Summit in Six

Today, we recap some big ticket items from this week’s County Council meeting which included a conversation on the county’s 2025 budget, the latest on the Dakota Pacific discussions, and some key updates on the Ure Ranch property. 

TOPIC 1: 2025 County Budget

County Manager, Shayne Scott and County Finance Officer, Matt Leavitt kicked off discussions about the 2025 county budget this week with a look at some possible scenarios the county could face next year regarding revenues and expenses.

Due to several council initiatives, specific unexpected expenses, and unfunded state mandates, Summit County is faced with a shortfall between expected revenues and department requests for 2025.

Certain expenditures that may be new next fiscal year include but are not limited to:

The Emergency Services Sales Tax (ESST) ballot initiative could fund the difference between current budget requests and estimated 2025 revenues (which is a difference of approximately $12 million).

Because the ESST must be approved by voters, however, the County won’t know if those funds will be available until after the November election.

If the ESST does not pass, County Manager Shayne Scott recommends the Council go through the Truth in Taxation process to raise property taxes in the General & Municipal funds, which have not been raised in more than 7 years.

If Council chooses to begin the Truth in Taxation process, the timeline requires a public meeting before the November election. Even if Council takes this direction, they could choose to abandon the process after the election, when the results of the ESST ballot initiative have been determined.

If the ESST is not approved by voters AND the county does not go through Truth in Taxation, the County Manager & Finance Officer anticipate a significant cut in services and loss of County personnel.

To learn more about the ESST, please visit: summitcounty.info/ESST. Stay tuned to upcoming Council meetings for more discussions related to the 2025 budget.

TOPIC 2: Dakota Pacific Discussions

Council Members Canice Harte and Chris Robinson gave an update on their discussions with Dakota Pacific regarding a public-private partnership on the Kimball Junction development property.

To review, the primary objectives of the proposed partnership include:

These goals culminate in a mixed-use area master plan for the property owned by Dakota Pacific, as well as the Skullcandy and Richins buildings, which are owned by the County. This could include a new, expanded transit center, an expanded civic center, county-owned affordable housing, senior housing and medical facility, an ampitheater, connection to existing pedestrian trails and space for a potential gondola, which is pre-approved for the area but would likely not be an immediate part of the build out.

If you watch the presentation, keep in mind the proposal is a master plan focusing on the big picture concept, and not a site plan for specific amenities in specific areas.

The presentation culminated in an estimated civic budget that would be split between the County and High Valley Transit, as part of the larger public-private partnership. The budget, estimated at $39 million, is proposed from a combination of  HTRZ monies, potential grant funding, affordable housing land purchases and additional areas.

To watch the presentation yourself, visit summitcounty.info/councilrecording. Stay tuned as more details are discussed and public hearings are scheduled.

Topic 3: Ure Ranch Updates

County Lands & Natural Resources Director Jess Kirby provided an update on next steps in the county’s purchase of the Ure Ranch in Kamas. 

At this time, 57% of the property has been funded and the county is working with the Ure family on a partial closing by December 31 of this year. Council approved bringing additional GO Bond funds (approximately $5.2 million) to meet the December closing for applicable parcels of the Ure Ranch, with the possibility of recuperating those funds through additional funding down the road. 

Based on public input, Council also determined to remove community housing from the use plan for part of the “Homestead” area; and supported moving forward with a preapproved advanced wetland mitigation site on one parcel, and to explore community desire for a USU Agricultural Extension educational facility on the homestead.

For more information on the Ure Ranch and public lands, visit summitcounty.org/countylands. 

The Summit County Council was at the Utah Association of Counties Conference this week, so there was no meeting to report on.

National Voter Registration Day is NEXT TUESDAY, September 17! Did you know? If you haven’t voted since the last Presidential election, your voter registration becomes inactive, meaning the Summit County Clerk’s Office won’t send you a ballot in the mail.

Each year in the United States, millions of eligible voters find voting a challenge because of easily prevented issues like forgetting to update their registration.

