Minutes for 2005-01-11, Direct pdf link.

Each Commission meeting is recorded on CD or audio tape, which is available to the public through the County Clerk's Office.
In accordance with the requirements of Utah Code Annotated Section 52-4-7(1)(d), the County Clerk records in the minutes the names of all citizens who appear and speak at a County Commission meeting and the substance "in brief" of their comments. Such statements may include opinion or purported facts. The County does not verify the accuracy or truth of any statement but includes it as part of the record pursuant to state law.

Commissioners Present: Kenneth A. Bischoff, Chair; Camille T. Cain; and Craig L. Dearden

Others Present: Linda G. Lunceford, Clerk/Auditor; David C. Wilson, Deputy County Attorney; and Fátima Blackford, Clerk/Auditor's Office, who took minutes.

A. Welcome by Chair Bischoff
B. Pledge of Allegiance was conducted by Fátima Blackford
C. Thought of the Day was offered by Commissioner Cain

D. Consent Items:
1. Purchase Orders in the amount of $822,517.21
2. Warrants #197128-#197347 in the amount of $2,998,458.28
3. Minutes for the regular Commission meetings held December 28, 2004 and January 4,2005
Commissioner Cain moved to approve the consent items; Commissioner Dearden seconded, all voting aye.

E. Recognition: Presentation of Seal of Service Award to Mary Lou Adams

Commissioner Cain read the nominating information submitted by Ms. Adams' colleagues. Gary House, Weber Morgan Health Department Officer, recognized Ms. Adams for the fine service she provides to the Health Department customers. He outlined some of the work performed by Ms. Adams and noted her confidentiality and professionalism with the customers. The commissioners presented her with a plaque, an obelisk, and $50.

F. Informational Item: Invitation to Commissioners to attend Hof Winter Festival Opening and Appreciation Event

Scott Sneddon, invited the commissioners to the 19th year of the Hof Winter Festival to be held Friday and Saturday. He said that the Fairgrounds was the best place to hold these events and they would like to honor the County Commission and publicly express their appreciation for their support. He outlined the planned events and gave each commissioner a Hof Winter Festival sweatshirt. Chair Bischoff asked what was the expected attendance at the Festival and Mr. Sneddon believed it would be about 5,000 people over the two day period.

G. Action Items:

1. Request to waive penalty & interest on properties: 11-080-0029 and 11-080-0070

Douglas Larsen, County Assessor's Office, stated that the Tax Review Committee's recommendation was to deny the request to waive penalty and interest (in the approximate amount of $95.47 for LSN 11-080-0029 and $315 for LSN 11-080-0070 as of January 3, 2005) because a thorough abstract and tax search could identify that there had been a description change and the delinquent tax information.

 The subject parcels were created in 1999 and assessed for tax year 2000, however, ownership changed in 2000 and the legal descriptions were also combined with two other contiguous parcels. Future assessments of the real estate from 2001 through 2004 were generated under the new parcel numbers 11-080-0028 and 11-0800069. Property taxes for the new parcels remained delinquent until April 2004 when Packard Development purchased the land. The property taxes they paid went toward parcels 11-080-0028 and 11-0800069 but was not paid against the original 2000 tax year assessment for 11-080-0029 and 11-080-0070, which is still delinquent. Mr. Larsen noted that delinquent taxes against the original descriptions cannot be attached to a subsequent or different legal description. Because the subject parcels were only active in 2000, tax information is not readily identifiable in the county's tax system for other years. The original parcel numbers no longer exist after year 2000. Mr. Larsen noted that Roger Brunker, County Recorder's Office, had made great efforts to deal with these dead parcel number issues. In the past, these delinquencies would not show until five years had elapsed but now could be dealt with more efficiently.

There were efforts in July 2002, in May 2003 and in July 2004 to notify the respective property owners of the 2000 tax year delinquency, however, there was no response to the notices until 2004 when Packard Development responded through Bonneville Title Company inquiring about the delinquent tax issue.

Mark Gonzalez, representing Bonneville Title, stated that there was a mechanism used daily by which the title company could locate delinquencies and any penalty and interest, but occasionally it was missed as in this instance. He explained that when they searched for the subject delinquency payoff, only the current delinquency for the current parcel numbers showed–the system did not go back to the original number and give them the information for the entire payoff. Mr. Gonzalez said that if the title company had done its job thoroughly they would have found the delinquency but because the dead parcel numbers did not attach to the current parcel numbers it made it difficult. He indicated that dead parcel numbers in Davis County were always attached to the current parcel numbers and the title company can more easily get the delinquency all the way back. He suggested Weber County do something similar. He said that the title company was willing to pay the delinquency for the property owner. Mr. Larsen said that Weber County's process could and would be enhanced, however, the information was available and identifiable and this recommendation was consistent with similar cases. Commissioner Cain referred to other cases where the county had waived penalties and Mr. Brunker explained that those were generally cases for individuals and not for title companies, which did have the opportunity to do a search and had information available.
Commissioner Cain moved to accept the recommendation of the Tax Review Committee and deny the request to waive penalty and interest on properties LSN 11-080-0029 and LSN 11-080-0070; Commissioner Dearden seconded, all voting aye.

