Friday, March 29, 2019

"NPC Daily is a satire site, providing political and cultural commentary with wanton sarcasm. NPCDaily pokes fun of modern journalism and liberalism. If you believe one of our articles is real, it’s because the content is not too far adrift from what is published by mainstream news outlets."

~~ Mountain States Legal Foundation Not Walking Away from Bears Ears

See.PDF File attached to E-mail

Utah county: "Breaking up with Bears Ears" suit is hard to do

Jennifer Yachnin, E and E News reporter March 20, 2019

"Local officials in San Juan County, Utah, recently voted to rescind the work of their predecessors and reproach President Trump for reducing the Bears Ears National Monument, but attorneys representing the county in federal court don't seem to have gotten the memo."

~~Conflict of Interests and Collusion in SJ County Politics

"A closer examination of Steven Boos’ involvement with several legal matters pertaining to San Juan County suggests that Greyeyes’ and Maryboy’s efforts to conceal their relationship is an effort to shield serious breaches of public trust from scrutiny." The Petroglyph (Includes several easy to hear audio clips from the meeting.)

~~Attorney Boos in Resolution Writing Loop with New SJC Commissioners

~~ Back Story Info on The Wyss Foundation and George Soros

~~Commissioners attend Pack Creek/ Spanish Valley Meeting

~~Democratic Commissioners Vote in Favor of Bears Ears Expansion

~~ Court Briefs Show Calif, Oregon Broke Law w/ Kalamath Dam Removal Plan

~~ Two Tourists Die in Grand Canyon

================

Agenda for April 2 Commission Meeting

Agenda for April 2 County Commission meeting:
SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING - COMMISSION ROOM
AGENDA April 2, 2019

9:00 A.M. Work Meeting - All Discussion, Report, Department Head Concerns, & non-action items
Jason Torgerson - SJC Sheriff - Jail Control System Maintenance Contract
Heather Young - San Juan County Historical Commission Updates
Kendall Laws - SJC Attorney Updates
Natalie Randall - Economic Development & Tourism Update
Margie Memmot - USU Extension Updates
Jerry McNeely - Updates
Nick Sandberg - Updates

BRUCE ADAMS RESOLUTIONS

1- RESOLUTION SUPPORTING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR COUNTY RESIDENTS
THROUGH THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF KAYENTA MINE ON BLACK MESA IN ARIZONA
2- RESOLUTION SUPPORTING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR COUNTY RESIDENTS THROUGH THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE NAVAJO GENERATING STATION

KENNETH MARYBOY RESOLUTIONS
1- RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SAN JUAN COUNTY TO FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE SAN JUAN COUNTY ATTORNEY, KENDALL LAWS, RELATED TO HIS FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE LAWFUL DIRECTIVES OF THE COUNTY AS STATED IN RESOLUTIONS 2019-04 AND 2019-06 AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMISSION TO RETAIN OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO BRING THE LAWSUIT.

2- RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE AUDITOR TO REVIEW CONTRACTS AND INVOICES PAID TO OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL AND TO REVIEW THE SAN JUAN COUNTY ATTORNEY'S SUPERVISION OF ALL OUTSIDE COUNSEL REPRESENTATION.

3- RESOLUTION TERMINATING THE REPRESENTATION OF SAN JUAN COUNTY BY THE MOUNTAIN STATES LEGAL FOUNDATION AND WILLIAM PERRY PENDLEY IN HOPI TRIBE, et al. v. DONALD TRUMP, et al., CASE NO. 1-17-CV-2590; UTAH DINE BIKEYAH, et al. v. DONALD TRUMP, et al., CASE NO. 1:17-CV-2605 (TSC); and NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, INC., et al., v. DONALD TRUMP, et al.,

CASE NO. 17-CV2606 (TSC)AND DIRECTING THAT NO FURTHER PAYMENT SHALL BE MADE FOR SERVICES RENDERED BY MOUNTAIN STATES LEGAL FOUNDATION AND WILLIAM PERRY PENDLEY AFTER THE DATE OF THIS RESOLUTION.

