Sevier County Commission funds $313,213 Redmond bike path, abates $14,921 in taxes

The Sevier County Commission voted unanimously on Sept. 28 to approve an interlocal agreement with Redmond Town for a bike path, committing $313,212.90 to extend the path roughly one mile through town to the baseball diamond and city park, according to the meeting minutes. Commissioners Scott Johnson, Ralph Brown and Greg Jensen were all present ^[1].

Kelly Chappell of Ensign Engineering and Redmond Mayor Lyman Anderson told the commission that five bids were received, with the low bid from Silver Spur at $241,519, well under the engineer's estimate and the other bids. The remainder of the total covers engineering design, material testing and a 10 percent contingency that Chappell said he did not expect to need. Commissioners said the path would benefit county and town residents and that the work could be done this fall before costs rise further. Jensen moved the agreement and Brown seconded ^[1].

The same meeting included a split vote on a tax abatement. Henry Barlow of Utah Beef Producers asked the commission to abate 2025 taxes on parcel 1-11-15, saying the assessment was an overcharge. According to the minutes, the parcel's assessed value had risen from about $2 million to more than $6 million and was reduced to $4.1 million for 2026 after the assessor reviewed the property. Assessor Terri Hartle said a commercial appraiser hired by the county had assumed things about the property that were not correct, and that the request to adjust the 2025 value came about six months after the appeal deadline. The value for 2025 could not be changed, but the commission could abate taxes under state code ^[1].

The amount at issue was about $13,845 in taxes and about $1,076 in county penalties and interest, for a total of $14,921. Brown said any adjustment should be conditioned on the parcel's taxes being brought current. Jensen said the missed appeal deadline was the owner's responsibility and offered a substitute motion that Barlow share in the cost, which got no second. Brown's motion to abate the full $14,921, seconded by Johnson, passed 2-1 with Jensen voting no ^[1].

The commission also adopted Resolution 2026-9-1, authorizing cross-appeals in the 2026 appeals of centrally assessed properties, which included Diamond K Gypsum and a mine. Executive Director Malcolm Nash said the county was contacted about filing a cross-appeal and being represented at the hearing. It passed unanimously. Johnson also set public hearings for Oct. 26: the Transportation Master Plan at 1:45 p.m. and Class D road amendments at 1:50 p.m. ^[1].

At its Sept. 21 meeting, the commission unanimously approved a three-year renewal of the county's ESRI contract for its geographic information systems software at a reduced rate. GIS Administrator Adam Perschon said the renewal saves more than $400,000 over the three years ^[2].

Also on Sept. 21, commissioners approved a $163,706 memorandum of understanding with the R6 Regional Council for the county's senior nutrition program, ratified an agreement with the U.S. Forest Service to identify and address cabins in the Fishlake National Forest with county road crews installing the signs, and approved an amended Gilbert minor subdivision adding a lot ^[2].

Tourism Director Amy Myers reported that the county had received a $160,000 state grant for marketing, and the commission approved the Tourism Advisory Board's recommendations. Commissioners debated a $500 request to help pay for a completed mural in the Monroe area and agreed to fund it from recreation tax money rather than transient room tax revenue, with the mural to add the county logo. Commissioners said such requests should come before murals are finished so the tourism board can have input. The vote was unanimous ^[2].

The commission also amended the 2026 budget by moving $40,000 from the Election Department, where money had been set aside for equipment that will not be purchased this year, to the Building Department to replace a truck with mechanical problems. Clerk/Auditor Steven Wall said moving money between departments avoided a public hearing that raising the budget would require. The vote was unanimous ^[2].