Summit in Six

Hi this is Bailey–and in this episode of Summit in 6 we are actually bringing back our Healthcast after we took a hiatus during the Covid years! We are back and recharged and ready to deliver health-related content to the same feed that gives you Summit in 6. Alright, let’s get into it!

That’s such a common worry,  people think, if I call 911 and it’s not a life-or-death emergency, am I taking resources away from someone else? The good news is, now we have 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you’re worried about yourself or someone else, but it doesn’t feel like a medical emergency, 988 is the right number to call. You’ll be connected directly to trained crisis counselors who will listen, talk you through what’s going on, and help figure out next steps. 988 is there to take that pressure off 911 and give you the specialized help you need.

One of the programs we offer is an evidence based training called “QPR”. This stands for Question, Persuade Refer. It’s like CPR, but for mental health. It’s a short, evidence-based training that teaches everyday people how to recognize the warning signs of suicide, ask the direct question, persuade someone to get help, and connect them to resources. You don’t need to be a therapist, you just learn how to step in and possibly save a life. We have trained community leaders and the class is offered in both Spanish and English.

So I know there is some misinformation out there about asking someone if they are having thoughts of suicide. Can I just ask someone?

It is absolutely OK,  and important,  to use the word suicide when we’re talking about prevention. The key is being mindful of how we talk about it. For example, instead of saying ‘committed suicide,’ which ties it to crime or sin, we use terms like ‘died by suicide’ or ‘took their life.’ That language recognizes it as a public health issue, not a moral failing.

Being direct,  and compassionate,  breaks down stigma and opens the door for honest conversation. And that’s what saves lives.”

How do we know these trainings work?

Getting QPR training is actually really simple. The Summit County Health Department and some of our partners host FREE QPR sessions throughout the year for schools, community groups, and workplaces. The training is short, about 60 to 90 minutes — and once you complete it, you walk away with concrete tools: how to ask the question, how to persuade someone to accept help, and how to refer them to resources like 988.

And for organizations, we can bring the training to you. If you’re a business, church, or community group, you can request a trainer to come to your site.

The great thing about QPR is that it gives regular people the confidence to ask the tough question and connect someone to help.

Thank you so much for coming in today to speak about such an important topic, Chantal!

Hey everyone and welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six. In this week’s episode, we’ve got some important info about construction work between HWY 40-I80, a list of upcoming events from the health department this fall season, and a message from Animal Control.

Let’s get into the news!

TOPIC 1: US-40 to westbound I-80 ramp closure

On Sunday, Sept. 14, crews will close the off-ramp from northbound US-40 to westbound I-80 overnight from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. to complete road striping. Drivers should detour by traveling straight on northbound US-40 to the stoplight and then turn left onto westbound I-80.

For the remainder of this month, crews will stripe, add rumble strips, finish shouldering, add guardrail, and replace signage. Expect nightly intermittent lane closures on both eastbound and westbound I-80 until the project is complete. The project is currently expected to wrap up by the end of September.

TOPIC 2: Animal Control or Animal Rescue?

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between County Animal Control, an animal rescue organization or the Division of Wildlife Resources?

Animal Control is a government agency responsible for enforcing county codes and ordinances for domesticated animals. Summit County Animal Control is tasked with ensuring the safety of both animals and the people who live here.

Here are some situations where you would contact Animal Control directly:

On the other hand, Animal Control is not always equipped or legally permitted to handle all situations. Here are some scenarios where you would want to contact another organization:

Animal rescues are nonprofit organizations or volunteer-based groups dedicated to saving animals from homelessness. These groups often take in animals from shelters, reservations, or unsafe environments and provide them with medical care, rehabilitation, and rehoming.

If you’d like to know more about how animal control and animal rescue collaborate and fulfill different roles, visit summitcounty.info/animalservices.

TOPIC 3: Health Department Event Roundup

Fall is a busy time for the health department, and we have a handful of events that we would like our listeners to know about:

This class is for you if you are: bringing home a new baby (you’ll need a safely installed car seat to get home from the hospital!), sizing up a seat for your growing child, already own a car seat and need installation help, or your car seat has expired (YES! That’s a thing!). For more info and to register, visit: summitcountyhealth.org/carseatclass.

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! We’ve got the latest from the week’s county council meeting, as well as a heads up about grant fund availability and the Weed of the Month!

Alright, let’s get into the news!

TOPIC 1: County Council Repeals Ordinance 987, Reviews Redistricting Map

At Wednesday’s county council meeting, councilmembers voted to repeal Ordinance 987 — the original approval granted by the council to Dakota Pacific for its development proposal in Kimball Junction. The council’s vote to repeal was made in order to remove an “orphan ordinance” or in other words a local law that no longer has effect.

The repeal was first considered by council members two weeks ago, but council members opted to wait until a district judge ruled on a legal case involving Ordinance 987, a resident’s petition opposing the ordinance, and the related legislation passed by the state through Senate Bill 26. Judge Richard Mrazik ultimately ruled the legal case for the petition moot as S.B. 26 supersedes the ordinance and lays out an entirely different approval process for developments.

