Emery County Commissioner Leonard joined the KOAL newsroom following the March 18 meeting of the Emery County Board of Commissioners to discuss what’s happening in the Swell. Highlighting issues like public lands and renovation projects within the County, Commissioner Leonard peeled back the curtain on what’s happening behind the scenes.

Opening our discussion, Leonard discussed the Commissioner’s donation to four Emery High students to attend Girls State,” Girls State focuses on government relations, how government runs and many other skills. They could become future city councilwomen and future leaders in the community. So we feel like it’s a really good asset to our community for these girls to go to the training and have that experience.”

Also in this meeting, the Commission presented a resolution opposing abuse of the Antiquities Act, a 1906 declaration allowing the president to create national monuments on federal lands. Leonard explained why the Commission put forward this resolution,” We’re not against protecting lands, but we want to be a part of it instead of just a presidential designation. So we’ve created and supported a resolution that says whoever the president is, we want to be involved and we’re not interested in presidents taking over our land.” He added,” We have enough concerns with our public lands. We don’t need another layer of shutting things down when we don’t have a say.”

The Commissioner also spoke on the use of the County’s remaining COVID-19 funds – which are mainly being used for renovation and construction projects across Emery. “These COVID funds came to help support our community with development. So, we have a few projects underway. A few to mention would be Orangeville cities looking to expand their pickleball court, the recreation center is looking to redo their bathrooms in the recreation center and the complex in Huntington.”

Additionally, the funds are being used to purchase vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office, renovate the Road Department’s building and construct a new ADA-accessible park in Castle Dale.

Also leveraged with these funds was the construction of the County’s new Senior Citizen Center, which is rapidly approaching completion. “It’s getting really close. Projections for completion would be in the middle of May or late May. It’ll be good for the seniors to have a nice place to be, as well as to prepare food to go throughout the county. So it’ll have a really nice commercial kitchen in there as well.”

Moving to upcoming events, Leonard highlighted a customer service training coming to the John Wesley Powell Museum on March 26: ” Reach out to the Emery County Tourism Office if you want to sign up. It’s really good for small business owners or any business owner looking to improve their customer service, have some ideas, and even network with other businesses to see what they’re doing to try to improve businesses in Carbon in Emery County.”

The Emery Country Travel Bureau can be contacted at travel@emery.utah.gov or by phone at 435-749-2695 to register.

With summer right around the corner, Commissioner Leonard provided a preview for this year’s rendition of the Emery County Fair,” we have some really good plans. We have some carnival rides and bounce houses for the kids. But we also have some really fun activities. The Ranch Rodeo is going to be fantastic. This is a competition between ranchers doing their normal day tasks but in a competition.”

The fair will begin on Thursday, July 31 and bleed into the beginning of August.

Our penultimate topic of discussion was the Commissioner’s biweekly spotlight, which went to the Emery County Search and Rescue team. “They’re the amazing people in our community who go out there when someone’s in trouble, whether it’s a local or someone from out of town. It doesn’t matter. They’re leaving, and they’re trying to help. They’re just amazing people that are on our search and rescue team. It’s just a great group of ladies and gentlemen.”

Closing our conversation, Leonard shared a message of unity: ” Try to look for those around you who need support or a helping hand. It always builds camaraderie when we try to serve those around us and help those in need. So, as you look for those opportunities, it builds our community. So I’ll be looking for opportunities this week as well.”