The Wasatch County Council is considering an ordinance that would update how a private individual can obtain a permit to plow seasonal county roads.
At the legislation’s first hearing last week, County Manager Dustin Grabau explained that the update would broaden the requirements for such permits, as the current requirements are “narrowly tailored and only apply in a few limited circumstances.
“What this ordinance would do is expand those circumstances,” he said, “and potentially allow more diverse areas of the county to apply under the same system.”
Individuals would still need authorization from the county’s public works department and a bonding agreement.
The most significant adjustment, said Deputy County Attorney Shelby Thurgood, would authorize private entities to plow non-paved roads.
“That’s very limiting for our older mountain communities that have been platted for a long time,” she said. “We’re trying to help provide an avenue.”
She explained that under the new ordinance, a private entity could potentially plow public roads in a platted subdivision that was platted before 2007, subdivisions that have been plowed within the past five years, subdivisions with a majority support for plowing, and in a circumstance the public works director deems an emergency.
“A lot of our plows can’t fit on these roads,” she said.
In the event of an avalanche, the county might want to look into private resources to help clear hard-to-reach roads.
While the ordinance would loosen restrictions, it dictates only one permit per road per year and homeowners associations are considered first when weighing contested applicants.
Thurgood also said the ordinance revisions would create a more robust appeals process in the case a permit is denied and a more robust violation process, as well.
Considering a comment from Councilor Steve Farrell, the violations consequences are likely enough to make someone think twice before carelessly clearing roads.
“I read all them last night,” Farrell said. “It would be easier for if he violates the contract just to shoot himself.”
Grabau said that a large push for the updated ordinance came from Swiss Mountain Estates.
“That neighborhood wants to plow their roads,” he said. “They’re kind of just navigating all of that.”