Council members expressed that they hoped the judge’s ruling would address the referendum process more specifically and provide answers to all the parties involved in litigation related to the petition. However, since that was not addressed, the council members chose to proceed with the repeal and take Ordinance 987 off the books.

Earlier in the same meeting, council members also heard from Malena Stevens, the chair for the redistricting commission charged with drawing boundary lines for county council elections moving forward. Stevens presented a map approved by the commission that divides the county into 5 regions roughly equal in population.

The final map has only a 3.6% standard deviation between the populations of each district: which is narrower than the requirement outlined by the statute. However, some council members took issue with the division of some communities along boundary lines: particularly the shift of one Pinebrook neighborhood away from its neighbors.

The presentation of the final map kicks off a 30-day window where the county must hold a public hearing and then vote to approve the map or send it back for revisions. The public hearing will be held before October 3, but a specific date has not been selected yet.

TOPIC 2: UDOT Makes Its Choice For the Future of Kimball Junction

Also on Wednesday, the Utah Department of Transportation published its final environmental impact statement for road improvements at the I-80/SR-224 interchange in Kimball Junction. UDOT issued a record of decision selecting “Alternative C” as its preferred plan moving forward.

“Alternative C,” one of two finalists from an initial field of 30 plans, was chosen as the “winner,” because, according to UDOT, Alternative C offers:

The final design focuses on spot improvements to select intersections and adding turn lanes in critical locations. The plan also proposes an underpass beneath SR-224 for pedestrian use and new bike lanes and trail connections for active transportation.

It is projected to cost $48.5 million in 2026 dollars, though it will likely be several years before all the proposed improvements are complete. The next step involves UDOT obtaining all necessary permits and approvals to proceed with construction. If you’d like to stay in the know or get all the finer details for UDOT’s evaluation and decision making, visit kimballjunctioneis.udot.utah.gov.

TOPIC 3: Rural County Grant Program

Do you own or manage a business in Summit County? You may want to look into the Rural County Grant Program, which supports the economic development of Utah’s rural areas.

Some of the needs the rural county grant program is intended to support include:

The rural county grant program is a reimbursement grant and requires a 40% match. Job creation and retention is a required element for the use of these grant funds. These funding opportunities are limited, so get your applications in ASAP (before September 30, 2025) if you think your business or organization would be a good match.

Learn more at: summitcounty.info/ruralgrant.

TOPIC 4: Weed of the Month — Spotted Knapweed

Up next is a segment we like to call Weeds of the Month! In studio with us today is Summit County Weed Enforcement Officer, Dan Pena, to talk about Spotted Knapweed. So, Dan, why is it important to talk about Spotted Knapweed right now?

So on most years this is the time you’d treat for Spotted Knapweed. It’s in full flower. It’s a perennial plant, so when I say it’s the best time, you’re trying to get down into those roots.

And what is the best way to get down into those roots?

A herbicide offers some of the best results on Spotted Knapweed. There are other methods you can use like hand pulling, you just need to make sure you get most of the root. If not, they come back with a vengeance.

We certainly don’t want that, so it sounds like herbicide might be the best way to control this plant. Is there a way people can get the herbicide?

We sell all the herbicide at our county building at cost, so it’s probably the cheapest you can find around. We also have loaner equipment available for the public to use for up to two weeks and then we’ll start harassing you to get our equipment back.

And, that’s for free right?

Yes, free of charge. Two weeks.

Awesome. All the information you’ll need on the rental equipment can be found at bit.ly/sprayrentals. So, Dan, where can our listeners go if they want even more information on Spotted Knapweed?

Go to summitcounty.info/idweeds. There’s really good pictures and descriptions of the plant. You can also look at our Summit County Weed Books. We offer those out to the public. You can get one when you come pick up a piece of equipment or if you see us out in the community ask us for a book and we’ll usually have a few on hand!

That’s awesome. I definitely lean on that summitcounty.info/idweeds page a lot. Dan and his team have done a really great job at making that robust resource for our community. Dan, anything else you want to add?

Like I said, we’re always ready to talk to our community and help you find the best solution for your property – wether thats herbicide, hand pulling or tillage, or more creative solutions like biocontrol, grazing, and so much more. Please reach out anytime or stop by the shop.

I can speak from first hand experience this team is a GREAT resource for you to take advantage of if you have noxious weeds on your property. They’ve taught me so much!

We are really focused on education and helping our community. In fact, twice a year, we host a Community Noxious Weeds Tour, visiting sites around Summit County to show how to identify and control specific weeds. Partners like Swaner, Basin Rec, USU Extension, and Utah’s biocontrol expert, Amber Mendenhall, join us. It’s a great event for residents to join because noxious weeds are a community challenge, and we’re tackling them together.

The Community Noxious Weeds Tour is my favorite event of the year! Our next one is TOMORROW, Saturday, September 6. If our listeners want more information on that tour, visit summitcounty.info/weedstour25. Alright, I think that’s it for now. Thanks for being here today, Dan, and for sharing all your knowledge on noxious weeds.

Hi everyone, Happy Labor Day weekend and welcome back to another week of news of Summit in Six.

Today, we’ll be talking about the recent court ruling on the Dakota Pacific referendum signature packets, the upcoming Public Health Speaker series, and more!

TOPIC 1: Judge rules Dakota Pacific referendum petition moot

On Tuesday, Third District Court Judge Richard Mrazik said the lawsuit filed by residents opposing the Dakota Pacific Real Estate development at Kimball Junction is irrelevant, or moot.

Supporters of the referendum brought a legal case against County Clerk Eve Furse, who stated she could not legally verify enough signature packets to bring the decision of the development application to the ballot for County voters this November.

In this year’s legislative session the Utah Legislature passed Senate Bill 26, which changed the approval process for developers working with counties to submit development applications.

Jude Mrazik’s ruling was that Senate Bill 26 made the referendum moot because the decision the petitioners were trying to overturn had no impact on what happened to the Dakota Pacific development.

“Ultimately, my office’s responsibility is to uphold the law, which I’ve remained committed to throughout this entire process.” Summit County Clerk Eve Furse said. “The Clerk’s office looks forward to seeing how the legislature clarifies the referendum processes for both voters and local governments across the state.”

Because the referendum was ruled to be moot, the Judge did not weigh in on the signature collection issue (or whether Furse was right or wrong to dismiss some of the signature packets). In July of this year, in response to this referendum dispute, the Utah Rules Review and General Oversight Committee voted to begin drafting reforms to Utah’s referendum statute.

TOPIC 2: Fall Weeds Tour 2025

The Summit County Weeds Division is hosting a Community Noxious Weeds Tour to educate residents on the “most-wanted” weeds here in Summit County!

This tour is extra special because Utah’s leading biocontrol expert, Amber Mendenhall, will be joining us. She’ll show AND tell us how Summit County is harnessing noxious weeds’ natural enemies (like insects) to slow, contain, and control their spread.

The event is next Saturday, September 6, 2025 from 9 AM – 12 PM at the Richardson Flat Park & Ride. If you’d like to attend, please RSVP (for free!) at summitcounty.info/weedstour25 to let us know you’re coming!

TOPIC 3: Volunteer Opportunities

The Summit County Council is seeking to fill vacancies on the Mountain Regional Water Special Service District Administrative Control Board and Administrative Control Board of the Timberline Special Service District.

To be eligible to serve on these boards, you must be a registered voter with a primary residence inside the boundaries of the special service district.

Interested applicants for either of these positions must submit an application online at: summitcounty.info/volunteer. For further information, contact Amy Jones: 435-336-3042. Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.

TOPIC 4: Mobile Mammogram Clinics

1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Utah is among the lowest in the nation for mammography screening and breast cancer is the most common cancer among Utah women.

The Intermountain Health Mobile Mammogram Clinic will be in Kamas on September 29, 2025. Give Intermountain a call: their phone number is 1-833-626-6646. Or go online at: IntermountainHealthcare.org/mobilemammo.

TOPIC 5: Climate Change + Public Health Speaker Series

The next event in Summit County Health’s Speaker Series coming up on Sept. 30 at the Kamas City Event Center (next to the Kamas rodeo grounds).

The event is titled, “The Air We Share: Changes in local air quality and how it impacts your health.”

At this event, you will learn how:

Details and registration at summitcountyhealth.org/speakerseries.

TOPIC 6: Weed of the Month (Phragmites)

Up next is a segment we like to call Weeds of the Month! In the studio with us today is Summit County Weed Enforcement Officer Dan Pena to talk about Phragmites. So, Dan, why is it important to talk about Phragmites right now?

This is the time you see it. This is the time to start treating for it. We do have some in our county, we don’t have a lot, but if you go to some of the other neighboring counties, they do have a lot, and we’re just trying to prevent that from becoming a bigger problem than it already is.

And, so, what’s the best way to control Phragmites?

Herbicide is probably the best option for treating phragmites. Some people have tried to mechanically control it, and a lot of times you just spread the seeds just because of extensive rhizomes.

So, it sounds like herbicide is definitely the best way to control the plant?

Yeah, I would definitely try to use an herbicide if possible.

And your team has herbicide available for the community, right?

So, actually, for this one, we do not. It’s one that you need to have someone professionally do it just because it’s usually around water areas and you have to have an applicator’s license to buy the herbicide to treat this. So, if you do see it out in the community, please let us know so we can assess the situation and go from there.

Awesome. If our listeners want more information on Phragmites, including information on other control methods, visual descriptions, photos, and more, you can visit summitcounty.info/idweeds, and on that page, you’ll also find the contact information for this team. Dan, is there anything else you want to add?