In celebration of National Voter Registration Day, now is the perfect time to check your voter registration status (and change it to active if needed), register to vote, or change your address at voter.utah.gov today so you are VOTE READY for the November 5, 2024 Election.– TOPIC 2: COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT

If you live, work or play in Summit County then the Health Department wants to hear from you in their 2024 Community Health Assessment! This assessment is a short, ten-minute survey that lends the opportunity for the public to share their ideas, suggestions, and concerns about public health in our community.

The Health Department is a little over half-way to their goal of 1,000 responses by the end of October…So help Summit County reach their goal to create a healthier community for all by visiting summitcountyhealth.org/cha24 to take the survey!

– TOPIC 3: KIMBALL JUNCTION EIS UPDATE 

Earlier this week, UDOT reached the next milestone for the environmental study they’re working on in the I-80 and SR-224 area. They published the Final Alternatives Development and Screening Report, which among other things, identifies Alternatives A and C as moving forward for detailed evaluation in the Draft EIS. The input UDOT received during the public comment period held in the spring helped them identify additional improvements to Alternatives A and C.

To view the full report, including more detail on proposed improvements to each alternative, please visit: kimballjunctioneis.udot.utah.gov/

From here, UDOT will begin work on the Draft EIS which will be published sometime later this year or early 2025 and will include a public comment period and hearing.

The Draft EIS will include a detailed evaluation of Alternatives A and C – including the assessment of impacts on land use, neighborhoods, residential and commercial properties, noise, air quality, water resources and floodplains, special status species, and the visual setting among other resources. The Draft EIS will identify a preferred alternative.

– SPEAKER SERIES EVENT 9/19 IN KAMAS

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! We have a quick episode for you today covering some important voter registration news, the Summit County RAP Tax Grant, and some community engagement opportunities for you to get involved in! Let’s get into the news. 

TOPIC 1 – Voter Registration 

Did you know? If you haven’t voted since the last Presidential election, your voter registration becomes inactive, meaning we won’t send you a ballot in the mail. Each year in the United States, millions of eligible voters find voting a challenge because of easily prevented issues like forgetting to update their registration. 

Check your voter registration status (and change it to active if needed), register to vote, or change your address at voter.utah.gov today so you are Vote Ready for the November 5, 2024 Election. 

TOPIC 2 – Speaker Series 

Learn from experts in our area about new and existing strategies to make sure farmers and ranchers find success even in times of extreme weather and drought on Monday, September 19 at the DeJoria Center in Kamas! 

This is a FREE event open to anyone who has an interest in learning and supporting themselves or those in our community that ranch or farm on land both big and small. Refreshments are provided.

Our panelists include: Summit County Residents Colby Pace of Half Circle Cross Ranch, Craig McKnight of Bill White Farms, Gregg Simonds of Open Range Consulting, and Leah Trapp from the USDA. To register and learn more visit: summitcounty.info/speakerseries.

TOPIC 3 – RAP Grant 

Applications for the Summit County Recreation, Arts and Parks (aka “RAP” ) Grant are available now through Monday, September 30th at 5:00 PM. The recreation grant applies to any publicly owned or operated facility that is used for recreational purposes. The term “recreational facility” is defined in Utah Code to mean “a publicly owned or operated park, campground, marina, dock, golf course, playground, athletic field, gymnasium, swimming pool, trail system, or other facility used for recreational purposes.” 

The grant fund application specifies that ONLY those uses qualify for funding with RAP/Recreation taxes. Please visit the Summit County website summitcounty.org/grants for instructions regarding grant eligibility and to complete the application. For additional information, contact Amy Jones, at (435) 336-3042. 

TOPIC 4 – Connect with your County 

If you’re listening to this podcast, thank you for connecting with us every week! Did you know there are several other ways you can receive information from Summit County too? 