4-          RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO THE STATE OF UTAH'S PETITION TO THE U.S.
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE AND THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE FOR A STATE SPECIFIC RULE GOVERNING MANAGEMENT OF FOUR MILLION ACRES OF INVENTORIED ROADLESS AREAS IN UTAH'S NATIONAL FORESTS.5-   SUPPORTING S. 367, THE 'AMERICA'S NATURAL TREASURES OF IMMEASURABLE QUALITY UNITE, INSPIRE, AND TOGETHER IMPROVE THE ECONOMIES OF STATES (ANTIQUITIES ACT) ACT OF 2019' (ANTIQUITIES ACT OF 2019) AND H.R. 1050, THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VERSION OF THE ANTIQUITIES ACT OF 2019.

11:00 A.M. Commission Meeting
Approval of Minutes - March 19, 201911:05 A.M.
CITIZENS' COMMENTS* (Please complete the request form - available at the door)
11:15 A.M. Agenda Items - Items for Discussion / Consideration for Approval
COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AGENCY MEETING
1-          A resolution approving an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between the Agency and San Juan County relating to tax increment within the Bluff Dwellings Community
Reinvestment Project Area.
2-          A resolution approving an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between the Agency
and the San Juan County Health Service District relating to tax increment within the Bluff Dwellings Community Reinvestment Project Area.
3-          A resolution approving an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between the Agency
and the San Juan County Water Conservancy District relating to tax increment within the
Bluff Dwellings Community Reinvestment Project Area.
LEAVE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AGENCY MEETING
1-          A resolution approving an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between the County
and the Community Reinvestment Agency of San Juan County relating to tax increment
within the Bluff Dwellings Community Reinvestment Project Area.2-          A resolution approving an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between the County
and the Community Reinvestment Agency of Blanding relating to tax increment within the
North Entrance Community Reinvestment Project Area.
Kelly Pehrson - Chief Administrative Officer

Other 11:45 A.M.
Commission Reports
*San Juan County Commission can call a closed meeting at any time during the Regular
Session*
*CITIZENS' COMMENTS: Anyone wishing to address the Commission 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 minutes, if requested, an extension of two minutes for a
total of five minutes may be granted by the Commission Chairman.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.All agenda items shall be considered as having potential commission action components and may be completed by an electronic method **In compliance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act, persons needing auxiliary communicative aids and services for this meeting
should contact the SJC Clerk's Office: 117 S Main, Monticello or telephone 435-587-3223,giving reasonable notice**

Monday, March 18, 2019

March Winds Stir up Old Issues 3/18/2019

Winds of Change and Investigation

(AND WOMEN!)

Full Congressional Hearing: Utah National Monuments

Locate Recordings of San Juan County Work / Commission Meetings

President Trump Signs Bishop's Land Bill March 12, 2019

Summary of Public Lands Package

ALL 698 Pages of Public Lands Bill S 47

Congressional Hearings on Bears Ears: KUER

Both Lee and Romney Vote to Block Pres. Trump's Emergency Border Wall

Petition to Study Possibility of Changing SJC Government

"There is a petition in circulation for the registered voters of San Juan County to exercise their right of self governance and place a question on the ballot in November. The question is simply whether a committee should be formed to study the possibility of changing our form of government in San Juan County. We will vote on whether to study the issue and vote again on any proposed solution. All voices will have ample time to be heard as the citizens of San Juan County consider and debate this important question.

I encourage everyone to support the formation of a study committee by voting in favor of the question. But first, we need signatures to get the question on the ballot. We have a natural right to petition which is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution. Let’s exercise that right. Please sign the petition. Anyone who would like to sign or help gather signatures please contact the petition sponsor closest to you: Suzette Morris - Aneth and Montezuma Creek, Wendy Walker Tibbetts - Spanish Valley and LaSal, Alex Bitsinnie - Navajo Mtn and Monument Valley, Tim Young - Monticello, Joe B Lyman, Janet Wilcox - in Blanding and anywhere in the county. Joe B. Lyman"

~~Audio of March 5 Commission Meeting/ 11 AM

~~Sign On-LIne Petition Protesting Bears Ears Expansion

"SAN JUAN COUNTY RESIDENTS - Let your voice be heard! If you pay attention to the media you will see that our voices are being drown out. That San Juan County Commissioners support a 1.9 million acre monument and the assumption is that we must all now support it too. The petition is complete. Please SIGN IN PERSON if possible (See picture for locations).

I have an online version I will be sharing as well. Over the next few months we will have on the ground grassroots efforts to travel San Juan County to petition signatures."

