Crowds of people can be seen floating down the Weber River on any given summer day in eastern Summit County – but some worry the river’s popularity during the summer months is threatening the health of the river and creating challenges for local law enforcement.

The river, which flows from the Uinta Mountains and empties into the Great Salt Lake, draws floaters, paddle boarders, kayakers, anglers and others. It is recognized as one of the state’s Blue Ribbon trout fisheries and a Class II whitewater river for rafting and kayaking.

Elected officials from Summit and Morgan counties recently met representatives from recreation outfitters and Utah State Parks in Summit County to address the matter.

Summit County Manager Tom Fisher said Morgan County officials first approached Summit about starting the discussion. A Morgan County official did not respond to a request for comment.

One of the challenges officials face is that the river crosses multiple jurisdictions and private properties. But, the main area of concern is a stretch that crosses county lines. Recreationists often enter the waterway at a spot near Henefer.

Summit County Councilor Kim Carson said she has met in the past with Morgan County and law enforcement officials to talk about some of the ongoing issues, such as garbage, overflow parking and alcohol use.

Heavy alcohol use was identified as one of the most critical issues, with officials drawing parallels between it and their other concerns. Some questioned whether it could be banned altogether.

“The problems are getting worse,” Carson said. “A lot of times people get off the river inebriated and they drive home. But, we are not at a point of discussing something like that.”

People using the river often bring coolers containing alcoholic beverages and congregate in well-known spots along the waterway. Some outfitters already prohibit people from bringing alcohol on their trips.

“The outfitters that are in Summit County bring families and promote this as a family activity so some of the drinking and garbage and human waste is a concern. That is not the message we want to send,” Carson said. “We want them to have a nice, positive experience. … Our biggest concern is not just the inebriation, but the garbage that comes with it.”

Carson said officials are trying to come up with ways to reduce the clutter that lines the river’s banks and have considered prohibiting certain riding tubes.

“People are not bringing the appropriate equipment and they are floating on something that is not rated for a class 2 river,” she said. “You have those tubes that are popping and sinking to the bottom of the river.”

Jayson Thiros, who lives in Park City, said he started floating the river more than 10 years ago. He said he’s been on the river when people are “drinking and having fun and it’s a good time.” But, he has also seen people heckling families and saying inappropriate things to them.

“I see both sides of the issue as it has definitely gotten busier out there,” he said. “I can see the point about banning certain tubes and trying to keep the river cleaner because some people don’t care. There are just many different sides to this.”

Officials discussed creating a working group to identify solutions to some of the immediate issues such as trash and parking. Cars and crowds often impede traffic along narrow, two-way streets.

“I think it is just key that we get the stakeholders together to determine responsibility for each group,” Carson said. “We really want to emphasize safety and cleanliness this year and then we can work on a resource management plan for the long term. We want to be partners and help find solutions.”

Carson even mentioned the possibility of creating a state park, highlighting the entry spot’s proximity to Echo and East Canyon state parks. If a state park was created, parking fees and other regulations would likely follow.

“There are a lot of ideas floating around, but those come with costs,” she said. “We just want to explore how we can create a place where everyone can go enjoy the river while limiting the safety issues and impact on the river itself.”

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The Friends of the Children’s Justice Center, the nonprofit organization formed to secure a standalone facility for the Summit County Children’s Justice Center, is pleading with the community for help.

The organization, formerly known as the Community for Children’s Justice, is desperately trying to raise $800,000 before Sept. 1 to pay off the mortgage for the property that will serve as the new location for the Children’s Justice Center. The property, located on Silver Summit Parkway, was purchased in October.

Friends of the Children’s Justice Center is in the middle of a capital campaign to raise money to cover the necessary renovations to make the facility operational and create an endowment. The mortgage needs to be paid in order to start the renovations, said Harry Kirschner, vice president of the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center.

“We are pushing really hard right now to raise the money,” he said. “Our timeline is very urgent. The case load continues to grow as our community grows so the pressure is mounting. Our caseload has increased just since we purchased the new home.”

Summit County’s Children’s Justice Center provides critical services to children who have been victimized by abuse, as well as their families. It is part of the Utah Attorney General’s Office’s Children’s Justice Program and operates under the auspices of the county attorney’s office. Operation of the Children’s Justice Center is funded by the Summit County and Park City governments, as well as the Utah Legislature, federal grants and private donations.

