San Juan County Commmission approves raise for Monticello deputies, approve CIB list

Members of the San Juan County Commission approved a raise for Sheriff Deputies in Monticello, sent a letter in support of a Monument Valley Food Bank and approved their CIB priority funding list as part of their May 3 meeting.
In addition to discussions around state trust land, and the county attorney, members of the San Juan County Commission had a busy meeting on May 3.
The Commission unanimously updated their agreement with Monticello City to provide sheriff deputies to patrol the city. The updated agreement was proposed by Monticello City Council who passed a $2-an hour raise for deputies that work shifts in Monticello.
County Sheriff Jason Torgerson explained that the deputy raise would be covered by the city with the county being responsible for an additional $7,300 a year in contributions to the state retirement system.
“That was to recognize and show their appreciation for the work that we’ve done and also to try to help keep some of the deputies that we’ve been losing.”
The commission also approved their priority list for funding from the Permanent Community Impact Board (CIB). 
CIB awards grants and low-interest loans to cities, towns, and counties from funds directed to the CIB from mining and oil and gas extraction on federal land. 
Governmental entities including cities, special service districts and the county ranked projects within San Juan County, the result of those rankings was made available at the May 3 meeting of the commission. 
Number one on the list of priorities was the San Juan County proposed $17 million public safety building jail and court expansion. Number two was a $200,000 request from Blanding for self-contained breathing apparatus equipment for the fire department, number three was a $500,000 request from Monticello for a sewer rehab project. 
In all 13 projects from the above areas as well as the town of Bluff, San Juan Health Service District and the San Juan Historic Commission were ranked to be submitted to the CIB. 
The commission also unanimously approved a letter supporting Utah Food Banks efforts to find a permanent facility in Monument Valley.
Utah Food Bank recently purchased a seven acre parcel where they intend to build a warehouse that will serve San Juan County.
The organization also has funds available for two pantries, one will be located in Montezuma Creek, but the organization has had trouble securing a place for a pantry in Monument Valley. The letter from the commission shows support for the organization's efforts to locate land in Monument Valley.
At their meeting the commission also approved the purchase of a sculpture in memory of RD and Vee Carroll to be placed outside the Monticello Library.
The $5,000 for the statue of a young girl and boy reading on a log was donated by the T.R. Paul Family Foundation. The trustee Theodore Paul owns Flight Service, the company that built the new US Forest Service building in Monticello. 
Paul purchased the property from RD Carroll and grew close to the family while constructing the building.
The statue will feature a memorial plaque honoring RD and Vee Carroll. Vee Carroll served many years as a librarian at the Monticello Library.
Current Monticello Branch Librarian Mikaela Ramsay said she didn’t work with Carroll but she hears stories about her all the time.
“I know she’s an important part of the history here. So many people have come in and said she was my first librarian.”
San Juan County Commissioner Bruce Adams agreed with Ramsay’s sentiment.
“She was really dedicated to our library system and especially the library here in Monticello. Spent many many years as the librarian here and this is a great idea in my opinion.” 
The commission approved the purchase of the sculpture which will be covered by the $5,000 donation.

San Juan Record

49 South Main St
PO Box 879
Monticello, UT 84535

Phone: 435.587.2277
Fax: 435.587.3377
news@sjrnews.com
Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday