Discovering Truth Takes Time and Investigation -- 2/15/2020

County Commission Meeting Tues. Feb. 18

Agenda: Citizens are always invited and encouraged to attend
February 18, 2020

1. Opening: Invocation 2. Public Comments
a. *CITIZENS COMMENTS: Anyone wishing to address the Board of San Juan County Commissioners on a non-agenda item is invited to do so during the citizens comments period in the meeting. Comments or presentations are limited to three (3) minutes, if requested, the Commission Chair may at their sole discretion extend the comment time. PROCEDURE: Please complete the request form (available at the door) and hand it to the Commission Clerk, as you enter the meeting. Thank you for helping us provide an orderly productive meeting. 3. Consent Agenda (Routine Matters) Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
a. Meeting Minutes
b. Check Registers
c. County Seat Contract Ratification
d. Host Compliance, LLC Amendment (a.k.a Bear Cloud Software)
e. 2020 Census Boundary Approval
f. Beer License Renewal 4. Recognitions, Presentations and Informational Items:
a. Notice of Cancelation of March 3, 2020 Commission Meeting, Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
B. Natural History Museum Utah Marker Location Support Letter, Natalie Randall, San Juan County Economic Development and Visitor Services Director
C. Proposed Revisions to Grazing Provisions Support Letter, Nick Sandberg, San Juan County Planning
D. Goosenecks State Park Campground and Trail System Support Letter to BLM, Nick Sandberg, San Juan County Planning 5. Business/Action
a. Bluff Interlocal Agreement, Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
b. TB Prevention and Control Agreement, Kirk Benge, San Juan County Public Health Director
c. AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE RULES, PROCEDURES, AND BYLAWS FOR THE SAN JUAN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION. Walter Bird, San Juan County Planning and Zoning Director
d. Planning Commission Recommended Revised San Juan County Spanish Valley Zoning Map, Walter Bird, San Juan County Planning and Zoning Director
e. Spanish Valley Special Service District Loan, Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
f. West Mountain Irrigation Company request for support regarding the West Mountain Irrigation Companys application to the U.S. Forest Service for a Special Use Permit allowing the Company to maintain and protect the final steep one-mile section of the Allen Canyon Access Road (FS Road 5215) and Letter Approval, Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
g. A RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT (BLM) AND FOREST SERVICES CONTINUED PROTECTIONS AGAINST MINERAL DEVELOPMENT AND LEASING IN AREAS THAT WERE TAKEN OUT OF BEARS EARS NATIONAL MONUMENT. Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
h. AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING AN UPDATED SAN JUAN COUNTY PURCHASING POLICY Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
i. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SAN JUAN COUNTY PERSONNEL POLICY SECTION 11, REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSE RELATED TO TRAVEL, TRAVEL EXPENSES, USE OF PERSONAL VEHICLES, USE OF COUNTY VEHICLES, LODGING, PER DIEM AND ADVANCE PAYMENTS BY THE ENTITLED BOARD OF SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator. 6. Public Lands Updates, Nick Sandberg, San Juan County Planning 7. Commissioner Comments

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Who's Reading Bear Essentials?  An Observation and Question

Bear Essentials has been published for nearly four years now, with 26,769 hits, or readers who take time to read at least a few articles and follow the links. That isn't an overwhelming amount in the world of sensationalized mass media, but at least enough that it's worth rounding up the news that impacts San Juan County every week or two.   

I've noticed on the stats map, however, that usually page visitors come only from the United States.  However, any time  I post anything related to Uranium, the stats map lights up world-wide.  A few weeks ago when I ran on article on Energy Fuels and the White Mesa Mill,  these stats accumulated showing what countries readers came from that particular day. Note that there were twice as many hits from Russia, as from the United States.   Why??

Russia	50
United States	25
France	15
Philippines	3
Unknown Region	2
Ukraine	2
India	1
Netherlands	1
Pakistan	1
Sweden	1

Why would nations worldwide care about our little town, and the fact that we support the only Uranium processing plant in the Nation?     Russian Tolling Farms are one possibility:     Not only fuel for thought, but fuel for the future?  

