By Mryna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Juab County has officially received the certificate
from the Lieutenant Governor Gary R. Herbert's office
recognizing the creation of the Juab Recreation
District.
The next step that needs to be taken is for the county
commission to adopt a resolution creating a governing board
and listing any limitations or directions the county
commission wishes to impose on the district.
"We received the certificate from the Lieutenant
Governor's office certifying the creation of the Juab
Special Service District," said Jared Eldridge, Juab County
Attorney, in a memorandum to commissioners.
"Since we have now received the certificate from the
Lieutenant Governor's office, the recreation district is now
officially created."
Craig Sperry, county recorder, has also received a
copy of the documents from Herbert and those have been
placed with the documents creating the district and filed in
Juab County Clerk/Auditor Pat Ingram's office.
"As we have discussed before," said Eldridge, "the
statute states that the board can consist of between three
and seven board members."
However, any municipality within the district that
offers the same services that the district will offer is
entitled to a board position. Eldridge said this appears to
be in addition to the three to seven members allowed by the
state statute.
The commission can also determine to place limitations
on the board. For example, they could limit the types of
recreational activities the district will administer.
If the communities of Nephi, Mona, Rocky Ridge, Eureka
and Levan each had one board member, that would add up to
five. If one member was added from the Juab School District,
there would be six.
Commissioner Val Jones said he would call Eureka's
mayor and find out if he thought there should also be one
member from the Tinitic School District on the board.
"I think it is a good idea to have all three
commissioners sit on the board," said Robert Steele,
commissioner. "I think we need some controls. We can be
out-voted but we can still make recommendations to the other
board members."
There is the potential of having quite a bit of money
under the control of the board, said Steele, and it would be
better to have some type of control by elected officials who
would be directly responsible to the people of the
district.
"The district is created with no money to spend," said
Neil Cook, commission chairman. "If the folks of the county
don't pass the taxing question on the November ballot, it
will remain a district with no money."
"It seems there is a possibility of getting the
question passed," said Steele.
He said he did think that all those members of the
board should be appointed to position by the community
governing body.
So far, said Jones, the names that he had been given
from three communities had been appointed by the city
councils of those cities. In fact, two were council
members.
Perhaps "What limitations do you think we need to
place in regard to the structure and authority of the
board?" asked Cook.
He said the fire district board has a lot of power
and, he assumed, the recreation district would also have
that same type of power and authority.
Steele suggested commissioners consult with other
commissions in the region to find out how they have handled
similar recreation district boards and what restrictions
they had placed.
There will be an AOG meeting held in Richfield next
week. Commissioners could request copies of written
documents dealing with those recreations districts. They
could also discuss, at that meeting, how special service
districts dealing with recreation had been outlined in other
areas.
Millard County, said Steele, has been operating a
recreation district for some time and so had other nearby
counties.
"Those other guys have been in the business of
recreation long enough that they know whether what is being
done is working or not," said Steele.
In addition, he said, state representatives will be on
hand at the meeting and the subject could also be discussed
with them.
In his memorandum, Eldridge said he could have a
resolution ready for commission meeting on June 19.
"After your discussion at commission meeting (June 5),
I would appreciate if you could put in writing your
direction as to the number of board members and any
limitations or directions you want included, so I can be
sure to draft the resolution according to your wishes," said
Eldridge.
Commissioner's agreed that after the meeting in
Richfield, they will discuss more completely what should be
included in the resolution. They will then direct Eldridge
as to their concerns and desires.
They will then direct Eldridge to prepare the
resolution for the June 19 agenda and will address its
adoption at that time.
"We do have some pressure to get things done so that
we will be ready for the ballot in November," said Cook.
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