Summit in Six

Welcome to May! In today’s episode, we are going to cover the formal organization of a much-anticipated housing authority, the many great events and resources promoting Mental Health Awareness throughout the month, and some more community tools and events dealing with water safety, noxious weeds, and road construction. Alright, let’s get into the news!

TOPIC 1: County Council Selects Housing Authority Board Commissioners

The county is moving forward with the creation of an independent board to direct affordable housing programs and seek solutions for medium and low income families. After interviewing 13 candidates at last week’s council meeting, council members formally amended the bylaws of the Summit County Housing Authority and selected seven people to serve on its board of commissioners.

The new bylaws dictate that the board will be composed of three county council members and four residents serving at-large. All commissioners must live within the boundaries of the housing authority, and the four residents selected by council to serve on the board were Kristen Schulz, Jennifer Lewis, Joan Meixner, and Rich Sonntag. 

Lewis, Meixner, and Sonntag will serve until Feb 28, 2026. Schulz will serve until February 28, 2030. 

The at-large commissioners will serve alongside council members Tonja Hanson, Canice Harte and Megan McKenna. All council members spoke very highly of the candidates. Harte specifically said the motivation behind amending the bylaws was to increase the size of the board to allow more of these highly qualified applicants to serve.

The focus for the housing authority will be on addressing housing needs through financing, acquiring, building, maintaining and managing housing projects and programs. This includes providing medium to low income residents with affordable housing opportunities and incentivizing moderate income housing.

TOPIC 2: May Declared Mental Health Awareness Month

County council also unanimously adopted a proclamation declaring May as Mental Health Awareness Month.

According to the proclamation, an estimated 16,000 Summit County adults live with a mental health diagnosis, and 1 out of 7 children live with a severe mental health illness severe enough to impair daily functions. Summit County commits to support education and provide peer-support groups, financial assistance for those seeking therapy, and mental health tool kits through behavioral health and the mental wellness alliance.

The proclamation concludes with these words:

The people of Summit County are encouraged to come together to recognize that mental health is universal and applies to everyone, and we encourage individuals to take care of their mental health by recognizing when they need help and seeking treatment.

Throughout the month of May, there will be many community events promoting mental wellness and encouraging awareness for those facing illness and stigma. Visit ourmentalhealth.org to learn more about mental health tools and other resources available locally, events happening this month in our community, and how you can start mental health conversations with loved ones.

TOPIC 3: Test Your Well for Bacteria

With the warmer weather, we can expect flooding and runoff from snowmelt, which can affect water quality—especially in wells. 

It is always a good idea to test your well periodically for bacteria. That’s where the Summit County Health Department’s Environmental Health team comes in! We have an in-house laboratory facility to test for bacteria and nitrates in drinking water and provide this service for individuals and community water systems. 

We charge $27 for a bacterial sample and $30 for a nitrate sample. Contact the Summit County Health Department in Coalville for more information at: 435-336-3224 or visit summitcountyhealth.org/water

Also: If a resident wants to test for water contaminants that we do not test for in our county lab, we can offer to take the sample to a larger lab.

TOPIC 4: Upcoming County Lands Events

Event 1: Roots of Conservation

Event 2: Birding on the 910!

We’ll be spotting spring migrants and year-round residents, listening for calls, and learning how to identify local birds with help from our expert bird watching Volunteer Ambassadors—and the Merlin Bird ID app!

TOPIC 5: Roads Dashboard is LIVE!

If it’s not ski season, it’s road work season! Stay up-to-date on road work throughout Summit County this summer using our brand new Roads Dashboard.

Visit summitcounty.info/roadsdash for a map of where, when, and what is happening on our roads. If you’ve got questions, each project listed on the dashboard provides a point of contact who can help you learn more. So, again, visit summitcounty.info/roadsdash to stay in the loop on road work this summer!

Hi everyone and welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! With spring slowly creeping across Summit County, we’ve got some exciting seasonal announcements and updates on recent and upcoming public input. Let’s get into the news.

TOPIC 1: Summit Bike Share Launch

First off, the bikes are back in town! Starting May 1, Summit Bike Share will launch its 2025 season. And the best news is that passes are more affordable than ever!

You can get a season pass for unlimited 30-minute rides for just $50! If you need to ride a little longer, you pay $0.25/minute when you go over the 30-minute window. However, if you dock the bike after your 30 minutes are up and take a new bike, you get another half hour without any additional cost!

For questions or to see a map of bike stations, visit summitbikeshare.com. If you don’t want a season pass, you can get a 5-day pass for $25 or a single 30-minute ride pass for $5. You can download the app through the App Store or Google Play store.