~~ Audio of March 5 Commission Work Meeting

~~Samoan Leader Defends Use of Pacific Ocean Waters

~~Two County Commissioners Testify in DC For Expansion of Bears Ears

~~ Visitors died in Grand Staircase Because of Lack of Signage: Leland Pollack Testifies

~~Trump Tramps Native Rights? Escalante/Bears Ears Congressional Hearing

~~SJC Commission approves Resolutions Written by Ghost Writer

~~Agenda 21, and where is it taking the United States

~~ Logging Vs Recreation: Basalt, Colo

Monday, March 11, 2019

Don't Bury Your Head in the Snow! March 11, 2019

What's New in the West

Photo by Marci Bothwell -- San Juan Record

Bluff Town Hall Meeting with John Curtis March 21

Congress Passes Massive Lands Bill, Utah will be Affected

"The program uses private offshore oil and gas revenues to pay for conservation of federal lands for outdoor recreation and provide grants for state and local governments to create green space and provide access to natural resources." ...and where in Utah??? "an area in Utah where a high density of Jurassic-era bones are located."

Finanances, History, and Questions Related to San Juan County Commission

"Will the policies of the new pro-Bears Ears county commission begin to align — to varying degrees — with the goals of a grand alliance whose members include the foundation established by multibillionaire Hansjorg Wyss ($2.2 billion), Utah Diné Bikéyah, Round River Conservation Studies, Friends of Cedar Mesa, the Conservation Lands Foundation, the Grand Canyon Trust, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Earth Justice, The Wilderness Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, The Nature Conservancy, Packard Foundation ($7 billion), William and Flora Hewlett Foundation ($9.8 billion), Wilburforce Foundation ($115 million), Pew Charitable Trusts, Leonardo Di Caprio Foundation and some of the nation’s most prominent and politically aggressive outdoor recreation companies?"

Who's to win the Battle for Water: California Fish or Farmers?

Update on Bill to be able to Divide Counties, Sponsor Kim Coleman

How to File A GRAMA Request

"The Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) provides every person the right to request records from any governmental entity in Utah (Utah Code Section 63G-2-201(1)."

__________

63G-1-201. Official State Language:

(1) English is declared to be the official language of Utah.
(2) As the official language of this State, the English language is the sole language of the government, except as otherwise provided in this section.
(3) Except as provided in Subsection (4), all official documents, transactions, proceedings, meetings, or publications issued, conducted, or regulated by, on behalf of, or representing the state and its political subdivisions shall be in English."

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Needs to be Carefully Studied

-- by Stacy Young, Canyon Zephyr

Canyon Echo: Updates from Bluff and Beyond

Bill Keshlear: Observations on Future of San Juan Commission

Part Three: -- "TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, the relationship between the Navajo Nation and San Juan County will determine the success of the new Navajo-majority commission.Many Navajos in San Juan County probably feel like they’ve been abandoned by their tribal leaders in Window Rock, Ariz. It was a concern Maryboy testified to during a hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in 2009.

Maryboy was a delegate to the Navajo Nation Council — the tribe’s legislative body — a San Juan County commissioner and officer of Utah Diné Corporation at the time. He wanted the Utah Navajo Trust Fund, which was set up by Congress in 1933 so Utah Navajos would benefit from Aneth oil and gas royalties, to be administered by Utah Diné Corporation instead of the Navajo Nation and the state of Utah. He believed that given the Navajo Nation’s history of “neglect, unaccountability and malfeasance,” it lacked the capacity to administer the fund.

“San Juan County believes that the Navajo Nation government, which is located in Window Rock, Arizona, and provides few if any government services to Utah Navajos, does not have the best interest of Utah Navajos at heart when it asserts a vague argument of tribal sovereignty to wrestle away control of the Utah Navajo Trust Fund from Utah Navajos."

"The Navajo Nationʼs heretofore disinterest in its own members who reside within the Utah strip of the Navajo Nation is the very reason why San Juan County has stepped up to the plate to deliver essential government services to Utah Navajos. San Juan County has provided law enforcement, fire protection, emergency medical services, senior services, road maintenance, telecommunication and water services to the seven Utah Navajo chapters because the tribe in Window Rock does not.”