~~ Federal Agencies Sign Management Plan for Bears Ears National Monument

Lance Porter: "Existing 2008 Resource Management Plan continues to provide the appropriate framework to manage the public lands.  Livestock grazing was outlined in the proclamation that created Bears Ears and grazing will continue. Porter said that several specific areas in Butler, Comb, and Arch canyons will be unavailable to grazing.

The plans specifically prohibit commercial logging on BLM-administered lands. Forest Service-administered lands will also be unsuitable for timber production within the monument. The plan allows the option to use a variety of vegetation treatment tools, but the BLM shared that no chaining has occurred in more than 30 years and none is likely to occur except under very unusual circumstances.

The BLM states that any vegetation treatments within the monument would use the least impactful method as possible. Popular local uses, such as firewood collection, grazing, and Native American traditional and ceremonial uses will continue to take place.  

~~ Senate Acquits Trump: Mitt Romney's Loyalty Questioned: Censor resolution

The sponsor of the censure resolution, Rep. Phil Lyman, R-Blanding, said he didn’t want Utah’s relationship with Trump to be “damaged by the actions of Sen. Romney.” Lyman attended the House leadership meeting with Romney. “I wanted to send a message that Utah supports President Trump,” Lyman said. “I didn’t want that message to be lost.”

In an earlier Des. News article: Mike Lee, senior senator from Utah explained how "an aggressively deteriorating balance of power and the creation of what he called a “4th branch” of unaccountable bureaucrats has led to the partisan rancor fueling the impeachment by the House.". . ."Lee began his speech defining the constitutional powers of the separate branches of government and invoked the federalism debate to argue that power has been taken from American people and centralized in the executive branch.  Trump is “a serious threat,” Lee said, to those that have been empowered by this phenomenon, alluding to what he has previously described as a “deep state.”    Related Article Contrasting Senator Lee and Sen. Romney

~~ Reflections on State of the Union Speech

"President Washington himself declared of partisan politics, “One of the expedients of a [political] party is to acquire influence within particular districts, to misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districts. You cannot shield yourselves too much against the jealousies and heartburnings which spring from these misrepresentations; they tend to render alien to each other those who ought to be bound together by fraternal affection.”

Fact Checking Trump's Claims

~~ Plusses and Pitfalls of Change in San Juan County

"A Word to the Exhausted Majority

The fact is that the rolling Bears Ears controversy has, among other things, enormously complicated the normal operation of local government in San Juan County. This is clear in Bluff’s absurd new town boundaries, in the “Make It Monumental” controversy, and, yes, in the school board’s struggle to find a sound basis from which to set tax-subsidy policy. Current conditions are unfair both to local government actors and also to the private parties impacted by policy-making dilemma and paralysis." Stacy Young  Read more

~~ Bluff, the Epicenter of Change in the New West?

~~ THE NEXT ACT IN THE WESTWATER SAGA: ENTER THE POWER PLAYERS 

By Bill Keshlear

Larry Echo Hawk, who serves as an advisor to Herbert, and Rep. Phil Lyman, R-Blanding, presented a $500,000 funding request to a House appropriations subcommittee.

Recap of  Westwater's  50 year History of Progress: (Written 2010)

"Over the past fifty years Blanding City has participated in many meetings and invested hundreds of hours to identify resources and    to    rally support   to    develop     suitable   housing   and utilities   for   Westwater   residents.   Because   of   the   costly   engineering   needed   to   adapt   the   Westwater terrain   for   this   purpose,   initial   efforts   focused   on   finding   alternative   building   sites   to   which   Westwater residents   could   move.

 Previous activities: "In the mid-1960s community leaders initiated a program to alleviate poverty. Many meetings were held with active Westwater       community              participation. .              One outcome of these efforts was the building of  at least fifteen USDA financed subsidized homes. This program effort lasted two and a half years.  

--In 1968 a Work Incentive Program (WIN) was initiated through Work Force Services and over the next two and a half years ,   approximately   fifteen   additional   homes   were  constructed   in     collaboration  with    UNDC.   (Utah   Navajo   Development    Council)

--In 1971 what became the Utah Navajo Trust  Fund  (UNTF)   entered   the   equation   and   over  the next    decade   about  35   more   subsidized   homes  were  constructed   and   again   financed  by  USDA. These  combined   early   efforts   resulted   in  well  over  50   subsidized  homes  being  built." 