With a fleet of over 200 e-bikes stationed across the Snyderville Basin, the bikes have tons of utility for users. If you just need to travel a short distance in town from your work to a meeting, if you want to try a nearby restaurant but don’t want to deal with the hassle of traffic/parking, or if you just want to take a short ride on a nice day: Summit Bike Share is here to help!

Help us make Summit County a more sustainable, active, and enjoyable place to live. Try out Summit Bike Share, and remember to wear a helmet and ride responsibly!

TOPIC 2: Roads Dashboard

If it’s not ski season, it’s road work season! Stay up-to-date on road work throughout Summit County this summer using our brand new Roads Dashboard. Visit summitcounty.info/roadsdash for a map of where, when, and what is happening on our roads. If you’ve got questions, each project listed on the dashboard provides a point of contact who can help you learn more. So, again, visit summitcounty.info/roadsdash to stay in the loop on road work this summer!

TOPIC 3: Public Land Use Maps

There’s still one more chance to contribute to land use maps for the Eastern Summit County General Plan! The last open house to contribute to future land use maps will be on Tuesday, April 29, from 5–7 pm at the Ledges Event Center in Coalville.

For some context, the county’s planning and zoning department began the process to update its general plans in 2024. These plans assess everything from housing costs to transportation needs to environmental and historical preservation. Planners rely on everything from geophysical data to public input to craft a plan that reflects the community’s vision.

Due to differences in conditions and priorities, the county has two general plans: one for the Snyderville Basin and another for Eastern Summit County, which includes everything from Henefer south to Woodland.

The latest development in drafting the general plan is the creation of future land use maps. You (and other residents in Eastern Summit County) have a chance to weigh in on how land should be used in and around your community. Planners held a similar event in Kamas on this Thursday, and the upcoming event in Coalville will have the same activities and information.

We hope to see you on Tuesday evening at the Ledges Event Center in Coalville!

TOPIC 4: KnowYourScript

Leaving expired or unused medications in your home increases the risk of misuse. Proper medication disposal is key to keeping your family safe, especially from the rising threat of teen prescription drug misuse.

What can you do?  Bring your unused medications to Recycle Utah Hazardous Waste Day on Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Silver King parking lot at the base of Park City Mountain Resort.

TOPIC 5: Continued Public Input on HB 356 — County Council Districting

And last, but not least, a recap of public input on HB 356, which is a legislative bill talking about county districting. Public input on HB 356, which is a bill that would require Summit County to move to five districts for county council seats, continued at this week’s council meeting.

Residents from both sides of the county attended virtually and in-person to share their thoughts and concerns on the current form of council government — where all five members are elected “at large” and every resident gets to vote for all five members. The form mandated in HB 356 would require 5 geographic districts where you can only vote for the council member that represents your district.

At the heart of this matter is that representation, with residents at this meeting and last week’s COG (Council of Governments) meeting sharing different opinions on if they would be better represented by a single council member who lives in their district (and potentially may more represent their values and needs), if a combination of districts and at large seats would be best, or if residents are better represented by being able to vote on all five “at large” seats as opposed to a single seat in their district.

From this point on, the bill is scheduled to be reviewed and potentially modified in the Utah Legislature’s Special Session in May. In the meantime, you can learn more about HB 356 and its proposed changes to county government at https://summitcounty.info/hb356.

Hey everyone! Welcome to a special episode of Summit County’s weekly news podcast, Summit in Six! Today, we’ll take a deep dive into the latest on the Kimball Junction Environmental Impact Statement or EIS. 

For some context, since 2019, UDOT, in partnership with Summit County, has been working to evaluate improvements at the I-80 and State Route-224 interchange at Kimball Junction and on SR-224 from Kimball Junction through the Olympic Parkway intersection in Summit County. This project builds on information from the Kimball Junction and SR-224 Area Plan, which was completed back in 2021.

Most recently, UDOT released a draft EIS and identified Alternative C as the preferred alternative. Now, a public comment period is open for the community to review the published draft and give their feedback. 

Before we dive any further, let’s introduce UDOT Project Manager, Becky Stromness, who joins us to explain the features of Alternative C and answer some common questions about the EIS.

BECKY:

Thank you so much for having me on, Ammon. I want to thank everyone who has already commented or attended one of the public hearings. It’s so important to us to understand the needs of the community, and everyone’s input helps with our final decision.

AMMON:

Absolutely. Community participation throughout this entire process has been and continues to be so important. After all, the end result will hopefully improve all of our lives! 

So, Becky, let’s start with the basics. We know the project intends to improve the interchange area in Kimball Junction, but what exactly does that mean?

