By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Juab County Commissioners canceled the county commission meeting on Monday. “They went to meet President Donald Trump in Salt Lake City,” said Alaina Lofgran, county clerk/auditor. “They have canceled their regular meeting for Monday, December 4.” President Donald Trump’s visit to Utah Monday will be the first time he has visited the state since becoming the 45th President of the United States. However, Trump visited Utah in March 2016, when he campaigned for president at a rally held at the Infinity Event Center in Salt Lake City. His visit will mark the 24th time a president has visited Utah while in office. In fact, all but one president (Calvin Coolidge) since 1900 have visited the state while holding office. President Trump is visiting Utah to shrink two national monuments in Utah, accepting the recommendation of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to reverse protections established by two Democratic presidents to more than 3.6 million acres. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said he was “incredibly grateful” that Trump called him on Friday to say he is approving Zinke’s proposal on Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments. “We believe in the importance of protecting these sacred antiquities,” Hatch said. “There is a better way to do it,” he said. That better way is by working with local officials and tribes, Hatch said. Hatch’s office said Trump said, “I’m approving the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase recommendation for you, Orrin.” All three Juab County Commissioners, Rick Carlton, Byron Woodland and Clinton Painter, are Republicans and won their offices on the Republican ticket. “We will not have a make-up meeting,” said Lofgran. “Our next commission meeting will be the regularly scheduled meeting on December 18 at 10 a.m.”h4> | 