Connecting with us on these various platforms is a great way to help us involve YOU in the decisions and actions of your local government. When we can provide you with information on what’s happening in Summit County and HOW you can get involved, we are ultimately better able to address YOUR values, needs, and concerns while also ensuring transparency and accountability.

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of Summit in Six news here at the last unofficial weekend of summer. We’ve got a full lineup of September events and important info for you to know with fall just around the corner. Let’s get into the news!

TOPIC 1 – Safe Kids Day North Summit

Next Thursday, September 5, the Summit County Health Department is hosting Safe Kids Day at the North Summit Fire Station in Coalville. Join us any time between 3:30 & 6 pm to meet our first responders, check out their rescue vehicles and enjoy free hot dogs! There will also be a chance to win gift cards, scooters, and life jackets.

In addition to the health department, North Summit Fire, Summit County Sheriff & Summit County Search & Rescue are all joining the fun. We hope to see you there!

TOPIC 2 – Fall Weeds Tour

The Summit County Weeds Division is hosting a Community Noxious Weeds Tour on Saturday, September 7 from 9 AM to 12 PM to educate residents on the “most-wanted” weeds here in Summit County.

Residents will meet Dave Bingham, Weed Superintendent, Dan Pena, Weed Enforcement Officer, and other special guests at Richardson Flat Park and Ride to learn to identify and control noxious weeds on their own properties.

Please RSVP (for free!) at summitcounty.info/falltour24 to let us know you’re coming.

TOPIC 3 – Fall Speaker Series: Extreme Weather & Drought for Farmers & Ranchers

Learn from experts in our area about new and existing strategies to make sure farmers and ranchers find success even in times of extreme weather and drought on Monday, September 19 at the DeJoria Center in Kamas! 

This is a FREE event open to anyone who has an interest in learning and supporting themselves or those in our community that ranch or farm on land both big and small. Refreshments are provided.

To register and learn more about our panelists visit: summitcounty.info/speakerseries.

TOPIC 4 – Voter Registration Reminder

Did you know? If you haven’t voted since the last Presidential election, your voter registration becomes inactive, meaning the Summit County Clerk’s Office won’t send you a ballot in the mail. Each year in the United States, millions of eligible voters find voting a challenge because of easily prevented issues like forgetting to update their registration.

Check your voter registration status (and change it to active if needed), register to vote, or change your address at voter.utah.gov today so you are Vote Ready for the November 5, 2024 Election.

TOPIC 5 – Emergency Services Sales Tax – Bailey

And speaking of the election, you may have heard about the proposed Emergency Services Sales Tax that will appear on the ballot for Summit County Voters.

This is a proposed one-half (.005) percent increase to sales taxes in Summit County (that’s 50 cents on applicable purchases of $100) to reduce the impact of tourism on Summit County locals.

Revenue generated from the Emergency Services Sales Tax could support solid waste and these emergency response services in Summit County:

Approximately 65% of sales tax revenue is generated by non-residents, which means nearly two-thirds of revenue generated from this tax would be paid by visitors.

Gas & Diesel, Medical prescriptions, and groceries or unprepared foods are not taxed.

Learn more at summitcounty.info/esst

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! Bridget (and Bailey!) here with you today to cover some exciting community engagement opportunities coming up! Let’s get into it! 

TOPIC 1 – Election Work Promo 

The 2024 General Election is just over two months away. Did you know that by signing up to work the polls on Election Day you’d be helping to strengthen our democracy, giving back to our community, and ensuring accurate and secure elections for all?

To offer to help with the November 5, 2024 Election, please submit your application to the Summit County Clerk’s Office as soon as possible at summitcounty.info/electionworker. 

TOPIC 2 – Community Health Assessment 

If you live, work or play in Summit County then the Health Department wants to hear from you in their 2024 Community Health Assessment or CHA! The CHA is a short, ten-minute survey that allows the public to share their ideas, suggestions, and concerns about public health in our communities. 

Their goal is to reach 1,000 responses to the CHA by the end of October and they’re halfway there! Help Summit County reach their goal and create a healthier community for all.