BECKY:

That’s a great question, Ammon! The project will improve traffic operations and travel times on SR-224 from the I-80 interchange through Olympic Parkway. Another purpose of the project is to reduce vehicle queues on the I-80 off-ramps. Additionally, on SR-224, the project will improve the level of service at the intersections, meaning that drivers won’t have to sit through multiple light cycles due to congestion. Both of these things are a safety concern, so the solutions we implement will make driving faster and safer in the area! 

We also want better mobility and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists because we’re seeing a growing demand for active transportation along and across SR-224. We’re confident the alternative we identified will address all these factors. 

AMMON:

It’s good to know that together UDOT and Summit County have taken a wide-angle perspective to analyze a variety of transportation aspects, including safety and mobility at the interchange off ramps and SR-224 intersections, as well as thee impact on future bus rapid transit, walkability, and more.

BECKY:

That is exactly right. The EIS process is pretty comprehensive, evaluating all sorts of effects  from the alternatives and comparing those effects to what would happen if we took no action. I encourage everyone to give the EIS a read if you would like a better understanding of the alternatives and how we landed on Alternative C.

AMMON:

Let’s talk a little bit more about Alternative C.

BECKY:

You bet! Alternative C features an additional lane exiting I-80 eastbound at Kimball Junction, plus a dedicated right turn lane onto SR-224. These will help manage the flow of traffic so vehicles aren’t queuing in the travel lanes of I-80. 

There will also be the addition of a third travel lane for both NB and SB directions on SR-224. Alternative C also focuses on the intersections — including adding dual left turn lanes for all legs at both Ute Boulevard and Olympic Parkway.

AMMON:

And what about the active transportation improvements?

BECKY:

For pedestrians, we’re going to be building a new underpass beneath SR-224 just south of Ute Boulevard that connects the north-south trails on each side of SR-224. Cyclists will get buffered bike lanes on SR-224 from Olympic Parkway to Rasmussen Road. These additions should improve connectivity and comfort for pedestrians and cyclists alike.

AMMON:

How do these specific features differ from the other alternatives that were under consideration?

BECKY:

In our Draft EIS, we also evaluated Alternative A, and a No-Action Alternative, meaning what would Kimball Junction look like in 2050 if we didn’t make any improvements. The biggest difference between Alternatives A and C is that Alternative A would convert the current I-80/SR-224 interchange into a split-diamond design, meaning the interchange would be split between the existing location and a new intersection with a second bridge over I-80. This would be built near the outlet mall west of SR-224.

AMMON:

So why did Alternative C ultimately win, if you will?

BECKY:

As far as meeting our goals for the project, Alternative C showed the biggest reduction in travel delay and faster travel speeds during peak periods, as well as the shortest vehicle queue lengths or vehicle backups, on the I-80 off-ramp. Additionally, transit travel times are estimated to be more than 2 minutes better than the 2050 No Build condition. The new undercrossing that will be added will help improve the ability for active transportation users getting back and forth across SR-224 safely.

AMMON:

Did it have anything to do with cost concerns?

BECKY:

Cost wasn’t the primary determining factor in our decision; however, Alternative C is 60 percent less expensive than Alternative A and is a more reasonable expenditure of funds for the anticipated operational benefits compared to Alternative A.

One feature that we really like about Alternative C is that it would be compatible for future needs as the area continues to grow. Nothing about it would prevent us from implementing other options like Alternative A if it were to ever be needed.

AMMON:

Yeah, it’s good to hear both from you and from our transportation team here at the county that this is an ongoing effort to improve traffic and increase mobility options, with the Kimball Junction Interchange just being one key milestone in a larger effort. 

So, Becky, what happens next?

BECKY:

Although we’ve identified Alternative C as our preferred alternative, the decision isn’t final yet. We want to hear from the community about what they think of Alternative C, how we analyzed the potential impacts, and the proposed mitigation of those potential impacts.

AMMON:

How can people give comment?

BECKY:

There are several ways to comment  — we just held two public hearings, but you can still share your comments and concerns online or through a letter or phone call. All that information is on our website, which is kimballjunctioneis.udot.utah.gov. We’ll be accepting formal comments through April 28th.

AMMON:

And the comment opportunity is open to anyone?

BECKY:

Yes, everyone is welcome! If you live, work, or travel in Kimball Junction we want to hear from you.

Public feedback in each step of the process is important to us to help us understand the needs of the community and make sure we’re not missing anything. We will take everyone’s comments into consideration as we develop our final decision.