Like I said, we’re always ready to talk to our community and help you find the best solution for your property – whether that’s herbicide, hand pulling or tillage, or more creative solutions like biocontrol, grazing, and so much more. Please reach out anytime or stop by the shop

Yeah, I can speak from firsthand experience, this team is a GREAT resource for you to take advantage of if you have noxious weeds on your property. They’ve taught me so much!

We are really focused on education and helping our community. In fact, twice a year, we host a Community Noxious Weeds Tour, visiting sites around Summit County to show how to identify and control specific weeds. Partners like Swaner, Basin Rec, USU Extension, and Utah’s biocontrol expert, Amber Mendenhall, join us. It’s a great event for residents to join because noxious weeds are a community challenge, and we’re tackling them together.

The Community Noxious Weeds Tour is my favorite event of the year! Our next one is NEXT WEEKEND on Saturday, September 6. If our listeners want more information on that tour, visit summitcounty.info/weedstour25.

Alright, I think that’s it for now. Thanks for being here today, Dan, and for sharing all your knowledge on noxious weeds.

INTRO

Alright, let’s get into the news!

– Climate Change + Public Health Speaker Series – Sept. 30

We wanted to let you know about our next event in the series coming up on Sept. 30 at the Kamas City Event Center (next to the Kamas rodeo grounds).

The event is titled, “The Air We Share: Changes in local air quality and how it impacts your health”.

At this event, you will learn how:

– Nature, humans, and a changing climate affect air quality

– Weed of the Month: YELLOW STAR THISTLE

[Dan] So this is about the time of the year you would treat for Yellow Star Thistle. We don’t have a lot of it in our county, so we’re always looking to make sure it’s not having an outbreak somewhere. That’s why I always put it in the Weeds of the Month during August, because if someone finds it, we want to know about it. 

[Bridget] And, what is the best control method for Yellow Star Thistle if you do find it here in the county? 

[Dan] I found that herbicide works probably the best on this. You can pull it. It is a perennial plant, so you do need to get as much of that root as you can. I would say tillage or herbicide would be your option for Yellow Star Thistle. 

[Bridget] And, herbicide is something your team provides to residents of Summit County, right? 

[Dan] Yes. You can visit our shop, where we sell herbicides at cost. We also loan out equipment free of charge. You have two weeks to use it. When you visit the shop, we’ll do our best to provide you with the best options for treating the noxious weeds on your property. 

[Bridget] Awesome, and if our listeners want to know more information about the herbicide or the spray loaner program, they can visit bit.ly/sprayrentals. Alright, Dan, so if our listeners want more information, specifically on Yellow Star Thistle, where should they go? 

[Dan] They can visit our website at summitcounty.info/idweeds. There are really great pictures and descriptions of the plant on there. You can also always talk to me, Dave, or Juan (one of the guys who sprays for our county – you’ve probably seen him out and about). We’ll always try to give you the best solution for your problem. 

[Bridget] Yeah, I can tell you from firsthand experience, this team is a great resource for you to take advantage of if you want to figure out the best ways to treat noxious weeds on your property. Dan is there anything else you want to add here? 

[Dan] Like I said, we’re always ready to talk to our community and help you find the best solution for your property – whether that’s herbicide, hand pulling, tillage, or more creative solutions like biocontrol, grazing, and so much more. Please reach out or come by the shop! 

[Bridget] Ok, so in addition to just being a great resource our community can call on, you also are also really focused on education opportunities. Can you tell us about anything that’s coming up? 

[Dan] We’ll be having our annual Noxious Weed Tour for the fall here on September 6 – that’s a Saturday. Please come out, ask us questions (we love getting the questions) and we’ll help you find the best solution for your noxious weeds woes. 

[Bridget] Yeah, that tour is a great event to tap into. There will be partners like Swaner, Basin REc, USU Extension, and even Utah’s leading biocontrol expert, Amber Mendenhall at the tour here in September. It’s a great event for residents to join because noxious weeds are a community problem that we’re tackling together! Alright Dan, well thank you so much for being here. I think that’s it for today! 

[Dan] Thanks for having me!

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! A new school year is just around the corner, and we’re wondering how summer has passed so quickly.

In today’s episode, we are going to cover the results from primary elections, a few updates from this week’s county council meeting, a heads-up on road construction for I-80, and a deep dive into one of the noxious weeds that plagues Summit County. Alright, let’s get into the news!

TOPIC 1: Primary Election Results

The 2025 Primary Elections took place earlier this week on Tuesday, August 12. Preliminary results as of Wednesday afternoon, August 13, are available through the Summit County Clerk’s Office at: summitcounty.info/2025primaries.

The canvass for the Primary Elections will take place on August 26, 2025, at the entity holding the election, so at Coalville City, Henefer Town, Francis City, and Park City. Our listeners should check their municipality’s website for canvass information.