Visit summitcountyhealth.org/cha24 to take the survey in English or Spanish.

TOPIC 3 – Fall Weeds Tour

The Summit County’s Weeds Division is hosting a Community Noxious Weeds Tour on Saturday, September 7 from 9 AM to 12 PM to educate residents on the “most-wanted” weeds here in Summit County.

Residents will meet Dave Bingham, Weed Superintendent, Dan Pena, Weed Enforcement Officer, and some other special guests at Richardson Flat Park and Ride to learn to identify and control noxious weeds on their own properties.

Please RSVP (for free!) at summitcounty.info/falltour24 to let us know you’re coming.

TOPIC 4 – Summit Bike Share Season Pass Sale + Try Transit Week

ICYMI Summit Bike Share Season Passes are currently 55% off! Take advantage of this awesome mid-season sale and get over two months of unlimited e-bike rides for only $59! Get your discounted season passes today at summitcounty.info/midseason. 

AND, in even more exciting Summit Bike Share news, next week is Park City Transit’s Try Transit Week! In celebration of this awesome initiative, Summit Bike Share will be offering FREE 30-minute rides all day on Thursday, August 29 using code TRYTRANSIT. 

TOPIC 5 – Safe Kids Day 

The Summit County Health Department is bringing Safe Kids Day to the North Summit Fire Station in Coalville on September 5 for kids of all ages! This family-friendly resource fair will have an opportunity drawing with cool prizes like scooters and life jackets! Plus, there will also be FREE hot dogs provided by Summit County Sheriff’s Department. Safe Kids Day is a perfect way for parents and children to learn about necessary safety information around our community. We hope to see you and your children there! Save the date for September 5 from 3:30-6:00pm at the North Summit Fire Station in Coalville. 

Hey everyone, welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six. Today we are going to give some updates on the fire danger level in Summit County, a reminder to look out for your Notice of Valuation from the County Auditor’s Office, and some community engagement opportunities perfect for all, including Summit County’s annual concert. 

Let’s get into the news! 

Fire Danger

Summit County’s Fire Danger Level has moved to HIGH as of yesterday August 15, 2024. There are no active wildfires in Summit County at this time.

Even though we’ve moved from extreme fire conditions to high, its important we continue to practice fire sense and follow local fire restriction orders. In Summit County, that means the use of any kind of fireworks, tracer ammunition, or exploding targets is prohibited on unincorporated and state land within the county.

As always you can Text SCFIREINFO (all one word, all caps) to 888777 for updates on Summit County fire outlook, conditions, prescribed burns & more.

Notice of Valuation Statement

Summit County Residents should keep an eye out for your Notice of Valuation statement which is sent through the mail by the Auditor’s Office annually on or before August 1st.

There is a 45-day window of opportunity to review your property. As the taxpayer, you should be watching for market changes and whether your property is coded correctly, and receiving any exemptions that may be available.

If you have questions on property valuation info you can visit summitcountyassessor.org and if you have any questions on how to appeal your property’s value through the Board of Equalization you can visit summitcounty.info/boe

Safe Kids Day

The Summit County Health Department is bringing Safe Kids Day to the North Summit Fire Station in Coalville on September 5 for kids of all ages! 

This family-friendly resource fair will have a free opportunity drawing where you’ll have the chance to win cool prizes like scooters and life jackets AND FREE hot dogs will be provided by Summit County Sheriff’s Department. 

Safe Kids Day is a perfect way for parents and children to learn about necessary safety information around our community. 

Again, Mark your calendars for September 5 and come to the North Summit Fire Station in Coalville located at 86 W Center St. We hope to see you and your children there! 

Community Health Assessment

You may have heard the news around the community health assessment recently. Summit County Health is looking to gather 1,000 surveys by November. We need YOUR help to shape the future of public health in Summit County! If you live, work, or play in Summit County, your opinion matters. The Community Health Assessment is a short, ten-minute survey that allows the public to share their ideas, suggestions, and concerns about public health in our communities. Visit summitcountyhealth.org/CHA24 to take the survey in Spanish or in English. Let’s help create a healthier community for all!

Rodney Atkins Concert

Don’t forget THIS WEEKEND, Saturday August 17, Rodney Atkins will be performing at the Summit County Fairgrounds! Ticket are just $15. Get yours today at summitcounty.info/rodneyatkins.  

TODAY, WE COVER…

– Summit County Recognizes Fair Royalty

– Summit County Fair Transportation

How it works:

Bikes will also be available at the Fairgrounds for when you want to head back to your car at the Courthouse. If biking isn’t a good solution for you or your family, shuttles will also be running for folks who park on Main Street and the North Summit High School parking lot.

Visit summitcountyfair.org for a complete schedule of this weekend’s festivities! We hope to see you there.

– General Updates

And now for an update from the Summit County Clerk’s office about the upcoming 2024 Elections:

TODAY, WE COVER…

Alright, let’s get into the news!

Summit County has seen four wildfires in the last week. With conditions remaining hot and very dry, it’s so imperative that we all follow our local fire restriction orders and continue to practice our fire sense. 

Here in Summit County, the use of any kind of fireworks, tracer ammunition, or exploding targets is prohibited on unincorporated and state land within the County. Any of the above acts is a violation of state law and is punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

For tips on fire sense best practices, visit https://utahfiresense.org. 

As always, you can text SCFIREINFO to 888777 for updates on Summit County’s fire outlook and conditions, Red Flag Warnings, prescribed burns, active fire updates & more.

We’d also like to take a moment to express gratitude to our first responders, including our local fire agencies, Sheriff’s Office, and the Summit County Public Works Department, who act quickly to make sure our residents and their property remain safe.

TOPIC 2: EMERGENCY SERVICES SALES TAX  

At this week’s County Council meeting the Council approved a ballot proposition that will pose the question to Summit County voters during the November General Election if they want to approve a .5% sales tax increase to help the county mitigate the impacts of tourism on residents. 

A .5% increase on sales tax is the equivalent of one penny for every two dollars spent. The tax is not applicable to gas/diesel, medical prescriptions, groceries and unprepared foods. 

Approximately 65% of sales tax revenue is generated by non-residents, which means nearly two-thirds of the revenue generated from this tax would be paid by visitors. 

Revenue generated from the Emergency Services Sales Tax could support these emergency response services in Summit County:

…and other vital services impacted by tourism, such as solid waste collection and the Three Mile landfill cell expansion.

If approved by voters in November, the tax is in place for 10 years. Summit County Council cannot raise or alter the tax without voter approval.

TOPIC 3: HEALTH DEPARTMENT PRESENTATION (ISAAC)

Also at this week’s County Council meeting, Kendra Babitz, Deputy Director of the Summit County Health Department, gave a presentation on the county’s civic health, which refers to the specific health conditions that support local health and wellbeing. 

There is a saying out there that says your zip code matters more than your genetic code when it comes to length and quality of life. This is because there are more factors to health than just your health care!  Things like your behaviors, your physical environment, and socioeconomic factors along with age, race, or ethnicity also play a huge role in your overall health. These factors are often called social determinants of health. 

A healthy geographic area, like Summit County, achieves great health outcomes by coming together as a community at an individual, interpersonal, organizational, and community level to influence public policy and social drivers. The Summit County Health Department works on all of these levels to ensure the health of our community. 

In the state of Utah, Summit County ranks number one in the areas that most influence social determinants of health including: tree canopy where people live, work and play, number of people with a bachelor’s education or higher, good hardship index score which is a measure of economic conditions based on crowd housing, dependency, education, income, poverty and unemployment. 

We are also number one in areas related to mental health. In fact, here in Summit County, 93.2% of adults report that they always or usually have the social or emotional support that they need. No county in the rest of the state comes close to this data point. In addition, our physical health is in the top 1%. 

