For the next two weeks, the Summit County council will be hosting public hearings on their planned 2019 budget.
The council is hosting a hearing this Wednesday, December 5th, at the Richins Services Building. That’s followed by a second hearing, and a decision session, December 12th at the Coalville Courthouse.
Among many items, the council is considering adding staff positions. Council chairwoman Kim Carson noted last week that they have discussed adding a journeyman to Community Development.
“That person would take the load off on some of the—I don’t want to say the more routine items because nothing seems to be routine in Summit county due to, we have a lot of areas that have sensitive lands that have to be looked at. You have wildlife corridors, you have two different planning commissions, different development codes, and general plans that need to be considered—but that person would do some of the more day to day work.”
The planning department also has to update the Snyderville and East Side General Plans.
“We’re required by state law to do an annual review of our general plans. Especially since we have two that’s more burdensome. It doesn’t mean a re-write every year, but it does mean going through and doing a general overview of it and making sure everything comports with the development code. That has been one thing that has taken the backburner. In the Snyderville Bain planning area we have some updates we want to make to the development code for lighting, for other sustainability issues.”
Another item concerns whether the county will dispense grants next year for nonprofits. In the fall, county manager Tom Fisher gave notice that nonprofits wouldn’t be getting funding due to a quarter-million-dollar grant they were giving to the new Children’s Justice Center.
Last week, Fisher said they had found enough funding for grants to nine programs.
Carson said they directed the manager to analyze the item further.
“We’ve requested that Tom Fisher go back and make some adjustments in certain areas. Especially for the services that directly support women and children, at risk populations and mental wellness support. So, Tom will be doing some pencil sharpening on a couple of those and then be coming back to us next week with that proposal.”