The Children’s Justice Center is currently located in the Sheldon Richins Building in Kimball Junction next to the state Division of Motor Vehicles office, which officials say does not afford victims and their families the privacy that is necessary and limits the number of services that can be provided. It is the only center in the state that does not operate out of a separate, standalone facility.

Friends of the Children’s Justice Center has raised a little more than $1 million toward the $2.7 million campaign.

“The nice thing about this is it is a one-time capital campaign,” Kirschner said. “The operation of Children’s Justice Center is completely funded. We also have a lease agreement with the county where they are going to cover all operating and maintenance costs. We are only responsible for the major capital repairs.”

The mortgage is not due until October. But, the county needs to take over the current Children’s Justice Center site to provide office space for the new mental health provider, the University of Utah Health Care Plans. The county agreed to lease the space as part of the contract with the University of Utah, which goes into effect in September.

Kirschner, though, did not lament the decision. He said the county has significantly stepped up to help the organization get the facility up and running, especially financially. The county has contributed $250,000. However, he was frustrated that City Hall has not made similar contributions.

“They have been pretty disappointing,” he said. “We have been asking the city for support for two years now. The Children’s Justice Center’s support includes a substantial number of clients from the (84)060 area code. But, we’ve been told all the money is earmarked for Treasure and the various open space and trail projects, which certainly have their merits. But, this is a relatively small investment to support a huge need for victims. We expect the city to step up and make that happen.”

Park City Mayor Andy Beerman said he, along with the Park City Council, strongly supports the mission of the Children’s Justice Center. He said city officials are actively working with the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center to help with their funding needs.

“This is a critical service,” he said. “The city and the county are finding ways to support it. But, it is also really important for the residents of our community to do the same.”

Margaret Olson, Summit County attorney, said she has been working with Beerman and the Park City Council to find a way for City Hall to financially contribute to the campaign.

“As is often the case with local government, finding a pile of cash to spend is difficult,” she said. “But, I have been working with Park City to find imaginative, out-of-the box creative ways for the city to help make it happen.”

Olson stressed the importance of the community’s support as well.

“The Children’s Justice Centers in Utah are set up to have federal, state and local government support,” she said. “But, a fourth and equal partner is the community. We are asking our community to come forward and help our CJC find a permanent private home where children and their families can be served and sheltered in their moment of most acute crisis.”

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I moved to Park City after accepting the county reporter position at The Park Record newspaper in 2014, sight unseen.

It was definitely a change of scenery for this cub reporter who had spent her whole life in Kansas. I mean, mountains? What are those? Even now, nearly five years later, I still find myself in awe of my surroundings.

I’ve spent my time in Park City writing, hiking, snowboarding, making friends and learning more about myself than I ever thought possible.

While in Park City I’ve had to endure some major losses- my beloved grandma, Rose, and my best furry friend, Mia. I’ve missed out on some major milestones back home, including watching my nieces and nephews grow up. But, what helped me get through it all was being surrounded by my new tribe.

I even met the love of my life, Adam, here so thank you for that Park City. It was the best move I could have ever made, especially professionally. I loved my job and what I’ve been fortunate enough to experience because of it. I’ve spent a day as a firefighter. I’ve chased bears and moose. I’ve been able to write about the area’s chance of hosting another Winter Olympics. I’ve spoken with award-winning directors for the Sundance Film Festival.

More importantly, though, I’ve been able to write about issues that have greatly impacted the community, such as mental health and substance abuse. Those meant the most to me.

I went from an unfamiliar byline to, hopefully, a respected member of the newspaper, dedicated to keeping this community informed. I know not everyone liked my writing, my style or my interpretation of things. And that’s fine.

Andy Bernhard, the publisher of The Park Record, said not enough people complained about me. Sorry Andy! I tried to ruffle some feathers.

But, my time here has come to an end. It’s time for me to move on and take the leap again into something unfamiliar. I’ve been really upset about leaving and I think that’s because Park City has meant so much to me. This job was my life for nearly five years and it has been my pleasure working with everyone I have encountered and worked with.