As a reminder, a canvass is when the governing body of the entity holding an election receives the election results, examines them, and decides whether to approve them as final or request more information, clarification, or documentation. Once approved, the results of the election for that entity are final.

If you’d like to view preliminary results or find out more about the election process, go to summitcounty.info/2025primaries.

TOPIC 2: County Council Updates

At Wednesday’s county council meeting, the work session began with interviews for two candidates to fill vacancies on the Summit County Arts & Parks Advisory Committee (also known as the RAP Tax Cultural Committee).

Joe Frazier, Summit County historian and Oakley City councilman, joined Vincent Novak, a community resident and former member of the committee whose term recently expired. After discussing their qualifications and their ideas for the RAP Tax committee, both candidates were approved by council later in the meeting.

Council also heard from Jess Kirby and Rachael Brard of the County Lands and Natural Resources Department. Kirby and Brard asked the council members to approve changes to the term length of members sitting on the Open Space Advisory Committee. The proposed changes would stagger the terms of board members and allow a couple members currently serving to extend their term for a year or two.

The Open Space Advisory Committee receives recommendations and makes evaluations of properties that the county might acquire for open space, conservation easements, or constructing recreational amenities or environmental and wildlife mitigation measures.

Formerly, the advisory board served as a liaison between regional groups representing North, South, and West Summit County, respectively. However, to simplify the process, the regional groups will be dissolved and the advisory committee will be required to have 3 representatives from each region on the committee.

If you’re interested in learning more about how locals can shape open space preservation in the county, visit: summitcounty.info/osac. The county ultimately approved the suggested amendments to term limits.

Brard and Kirby also provided an update in the ongoing acquisition of the 910 Ranch property. They presented a Baseline Documentation Report that details the ecological condition of the property at the time a conservation easement is established. The conservation easement allows the county to outline certain allowed activities on the property (like recreation, research/education, forest management and grazing) while restricting further development and things like motorized use, deforestation, drone flights, etc.

Council acknowledged the hard work that our county lands staff and state officials have poured into the project, and ultimately accepted the Baseline Report unanimously. If you’d like to know more about the 910 Ranch, go to summitcounty.info/910ranch.

TOPIC 3: UDOT Maintenance on I-80

We have some more updates for ongoing road construction on I-80 between Kimball Junction and Silver Creek. Night owls may have experienced lane closures in the past week while crews worked in the dark. The overnight lane closures will start again on Sunday, Aug. 17 and run through Friday, Aug. 22.

During this time, I-80 will be reduced to one lane for either eastbound or westbound traffic alternating each night on the east half of the project area (closer to US-40).

Later next week — as early as Thursday, Aug. 21 — the US-40 on and off-ramps at Exit 146 will temporarily close overnight for paving. The closest detour will be through Kimball Junction at Exit 145. Finally, beginning as early as Sunday, Aug. 24, crews will be working on the shoulders during daytime hours. Drivers can expect alternating eastbound and westbound shoulder closures as crews install guardrail and the concrete barrier.

To see a map of the project area, visit udotinput.utah.gov/pavingi80 or call (435) 565-6070 for questions. To avoid delays in the project area, we recommend you:

Please note that nightly lane closures may still be in place on I-80 during regular work hours. Drivers should expect minor travel delays and follow the posted signage and traffic control.

TOPIC 4: Weed of the Month — Canada Thistle

Up next is a segment we like to call Weeds of the Month! In the studio with us today is Summit County Weed Enforcement Officer, Dan Pena, to talk about Canada Thistle. So, Dan, why is it important to talk about Canada Thistle right now?

Well, right now is actually the best time to be treating this plant. It’s a perennial plant, so the best way to treat this plant is by using a herbicide because you want to get down into those roots. Canada Thistle has a really extensive root system, and if you don’t get all of the root system, most of the time they will come back. That’s not to say you’re going to wipe it out in one shot, but you’re going to put a pretty good dent in it the first year as long as you can time it correctly.

Ok, so herbicide right now, so we’re in mid to late August, is the best way to control this plant. Where can people get the herbicide to tackle this weed on their property?

So that’s a great question. The county offers a loaner program, so you can get the herbicide from us as well as loaner equipment. You have up to two weeks to use the loaner equipment, and then we’ll start harassing you for our equipment back.

And you can get all those details on both the herbicide and the loaner program at bit.ly/sprayrentals. So Dan if our listeners want more information on Canada Thistle, summitcounty.info/idweeds is still the best place to go, right?

Absolutely, or you can even try to contact me, Dave, even Juan, he’s one of our sprayers out and he talks to the public quite frequently. Just let us know what kind of weeds you got, and what kind of issues you’re dealing with, and we’ll try to come up with a solution.

And, even though herbicide is often one of the most effective control methods for these plants, that’s not the only tool in your toolbox right?

No, like I said we’re always ready to talk to our community and find the best solution for your property – whether that’s herbicide, hand pulling or tillage, or more creative solutions like biocontrol, grazing, and so much more. Please reach out anytime or stop by the shop, and find more info at summitcountyutah.gov/weeds.