AMMON:

So, listeners here with us right now, we encourage you to get involved in guiding the future of transportation in Kimball Junction by heading over to kimballjunctioneis.udot.utah.gov and submitting formal comments to the UDOT team! 

Becky, can you tell us what happens after public comment closes?

BECKY:

So, once the comment period wraps up we hope to publish our Final EIS and issue a Record of Decision later this year. This will include a response to all of the formal comments we have received on the Draft EIS and we will identify the selected alternative.

AMMON:

I guess I’m wondering what happens after the record of decision? With the Olympics coming in 2034 – which isn’t as far away as it sounds – do you anticipate this project to be done by then?

BECKY:

Yes! UDOT is working to identify funding for the project so it can be designed and built in advance of the upcoming Winter Olympics.

AMMON:

Alright! Well, thank you for all this great info and for your time today, Becky.

And for our listeners: again, we encourage you to get involved and stay involved! The fruits of this whole process will affect and benefit all of us who live and work here in Summit County.

One last reminder: all of the project’s latest updates, reports, and comment opportunities can be found online at kimballjunctioneis.udot.utah.gov. As always, we’ll be sure to link the URL in our show notes for you. Becky, anything else you’d like to add?

BECKY:

I don’t think so. We’ve definitely covered it all. Thanks for having me, Ammon.

AMMON:

Ok! That’s all for now on Summit in Six. See you next time!

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! Today, we recap this week’s County Council meeting, discuss the latest with House Bill 356, a bill that changes the way Summit County elects our council members, and finally, highlight some exciting events happening in the county in the next few weeks. Alright, let’s get into the news. 

– TOPIC 1: Council Recap   

Let’s kick things off with some highlights from this week’s County Council meeting. 

National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week: First, the County Council approved a proclamation recognizing the second week of April each year as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Summit County’s Public Safety Telecommunicators (or 911 Dispatchers) are the first, often unseen, heroes who answer 9-1-1 calls, provide life-saving instructions, dispatch emergency responders, and maintain constant communication during crises. We want to send a massive thank you to the men and women who serve as dispatchers here in Summit County. These folks work tirelessly behind the scenes to protect our community, so from everyone here at the Summit in Six team, thank you! 

Weber River Watershed: Next, the council took an important step forward regarding the Weber River Watershed Resilience partnership. For some context, the partnership launched back in 2020 and is a collaborative, multi-jurisdictional effort focused on increasing the resilience of the headwaters of the Weber River to natural and human-caused disasters, such as catastrophic wildfire. In fiscal Year 2023, Congressman Blake Moore secured $1 million in federal funding for the partnership. Before Summit County can access this funding, we had to complete four key steps, including creating a work plan, submitting a budget narrative, and undergoing an environmental assessment, all of which we have already done. Finally, the county had to define a procurement policy that complies with federal standards. This week, the council approved that procurement policy. This approval is the final step needed before we can submit our full documentation to the EPA and unlock the $1 million in funding for this vital watershed resilience work. 

Housing Authority Update: After that, the council approved bylaws for the Summit County Housing Authority. To rewind, the purpose of the Housing Authority is to manage and provide affordable housing, especially for low- and middle-income families, located within the jurisdiction of the Authority. The Housing Authority boundaries are the unincorporated area of Summit County (no towns or cities are included in those boundaries). The newly approved bylaws state that the Housing Authority Commission will be composed of 5 people – 3 members from the elected Summit County Council and 2 members at large. The council appointed council members Tonja Hanson, Megan McKenna, and Canice Harte to sit on the Commission as representatives of the council. Once the Commission is fully staffed and the new Executive Director is in place, the Summit County Housing Authority will begin meeting monthly. One of the first items of business will be to develop a management and operations plan. There are also several budgeted tasks that the authority will be working on. These include:

This is all really exciting progress for affordable housing in Summit County. Stay tuned for more on the Authority and the work it’ll do in the future! 

Temporary Zoning Ordinance: Finally, staff asked council to approve a temporary zoning ordinance that amends Summit County’s code to establish an administrative development agreement process within the Snyderville Basin planning district consistent with the requirements of Utah State code. The purpose of the ordinance is to bring the Snyderville Basin Development Code into compliance with the changes made to State Code by Senate Bill 26. SB26 effectively rezoned property within the unincorporated area of Summit County around the Kimball Junction Transit Center, which is a longer way of saying the land Dakota Pacific Real Estate owns. SB26 also requires that the County implement that rezone through an administrative land use permit process. Council approved the temporary ordinance which means it will be in effect for 6 months. This will allow adequate time for the consideration of an administrative development agreement for the State Imposed Rezone. To be clear, the approval of this TZO, in itself, does not mean any specific part of Dakota Pacific’s design for their land in the Kimball Junction area is under consideration.  The ordinance just created a process for the county to review the application if and when a land use permit application from DPRE under SB26 comes. 