Part Four: Discusses Kenneth Maryboy's Involvement in questionable Tribal Government Activities

~~Truth Exposed: Federal Government Lied about who Owns Recapture Road

~~ House Bill 179 Passes; Would Protect County Roads from Illegal Closure

"This bill calls for a Class C Misdemeanor for illegally obstructing a road on public land."

~~ Follow Representative Phil Lyman on Facebook

~~Oil and Gas Leases help Fund County CIB Projects

~~ Navajo Tribe Lauds Utah for Keeping Navajo Families in tact

~~ San Juan Moves Out of Severe Drought!

~~ Montezuma County Declared "Gun Sanctuary" by Commissioners

~~ Princeton Professor Questioned on Climate Change Position

~~ The Utah Strip before Paved Roads: interview by Phil Hall with Ray Hunt

"Mineral extraction has been a way of life since the first white men arrived on the Utah Strip, and it was mineral extraction which brought roads into previously roadless areas, electricity to dark places, jobs to people who wanted them. Gold, silver, copper, oil, gas, uranium, and gravel have all been mined here. These various boom and bust cycles have brought men to San Juan County who wanted to make their living while they could, for making a living in this poor country has always been, for most, a difficult thing to do. Some of those men stayed and raised families, and continue to live here today."

~~ Bluff Wants to Shut Down Oil and Gas Leases, yet Benefits from CIB Funds

"A midden of environmental activism, Bluff is undergoing a fundamental transformation with new hotels and restaurants springing up, hoping to get fat off the tourist industry. Friends of Cedar Mesa has been at the forefront of lobbying for increased tourist opportunities in southeastern Utah, most notably, the recent push to reestablish and expand the now-defunct Bears Ears National Monument. Tourism has become yet another rationale for locking up federally-controlled lands with new wilderness area, national monuments, and other restrictive designations.

Corporate environmentalism and industrial tourism go hand in hand, and in Bluff, the same enviros who embrace the anti-fossil fuel policies of the extreme left, are enjoying a financial boon from the very industry they are trying to destroy."

Expansion of Bears Ears Predicts Negative Effects for Native People

Commission Votes to Expand Bears Ears Monument

"In addition to increasing the size of the monument, the Bears Ears Expansion and Respect for Sovereignty Act would, according to Haaland’s office, “restore tribal consultation by requiring federal land managers to use tribal expertise to manage the monument’s lands and protect over 100,000 archaeological and cultural sites in the area.”

New SJ Commissioners Steamroll County With Ghost Writer Resolutions

Sierra Club/ Canyon Echo, Winter Issue

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

News in the West; Bad, Better, and Best ~~Bear Essentials 2/27/2019

News in the West:

Bluff Town Hall Meeting with John Curtis March 21

Recording of 2/19 SJC Commission Meeting (start at 57:53)

George Washington's Farewell Speech: Prophetic Advice

$22 Trillion Debt and both Parties say "Spend More"

Utah Ranked #1 in "Social Capital"

"Variables for ranking: family unity, family interaction, social support, community health, institutional health, collective efficacy, and philanthropic health"

Environmentalists Call on Herbert to Veto Bill Related to Spent Uranium

Current Government Policies would Rather Burn Forests than Log Trees

"Federal wildfire statistics show the average number of acres burned

every year since 2000 is double what it was the preceding four decades."

Zinke Accepts Post with Lobbying Firm

Moab Council Votes for Moratorium on More Building

~~ A Good Site to Follow: Balanced Resources

~~ Winter Storms Help Against Four Corners Drought

~~ Senator Mike Lee Opposes Natural Resources Management Act

It fails to reform federal land acquisition programs and adding new restrictions to how Americans are allowed to use land already under federal control.

25 percent of all Land and Water Conservation Funds have been given to states while 61 percent of the funds have been spent on federal land acquisition

LWCF keeps on buying new federal lands without securing any method for maintaining the land they already own. According to a 2017 Congressional Research Service report, the maintenance backlog on federal land is up to $18.6 billion

The bill creates another 1.3 million acres of wilderness in the West — half of it in Utah

~~ 2019 AUM Grazing Fees Lowered

~~Commissioner Adams Asks State for Litigation Help

~~Signs that Republican Tax Cuts are Working

~~Aztec Commission Passes Resolution Against UnConstitutional Gun Control

~~ Rural Lands Bill "Reflects Utah Priorities, Op ed Mitt Romney,

~~ Land Grabbing Avalanche of Bills Will Harm Rural Economies

~~ SL Trib: San Juan Should Build a Wall Around Itself

~~ N. Arizona Faces 1.7 M. Acre Environmental Land Grab

In defense of mining: "Uranium and depleted uranium are critical to the U.S. military and our national security. The U.S. military uses depleted uranium in armor plating for tanks, Phalanx gun systems, armor-piercing munitions and cruise missiles, naval propulsion reactors, as well as A-10s, Harriers and other military and civilian aircraft. The U.S. Navy cannot maintain its global presence nor maintain its nuclear deterrent against countries like Russia without uranium.