Yeah, I can speak from first hand experience this team is a GREAT resource for you to take advantage of if you have noxious weeds on your property. They’ve taught me so much!

We are really focused on education. In fact, twice a year, we host a Community Noxious Weeds Tour, visiting sites around Summit County to show how to identify and control specific weeds. Partners like Swaner, Basin Rec, USU Extension, and Utah’s biocontrol expert, Amber Mendenhall, join us. It’s a great event for residents to join because noxious weeds are a community challenge, and we’re tackling them together.

The Community Noxious Weeds Tour is my favorite event of the year! Our next one is right around the corner on Saturday, September 6. If our listeners want more information on that tour, visit summitcounty.info/weedstour25. Alright, I think that’s it for now. Thanks for being here today, Dan, and for sharing all your knowledge on noxious weeds.

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! Today, we 1) cover the latest on the Beulah Fire, 2) give a quick update on districting here in Summit County, 3) talk about some important primary election information, 4) and so much more. Alright, let’s get into the news!

The latest update we have on the Belulah Fire as of 3:30 PM today, Friday, August 8, 2025.

The Beulah Fire was reported the morning of Thursday, August 7, 2025 and is burning on the north slope of the High Uintas Wilderness on the Evanston-Mountain View Ranger District. The fire, estimated to be 1,400 cares, is located 7.5 miles southeast of the Bear River Ranger Station on Highway 150. There are critical fire weather conditions in effect for today, Friday, August 8th. The area is experiencing high winds and very low relative humidity. Fuel conditions are at critically low levels. Yesterday, firefighters observed erratic and extreme fire behavior. Initial attack and air resources responded to the incident. Campers in the East Fork of the Bear River, Mill Creek, and the West Fork of the Blacks Fork areas were evacuated by the Summit County Sheriff. Firefighter and public safety are the number one priority. Approximately, 140 people are working on the fire with resources engaged in full suppression activities. Today, crews will be focused on structure protection in the Hinkley Boy Scout Camp and mapping the fire perimeter. Challenges to firefighters include steep rocky terrain, accessing the fire, and fire weakened and standing dead trees.

This morning, on Friday, August 8, the Uinta Wasatch Cache Forest put Stage 1 Fire Restrictions in place. This means that on Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest land: 

As a reminder, ALL UTAH STATE LANDS AND UNINCORPORATED SUMMIT COUNTY LANDS have Stage 2 restrictions are in place. THIS MEANS NO OPEN FIRES OF ANY KIND. 

For the latest information during wildfires, please visit summitcounty.info/emergency. Visit summitcounty.info/fire to sign up for emergency alerts, active fire updates, fire conditions & more.

Also this week, on Monday, August 4, the Summit County Districting Commission approved new districting map boundaries. To view the new district map, visit summitcounty.info/districtsmap. As a reminder, the change in districts is a result of House Bill 356, which mandated that Summit County transition from an at-large election system to district-based representation. 

The 2025 Primary Elections are NEXT WEEK, on Tuesday, August 12! As a reminder, there are races for the Coalville Mayor and City Council, Henefer Mayor, Francis City Council, and Park City Council. 

Let’s recap all the ways YOU can cast your ballot: 

Please note: if you or a loved one are temporarily or permanently disabled and need an accommodation to vote, please call 435-336-3040 or email [email protected]. 

And don’t forget, the annual Summit County Fair is in full swing this week! Tickets are still available for the PRCA Rodeo events happening TONIGHT, Friday, August 8  and TOMORROW, Saturday, August 9. There are also a ton of free events, including the parade, livestock show, live music, and more. For a full schedule and links to tickets, check out summitcountyfair.org/schedule. 

Up next, with school right around the corner, the Summit County Health Department wants to remind parents to check that their child’s vaccines up-to-date so that they are protected and ready to learn! 

The Health Department is committed to providing affordable immunizations to clients at all of our clinics, offering immunizations for insured and uninsured individuals. For those that qualify, the vaccines are low to no cost.

Call a Health Department Office today to make an appointment.

Finally, August is Overdose Awareness Month. Overdose affects more people than you might think.

An overdose happens when someone takes more of a substance than their body can handle—this could be anything from alcohol to street drugs to prescription medications. It’s not just about illegal drugs; even medications prescribed by a doctor can be dangerous if misused.

What’s one big risk factor? Tolerance. When someone builds up a tolerance to a substance, they need more of that drug or alcohol to feel the same effects. But using more can push the body past its limit—sometimes with deadly consequences.

It doesn’t take long to become dependent on a substance, either. In just 5 to 7 days, someone can start down the path toward addiction. Here’s a shocking fact: according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 80% of heroin users started with a prescription opioid.

So, what can you do to help prevent overdoses?

Every action counts. Let’s work together to raise awareness and save lives.