– TOPIC 2: HB356 Public Comment Opportunities 

Alright, let’s talk about House Bill 356. A bill that changes the way Summit County elects its Council Members. 

During the 2025 Utah Legislative Session, the Utah State Legislature passed House Bill 356, a new law that mandates Summit County transition from at-large to district-based representation. District representation divides the county into a set number of geographic districts, and the voters in that district elect one person who lives in that district to represent them. 

This legislation will significantly change how your County Council is elected—and how you are represented. You will no longer be able to vote for all 5 members of the County Council.

 The bill was signed into law on March 27, 2025. However, Governor Spencer Cox acknowledged problems with the legislation and committed to a special legislative session in May to address its “unintended consequences.”

Ahead of the special legislative session you have the opportunity to hear more about this issue and give your feedback at two upcoming public input sessions:

—————————–

Tuesday, April 15 | 6 PM

Council of Governments Meeting

Summit County Courthouse 

60 N. Main St, Coalville

—–

Wednesday, April 23 | 6 PM 

County Council Meeting

Richins Building 

1885 W. Ute Blvd, Kimball Jct.

—————————–

Ahead of public input, you can learn more about this issue at summitcounty.info/hb356. 

– TOPIC 3: Other Upcoming Community Events 

Let’s wrap things up with some other engagement opportunities coming up! 

County planners are holding two open houses in late April to collect resident feedback and create future land use maps as part of the Eastern Summit County General Plan Update process. These land use maps are important because they will take community input to incorporate into plans for future zoning, open space conservation, and other development priorities.

The first event will be held on Thursday, April 24, from 5–7 pm at the Kamas Library. The second open house will be on Tuesday, April 29, from 5–7 pm at the Ledges Event Center in Coalville. 

Both open houses will have the same information and activities. For more information, visit summitcountyutah.gov/generalplans.

Finally, Recycle Utah’s Household Hazardous Waste Day will be April 26th from 9 AM – 1 PM. PLEASE NOTE: Hazmat Day will be in the Silver King Lot (1498 Lowell Ave, Park City). Summit County residents can bring hazardous waste for FREE! No business waste will be accepted. For a full list of what materials are accepted, visit recycleutah.org, navigate to the Events tab, and scroll to find Household Hazardous Waste Day!

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! If you’ve ever wondered how things like fighting fire and community water supply are managed at the county level, then do we have the episode for you! We also announce a great new way to weigh in on local issues and an opportunity to do a bit of water conservation in your own backyard.

Alright, let’s get into the news!

TOPIC 1: FIRE AND WATER SPECIAL DISTRICT DEEPDIVE

The public portion of Wednesday’s county council meeting kicked things off with a request from the Park City Fire District to approve a contract for their new fire chief. Council members, in their role as the Governing Board of the fire district, heard from the chair of the fire district’s administrative board and the outgoing fire chief.

Okay, hold on Ammon. That’s a lot of organizations and titles you just mentioned. Can we take a step back and explain how the county council and the fire district are connected?

First, it’s important to understand the difference between a fire department and a fire district. A fire department typically serves the needs of an individual city or a collection of cities, but their operations are restricted essentially to the city limits.

A fire district typically serves a large area encompassing several communities and/or unincorporated land between communities. Fire departments get their funding through taxes collected by the city, whereas fire districts are funded through property taxes within their boundaries (typically overseen at the county level).

So Park City Fire District serves more than just the city?

Exactly. In addition to Park City proper, the fire district serves Jeremy Ranch, Pinebrook, Snyderville, Summit Park, Silver Summit, Promontory, and more. It protects more than 110 square miles and helps with more than just fires.

So, back to the council meeting, what did they need from the county councilors?

Members of the Summit County Council also serve as the governing board of the Park City Fire District. Since they disburse funds to the district, they also approve major hires — in this case, a new fire chief.

After a thorough interview process, the administrative board (made up of community residents) made a recommendation to promote the current deputy chief, Peter Emery. Emery has been with the Park City Fire District for over 16 years, and received a strong recommendation from outgoing Chief Bob Zanetti.

The council members approved the employment contract for Emery, and thanked Zanetti for his 36 years of service with the Park City Fire District. Emery will take the helm as fire chief on May 1, 2025.

There were a couple more employment-related topics raised at the council meeting. Following the fire folks, the council heard from Peter Andrew Garland, General Manager for the Mountain Regional Water Special Service District.