Thank you, Park Record staff, for becoming my family. I learned so much sitting between Scott Iwasaki and Jay Hamburger. You both will forever have my respect, adoration and love. To my editor, Bubba Brown, and publisher, Andy Bernhard, thank you for having confidence in me as a writer. To the rest of the staff, you all are the best. I’ll miss our daily conversations and office jokes.

Adam and I decided to buy a camper trailer and enjoy our early 30s for a bit, traveling and seeing new places. We just see it as a continuation of the life that Park City taught us. Feel free to follow our adventures at Ambleon-atravelingtrio.com.

Thank you, Park City. I’ll see you later.

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Several years ago Summit County came up with a way for community members to engage with their elected leaders outside of public meetings and formal settings.

The county is continuing to provide the opportunity by hosting three “Conversations with Council” gatherings during the next several weeks, a unique occasion for residents to learn about issues facing the community and discuss them with County Councilors over breakfast or a cup of coffee.

The county has held similar events during the past few years at restaurants on both ends of the county. However, the upcoming gatherings are also designed as open houses and will be held in county facilities. County staffers will be at the events, along with representatives from various special service districts and agencies.

“We do have things going on in all three corners of the county. But, it’s not just us,” said Krachel Murdock, Summit County spokeswoman. “Some of the special service districts have big projects coming up. This is an opportunity for people to come out and talk with different agencies who provide services in Summit County.”

Two County Councilors are expected to attend each event.

Councilors Chris Robinson and Glenn Wright are slated to be at the Ledges Event Center in Coalville Tuesday. The event is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wright will also join Councilor Kim Carson at the Sheldon Richins Building in Kimball Junction Thursday, May 2, between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Carson and Councilor Doug Clyde will attend the final event Friday, May 3, at the South Summit County Services Building from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m. Food will be served at each event.

Murdock suspects that a variety of topics specific to the areas of the county where they are being held will be addressed at each event.

“Putting this open house together we looked at what the hot topics seem to be,” she said. “We are almost to the end of April, four months into 2019, and we really looked at what people have been talking about with us and on social media.”

Murdock said staffers who can speak specifically to the Jeremy Ranch interchange improvement project, slated to begin this spring, will be on hand for the event in Kimball Junction. She also anticipates residents will want to discuss the Kimball Junction neighborhood plan.

“We will have staff there to speak about that and we will have our public works director there to talk about all the road construction projects going on countywide,” she said. “Other hot topics include the new lighting ordinance that was just passed. People have a lot of questions about what that means for the light on their home or business.”

Representatives from the Utah Department of Transportation are expected to attend the event in Kamas to go over road projects that are scheduled throughout the county this year. County staffers will also likely address the ongoing construction of the bridge in Hoytsville, which is expected to resume within the next couple of weeks.

Murdock said roughly 20 people typically attend the events. She said she is hoping for similar attendance or higher, especially since one of the events is going to be held in the evening.

“We hope that people who have questions and concerns about what is being done in local government will come out and visit with us,” she said. “We are providing a platform outside of a Council setting for people will feel more inclined to visit with us more casually. We are just hoping to make this as pleasant of an experience for everyone who cares about the decisions being made at the county level.”

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Summit County’s health officials want to know how the Health Department is doing and understand the perception of the services it offers.

The Health Department released a survey on Monday and is encouraging community members to complete it within the next six weeks.

Rich Bullough, Health Department director, said officials need to better understand how the community views the work the Health Department does. He said there is a significant amount of data available about what the community’s health risks are. But, that data doesn’t reflect if the Health Department is excelling or needs to improve in certain areas.

“Our hope is that it becomes more of a qualitative survey rather than quantitative,” he said. “We want to know what the issues are that are important.”

Health Departments typically release general health assessment surveys every five years. The county’s last general evaluation was in 2012, but officials decided to focus on mental health and substance abuse services rather than complete another assessment in 2017.

The survey that is currently posted online doesn’t resemble a typical general health assessment survey, Bullough said.

“Data only goes so far,” he said. “We are hoping to make that personal connection. We want the community to inform us. This is also an opportunity for us to inform the community. We want to know what they know and we want to know what they prioritize.”

The 21-question survey includes 11 mostly open-ended questions such as:

• What is the greatest public health concern?
• If you were to suggest starting one new public health program what would it be?
• What is one health-related area that you feel that the health department could improve upon?