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! We’ll cover election news and early voting, preview some property tax info you may receive in the mail soon, warn about fire danger, and talk about the county fair and Dakota Pacific development.

Alright, let’s get into the news!

— Topic 1: Election Info

Attention Summit County Voters! The 2025 Primary Elections are under two weeks away! The primaries this year include races for Coalville Mayor and City Council, Henefer Mayor, Francis City Council, and Park City Council.

Did you know? When you vote early you ensure that school, work, long lines, or a bad commute on Election Day won’t stop your ballot from being counted.

Here in Summit County, you can vote early by dropping your ballot in a dropbox. Dropbox locations for the primaries can be found at summitcounty.info/2025primaries.

Early in-person voting will also be taking place next week, from Wednesday, August 6, 2025 through Saturday, August 9, 2025 Park City Hall and the Summit County Courthouse

Like we’ve mentioned in previous episodes, due to legislation passed by the Utah Legislature, ballots must be RECEIVED by the Clerk’s Office by 8 PM on Election Day (Tuesday, August 12, 2025). In the past, ballots had to be postmarked the day before Election Day. Voters should be aware of the shorter timeline to return their ballots. Just another reason voting early makes sense!

Again, find more information on the 2025 Primary Elections at summitcounty.info/2025primaries.

— Topic 2: Notice of Valuation (Property Taxes)

Summit County Residents should keep an eye out for their Notice of Valuation statement, which is sent through the mail by the Auditor’s Office annually on or before August 1 (TODAY)!

There is a 45-day window of opportunity to review your property valuation with a deadline to appeal by September 15, 2025.

As a taxpayer, you should be watching for market changes, check whether your property is coded correctly, and look up which exemptions, if any, may be applicable.

Questions on property valuation info? Visit summitcountyassessor.org.

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

— Topic 3: EXTREME Fire Danger and Stage 2 Restrictions

As of Friday, August 1, hot and dry conditions across the county have raised the fire danger to “EXTREME.” That means fires will start and spread rapidly, and every fire start has the potential to become large.

Stage 2 Fire Restrictions go into effect statewide today (8/1/25) for all unincorporated and state lands in Summit County.

As opposed to Stage 1 restrictions where fires are allowed in campground, picnic areas, and improved fire pits, now there should be NO OPEN FIRES OF ANY KIND on state and unincorporated lands.

Devices using pressurized liquid or gas fuels with a shut-off valve (like stoves, grills, or lanterns) are allowed when used at least 3 feet away from flammable material.

All other restrictions from Stage 1 remain in effect and can be reviewed at utahfireinfo.gov.

Visit summitcounty.info/fire to sign up for emergency alerts, active fire updates, fire conditions & more.

— Topic 4: Summit County Fair

The county fair has returned! The festivities kick off at 10 am on Saturday, August 2, with an open horse show at the Peoa Arena.

Later that day at 5 pm, come enjoy live music and sample delicious food from vendors at the county fairgrounds (located at 202 E Park Rd in Coalville). There will also be a free foam cannon, free axe throwing, and a free bounce house!

Next week, there will be 4H competitions, livestock shows, home goods and art exhibitions, a carnival, and of course the rodeo! For a complete schedule and more details, visit summitcountyfair.org/schedule.

And, if you want to skip the hassle of finding parking or waiting to exit the fairgrounds during a rush, you can ride your bike to the fair and enjoy a free bike valet August 7, 8, and 9.

So come out to Coalville this weekend or stop by next week and don’t miss this one of a kind celebration of all things Summit County!

— Topic 5: Dakota Pacific development approved according to state mandate

Following the process outlined in Senate Bill 26 from the 2025 legislative session, Summit County has approved an administrative development agreement for the Dakota Pacific Real Estate project in Kimball Junction.

This allows Dakota Pacific to move forward with their plans for an 885-unit, mixed-use development that would also include a new transit center, commercial spaces, and parking structure as part of a public-private partnership.

The formal design plans and payment contributions from Dakota Pacific, High Valley Transit, and Summit County will now be negotiated over a 180-day period following this approval. Over the years, Summit County has integrated resident feedback into the project design by reducing density, seeking traffic solutions, and advocating for community features.

Kimball Junction has been at the center of several announcements in recent months: a draft plan for traffic improvements was released by UDOT in April, the county announced plans to relocate their library and some civic offices to the Skullcandy building last week, and now the Dakota Pacific development approved this week will bring more changes. Stay tuned for updates and news across the county!

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six!

Legislation passed by the Utah Legislature has brought some important changes related to voting and elections that we wanted to highlight for voters.

First, ballots must be RECEIVED by the Clerk’s Office by 8 PM on Election Day (Tuesday, August 12, 2025). In the past, ballots had to be POSTMARKED the day BEFORE Election Day. Voters should be aware of the shorter timeline to return their ballots.

Second, voters will notice a line on their ballots where they can opt in to receiving ballots by mail going forward. After 2029, voters will need to opt in to receive mail-in ballots. You won’t just automatically receive one anymore. The Summit County Clerk’s Office is giving voters a chance to opt-in early.