Overall, Summit County is in the 88.5 percentile of a healthy county. 

Shout out to our Health Department, County Council, Board of Health, County Management, all the partners in the community and our staff. Summit County wouldn’t be the healthiest place to live in Utah without you! 

TOPIC 4: NOTICE OF VALUATION IN MAIL 

Summit County Residents should keep an eye out for their Notice of Valuation statement in the mail. They were sent by the Summit County Auditor’s Office last week. 

There is a 45-day window of opportunity to review your property. As the taxpayer, you should be watching for market changes and whether your property is coded correctly, and receiving any exemptions that may be available.

If you have questions on your property valuation information, please visit summitcountyassessor.org. 

If you have questions on how to appeal your property’s value through the Board of Equalization, please visit summitcounty.info/boe.  

TOPIC 5: SUMMIT COUNTY FAIR  

The 2024 Summit County Fair is finally HERE! Fair activities kick off tomorrow, Saturday, August 3, with the Demolition Derby happening at 7 PM! 

Other key events include: 

For a full schedule of fair activities, please visit summitcountyfair.org. 

Please note: the Fair is not hosting any events or vendors on the freshly planted grass at the fairgrounds. They have instead moved the entertainment tent, carnival and food vendors to the fields to the east, across the creek. So, while it will look a little different this year, you can still expect the same fantastic Summit County Fair! 

TOPIC 6: CONCERT SERIES

Speaking of fun events happening in the county this month, in case you missed it, Summit County is proud to be presenting Rodney Atkins in Concert on August 17th at the Fairgrounds Rodeo Arena.  All tickets are $15! Buy yours today at summitcounty.info/rodneyatkins.

Finally, we have a few updates to share with you from our Sustainability Team:

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! Today, we are excited to announce that the Olympics are officially coming back to Utah in 2034! We also cover some fire restrictions and air quality information as we celebrate and head into Pioneer Day Weekend. 

Alright, let’s get into the news!

It was officially announced early this morning, Wednesday, July 24, at the 142nd IOC Session in Paris, that Salt Lake City, Utah 2034 has been elected to host the 27th Olympic Winter Games.

In a recent interview, Council Chair Malena Stevens said: “Summit County is approaching the Olympics with an eye toward improving the long-term future of our county and residents while preserving everything we love about Summit County before and after the Games. We embrace the opportunity and responsibility this represents for our residents, businesses, and visitors. We have to be engaged at the table during the planning phase for these things to happen.”

This marks the fifth time the Winter Games will be held in the United States of America. At the time of the Games in 2034, 32 years will have elapsed since the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City. 

– FIRE RESTRICTIONS

As we celebrate and head into Pioneer Day Weekend, please remember the use of any kind of fireworks, tracer ammunition, or exploding targets is prohibited on unincorporated and state land within Summit County.

Any of the above acts is a violation of state law and is punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

Text SCFIREINFO to 888777 for updates on Summit County’s fire outlook and conditions, Red Flag Warnings, prescribed burns, active fire updates & more.

– AIR QUALITY 

As of today, our air quality level in Summit County is in the orange on the AQI scale. People with upper respiratory problems may experience coughing and congestion. Those with asthma could also experience symptoms.

Please stay safe this holiday weekend and if you are sensitive to air pollution, think about limiting outdoor activities. 

For more info and to see the live air quality map in Summit County, visit

summitcountyhealth.org and check out the Environmental Health section.

– WEED OF THE MONTH 

Originally found in Eurasia, Spotted Knapweed infests rangeland, pastures, roadsides, or any disturbed soils. Knapweeds release chemical substances into the soil that inhibit the growth of competing vegetation.

If you’re trying to spot Spotted Knapweed in your community, it is a short-lived, creeping herbaceous perennial that is usually 1-to-3 feet tall. It’s rosette leaves are deeply lobed and may be 6 inches in length. The stems are moderately leafy. Flowers are typically pink with black-tipped flower bracts. Bloom is in early summer.