The survey takes roughly 10 minutes to complete and is available in English and Spanish. It can be completed online or in person at one of the three Health Department locations throughout the county. Responses can be anonymous. But, respondents who remain anonymous will not be eligible for the giveaways the Health Department is holding based on the number of surveys that are completed. Respondents who make their information available will be eligible for prizes such as Amazon gift cards. The survey is intended to help inform the Board of Health’s strategic planning process, which will be underway in the fall.

Phil Bondurant said some people feel open-ended questions will prompt a wide array of answers that won’t directly identify public health concerns. However, he said it will give officials an opportunity to see what people are thinking about.

“We need to take a different approach,” he said. “These questions allow people to provide input. We’ve heard concerns about humanity and social equity. That is not usually captured in typical assessments. We are hoping we will find a common thread where we can say, ‘50 percent of responses are addressing this or hoping we implement this program.’”

Officials are hoping to get 750 responses within the next six weeks. Bondurant said that is the minimum number needed to validate the results. He added, “We want 1,000 or 1,500.”

“We know people get survey fatigue,” he said. “We are cognizant of that. But, we hope people understand the importance of having a say in what is going to happen with the future of public health in Summit County.”

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The Summit County Council Thursday selected University of Utah Health Plans as the county’s new health care provider during a special meeting. The University of Utah was selected over another provider, Optum.

Elected leaders and health officials have placed a greater emphasis on providing access to mental health and substance abuse services within the last few years.

A critical component of that is the entity that provides state-mandated services on behalf of the county to Medicaid, uninsured and non-Medicaid residents. The state’s 13 Health Departments are required to provide services such as substance abuse treatment and inpatient care to its residents.

The County Council’s selection of University of Utah Health Plans ends the county’s nearly 25-year partnership with Valley Behavioral Health. Valley Behavioral Health’s most recent contract, entered into in 2003, is set to expire at the end of August. Officials said Valley Behavioral Health’s model as a primary health provider no longer met the growing needs for services in the county.

Summit County issued a request for proposals from new providers in January. Optum and University of Utah Health Plans were selected as the two finalists. Elected officials interviewed representatives for both providers earlier this month.

University of Utah operates its services through a network model, which officials say could help significantly reduce patients’ wait times for access to essential services.

“We will have new resources that will be available to us,” said Aaron Newman, Summit County’s mental health and substance abuse coordinator. “That will help us hone in on different objectives. One of the areas where we will definitely see an improvement is with our crisis services.”

The new model will also allow the county to integrate behavioral and physical health, allowing providers to take someone’s overall health into consideration, Newman said. He emphasized how important that service will be to residents.

A committee comprising elected and health officials came up with the recommendation to select University of Utah based on several factors, including the organization’s ability to provide at least $300,000 in additional state Medicaid dollars to Summit County as well as a commitment to provide a shared school psychologist for the North Summit and South Summit school districts.

Representatives speaking on behalf of University of Utah earlier this month described years of experience as an in-state agency with a vast network of services, including many providers in Summit County or willing to relocate to the area.

The county will award $2.3 million for the first year, prorated over 10 months. The funds will come from the county, state and Medicaid.

Rich Bullough, Summit County Health Department director, said Wednesday he fully supported the decision to select University of Utah Health Plans as the county’s new provider.

Newman said the decision to select a new provider is a critical step in the county’s efforts to improve access to mental health and substance abuse services.

“I never could have envisioned this is where we would be two years ago,” he said. “This will have a huge change for us in terms of where we are heading.”

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The future design and flow of the Kimball Junction area will be determined by the decisions elected leaders make over the next several months.

Those decisions will govern how the remaining 45 percent of development approved in the area, or about 1.7 million square feet, is constructed.

Summit County Councilors were introduced this week to the Kimball Junction neighborhood plan, a 20-page document intended to guide future development and redevelopment of the area. If approved, it will be included in the Snyderville Basin General Plan as an amendment.

A citizen’s committee comprising community members with varying interests and diverse backgrounds spent the previous year and a half developing the document. Most members of the committee attended Wednesday’s meeting.

