The Natural Resources appropriation will be meeting on Wednesday to prioritize requested funds for various projects around the state and Senator David P Hinkins has put in for possible funding on a few projects in our area.
“Some of the ones I have asked for was the Isotope Research Center that would be in Emery County that’s a $10 million request and what it is a scientific research center to do medical isotopes from salt bed reactors and which they use for to diagnose and also for a cure for cancers and things and that’s my top priority request,” stated Senator Hinkins. If the money is approved for the project the center will be housed in the old Utah Power and Light central warehouse building located in Orangeville.
One more request for funds is geared to fix a canal issue up near the Fairgrounds Road in Price. “I have a request for the Carbon County liner for their canal for Fairground Road but the canal is leaking and getting into people’s basement – it’s been that way for a while. The irrigation company has had a tough time getting the funds to do it so this is a $2 million request that we’ve got in to try and line that canal to try to mitigate the seepage from the canal and also conserve water,” explained Senator Hinkins. The lining of the canal was done a few years ago to a portion of the canal near the Holiday Inn Express Hotel.
The Muddy Creek Irrigation Company in Emery County has a canal project of their own that is in need of funds to complete. It is a $3 million project but they are only requesting $1.5 million from the state.
“What we have done this year is asked our committee members to rank and come up with a list and normally my co-chairs and I will sit down and categorize it but this year the committee asked if they could be more inclusive in that. So, we sent out a list and they will rank them the way to prioritize it cause of how we receive our funding,” said Senator Hinkins. By ranking, the requests will help to determine what is in the best interest of the state and for the communities.