As a reminder, the water district serves the needs of thousands of county residents in unincorporated communities — similar to the fire district. The Mountain Regional Water District employs over 30 people and manages:

The county council oversees the budget and hiring for the water district’s chief official. The councilors thanked Garland for his 3 years of service with the county and unanimously brought him back for another 3 years by approving his new contract.

TOPIC 2: FLASHVOTE MAKES CIVIC ENGAGEMENT A CINCH

Do you have about a minute a month to help make Summit County better?

We’re teaming up with FlashVote to share resident priorities with elected officials. You can make your voice heard by signing up to receive 1-minute surveys by email, text, or phone call: civic participation has never been easier! Once you sign up, you’ll receive a notification whenever there is a new survey. After 48 hours, the survey is closed and all participants will receive a summary of the results and be able to see how your responses compare to the group.

If you’re worried about privacy: we’ve got good news! Your responses are anonymous: FlashVote will not share any personal or demographic information with the county.

You can sign up now at: flashvote.com/summitcounty or call 775-235-2240 to participate by phone or text only. Some county residents may also receive a text from FlashVote directly with an invitation to sign up. If you would like to share your thoughts, we encourage you to participate.

The first survey is coming soon, so sign up now!

TOPIC 3: REDUCED COST RAIN BARRELS AVAILABLE WHILE SUPPLIES LAST

April’s showers may have all been snow so far, but with temperatures expected to rise in the next week we could see rain with the next storm system. If you want to keep your “May flowers” watered and prepare for the dry months of June, July, and beyond, you may want to consider a rain barrel!

The Utah Rivers Council is partnering with Summit County to offer a limited number of heavily discounted rain barrels as part of the RainHarvest program. Through the program, Utah residents can play a direct role in water conservation by storing runoff from their gutters in rain barrels, then watering their gardens and landscaping with the stored water during dry spells.

Participating in the RainHarvest program also helps protect Utah’s waterways from polluted runoff during storm events and reduces demand on local water systems. That means more clean water in our aquifers, reservoirs, and rivers. 

You can go to summitcounty.info/rainbarrel25 to order a barrel at a reduced-cost of $57 while supplies last. Once the subsidized barrels run out, $85 rain barrels are available for purchase by any member of the public. 

After purchase, barrels will be distributed at a one-day in-person event in early May. Rain barrels will not be shipped to residents.

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six, back with our newest team member Ammon Teare for his second episode. Today we’ll be talking arts, traffic, dogs and an upcoming course to quit unhealthy habits.

Alright, let’s get into the news!

At Wednesday’s council meeting, representatives from the Park City/Summit County Arts Council shared their progress on a new arts and culture master plan and more public art coming soon to the Jeremy Ranch roundabouts.

The master plan is a collaboration between public and private organizations focused on promoting creativity and community partnerships. In the last four months, planners have been gathering public input, identifying primary goals, and offering recommendations to advance community engagement with the arts. Five key challenges identified include: funding, visibility and accessibility, community engagement, visitor vs resident priorities, and cost of living. The master plan will identify opportunities to address these challenges and make recommendations to the county, city, and chamber of commerce. 

If you are a local artist or represent a local gallery or community arts organization, you can send an email to [email protected] or [email protected] to participate in their last call for stakeholder interviews. You can offer your insight and help inform the arts master plan before the community engagement period ends in mid-April.

During this week’s council meeting, Jocelyn Scudder, executive director for the Arts Council, said that she will present to council again in June to seek a resolution of support for this draft master plan. This process, initiated as part of the sustainable tourism plan for Summit County, will help the county, city, and chamber of commerce collaborate to support local arts and tourism.

Following discussion of the master plan, the arts board shared an update on two sculptures going in the roundabouts at the Jeremy Ranch/Pinebrook exits in the Snyderville Basin. The Summit County Public Art Advisory Board began seeking quotes from artists in 2023, asking that submissions embody the local landscape, culture, history, or wildlife; that the art celebrates a strong sense of place; engages the viewer and is highly visible while adhering to public safety guidelines.

The winning team, artists Don Kennel and Lisa Adler, were announced in May 2024. They committed to sculpt, assemble, and install two larger-than-life animal statues: a moose on the Pinebrook side and a sandhill crane with two chicks on her back for the Jeremy Ranch side. An artist rendering of the completed statues plus some progress photos are available to view in the show notes.

Starting in late April, members of the artist team will arrive to begin assembly and to present at four schools near the site to explain how the sculptures are made, why they chose these wildlife subjects, and to share about being professional sculpture artists.