Pat Putt, Summit County development director, said the neighborhood plan gives elected officials an opportunity to rethink how development is built.

“That is what this is about,” he said during the meeting. “It names our expectations and hopes for what that development can look like in order to address community issues that we have been hearing over and over again.”

The neighborhood plan explores how the areas east and west of S.R. 224 interact in greater detail than the current General Plan. It emphasizes a need for connectivity and the creation of gatherings spaces that people can easily access without a car.

The Kimball Junction area has become the retail hub of the Snyderville Basin over the last 15 years. Residents throughout the county visit the area to shop or dine. It serves as the entrance into the greater Park City area.

But, many people involved in the plan say, it is not without flaws.

Roger Armstrong, Summit County Council chair and member of the committee that created the plan, said the deficiencies of the Kimball Junction area are obvious.

“It’s not the prettiest place,” he said. “It’s a bit disjointed and there are issues of connectivity, mobility and walkability.”

The Snyderville Basin Planning Commission sent the document to the County Council in February after spending just two meetings on it. Armstrong said the County Council will likely spend a significant amount of time with the plan.

“This is just the start of the discussion process with the broader community,” he said. “This won’t be a quick process.”

Doug Clyde, a County Council member, said public involvement needs to be robust moving forward. He emphasized, “This won’t be something we do in two meetings.”

Clyde also took the opportunity to address a growing concern among residents in Newpark that the plan includes a rendering of a proposed building north of the Newpark Hotel. He said he has received several calls from residents concerned about the possibility of a building there and an overall increase in density within Newpark.

“There is this perception that we will be building new buildings,” he said. “I don’t think this plan says that. We are not adding development or density.”

The County Council heard from several members of the committee that created the document and took some initial public comments. Elected officials spent nearly two hours discussing the matter.

County Councilor Glenn Wright commended the committee for the vision it came up with. But, he encouraged the rest of the panel to consider the plan as it may relate to the rest of the Basin.

“In isolation, it sounds like a great idea,” he said. “But, the whole plan has to come together with what’s happening in the rest of the county.”

County Councilor Kim Carson said she is looking forward to delving into the plan in greater detail. She said Kimball Junction has “so much potential, but we have this mess there now.”

“How do we articulate that?” she said. “How do we move forward from this point to get to that vision of where we want to be? I think that is just as critical. I’m definitely not clear on that. It’s hard to envision how it can all come together.”

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The property manager at the facility contacted dispatch after noticing the locks had been cut, a Sheriff’s Office report states. He told deputies the burglaries happened sometime between Saturday and Monday.

Deputies reached out to the owners of the units and trailers to determine whether any items were stolen, the report states. The owners who have been contacted have not reported any missing items, said Lt. Andrew Wright, with the Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators obtained video surveillance from the facility and an investigation was underway.

It was the second time this month that a storage facility had been burglarized.

Two men had entered 11 separate storage units at a facility near U.S. 40 April 11, proceeding in a similar fashion by cutting the padlocks to some of the units to gain access. Surveillance footage showed them stealing a flat screen TV.

Investigators believe the men jumped the fence surrounding the facility to access the units.

It is unclear if the two incidents are related, Wright said.

“We know that nothing was reported stolen in the most recent incident so we don’t know if someone was cutting locks or trying to steal stuff and got spooked,” he said. “The fact that they are hitting storage units in such a close timeframe, one could assume they are linked. But, we don’t have any specific knowledge that they are right now.”

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Summit County and Park City’s elected leaders celebrated Earth Day by attending the signing of what officials say is a groundbreaking piece of legislation that will help further the city and county’s renewable energy goals.

Summit County Councilor Glenn Wright and Park City Councilor Tim Henney joined Gov. Gary Herbert for a ceremonial signing of H.B. 411, the Community Renewable Energy Act, in Salt Lake City on Monday. A number of other clean air and energy bills were also signed.

“This has been one of the most groundbreaking legislative activities in the history of our state,” Wright said during a livestreamed press conference. “It affects not only the environment, but also the future economy.”

The Community Renewable Energy Act authorizes a process that will enable an electric utility to enter into a renewable energy program with a municipality or county. The legislation is intended to prevent shifting the costs or benefits of the program to nonparticipating customers. It is the result of several years of negotiations among officials from Park City, Summit County, Salt Lake City and Rocky Mountain Power.

