COMMISSION MINUTES
August 24, 2026
Meeting Overview
Minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of the Sevier County Commissioners held this twenty-fourth day of August 2026. Meeting commenced at 1:30 p.m. with Commissioners Scott Johnson, Ralph Brown, and Greg Jensen in the Commission Chambers of the Sevier County Administration Building, 250 North Main, Richfield, Utah. Executive Director Malcolm Nash, Clerk/Auditor Steven C. Wall and County Attorney Casey Jewkes were also present.
Commission Business:
Commission Updates
Commissioner Jensen gave an update on a meeting that he and Commissioner Johnson had attended with Celeste Maloy discussing the work she has done in this area. He noted that after the first of the year, she will no longer be the representative for Sevier County, as we will be in a different district.
Commissioner Jensen then reported on the Widemouth 2 Fire is considered 100% contained now, but there are a few areas that still have some smoke, etc. He said that the fire was 97% in Millard County, with approximately 3% in Sevier County. He said that there were some grazers from Sevier County that lost grazing area and some cattle.
Minutes of August 10th and August 17th meetings approved:
Approval of Previous Minutes
Minutes of the August 10th Commission Meeting and August 17th Worksession were then reviewed and approved on a motion by Commissioner Brown, second Commissioner Jensen, unanimous.
Recommended action on tax abatements approved:
Tax Abatements
The Commission then reviewed a list of applicants that had applied for tax abatements. Clerk/Auditor Steven Wall reported that on three of the parcels the applicant was not the owner, and the other two applicants had income higher than the allowable amount. After discussion, Commissioner Jensen moved to deny the abatement applications because they did not meet the requirements, second Commissioner Brown, unanimous.
Annual Predation Management Plan Agreement approved:
Predation Management Plan
The Commission then reviewed the annual agreement with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food for Predation Management. After discussion, Commissioner Brown moved to approve the agreement with Utah Department of Agriculture and discussing with them additional funding next year, second Commissioner Jensen, unanimous.
Assessor Adjustments approved as recommended:
Assessor Terri Hartle then reviewed with the Commission recommended adjustments to property based on the information she had received, noting that the majority of them were changes to primary exemptions on homes. She said the remainder were properties that they had physically gone and reviewed, and made changes to building size, square footage, etc. Assessor Hartle noted that one of her employees is working on becoming a commercial appraiser so that the County will be able to do the work in-house. After review and discussion, Commissioner Jensen
Sevier County Commission
August 24, 2026
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moved to approve the Assessor Adjustments as recommended, second Commissioner Brown, unanimous.
Amendments to Cluff Minor Subdivision approved as recommended:
Zoning Administrator Jason Mackelprang then reviewed with the Commission an amendment to the Cluff Minor Subdivision, noting that the Planning Commission had reviewed the request and recommended approval. He noted that this will make the subdivision three lots instead of two. After discussion, Commissioner Brown moved to approve the amended Cluff Minor Subdivision as recommended, second Commissioner Jensen, unanimous.
Bid Results for Aurora to Salina Bike Path Bridges ratified:
The Commission then reviewed the results of the bid opening for development work in preparing for the bridges on the bike path from Salina to Aurora. Commissioner Johnson reported that 7 contractors who bid, with the apparent low bidder of Carlisle Excavating at $301,391. The bridges will cross the canals, wash, etc. with the bridges being prefabricated and set on the bases. After review and discussion, Commissioner Jensen moved to ratify the bid opening and award the bid to the apparent low bidder, Carlisle Excavating, second Commissioner Brown, unanimous.
New Hires approved as recommended:
HR Director Craig Blake met with the Commission reporting that there were three new hires to fill vacant positions. He recommended JT Surrage as a full-time Fairgrounds Assistant, Grade 8 at $20.77 per hour; Kolton Julander as a full-time Landfill Operator 1, Grade 14 at $24.29 per hour; and Mindy Okerlund as a part-time Senior Nutrition Cook, Grade 7 at $20.02 per hour, all beginning august 3, 2026. After discussion, Commissioner Brown moved to approve the new hires as recommended, second Commissioner Jensen, unanimous.
Rural County Grant Budget recommendations approved:
Executive Director Malcolm Nash then reviewed with the Commission the Rural County Grant from the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and the recommendations of the Economic Development Committee to help create economic development areas and business expansion. He said that the ongoing grant has been very helpful for the rural counties and brings approximately $200,000 to our area. After discussion, Commissioner Jensen moved to approve the recommendation of the Committee and accept the Rural County Grant Budget, second Commissioner Brown, unanimous.
There being no further business to come before the Board, meeting adjourned at 1:57 p.m.