--" In 1997, working  with  UNTF  and  Blue  Mountain  Diné, the   City  annexed  the   area  by the  Chapter  house   (on  the   east  side  of   town)  as  part  of  a    Planned   Unit  Development (PUD). This  was  a  Zion Bank issued  tax  credit project  constructed  through  Gaddis  Investments  as   a   501 C 3  with  a  UNTF management   contract. The   project  consists  of  20 homes  that  can  still  be   rented   at   a  subsidy – based  on   family  size   and   income.

--This    project   specifically   targeted   Westwater   residents, who   wanted  to   move   into   town   to   take advantage    of    modern   conveniences.   Additionally,  four   multi-family   subsidized   units   have  been developed:  Kigalia I,  Kigalia II,  Juniper  Village,  and   Baus            Butte,   to   serve    our   community   at   large. 

--After  over  forty  years   of    trying   to   solve   the   housing   needs    of   Westwater   residents   within   the  Blanding    community,  it   was   evident   that   some    still   preferred   a   solution   on  the  Navajo   Nation’s 120 acres   across  the   canyon  from    the   City.   In  2004   the    City  and   County   collaborated   to   create   a   plan   that   would   extend  Center   Street   across   Westwater  Canyon   with   City   utilities   delivered  to   Westwater."

Download  additional   related    information  

~~   Governor   Prioritizes  Plan   to   Bring   Water  and    Power  to   Westwater.  

~~  In  1999   SUWA   Opposed  Visitor's  Center  Because Tourism  Would  Impact  San  Juan.  What   Changed?    by Jim Stiles

~~   Leland  Pollock, Black  Hat  Sagebrush  Rebel             by  Majorie Haum

~~  Federal   Agencies  Sign Off    Management    Plan   for   Bears   Ears   Monument

~~ Trump  Moves  Ahead  on  Shrinking  Utah  National  Monuments

~~   Energy  Fuels   Lays  of   30% of  Workers  Nation wide --   White  Mesa   Mill  only  had a 12%  Reduction  

~~ New  Expert   on   Sage Grouse  in   the    American  West

~~  Ozone  Pollution  Levels  High  in  Some   National  Parks

January Chill Brings Changes, Chagrin, and Citizen Action

News in the West

~~ Bluff Balloon Festival | Jan. 17 - 19 starting at 7:00 AM

Learn more about this Gov. Candidate by attending this meeting

~~ Ut. Gubernatorial Candidates Debate

~~ Diné turning Hogans into Cash on Airbnb

      (Be sure to read the comments after the article.  Many Dine' have concerns about this; similar to the concerns about tourists tramping all over "sacred" lands in Bears Ears landscapes.)

~~ Is Renewable Energy Viable or Dammed?  High Country News

Utah's Unpopular Tax Bill Facing Possibility of Referendum vote: 
Have you signed?   14 counties have secured with enough signatures, but the combined effort must reach  116,000 signatures statewide.  To Sign: contact Logan Monson in Blanding, Kim Henderson in Monticello, Kelly and Cricket Green in La Sal, and Cassie Patterson in Moab.

~~ Mojave County Fights BLM Jeep Trail Closures   "The BLM Works for Us!"

~~ America a Nation of Builders; Pres. Trump Hopes to Speed up the Process

~~ Here's to a "Meatless" Golden Globe Awards Event by Matt Goble of Dry Bottom Farms in Utah

~~ BLM's Move West Based on Common Sense

~~ Businesses in Cedar City Help Referendum Push  -- Go and do likewise!

~~ Protesters in Virginia Stop Gun Confiscation Legislation

~~ Video Explains the Seriousness of Virginia's Infractions Against Constitutional Rights of Citizens

~~ Vegan or Beef?  What are the Facts? 