The Summit County Council authorized a resolution in 2017 to transition to 100 percent renewable electric energy by 2032. Park City and Salt Lake City leaders have established similar goals.

“The language in the bill protects Summit County and the cities from practices that would only benefit Rocky Mountain Power,” Wright said. “Everyone wants to protect their own assets.”

Other communities will be encouraged to pass similar renewable energy resolutions in order to participate in the program. However, to participate in the program municipalities and counties will need to reach 100 percent renewable energy by 2030.

“We are on the cusp of what I am going to call the new energy economy,” said Rep. Steve Handy, R-Layton, during the press conference. “It is all about what the people want when it comes to energy issues like this. It is the responsibility of the Legislature to remove barriers and this legislation removes barriers. It is groundbreaking. There is nothing like this in the country.”

Officials say the Community Renewable Energy Act is an indication that Rocky Mountain Power is shifting its views on the use of renewable energy.

“An integrated resource plan that came out a few months ago indicated renewable energy is cheaper than a lot of their existing coal plants,” Wright said. “I think that has gotten their interest in being a partner in this process. But, that is not to say we all don’t have our own interests.”

Wright said Summit County’s interest is in getting the lowest possible rates for renewable energy. The rate structure that will be applied under the program will be determined by the Utah Public Service Commission by the end of the year.

“Once the rates are established, then it will come back to municipal and county entities to pass an ordinance to participate in the program,” he said. “If the rates are too high, then we won’t commit.”

If the county opts into the program, elected officials will need to pass a resolution that authorizes participation. Wright said several notices will go out to the public as the process is underway and public comment will be accepted at any hearings addressing the matter. It will likely be a couple years before the program is available.

“We are at a paradigm shift for renewable energy,” Wright said. “It is a very competitive with fossil fuels and Utah has always been an energy state. But, we have to make the transition to renewable energy and this bill allows us to do that.”

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The frequency of vehicle accidents, especially involving large trucks, on Interstate 80 at Echo Junction in eastern Summit County over the years has prompted the Utah Department of Transportation to take action.

The stretch of Interstate 80 west toward Echo Junction has a 70 mph speed limit before it drops down to 35 mph for a sharp curve at the Interstate 84 interchange. Three semi-trucks rolled at that location earlier this month just days apart. Speed was a factor in at least one of the crashes.

Flashing signs are used to draw people’s attention and warn drivers of the reduction in the speed limit at the curve. But, the signs are in need of replacement, according to Robert Miles, director of traffic and safety for UDOT.

“Those signs are nearing the end of their life cycle,” he said. “As part of that life cycle replacement, we do have plans to add a few other signs just based on the things we are seeing in the crash record. We are going to tweak some things.”

But, officials say the road is still considered safe.

“We don’t have anything indicating that this section of roadway is any less safe than anything else out there,” Miles said. “Sometimes we’ll go a year without an accident and then in a week we’ll have two or three.”

More than 50 accidents have occurred near the Echo Junction within the last three years, according to information provided by the Utah Department of Public Safety and the Utah Department of Transportation.

“Even though the roads are all designed to standard, we do have issues with large trucks tipping over, which isn’t too surprising with how tight that curve comes,” Miles said.

UDOT officials look at a number of factors when determining whether a road is safe, including the severity and frequency of crashes. Miles said the agency keeps an eye on long-term safety trends.

“You look to the total number of crashes and you have to break that figure down to figure out what is going on with the individual,” he said. “Nationally, 94 percent of crashes have a basis in human error. That’s important to keep in mind. But, we do track all of those and monitor all the crashes throughout the state.”

Miles emphasized the role of the driver in most vehicle accidents. He said UDOT can provide a safe transportation system, but accidents are still bound to happen if people are speeding or distracted.

“We need everyone’s help,” he said. “People need to be aware of what is happening. Buckle up and put away the distractions.”

John Gleason, a UDOT spokesman, said the agency strives to make roads safe.

“Drivers need to do their part and that means slowing down when you see a reduced speed limit sign. It is there for a reason,” he said. “It means that road is only safe to be driving 35 mph around the bend and you don’t want to exceed it. Those speed limits are not chosen arbitrarily.”

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