Aidan Mortensen, KOAL News
The Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) board met in the Carbon County Administration Building on Monday, June 24 to discuss the proposed inland port locations within Carbon and Emery counties. The board, after hearing public comments on the matter, moved to approve the proposed locations.
Background
The purpose of the proposed project areas from UIPA is to help spur the local economies of the project areas, which in the case of Carbon and Emery counties have been in a downturn due to a decline in coal production. It also helps businesses who want to open in the area to have the infrastructure available to do so.
For a more in-depth examination of the port, you can find a previous story on the matter from Castle Country Radio here.
The Meeting
A core objective of the UIPA is to enhance regional and economic development, an objective that looks to be very beneficial to the Castle Valley area as it faces uncertainty in that realm with potential power plant closures and federal regulations limiting coal production looming over the area.
Board members also explained that these projects help provide employment opportunities for residents of the area that wouldn’t require things such as a four-year degree.
Jenna Draper, the associate vice president of regional project area development for UIPA presented the long-term plan to maximize economic growth within the Carbon and Emery area through the inland port. It was explained that both counties had passed resolutions approving the proposed inland ports.
Carbon County Commissioner Larry Jensen spoke to the UIPA board explaining that coal production had hit a standstill within Carbon County. Commissioner Jensen then explained that due to the decline of coal production, the tax burden that originally fell on the mines is now falling on the homeowners of the area. “ We’re in a spot where we really need growth,” Commissioner Jensen explained. Commissioner Jensen also expressed appreciation to the board, thanking them for their consideration.
Ren Hatt, the mayor of Green River City spoke on why this would be beneficial for Emery County and Green River, saying that this project could help attract industry to the area and allow the city to attract back what he described as Green River’s biggest export, their children.
Draper explained some additional details regarding the proposed projects, including that the projects would not support any development or construction that could pose a risk to archaeological or historically significant sites. Draper ended by recommending that the board move ahead with the creation of the Castle Country Project Area.
To close out the meeting, the UIPA board voted on the adoption of the Carbon and Emery area plans for inland ports. In a unanimous decision, the board adopted the plans.
In a panel held by local leaders following the meeting, Commissioner Tony Martines spoke on what type of industries and jobs he hopes to come to the community due to the inland port. “What we’re used to here in Carbon County due to the mining industry is a lot of blue-collar workers. With the infrastructure we have here and the spaces that we have to expand, we would love to see manufacturing, warehousing, any type of those jobs would be right up our alley.”
With the approval of the project area, the land for the inland port is available, but most development will take some time to get off the ground, with some experts predicting one to two years.