Students will get to suggest names for both the moose and crane and then vote on their favorites. Each school’s top submissions will go head-to-head and be put to a community vote. Stay tuned for more details on the community name contest as the project nears completion in this early summer of 2025.

TOPIC 2: Kimball Jct. Road Project Update

Up next, the council heard an update on the Kimball Junction Draft Environmental Impact Statement (or EIS) from county and state transportation officials, including UDOT Project Manager Becky Stromness and Carl Miller, Summit County’s Director of Transportation Planning. 

Let’s go back in time for a moment to 2019, when UDOT identified the intersection of I-80 and SR-224 in Kimball Junction as a potential safety and mobility hazard, especially considering future traffic conditions. Through public input and consultation with community planners, 30 alternative concepts were considered to address travel and safety concerns.

Initial screening eliminated 27 alternatives, leaving just 3 (labeled A, B, and C) to undergo more rigorous screening for environmental impacts and potential benefits. In March of this year, UDOT identified Alternative C as the preferred solution. Its primary benefits over other proposals was that it offers faster travel speeds during peak hours, shorter lines on the I-80 off ramps, and the project would be the least costly to the state. It’s $49 million compared to approximately $124 for Alternative A (the only other proposal to clear all four stages of screening).

The EIS is now in another public comment period. You can learn more about the project and share your input at kimballjunctioneis.udot.utah.gov. Comments can be submitted via phone, mail, email, or online comment forms through April 28, 2025. 

UDOT has scheduled two public hearings in April. There will be ann in-person hearing at Ecker Hill Middle School on April 8 from 5:30-7:30 pm and a virtual hearing on April 10 from 6-7:30 pm. We hope you’ll take the opportunity to get informed and make your voice heard!

TOPIC 3: Licensing your dog

For the month of March, Summit County Animal Control would like to remind residents that all dogs over the age of four months must be licensed within 10 days of acquiring the animal or moving to the county. The license tag must be attached to the collar and worn at all times along with their rabies tag.

Licenses can be renewed annually or every three years. Licensing dogs has several benefits:. Licensed dogs wearing their tags can be easily returned to their owners if they run away or are lost. Licensing also helps remind owners to stay on top of rabies vaccinations, and helps animal control officials to ensure dogs are not overcrowded at individual residences.

Service dogs and dogs working with government agencies must be licensed, but are exempt from the fees. For more information or to register for a license online, visit: summitcountyutah.gov/animalcontrol.

To sign up or get more information, please contact Matt Wolbach by email or phone at: [email protected] or 435-333-1508.

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six. Today, we cover this week’s County Council meeting, which included a legislative recap and an update on a childcare scholarship program launched last year. Then, we give a quick preview of some key events happening next week. Alright, let’s get into the news! 

TOPIC 1: Legislative Recap  

At this week’s County Council meeting, Deputy County Manager, Janna Young, went over the outcomes of the 2025 Utah State Legislature’s General Session – what bills passed, what they might mean for Summit County, and more. 

Today, we’ll only highlight a few of those. If you want to listen to Janna’s recap, please visit: summitcounty.info/councilrecording. On the right-hand side of that screen, an agenda will be displayed. Find the item titled “2025 Legislative Recap” and click on the staff report linked to review the full list of bills that passed. 

From here, Summit County staff will meet sometime in April to discuss all the bills that passed and better understand what, if any, actions the county needs to take to comply with new legislation. 

The interim session will begin during late spring and throughout the summer months when the Utah Legislature meets once per month in joint committees between the House of Representatives and the Senate. Summit County will use the interim to collaborate with legislators on issues we care about and focus on relationship building. The County plans to share our good stories and continue to highlight our challenges, innovative solutions, and partnerships around water, public lands and natural resources, transportation and transit, housing, childcare, and Olympics planning.

TOPIC 2: Childcare Impact Report  

Last year, Summit County pledged $130,000 to Park City Municipal Corporation’s community childcare scholarship program. These funds expanded the program to families who live and work outside of Park City boundaries, extending eligibility to the entire county. 

The county’s expansion officially kicked off in July 2024 and the funds were exhausted within the first four months! After that, in October 2024, the county committed an additional $53,850 to cover enrolled families until the end of the year. 

At this week’s Council meeting, Deputy County Manager, Janna Young, shared that the program’s administrator, Upwards, released an Impact Report that provides key data about the program’s inaugural year. 

Some highlights included that… 

It’s awesome to see the impact this program expansion has had on our community so far! In the 2025 budget, the County Council approved a new allocation of $300,000 to continue these needs-based scholarships to families who live or work in Summit County. 

If you’re interested in learning more about this program, please visit: upwards.com/childcare-assistance/park-city. 

