It was time to sit down with Carbon County Commissioner Casey Hopes to discuss what is taking place at the county. He was disappointed to report that the Build Back Better funding fell through for both projects in Carbon and Emery Counties.

Many remember that the county’s application for the Build Back Better funding was the only one selected from Utah and it was able to make it to the second round in the selection process. It was there that officials used social media to push the proposed projects to help get noticed but unfortunately, those efforts fell short. “We had our fingers crossed; we were working the social media trying to make sure we had enough hype for our program and everything that we were trying to do with this Energy Research Center and the buildout at the airport but it just didn’t turn our way. So we’re a little bit sad, but that’s not the end. We intend on working with Emery County to build the Energy Research Center, and also, we are looking at ways to fund and buildout and work with our USU partner and buildout the aviation mechanics program,” stated Commissioner Hopes.

So now the next step is to find funding elsewhere to complete both of the projects in both Carbon and Emery Counties. There is a possibility of obtaining private or state monies in the near future. “We had an opportunity to meet with the new President of the University of Utah and he’s going to come down and he wants to be a part of building other parts of the state. He’s really excited about the opportunity of working with the Energy Research Center and some of the possibilities. He sees eastern Utah as still providing for the energy needs of the state in to the future, maybe its coal, and nuclear, or some other, hydrogen. There’s a lot of opportunity and a lot of possibilities and the universities in the state are geared up and ready to help us make that happen here in eastern Utah. The reason they are saying eastern Utah is because we have all the transmission lines,” said Commissioner Hopes. So hopefully both the Energy Research Center and Airport Buildout will happen because of the existing infrastructure.

There will be a Constitution Barbeque held at 4:00 pm on Saturday, September 17 in Wellington at the city park on Main Street. “This one here is a chance to meet all of the Republican Party Candidates and ask them some of those tough questions, from John Curtis, to Christine Watkins, Senator Hinkins – I don’t think Senator Hinkins is up but I think he’ll be there. Sheriff Jeff Wood, Commissioner Martines, Commissioner Jensen, will all be there. It’s really your opportunity to get to know more than just those advertisements. It’s the time to ask those tough questions and really get to know the candidates and see if they’re the right fit for the county,” explained Commissioner Hopes. There will be a women’s session scheduled to take place at 3:00 pm and ladies are urged to RSVP by calling (435) 650-7130.

The commissioners want community members to know that they have an open-door policy and if you have concerns or questions to please stop by their office at 751 East 100 North or call them at (435) 636-3200.