Past is Prologue: Bears Ears Monument Reappears

~~ Biden's Expansion of Utah Monuments

The Antiquities Act gives presidents too much power, ignoring the many stakeholders whose needs should be considered. . .

By The Deseret News Editorial Board 

  

. . . .well-meaning members of Congress in 1906 did something that flew in the face of America’s governing philosophy. They passed the Antiquities Act, which gives presidents the power to create national monuments without a public process and without a vote of Congress. 

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San Juan Record Bears Ears Coverage

 
Oct. 13, 2021

In restoring the Bears Ears National Monument, the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring that there is adequate staffing and resources to appropriately protect the area’s natural and cultural resources, to manage the increased visitation that the area continues to experience, and to make Bears Ears a model for Tribal participation in the management of the Monument.

The Bureau of Land Management plans to assign additional rangers to the region; install appropriate signage and infrastructure to inform and support visitors; begin working with local communities, the State of Utah, and Tribal leaders on assessing the potential opportunity for a Bears Ears visitors center that highlights the monument’s cultural resources; and support the Bears Ears Intertribal Commission’s participation in management of the National Monument. 

All six of Utah’s federal representatives including Representative John Curtis, Senator Mike Lee and Senator Mitt Romney issued a joint statement ahead of the announcement.

“President Biden is delivering a devastating blow to the ongoing efforts by our delegation, along with state, local, and tribal leaders, to find a permanent, legislative solution to resolve the longstanding dispute over the boundaries and management of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments.

“Rather than take the opportunity to build unity in a divided region and bring resources and lasting protections to sacred antiquities by seeking a mutually beneficial and permanent legislative solution, President Biden fanned the flames of controversy and ignored input from the communities closest to these monuments.

“We will continue to support efforts to ensure that our monuments’ boundaries and management reflect the unique stakeholder interest and uses in the area, but today’s ‘winner take all’ mentality moved us further away from that goal.”  

https://sjrnews.com/public-lands/bears-ears-national-monument-resized-136-million-acres-nearly-27-percent-county

~~ Help us Challenge Abuse of the Antiquities Act 

By Benjamin Burr

I don't think anyone was surprised by today's announcement. Many of us have been preparing for this in the meantime behind the scenes. We knew this step of the fight would need to happen once it became clear that Utah's federal delegation - with unprecedented congressional seniority during the Trump Administration - refused to fight for a permanent Antiquities Act exemption for Utah like Alaska and Wyoming have (Mike Lee did fight for the exemption, but the others did not). While the Senate is generally a sclerotic, do-nothing institution, during the Trump Administration the Senate was busy confirming an insane amount of judges, and the balance of power on the Supreme Court shifted. For those who haven't been paying attention, Chief Justice Roberts has signaled that there are concerns with abuse of the Antiquities Act, but the Court has chosen to wait for the right case.

The next phase of the fight over the Antiquities Act and controversial monument designations can and should take place in the courts. There are three entities that have the standing necessary to wage this legal fight: the State of Utah, SITLA, and any private in-holders within the monument. The State of Utah's standing is the strongest, so it is crucial that effort is focused on ensuring that Governor Cox and Attorney General Reyes pursue this fight. They need to hear encouragement from Utahns who are frustrated by the monument expansions. We've created a tool that makes it easy for you to start by sending a letter to the Governor (like 2 minutes of your time and a few clicks). Or you can reach out on your own. I think a simple message of encouragement will go a long way.

Help us spread the word about this! And Sign the Petition!!

~~~The Biden Administration used the Antiquities Act to restore the original boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in Utah. This undoes what the Trump Administration had previously done in shrinking these monuments. This is a blatant attack on Utah and its public lands and will result in restrictive access and management policies. Governor Spencer Cox has previously stated his frustration with the Biden Administration's unwillingness to work with lawmakers regarding this issue. Show Governor Cox that he has our support to challenge this designation with a lawsuit from the State of Utah. 

Please Sign Petition: https://www.sharetrails.org/fight-for-every-inch/#/6/

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Biden's Bears Ears Expansion/ Belies Real Plans for Protection 

~~ CNN) President Joe Biden on Friday (Oct. 8) announced the expansion of three national monuments -- Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine -- in a move that restored protections that had been undone by then-President Donald Trump. "This may be the easiest thing I've ever done as president, so far," Biden said ahead of making the announcement. 

The White House previewed the move in a fact sheet released Thursday night. The Utah monuments, Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, have been on Biden's agenda since his first day in office, when he ordered a review of their boundaries and conditions. Bear Ears National Monument will be restored to 1.36 million acres and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument will be restored to 1.87 million acres, according to the fact sheet. 

Additionally, protections for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts monument off the coast of New England, as established under then-President Barack Obama, will be restored. "I'm grateful to the tribal nation leaders, both those who are here with us today and those unable to join us. Today I'm proud to announce the protection and expansion of three of the most treasured national monuments, our most treasured, based on powers granted to the President on the Antiquities Act first used more than a century ago by Teddy Roosevelt," Biden said. "The truth is that National monuments and parks are part of the identity, our identity as a people," the President added. "They are more than natural wonders, they're the birthright we passed from generation to generation, a birthright of every American. Preserving them is the fulfillment of a promise to our children." 

Biden said his move to protect national monuments also ties to his administration's climate agenda. "We're not only saving birds and fish and the livelihoods of people who depend on them, we're also shoring up the natural defenses to absorb the fury of hurricanes and superstorms," Biden said. "Nearly one-in-three Americans live in a community that has been struck by weather disasters just in the last few months -- hurricanes, wildfires, droughts, heat waves -- both the Build Back Better plan and my bipartisan infrastructure bill make critical investments, significantly increasing the resilience of these devastating effects on the climate crisis." 

 The decision marks a reversal of Trump administration policy that shrank the Bears Ears monument, which Obama established, by 85%, and the Grand Staircase-Escalante monument, which then-President Bill Clinton designated, by roughly 45%. The two former Democratic presidents designated the Utah monuments for protection hoping to preserve their culture, history and natural beauty. 

While announcing his policy in 2017, Trump slammed what he called "federal overreach" and said past administrations thought "the natural resources of Utah should be controlled by a small handful of very distant bureaucrats located in Washington. And guess what? They are wrong." 

 Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox said Thursday in a critical statement that he had been informed of the decision to expand the monuments' size by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. "The President's decision to enlarge the monuments again is a tragic missed opportunity — it fails to provide certainty as well as the funding for law enforcement, research, and other protections which the monuments need and which only Congressional action can offer," Cox said. 

This map illustrates what Public Land Overload looks like!

Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah also criticized the move, saying Thursday on Twitter that his state's national monuments are being used as a "political football." "The decision to re-expand the boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante is a devastating blow to our state, local, and tribal leaders and our delegation," Romney said. "The President squandered the opportunity to build consensus by working with stakeholders to find a permanent, legislative solution to resolve the longstanding dispute over the monuments' boundaries & management, which would've brought certainty to and benefited all stakeholders." 

CNN's Shawna Mizelle and Andy Rose contributed to this report.

__

https://kslnewsradio.com/1957076/bears-ears-grand-staircase-escalante-announcement-likely-to-draw-both-praise-and-ire/

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

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

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

Campaigns and Candidates Active ~~ January 23/2020

No Rest in the West

Kelly Pehrson Serving as Interim State Agriculture/Food Commission  

Former State Ag Commissioner Running For Dist. 1 Congressman

Kelly Pehrson wrote: "One of the ways we can help [protect Rural America] is to make sure good people get put in Congress. Kerry Gibson is running in District 1 in Utah, Rob Bishop's seat. I know that is not San Juan County’s district but he can help more than you know. Some of you may remember him, he spoke at the Bears Ears rally we had at the courthouse just after Pres. Obama declared it in 2016. He loves rural Utah. He loves San Juan County. He will fight for us. He has been my boss the last 9 months as the Commissioner of Agriculture and Food. He has been a legislator, Weber County Commissioner, 3rd generation dairy farmer, and a strong advocate for rural issues. He could use some donations to help him win the election. His website is GibsonforCongress.com. " 

~~

Governor and State Legislature Announce Full Repeal of 2019 Tax Bill -- Thurs Jan. 23,  2020

Thank you to all who talked the talk, and then walked the walk!!  

State Representative Explains Problems with Utah's Recently Passed Tax Law

San Juan county pays the highest taxes, yet has the highest percent of uninsured people in the state, at 17%.  The highest county per capita personal income in the State was Summit County (Park City) with a high of $131,606, Grand county per capita income was $50,010, second highest! yet substantially behind Summit county! San Juan's average income in 2018 was at the very bottom of all counties, at $26,638. Our county residents can't afford to pay more taxes. (Information on 2020 Economic Report to the Governor. p. 43.)

Shannon Brooks and Rep. Phil Lyman add their signatures to the growing list of

Utah Citizens upset with taxation ad infinitum enacted with little regard for 

rural Utah and lower income citizenry. 

  Utah County Law Firm Takes on SJ County Clerk's Case

"The case was referred to Grand County for investigation. Then-Grand County Attorney Andrew Fitzgerald ultimately declined to prosecute. Fitzgerald said that no criminal statute or election code directly applied to the incident. The attorney believed the issue to be more with a lack of professional knowledge than ill-intent on the part of the clerk.the case was referred to Grand County for investigation. Then-Grand County Attorney Andrew Fitzgerald ultimately declined to prosecute. Fitzgerald said that no criminal statute or election code directly applied to the incident. The attorney believed the issue to be more with a lack of professional knowledge than ill-intent on the part of the clerk."

~~ Snow Pack in SE Utah at 190% of Normal

~~ First Nations Chief Blasts 'Condescending' UN Anti-racism Directive Calling for Pipeline Closure

~~ Exploring Nuclear Energy Makes Sense for South Utah Cities

~~ Rich States vs Poor States  Utah Ranks 5th

~~ Texas, World's 3rd Largest Producer of Oil

"The United States is pumping more oil than ever before, making it less reliant on the turbulent Middle East for imports."

~~ A Bit of Satire Concerning the Aftermath of David's Choice of Weapons

~~ Crime Down 91% in Yuma Because of Border Fence

~~ Training in Blanding Sat. Jan. 25 on Off Road Protection and Education

    Banding in Blanding! 

      120 W. Center Slavens Castle House -- 9 AM.    30 min-1 hr.

~~ Sand Flats Area Near Moab Considered for Oil and Gas Lease.

~~ Organizer of State Tax Referendum Drive Optimistic that it will Make the Ballot

"The legislation, opposed by Democrats in the Legislature and enough Republicans that it fell short of the two-thirds majorities needed in the House and Senate to prevent a referendum, raises state sales taxes on food from the current 1.75% to the full 4.85% state rate, and adds sales taxes to wholesale gas prices as well as some services." Des. News Jan. 21.

~~ Top Six Oil Producing States

"In 2019 Investopedia states: "1. The United States is the top oil-producing country in the world, with an average of 17.87 million b/d, which accounts for 18% of the world's production. This is up from the 15.6 million b/d in 2017. The U.S. has held the top spot for the past six years.

The U.S. overtook Russia in 2012 for the No. 2 spot and surpassed former leader Saudi Arabia in 2013 to become the world's top oil producer. Much of the increased U.S. production is attributable to fracking in the shale formations in Texas and North Dakota. The U.S. has been a net exporter of oil (i.e., exports exceed imports) since early 2011. " It didn't break it down into how much is produced per state.

~~White Mesa Mill Lays off 30% of Their Workers 

Rep. John Curtis stated, "“This mill has provided families with good incomes and generated tax dollars to help the local infrastructure… Rural Utahns deserve the same quality of life that their urban friends have, including access to broadband, quality medical care, and good paying jobs. I will continue to work in Congress to bring these vital services to rural Utah. While it has been a difficult week for many in San Juan County, I know the community will be resilient and persevere.”

~~ Media Manipulation of Washington State Representative Matt Shea

~~ How Off-Road Trails Get Designated --- or Not!

~~  Moab Groups Campaign to Oust BLM Director Pendley

"Pendley’s tenure at the department has been controversial in the west, where he has long been known for campaigning against the federal control of public lands as an attorney and the president of the board of directors for the Mountain States Legal Foundation, a “non-profit, public interest law firm, focused on defending the constitution, protecting property rights, and advancing economic liberty,” according to its website."

~~UN's Plan for "Climate Refugees!  

Gobblers on the Loose, Wanting More From Tax Payers

The County Seat with Chad Booth Looks at Tax Reform in Utah 

~~ San Juan Record Live Broadcast  regarding Taxation in SJC

~~ The Case for Abolishing Federal Reservation System 

FEDERAL INDIAN POLICY IS DESTROYING AMERICA: OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT 

"ASSERTION: Since its origins in the 1830’s (judicial, legislative, administrative), all of federal Indian policy is: 1) entirely unconstitutional; 2) denies full American citizens enrolled in tribal governments their 14th Amendment protections and civil rights; 3) compels forced reparations in perpetuity upon American taxpayers to annually subsidize all basic needs and services of 573 tribal governments; and 4) permits tax-exempt casinos and other tribal enterprises to determine the marketplace of the tax-paying economy in thousands of communities across the nation."
   Read More

~~ Features and News in Dec/Jan issue of the The Canyon Zephyr

 ~~ The Slovenly Wilderness: Pavement + Parking = No Paradise, by Stacy Young

~~ The Politics of Payback by Bill Keshlear

KUED had a Great video about Moab in the '50's recently, with Ted Capener interviewing
locals who were there when the Uranium Boom started;  Sam Taylor and Adrian,  Bette Stanton --and many others who were eye witnesses to growth in SE Utah.   If it comes on again, be sure to watch it.      Here's the trailer:

~~ Jeff Burningham Running For Governor, Visits San Juan County

~~ Blanding City Council Remains Proactive in Developing Businesses

~~ Truth in Taxation Meeting Highlights County Concerns

Plan to Attend, Dec. 12  

Big Winter Storms Bring Blessings to the Land

~~ Will Economic "Perfect Storm" Lead to Depression in SJC ?

~~ Why Does San Juan County Have the Highest Tax Rate in the State?

~~Former Utah Diné Bikéyah staffer gets management spot at Bears Ears Monument

~~ Politics of Gerrymandering and Retribution

~~ Dark Skies more Important that Jobs in N. San Juan?

~~ Extraordinarily Wealthy Environmentalists Stoke the Racism Fire 

"“Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.” — Thomas Jefferson to Richard Price, 1789"    But....if they are stirred by the extreme winds of falsehoods and half truths, Citizens must be wary. 

Utah Public Notice

Documents Updated from last week's meetings 12/11/19

• GSGDraftRecvyPlan.pdf - 11/27/19 2:51 PM

• GSGRcvyPlanCommts.pdf - 11/27/19 2:51 PM

• Polling Accessibility Report (00000005).pdf - 11/27/19 2:52 PM

• Protection and Advocacy for Voting Access One-Pager FINAL 10.9.pdf - 11/27/19 2:52 PM

• San Juan County Telecom Franchise (10-10-19)v2.pdf - 11/27/19 2:52 PM

• 20191203 Commission Work Mtg.MP3 - 12/5/19 4:50 PM

• 20191203 Commission Mtg.MP3 - 12/5/19 4:53 PM

• December 3, 2019.pdf - 12/11/19 2:58 PM

Agenda

Notice Date & Time: 12/3/19 9:00 AM

Description/Agenda:

        SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING - COMMISSION ROOM
AGENDA
December 3, 2019

  9:00 A.M. Work Meeting

1. Letter of Support for the American Indian Consortium for Election Access and the Protection and Advocacy for Voting Access (PAVA) Program - Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
2. ORDINANCE GRANTING TO EMERY TELECOMMUNICATIONS & VIDEO, INC., ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, A FRANCHISE FOR COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM - Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
3. Dolores County Inter-Governmental Agreement - Benny Musselman, San Juan County Public Works
4. Dishwasher Purchase for Public Safety Building - Monte Perkins, San Juan County Maintenance
5. Spanish Valley Updates - Jerry McNeely, San Juan County Liaison
6. Public lands updates - Nick Sandberg, San Juan County Planning

11:00 A.M. Commission Meeting

1. Approval of minutes - November 19, 2019
2. Citizens' comments to the Commission* (Please complete the request form - available at the door)
3. Dishwasher Purchase for Public Safety Building - Monte Perkins, San Juan County Maintenance
4. Approve Letter on the Draft Recovery Plan for Gunnison Sage-Grouse - Nick Sandberg, San Juan County Planning
5. ORDINANCE GRANTING TO EMERY TELECOMMUNICATIONS & VIDEO, INC., ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, A FRANCHISE FOR COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM - Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
7. Approval of the Dolores County Inter-Governmental Agreement - Benny Musselman, San Juan County Public Works
6. Executive Session to Discuss Pending or Imminent Litigation
7. Determination of Referability of Citizen Petition for Referendum of Spanish Valley Zoning Ordinance - Kendall Laws, San Juan County Attorney
8. Commission Reports