and deal with other items.
The council meets at the Coalville Courthouse. The meeting will open with a review of this year’s County Fair running from August 4th to the 10th.
Deputy manager Janna Young said they’re showing off the fair’s new infrastructure, including a new event center.
“We will be dedicating our new Ledges Event center, which is a little over 11,000 square foot facility, it will take the place of the Quonset hut. It will house our fine arts, and home arts exhibits.” Young said “We also have brand new livestock barns that will also be a part of this year’s fair. Overall it’s a $5 million investment the county council made in upgrading the fairground facilities.”
Young said that demolition derby tickets are almost sold out. There are still tickets available for the PRCA rodeo.
The council will also discuss a resolution opposing the Trump Administration ‘zero-tolerance’ immigration policy that has stirred strong feelings and a national debate.
“The council was extremely disturbed about what was going on at the U.S. Mexico border with children being separated from their families. Moms and Dads locked up not knowing when they’d see their sons and daughters again." Young said "They requested that we put together a resolution to express concerns they have about this policy and what’s happening down there. Understanding that one voice here, in a 40,000-population county in Utah, isn’t necessarily going to change the hearts and minds of the federal government. But as Roger Armstrong said in the Park Record (…) It’s about the collective voice.”
Young said many other local governments have expressed concern. Young wrote the resolution, with input from the council.
The resolution would be sent on to Utah’s Congressional delegation. We asked her if they expect any blowback from the state’s GOP leadership.
“This isn’t the first time the council has spoken out on immigration policies. (We) haven’t experience blowback." Young said "I think we’re seeing a lot of people in congress come forward saying that this isn’t the right policy, let’s review it, let’s look at our laws and see how we can still enforce our immigration policies without having to separate families.”
Later in the agenda, the council will officially declare the office of County Recorder vacant. Mary Ann Trussell resigned from the position, that was effective on the First of July.
“She has already designated her chief-deputy to serve in her place until a new person is elected. Once the council declares the position vacant, they will then notify the party that elected Marry Ann, which in this case is the Democratic Party. They have until the beginning of August to nominate a replacement if they choose too. If not the chief-deputy, Rhonda, will continue to serve in the position." Young further explained "Part of this process is also notifying all the other political parties of the vacancy. They have until August 31st to put a name forward for the November ballot. This position then would be considered during that November election, and then the person would start on January 1st in 2019."