In 1986, the United states produced 100% of the uranium ore used in U.S. domestic nuclear reactors. Today in 2018, 3% is produced domestically with virtually all of the remaining fuel for domestic reactors produced in Kazakhstan, under heavy Russian influence. The U.S. desperately needs domestic uranium given this high 97% import penetration into domestic market. The U.S. Navy is fit-to-be-tied over the prospect of being dependent on Putin for uranium. The situation is untenable.

Americas’ 98 nuclear power plants provide clean energy while generating electricity for one of every five U. S. homes and businesses. Nuclear energy has unmatched reliability in the U. S. electrical system. In 2014, as has been the case every year for the past decade, the nuclear industry’s average capacity fact (a measure of efficiency) was an electric sector leading 91.7 percent."

~~ State House of Rep. Gridlocks over County Government Bill

~~National Debt Spiraling Out of Control $22 Trillion!

~~Massive Land Bill Has Hits and Misses for Ranchers

_____________

Submitting Letters to Salt Lake Tribune

Friday, February 15, 2019

SJ Commission, Legislation, and Litigation ~~ 2/15/19

News in the West

San Juan County Commission Meeting

Tuesday Feb. 19 -- Monticello

Bluff Town Hall Meeting

John Curtis is hosting a Town Hall meeting on Thursday, March 21st and wants to hear your perspectives and feedback. Please join him at the Bluff Community Center from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. Follow link to reserve ticket.

Follow Bills in the State Legislature

Lee and Romney See New Lands Bill Differently

State Legislature Considers Bills Impacting San Juan

San Juan Record Live News Coverage Feb. 13

Fired Editor Starts Indian Creek Observer

Canyon Echo Revives

Newest Edition of Canyon Zephyr

==================

Week-long Poll garnered 782 Responses

Asking Should San Juan County Be Divided? Results:

68% voted Yes, Divide

32% Voted No

==================

~~ Laws/Greyeyes Suit Appealed to Utah Supreme Court

~~Rep. Bishop Confront's Patagonia Falsehoods

~~Aneth Shuts Down Maryboy's Effort to Change Position on Bears Ears

~~ 4X4 Event Raises Money for Public Land Use Organizations

~~Colorado Commissioners Environmental Lobbying Spurs Recall Effort

~~States Deserve a Voice When Determining Endangered Species

~~Native Group Fights for Jobs and Wise Use of Resources

"National environmental groups Sierra Club and Grand Canyon Trust are behind the campaign to stop NTEC from acquiring Navajo Generating Station and Kayenta Mine by spreading false information and pitting Diné against Diné. Their desire to close both facilities threatens the lifeblood of our Navajo Nation – our tribal sovereignty."

~~Twitter Senator Mike Lee

~~House Bill Would Expand Bears Ears Monument Back to 1.9 Million Acres

~~Despite $500 Million in State Benefits, Friends of Cedar Mesa Sues Over BLM Leases

~~Oil and Gas Lease Money Pose Contradictory Reactions

" Hypocrisy at work in Bluff? CIB (Community Impact Fund) money has been used by the Bluff Community for years, ALL of which comes from The Utah Permanent Community Impact Fund (CIB) which is 100% directly appropriated from [tainted?] Mineral Extraction on Federal lands and BLM lease royalties.

iRONICALLY, we learned this week that Bluff’s Friends of Cedar Mesa filed a lawsuit against the very federal oil and gas leases that help fund the CIB. Is this an example of "Biting the hand that feeds you? or a game of Extreme Double Dipping?

Suggestion: Use the lawyer fees now being paid to Advocates for the West lawsuit, to pay for Bluff improvement projects, instead of draining tax payer's money from two directions for extreme no industry agendas. JW"

Summary of Bluff CIB Projects below: