- No opposition to boundary change heard at recent public hearing
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By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
A public hearing was held to receive comments and input concerning proposed county boundary change between Juab and Millard Counties.
The hearing was duly recorded but there were no persons present to offer comment.
Present to discuss the proposal were Craig Sperry, Juab County recorder, Bart A. Whatcott and James I. Withers, Millard County commissioners, and Connie Hansen, Millard County recorder.
The proposed changes would be located in Township 14 South through 17 South Range 3 West Salt Lake Meridian.
"This boundary change will stop both the duplication of property tax and the under-assessment of property," said Sperry. "The change mostly affects the Oak Creeks area."
Much of the change was located on Forest Service property but the officials of the Forest Service had no objections since they are affected by their own forest map boundaries and would not be paying property taxes at any rate.
Val Jones, Juab County Commissioner, said that the boundary between the two counties used to be the river and the highway.
"It just affects a small stretch on the north end," said Jones.
However, Hansen said, when the peaks of the mountains in the area were used as a boundary it became unclear which peak should be used. It was unclear and the boundary needed to be clarified to the satisfaction of both counties.
A minerals mine, which is part of the Ash Grove Cement plant holdings, would be better defined as to location, said Sperry, once the boundary is settled. The cement plant is located in Juab County.
Withers explained that, years ago, the two counties had a different agreement and, since that time, some changes had been made but the issue had never been clarified.
Hansen said she has been working with Sperry, of Juab County, to straighten up the county boundary lines between the two counties.
Whatcott presented a map with the boundary lines that they are looking to change. He went over the map with the commissioners.
The surveyor has double-checked to make certain that the boundary lines proposed are correct.
"I sent out letters to all those who were close to the boundary," said Hansen.
Hansen had made certain that the boundary change proposal map was shrunk to letter-size and was sent with the letters to affected property owners so they would have an idea as to where the boundary lines are located.
Sperry said that property owners in Juab had also been alerted.
Some of the property that is located closest to the boundary change is owned by Scipio residents, said Withers.
"I contacted them and they have no problem with the boundary change," said Withers.
The first of two hearings was held Monday, May 7, at 3:15 p.m. in the Juab County Commission Chambers during the regularly scheduled commission meeting.
The second hearing will be on May 15, 2 p.m. in the Millard County Commission Chambers, 50 South Main, Fillmore.
Written comments can be made to the Juab County Commission, 160 North Main, Nephi, Utah 84648, or to the Millard County Commission 50 South Main, Fillmore, Utah 84631. Written comments will need to be received before 2 p.m. May 15.
"We are all in agreement," said Chad Winn, Juab County Commission chairman.
Despite that, Juab County Commissioners will need to wait to adopt the boundary change until after the public hearing has been held in Millard County.
"We will also need to wait to see if any letters come into us during the comment period," he said.
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