The final change voters might notice on their ballots is a section to put their driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security Number. By 2029, these numbers will be the only way to match each ballot with each voter — replacing signature verification.

If you have any questions about these changes, please don’t hesitate to reach out at [email protected].

Enjoy this new perk thanks to a team-up between Summit Bike Share and the Sustainability Division of Summit County Health Department. The valet service will allow attendees to safely and securely store their bike while they enjoy the festivities. Just drop off your bike with county staff directly across from the Ledges Event Center, and retrieve it when you’re ready to leave!

— One Book, One Community

Listen to author John Valliant talk about his book, “Fire Weather,” next week on Tuesday, July 29 at 7:00 p.m. in the Jim Santy Auditorium at Park City Library (1255 Park Ave.). There will be a Q&A and book signing after the presentation. The book details the devastating Fort McMurray fire in 2016, and delves into the human and environmental factors that have accelerated the frequency and destruction of wildfire.

“Fire Weather” was named best book of the year for 2023 by the New York Times, Washington Post, TIME, and more! It was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award in Nonfiction.  We hope you’ll join us for this special opportunity to hear from the author. Special thanks to Friends of the Park City Library, Friends of the Summit County Library, and Dolly’s Bookstore.

— Fire Danger Very High

For all things wildfire, including emergency alerts, active fire updates, fire conditions & more, visit summitcounty.info/fire to sign up for notifications and information.

– Family Movie Night in Coalville this Saturday

Join Summit County Health for a fun and relaxing evening at the Ledges Event Center with a FREE outdoor movie for the whole family!

Movie: “The Day the Earth Blew Up” (Looney Tunes)

Details: Family Picnic with food trucks: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Movie starts at 7:00 PM

Where: Ledges Event Center: 202 Park Rd., Coalville, UT

What: Bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Free dinner and popcorn provided.

Hi everyone and welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! We’ve got some updates about the County’s lease agreement with the Skullcandy Building at Kimball Junction, an update on wildfire conditions and resources, voting info and more! Let’s get into the news.

— Topic 1: Skullcandy Lease

Summit County signed a new lease agreement with Skullcandy, Inc. allowing the company to vacate its current headquarters by the end of September 2025. This milestone clears the way for the County to move forward with its vision to transform the building into a landmark government facility in Kimball Junction.

The building, purchased earlier this year for $17.5 million, will eventually house a range of County services and offices, including a library branch, DMV operations, County Council meeting space, conference rooms, and other public-facing programs.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a vibrant, accessible, and modern civic hub in the Snyderville Basin,” Summit County Manager Shayne Scott said. “We’re excited to build a space that reflects the County’s commitment to service while making essential programs more accessible for residents.”

At this time, Summit County does not intend to relocate services from the County Courthouse in Coalville. Only services and offices currently located in the Snyderville Basin will transition to the new Kimball Junction facility. Planning and design for the transformation is actively underway.

In addition to the Skullcandy building acquisition, community infrastructure investments, like a new regional transit facility on the site of the Sheldon Richins Building are also planned, with demolition of the Richins Building scheduled to begin within the next year. These improvements are part of a broader county-wide facilities plan in development, which also includes future updates to county facilities in North and South Summit.

— Topic 2: Fire Danger Very High

It’s no secret that it’s been hot and dry lately. Due to extended high temperatures and low moisture, Summit County’s Fire Danger Level has increased to Very High. As a reminder, Stage 1 Fire Restriction is in place for all municipal, state, and county lands in the county.

For all things wildfire, including emergency alerts, active fire updates, fire conditions & more, visit summitcounty.info/fire to sign up for notifications and information.

— Topic 3: Clerk’s Office Tests Voting Equipment

Every election, the Summit County Clerk’s Office hosts a Logic and Accuracy Test, which is an important step to ensure that the election and voting equipment are functioning as expected and accurately count votes as marked.

The Logic and Accuracy Test for August’s Primary Elections will take place this coming Monday, July 21 at 10 AM. The test is open to public observation, and County Clerk, Eve Furse, and her team will be available to answer questions. Join them!

Again, that’s on Monday, July 21, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Clerk’s office in the Summit County Courthouse (60 N. Main Street, Coalville, ). Want more information on the upcoming primary elections? Visit summitcountyutah.gov/elections.

— Topic 4: I-80/HWY-40 Paving Project

The work suspension for the I-80 Kimball Junction to U.S. Highway 40 Paving project will now extend through Monday, July 28, to allow a nearby project on I-80 in Parleys Canyon to wrap up. During this time, no construction or lane closures will take place on I-80 between Kimball Junction and US-40. This approach will minimize traffic impacts for through traffic on I-80.

Construction activities and nightly lane closures will resume in this area the night of Monday, July 28. For any questions or concerns, please call 435-565-6070 or email [email protected].