Several biocontrol agents are available for Spotted Knapweed and offer fair to good control. Select herbicides can offer good to excellent control when applied between rosette and pre-bud stages.

For more information on Noxious Weeds in Summit County, please visit: summitcounty.info/idweeds.

Hey everybody, welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six. On today’s episode we have some reminders about summer safety, some updates on fire restrictions in Summit County, and a fun opportunity for Pioneer Day. Let’s get into the news!

Fire Conditions update and Fireworks Ban information

Beginning Friday, July 19, 2024, at 12:01 AM, the use of any kind of fireworks, tracer ammunition, or exploding targets is prohibited on unincorporated and state land within Summit County. As a reminder, Summit County’s Fire Danger Level is currently at Extreme, so please be careful and use your fire sense.

Any of the above acts is a violation of state law and is punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

Text SCFIREINFO to 888777 for updates on Summit County’s fire outlook and conditions, Red Flag Warnings, prescribed burns, active fire updates & more

Summer Safety Tips from Summit County Health

As summer heats up, it’s the perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors. Here are some crucial summer safety tips. Remember to stay hydrated and drink plenty of fluids, especially when you’re outside. Don’t forget to protect your skin and apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30, reapply every two hours, and wear hats and sunglasses. 

When it comes to swimming, practice water safety. Never swim alone, keep a close eye on children, and make sure everyone knows basic swimming skills. Keep up with your rest and avoid heat-related illnesses by taking breaks in the shade or indoors, wearing light clothing, and knowing the signs of heat exhaustion. You’re not the only one getting out to enjoy the nice weather, be mindful of insects! Use insect repellent, check for ticks, and be aware of bee stings if you’re allergic. Stay safe, stay cool, and have fun!

Community Health Assessment

Summit County, if you haven’t heard the news, Summit County Health is conducting a community health assessment to gather information about the health of our community. The Summit County Health Department is trying to find out how to better serve the community. We want to learn about social and economic factors that impact your life, such as education, transportation, housing, and healthcare access. Your input on topics like the physical environment, sustainability & climate change in Summit County is valuable. There’s a lot to tackle in public health and we can’t make a better future without you. Join us in making a healthier community for all. Take the Community Health Assessment today at summitcountyhealth.org/cha24. 

Summit Bike Share Pioneer Day Competition

Summit Bike Share wants to see you get out and ride this Pioneer Day. Submit a photo or video of you on one of our bikes (with a helmet on!) to summitcounty.info/sbspioneer and you’ll have the chance to win an SBS Swag Pack. Submissions are due Monday, July 29 at 5 PM. The winner will be announced Tuesday, July 30 on Summit County’s social media outlets.

Pioneer Day County Closures

Speaking of Pioneer Day…All County offices will be closed Wednesday, July 24, in observance of the state holiday. The Sheriff’s Office and local fire/EMS crews will have limited staff working throughout the day. All Summit County offices will return to regular hours on Thursday, July 25. Republic Services trash and recycling schedules will not be affected.

Weed of the Month

July’s third Weed of the Month is Scotch Thistle! Scotch Thistle is native to Europe and Eastern Asia. It grows well in waste areas, pastures, rangeland, and along canal and stream banks. So what does Scotch Thistle look like? This biennial plant commonly grows 3-to-8 feet tall but may grow as high as 12 feet. Rosettes may be 4 feet wide. Large, spiny leaves are covered with dense hair, giving a grayish, blue-green coloration. Stems are winged. The flowers are violet to reddish with spine-tipped bracts, blooming in mid-summer. The best way to control Scotch Thistle is through biocontrol. Biocontrol research is currently being conducted. Herbicides can offer good-to-excellent control when applied between rosette and pre-bud stages.

For more information on Noxious Weeds in Summit County, please visit: summitcounty.info/idweeds.