2. contract by/between Weber County & Utah Gun Collectors Association for Gun Show to be held March 12 & March 13, 2005 at the Golden Spike Event Center - Contract C2005-2

Jim Harvey, GSEC, gave a brief overview of this standard contract.
Commissioner Dearden moved to approve contract C2005-2 by and between Weber County and Utah Gun Collectors Association for a gun show to be held March 12 and March 13, 2005 at the Golden Spike Event Center; Commissioner Cain seconded, all voting aye.

 3. contract by/between Weber County & Wasatch International for Hof Winter Festival to be held January 14 & January 15, 2005 at the Golden Spike Event Center - Contract C2005-3

Jim Harvey, GSEC, stated that Ogden City is a sister city to Hof, Germany, and the county had partnered in the past with Wasatch International to provide this winter festival. The county is working towards a standard contract and began this year to do so with the expenses being reduced in half for one day but Wasatch will be charged the full day for the other.
Commissioner Dearden moved to approve contract C2005-3 by and between Weber County and Wasatch International for the Hof Winter Festival to be held January 14, 2005 and January 15, 2005 at the Golden Spike Event Center; Commissioner Cain seconded, all voting aye.

4. Confirmation of the appointment of Joe Ritchie to the Weber Human Services Board of Directors

David Wilson, Deputy County Attorney, noted that previously the Weber Humans Services Advisory Council had submitted three names for the Weber County Commission to select one as a tentative appointment to their Board of Directors. On December 14, the Weber County Commission submitted the name of Joe Ritchie to the Morgan County Council, which subsequently approved that tentative appointment. The name was now back before the Weber County Commission for confirmation.
Commissioner Cain moved to confirm the appointment of Joe Ritchie to the Weber Human Services Board of Directors; Commissioner Dearden seconded, all voting aye.

5. contract by/between the Weber County (Sheriff's Office) & the Second District Juvenile Court - Contract C2005-4

Weber County Sheriff Brad Slater presented this contract for bailiff services at the Juvenile Court. This is the first contract exclusively with the Juvenile Court for these services; in the past the county has had a security and a bailiff agreement with the District Court. The security agreement had provided some funding for security services at the Juvenile Court and this contract replaces that. It is in the maximum amount of $117,800, for the period July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005. Sheriff Slater expected a forthcoming revision to the current security contract. Commissioner Dearden stated that in the past the county did not receive any money for this service to the Juvenile Court and complimented the Sheriff, Commissioner Cain and UAC for their efforts in obtaining some reimbursement.
Commissioner Cain moved to approve contract C2005-4 by and between Weber County (Sheriff's Office) and the Second District Juvenile Court; Commissioner Dearden seconded, all voting aye.

6. Request for support of Veterans Nursing Home Resolution - Resolution 2-2005

Frank Maughan referred to the press information prepared for a news conference scheduled for tomorrow in the State Disabled Veterans Headquarters in Salt Lake City where they would announce a State-owned 120-bed nursing home project dedicated specifically to military veterans. He read the resolution in support of this project stating that similar resolutions would be presented to the Davis, Box Elder, Cache, and the Morgan County Commissions in the next three weeks.

The 2000 Utah U.S. census revealed that Utah has over 160,000 military veterans with nearly 25% living in northern Utah. Because many are nearing 75 years of age, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will partially fund construction of as many as 350 beds for nursing home care for veterans and their spouses. Utah has only funded beds for 80 of those veterans who need that level of care. U.S. Senator Hatch has secured President Bush's signature releasing to Utah as much as 10 acres of land in the western vicinity of Weber County Fairgrounds on which to locate 120-bed nursing home.

The Utah Legislature has been approached in the last three sessions to fund the necessary $4.5 million but has not done so and numerous veterans have passed away while awaiting space availability in the current nursing home in Salt Lake City. This resolution urges the legislature during its 2005 session to allocate the $4.5 million as their share of the construction costs. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will provide, as their share of the cost of construction, up to $8.5 million. This facility would bring about 200 new skilled jobs and $13 million to northern Utah's economy. Mr. Maughan addressed the difficult circumstances faced by older veterans who need the care but are not receiving it.

Chair Bischoff asked if the referenced counties were in favor of building the facility in Weber County and Mr. Maughan stated that this is where they could get land donated and those counties would be asked to support it. He said that locations in Box Elder and Davis counties were explored but no one was willing to donate land except the U.S. Army. Commissioner Dearden noted that Mr. Terry Schow, Director of the Utah Department of Veterans Affairs, was present. Mr. Maughan addressed the commissioners' questions stating that Curtis Bramble, Utah State Senator, had spoken with several members of his political party on the subject and had notified leadership that this would be one of his priorities, that the land transfer from the Army to the State had not yet taken place and if the funding was not allocated this session the process would get delayed for another legislative session. He expressed concern that the federal government's funding mechanism for the $8.5 million may go to other projects or budgets.
Commissioner Cain moved to adopt Resolution 2-2005 in support of a new Utah State Veterans Nursing Home; Commissioner Dearden seconded.
Commissioner Cain aye
Commissioner Dearden aye
Chair Bischoff aye

H. Assign Pledge of Allegiance & Thought of the Day for Tuesday, January 18, 2005, 10 a.m.

I. Public Comments: None

J. Adjourn
Commissioner Dearden moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:03 a.m.; Commissioner Cain seconded, all voting aye.

Kenneth A. Bischoff, Chair
Weber County Commission

Linda G. Lunceford, CPO
Weber County Clerk/Auditor