~~ Salt Lake Trib. via Zac Podmore Attacks Sutherland Institute The lack of balance in Podmore's reporting results in lopsided news, i.e. fake news. No listing included in the article of " Non-profits" and foundations who dump tens of thousands into support FOR Bears Ears enlarged. One such donor is the Wyss Foundation: 

Canyon Zephyr editor, Jim Stiles noted: "I've been perusing Guidestar this afternoon, looking at non-profits like the "Conservation Lands Foundation," whose chair is Mr Wyss...CLF gave $130,000 to Utah Dine' Bikeyah in 2018. And another $100,000 to Friends of Cedar Mesa. Mr.Podmore surely knows this because until recently his wife was assistant director of FCM. Cold scrutiny of groups like Sutherland is fair and necessary. But The Tribune KNOWS what resides on the other side of the coin, and so surely does Podmore. And they say nothing. Yet Podmore wasn't always like this. In an email to me three years ago, Podmore wrote, ""You make the best case against alliances between conservationists and the recreation industry that I've heard in a while. I agree with you. Silence about the destructive nature of industrial tourism is poisoning greater conservation movement, and like you've written time and again, it often threatens wild places more than extractive industry." I agree. "Silence is poisoning the greater environmental movement."

~~ Bad Forest management, Cause of California Fires

~~ Native Tribes Impacted Negatively Because of Kayenta Coal Mine Closure

~~  The Temper Tantrum that Never Ends: Environmentalists Using Tribes 

~~ Natural Resources Chair, Grijalva Opposes BLM Move to Colorado -- "because it's Racist" 

~~ The Irony of Wind Turbine Blades;  They take forever to Disintegrate

~~ Pork IndustryTakes Issue with Impossible Sausage Labeling

~~ Who Cares About Protecting US Citizens! Trump's Border Wall Compromises Fish!    More Non-human Rights Protection: High Country News

~~ Borden Dairy Co, Files for Bankruptcy.  "Borden Dairy Co., which was founded in 1857, announced that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the District of Delaware. This comes not long after Dean Foods announced it was filing for bankruptcy in November.. . ."

Ups and Downs of Politics in San Juan/ Bear Essentials Oct. 10/2019

What's New In The West

San Juan County Residents should have received this ballot in the mail.  

"Shall a Study Committee be appointed to consider and possibly recommend a change in San Juan County's form of government? 

This is only forming a committee to look at 4-5 different options on how 

San Juan county Government might be configured. 

~~ Cataclysmic Money and the Illusion of Prosperity

by Stacy Young
" It has been my experience during the years of the Bears Ears controversy that one very common rhetorical strategy of monument proponents is to include economic indicators unique to the Reservation to make the case that San Juan County as a whole is desperately poor and in dire need of the sort of fixing Industrial Tourism is good at. The reasons for doing this are simple enough. To start with, it is the steadfast belief of elitists everywhere that they come not to condemn a place and its people but to save them. And many Bears Ears maximalists certainly live up to this axiom. Indeed, the standard sales pitch — for the New West in general and Bears Ears in particular — amounts to a sort of secular prosperity gospel in which economic prosperity inevitably follows from the proper, enlightened appreciation of nature. One form or another of this argument is made time and time and time again!"  read more in the Canyon Zephyr

~~ BLM Photo Rotation Creates Environmental Controversy

~~ Is Agri-tourism a Viable Option for the West?

~~ Public Land Leases Sold Too Cheaply by BLM?

~~ Softening the Impass with Some Satire:  Canyon Zephyr

~~ What Collaboration Looks Like -- A Good Start  By Bill Keshlear

Mack MacDonald, new County Administrator, introduced himself at Town Hall Meeting Oct. 9.
Read detailed article in this week's San Juan Record.

About 40 people attended the Town Hall Meeting

A Town Hall Meeting was held in Blanding Oct. 9. Panel members and local citizens addressed the issue of “B” roads, and the ballot initiate to study possible changes in SJC government.  Panelists included Cheryl Bowers, Charlotta Lacy, Nicole Perkins, Kim Henderson, Shannon Brooks, and Gail Dalton Johnson.   Perkins emphasized the point of holding Federal, State and locally elected officials and judges accountable to Citizens.

Many people from the audience asked questions and shared ideas.  Kim Henderson, organizer of the event expressed a desire to take Town Hall meetings into communities on the reservation, if there are those who will help make it happen. Davina Smith and Mary Benally were two who attended who will hopefully help.

