Conference center location announced

Uintah County’s proposed conference center will be built downtown just one block northwest of Western Park.

Plans are to construct the center on the block between 200-300 East and 100-200 South, according to County Commissioner Mike McKee.

Uintah County received partial funding for the center through the Community Impact Board, with additional monies for construction developed through a partnership with the Impact Mitigation district.

Paul Hacking, district manager, says the process has been in the planning for over a year and a half.

The logical thing, according to Hacking, was a partnership between the entities for the benefit of the area. He calls the center another piece of the puzzle in growing the Basin’s image.

Under the agreement, Impact Mitigation agrees to pay $3 million in cash toward the construction of the conference center.

Vernal City also has an interest in the building and plans to partner in its operation with the county. Vernal Express

Starvation State Park cut ribbon on new campground

Utah Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Reclamation, contractors and Duchesne Chamber members gathered at the newly completed Mountain View Campground, located at Starvation State Park, to cut the symbolic ribbon and open the campground facility for the season.

The ceremony took place on Wednesday June 12 at the pavilion located near the entrance of the newly completed 38 campsite facility. Three new camping cabins were also open for inspection for the ceremony attendees. Full hook ups are available at all sites. Uintah Basin Standard

Roosevelt City dives into new pool project

The regularly scheduled council meeting was moved from city chambers to the Crossroads Community Center when it came time for the pool report. An audience had already started to gather in the designated meeting room there and filled the room to capacity before the public meeting ended.

The large crowd was quiet and attentive as City Councilman Albert Foster took the council members and audience through a quick media presentation to share background information about the history of the pool and the process leading to that evening’s meeting.

“What will it cost to fix the existing pool? What will it cost to replace the existing pool and what would it cost to improve our existing pool facility,” Foster asked.

During the presentation which followed, Foster laid out the financial background and project options.
Roosevelt residents began taking turns at the open microphone to address the city council, mayor, and audience after the presentation.

The remainder of the motion was amended to state that as sufficient additional monies are collected, each additional piece of the complex becomes funded. That is, when sufficient estimated funds are collected, then the indoor pool lanes would be approved. When additional estimated funds are collected beyond that level, then the field house would be added. All council members voted in the affirmative. Uintah Basin Standard

Gorge spring visitor counts up

“It is so beautiful up here.”

“I wish Germany had Utah’s deserts and mountains and sunshine.”

These comments are plentiful when talking to Flaming Gorge visitors and in this case two visitors from Germany, Torben Schipper and Kirstin Fuchs, who started a two-week vacation in Salt Lake after renting a motorhome and traveling through Bryce, Zions, Arches, Flaming Gorge and Yellowstone. And they like Flaming Gorge so much they returned there to finish off their vacation before returning to Germany. 

“The great thing about Utah is that there is so much to experience and the Flaming Gorge area offers much,” said Mark Wilson, president of Red Canyon Lodge. 

Wilson explained that so far this year the fishing attraction of Flaming Gorge has been great in attracting better than normal crowds to the lake and that they should see the same trend during the summer months when the family visitors come to the area.

“Whether you are a fisherman or you just want a great family vacation, then Flaming Gorge is the place to be,” said Wilson.  The Vernal Express

State offers webcast on tar sands project hearing

The Utah Department of Environmental Quality will provide a live webcast of a hearing on the PR Springs tar sands mining project in Uintah County Wednesday and Thursday.

An administrative law judge will hear evidence from the state Division of Water Quality, which has granted a permit for the project, and an environmental group appealing the permit, Moab-based Living Rivers. 

The DEQ has said the hearing involves only those officially involved in the dispute and is not a public meeting subject to the state Open and Public Meetings Act.

So, while the hearing itself will take place in an upstairs conference room at the Multi-Agency State Office Building, 1950 West 195 North, Salt Lake City, the public will be free to observe the broadcast in the DEQ Board Room on the first floor.

"The public is expected to be respectful to other members of the public and the facility during the hearing," says the state’s web page on the hearing. "DEQ reserves the right to remove individuals who are unable to respect these requirements."

The hearing takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. For a link to the webcast, go to: http://www.deq.utah.gov/Online_Services/deqwebcasts.htm. Salt Lake Tribune