Community Development Director Mike Hyde presented an eight-page letter to the Director of the Ecosystem Management Coordination for the US Dept of Agriculture, Forest Service. The County has reviewed the Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service (“USFS”) Notice of Intent (“NOI”) to prepare an environmental impact statement published in the Federal Register on December 20, 2023. The proposal is to amend management plans for 128 units of the National Forest System to “include consistent direction to conserve and steward existing and recruit future old-growth forest conditions and to monitor their condition across the planning area. The County encourages the responsible and appropriate development/use of natural resources to promote economic development for the benefit of its citizenry and to support the County’s Resource Management Plan (CRMP).

Managing old-growth forests like a museum: the hands-off approach advocated by many “conservationists” is not the answer. Instead, the County encourages the USFS to focus on active forest management, forest stewardship, and vegetation treatments to produce the desired old-growth forest conditions and achieve the required consistency with the State SRMP and County CRMPs.

The County opposes federal designations for mature and old-growth forests based on specific boundaries rather than forest characteristics.

The parties discuss the letter and the plan amendments. Commissioner Killian made a motion to approve the letter. Commissioner Miles seconded the motion. Commissioner Killian voted aye, Commissioner Miles voted aye, and Commissioner Hansen voted aye. The motion passed.

Community Development Assistant Director Mike Gottfredson presented a staff report for the Trails Committee. The Committee meets quarterly or as needed. They have met seven times since its inception and have guided and endorsed projects led by County staff or other localities or organizations. The County has secured over $132,000 in grant funds from the State to develop and maintain OHV trails. The county matched this with over $15,000 in cash and over $43,000 in kind. Some of the projects include improving the Yellowstone OHV trail network, mapping three OHV routes on BLM land, creating a new OHV trail connection in Sower’s Canyon, providing heavy equipment training to County staff, hiring an environmental services firm to conduct a cultural assessment of a new trail in Harmston Canyon, procured two side-by-sides, a four-wheeler, an ATV utility trailer, various trail clearing and development equipment, two equipment trailers, radios, first-aid equipment, and GPS equipment. A list of small urban trails, non-urban trails, and UDOT trail projects is included in the staff report.

One of the Committee's goals is for Duchesne County to become a destination for outdoor recreation.

Community Development Assistant Director Mike Gottfredson presented a mountain bike trail map and parking lot design for Teddy’s Playground. Roosevelt City desires to develop 120 acres of land in the County on Bluebell Road near the Cove Acres subdivision as a mountain bike/disc golf course. The chair of Roosevelt’s Arts, Parks, and Recreation Committee presented to the Trails Committee and asked if the County would support the project by donating rock material for their parking lot. The parties discuss the project. A decision on the donation will be made at the next Commission meeting.

Commissioner Miles made a motion to recess. Commissioner Killian seconded the motion. Commissioner Miles voted aye, Commissioner Killian voted aye, and Commissioner Hansen voted aye. The motion passed.

Deputy Clerk-Auditor Janet Jenkins presented the January 22, 2024, vouchers, check numbers 163882 through 164034, for $836,277.28. The parties review the vouchers submitted. Commissioner Miles made a motion to approve the January 22, 2024 vouchers, as presented. Commissioner Killian seconded the motion. Commissioner Miles voted aye, Commissioner Killian voted aye, and Commissioner Hansen voted aye. The motion passed.