New County Administrator, Mack MacDonald told of his experiences in Afghanistan, helping different tribes/ groups to work cooperatively as they set about to create a workable government.  A detailed article of his experiences is in the new San Juan Record.

 The main topic of discussion related to the condition of “B” roads in the county.  Past history shows since 1988 San Juan County had maintained BIA roads, but in June of  2018, the Navajo Tribe told them to “cease and desist”.  Unfortunately, those without the historical background and facts have used this as racism” propaganda against San Juan County.  Phil Lyman noted, “A lie can travel ½ way around the world, before truth can get its pants on.” He gave credit to former Commissioner Benally, who had started the cooperative wheels on road repair going again, “before the carpet was pulled out from under her.”.

The next discussion led by Cheryl Bowers emphasized four possible governing styles that are approved by State guidelines as listed:
1. 3-member Commision (current form)
2. 5-7 member commission
3. Elected County Council with appointed county manager with executive powers
4. County council with elected mayor with executive powers

If the initiative passes, a study group will be organized who will make recommendations.  Ballots have been mailed out, and voters should mail them back quickly.

~~ What are the Pros and Cons of Changing SJC Gov:  Read SJ Record Article: 

~~ CO2 a Crucial life Sustaining Nutrient, Needed More Not Less 

Free Range Report: "Co2 is not a pollutant that threatens human civilization as has been ridiculously claimed by global warming doomsday pushers. CO2 actually increases plant yields, accelerates “re-greening” and improves reforestation of the planet." 

~~ Subsidizing Electric Cars Doesn't Help the Environment.  The Independent

~~ NPS Hosts Arches Congestion Meeting Oct. 15 

~~ Women Against Gun Control, video interview

~~ Children Raised Around Livestock Have Stronger Immune System

~~ Utah Dine' Bikeyah: Protecting Bears Ears and Environmental Strategies 

~~ Digging Deeper: Utah Dine' Bikeyah, Agenda 21 and the UN Connection

"UNDP Projects will recognize that indigenous peoples have collective rights to own, use, and develop and control the lands, resources and territories that they have traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or acquired, including lands and territories for which they do not yet possess title.

“If the Project involves activities that are contingent on establishing legally recognized rights to lands, resources, or territories that indigenous peoples have traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or acquired, an action plan will outline the steps and timetable for achieving legal recognition of such ownership, occupation, or usage (see paragraph 14 below).
“In such cases, UNDP, with the consent of the relevant authority or Implementing Partner, will support such activities aimed at delimiting, demarcating and titling such lands, resources, and territories with due respect to the customs, traditions and land tenure systems of the indigenous peoples concerned.”  (UNDP= Standard 6 of the United Nations Development Programme)

~~ Trash on the Reservation, a Continuing Problem

~~ Trump Loses Bid to Dismiss Monument Lawsuits

~~ Shrinking Water Levels at Glen Canyon Dam Triggers Fed Lawsuit

~~ Zions Park in the Top 10 "Most Popular"  (i.e. Most Crowded) Park

~~ Saudi Oil Field Attack, Points Out Need for Domestic Energy Dominance 

~~ Pueblo Tribe Vows to Keep Fighting for Enlarged Bears Ears

~~ Moab Sun Time Writers Disagree with Kelly Green

 Beyond the Bears Responds: In reality BENM was orchestrated by one of the nation’s strongest environmental lobby groups, The Conservation Lands Foundation. (All quotes below come from the Conservation Lands Foundation Minutes held San Francisco, CA 24 October 2014)

The Conservation Lands Foundation intended to control the dialogue and efforts of all players in the drama. The illusion they perpetuated was that this was a “bottom up” effort driven by indigenous people.

In reality native leaders were targeted by CLF organizers. This was a Top Down masterplan and they were carefully watching all players from Secretary Jewel, down to each tribe as illustrated in their Oct. 2014 board meeting minutes. “Struggles with Secretary Jewell, she is not being a strong advocate for the Antiquities Act, but continues to show gradual improvement. With strong leadership from the White House this has become less of a roadblock.”
Another CLF member admits to relying on the Navajo Nation, but asks, “What happens if we separate from them or disagree with them? Without their support the White House probably would not act.”

They were using coalition leaders as kings in a grand scale game of chess, and tribal members as pawns. For more information go to https://beyondthebears.blogspot.com/2016/11/big-money-environmentalists-and-bears.html

~~ BLM Environmental Strategies Fail to Improve  Devil's Canyon 

"Ultimately, and for years, I’ve wondered why public land management agencies feel the compulsion to “improve” Nature. No matter what grievous damage human activity imposes upon the environment, it always seemed like a safer and wiser strategy to–of course— stop continued degradation, but then to just leave the land alone and let it recover on its own. Too often the best of intentions can backfire and only exacerbate the problem."  Jim Styles, Canyon Zephyr  Oct. 2019

DOI Faces Future Without Zinke -- Bear Essentials

Opinions 12-19-18

Vote for Utah Citizen of the Year
~~
Rob Bishop and Sean Reyes are on Sec. Interior Short List
~~

America is at a Rubicon Moment in History by By Michael Shannon

(Allusion:  "crossing the rubicon": Julius Caesar's crossing the Rubicon river was an event in 49 BC that precipitated the Roman Civil War, which ultimately led to Caesar becoming dictator for life and the rise of the imperial era of Rome. ... Today, the phrase "crossing the Rubicon" is an idiom that means to pass a point of no return.)
~~

ZviDance will present the world premiere of Bears Ears in NYC

~~ Rollbacks proposed on Excessive EPA Water Regulation

~~ EcoWatch Screams, while Miners with Leases Go to Work 150,000 Acres of Public Lands Available Near Utah National Parks

~~ Benefits of EPA Reduction of Water Restrictions 
  "This means that hardworking Americans will spend less time and money determining whether they need a federal permit and more time growing crops, building homes, modernizing infrastructure, creating jobs and improving the lives of their fellow citizens."

~~ Sean Reyes and Rob Bishop on "short List' for Zinke Replacement

~~ Coal Production Up

     Varying News Reports on Zinke's Resignation

~~Washington Post:   "Interior Department Secretary Ryan Zinke submitted his resignation to the White House on Saturday, facing intense pressure to step down because of multiple probes tied to his real estate dealings in his home state of Montana and his conduct in office."

~~ Zinke to leave at End of Year: CNN  "Some possible contenders for his position include Deputy Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and Nevada Republican Sen. Dean Heller, who lost his re-election race, sources with knowledge of the situation said.

Zinke said in a statement on Saturday that he was proud of his work as interior secretary and called the allegations against him "false."

~~ New York Times Editorial Attacks Zinke "The New York Times ripped outgoing Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Saturday as a cheerleader for President Donald Trump’s “boneheaded” policy of “energy dominance.” The editorial noted that Zinke is leaving his job under the shadow of an” impressive number” — 15 — “ethics investigations.”

~~Pelosi Promises Tougher Gun Laws

~~ Why Wyss plans to buy $1 Billion in land to Save the Planet

       Response from Ben Burr: "You’ll notice that all of the land he plans to buy is in developing countries. This is just the latest instance of imperious Europeans colonizing the planet at the expense of indigenous peoples. History will be just as kind to Mr. Wyss as it has been to Columbus, Cortez, and Custer." 
Hansjörg Wyss was born in Switzerland, founded the medical device company Synthes and          now lives in Wyoming.

~~Wyss and Companies:  Bad to the Bone  2012 investigation 
"The company repeatedly ignored evidence of potential lethal consequences. Interviews with more than 20 former employees and surgeons involved in the Norian project, hundreds of pages of court transcripts, and company documents submitted in the case reveal that Synthes not only disregarded multiple warnings that it was flouting the rules, but also brushed off scientists’ cautions that the cement could cause fatal blood clots."

~~ Back Pack Grand Gulch with Conservation Lands Foundation $2600 in April 2019

"A portion of the trip costs goes to support the Conservation Lands Foundation's efforts to defend America's National Conservation Lands, including Bears Ears National Monument, while building and empowering the Friends Grassroots Network to protect them for the future. "