We’ll wrap things up today, with a peek into what our listeners can expect next week in the county! 

Welcome back to another episode of Summit in Six. This week is short and sweet. We’ve got a few updates from Summit County Health and a reminder about an important open house for the 910 Ranch. Let’s do it!

TOPIC 1: MAMMOGRAM CLINICS

Mobile mammogram clinics are coming to Coalville next week on March 20 and to Kamas next month on April 23.

To make an appointment for the Coalville bus on March 20th through Intermountain Healthcare, call 385-266-4437. This clinic will be held between 7:30 am and 5:30 pm.

To make an appointment to visit the Kamas bus on April 23rd through the University of Utah, call 435-783-3161. The clinic will be held between 9 am and 4:30 pm.

And as an important reminder, please check with your insurance provider to ensure coverage before you receive service.

If these dates don’t work for you, we’ll have more dates this fall: UofU in Coalville on September 22nd. And IHC in Kamas on September 29th.

TOPIC 2: MEASLES 101

With Measles cases on the rise around the country, Summit County Health wants to remind residents where you can go to look up vaccine history for you or your children.

If you’d like to instructions on how to access your immunization records or want to learn more about the measles virus, including case counts nationwide, visit summitcountyhealth.org/measles. 

TOPIC 3: BOARD OF HEALTH – SNYDERVILLE OPENING

The Summit County Manager is seeking an individual representing the Snyderville Basin area to serve on the Summit County Board of Health. 

The mission of the Board of Health is to enforce state health laws, Department of Health and Department of Environmental Quality rules, regulations, and standards within the unincorporated and incorporated areas of Summit County. The board meets once a month at 4:00 p.m. usually on the first Monday.

Interested applicants can submit their application at: summitcounty.info/volunteer. For further information contact: Amy Jones at 435-336-3042. The deadline for applications is 5:00 p.m., Friday, March 28, 2025.

TOPIC 4: 910 RANCH OPEN HOUSE #3

Shape the future of the 910 Ranch by attending Open House 3!

Join us on March 18 from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Sheldon Richins Building at Kimball Junction

Expect a recap of the data gathered from the survey and January Open House sessions.

Questions? Contact [email protected] with any questions.

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! We have a lot of health-related updates today, as well as some upcoming public engagement events the community should be aware of. Let’s get into the news!

Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that can cause lung cancer. It seeps through the ground and into our homes through cracks in the foundation, walls, and floors, as well as through water systems, making the air we breathe unsafe.

Summit County Health offers radon test kits for you to sample the air in your home. The cost for each kit is $10 and includes lab analysis

Protect your family by testing for radon in your home and help Summit County track high areas of radon in our community. Testing kits can be purchased at all three Summit County Health locations. For more information, please contact 435-333-1511 or visit summitcountyhealth.org.

– MMR VACCINE

Vaccine recommendations vary:

Check your immunization records and consult your healthcare provider. The MMR vaccine is widely available at local pharmacies, doctor’s offices, or from Summit County Health.

Call 435-333-1500 to schedule a vaccination appointment at a health department clinic.

Learn more at summitcountyhealth.org

– SHARPS DISPOSAL @ PARK CITY HEALTH CLINIC

A quick announcement that the Summit County Health Department’s Park City Clinic has a sharps disposal bin in the entryway for personal use. If you use sharps, collect them in a puncture-proof container and dispose of it safely in this bin at 650 Round Valley Drive!

Come recycle and share your input with Recycle Utah. They received a grant from @usdagov and they are looking for ways to expand recycling resources in Coalville!

Welcome to another week of news here on Summit in 6! Today we are going to give another update of what’s going down in the legislature this week, then we will share some info about an upcoming recycling opportunity in Coalville, give a recap about Summit Bike Share services provided in 2024 and share info about an upcoming public open house next week to discuss the future of High Valley Transit.

TOPIC 1: Legislative Update

SB 91: Restaurant Tax Revisions

SB 295: Property Tax Modifications

SB 333:Major Sporting Event Venue Financing Amendments

As a reminder, the General Session runs until March 7 which is one week away! Every week of the session, we’ll remind our listeners that you can watch the 2025 legislative session in real time through the online tool at le.utah.gov. Click on the “calendar” button then the desired meeting and the committee webpage will have links to materials and the audio/video recording.

You can also follow individual bills and receive email alerts whenever action is taken on the measure. To sign up for alerts, visit le.utah.gov and click on the “Bills” tab at the top of the page to perform a bill request or keyword search. Once you’ve located the desired bill, click “Track this” or “Email notification.” The website for each bill also provides the bill text, status information, audio/video of any committee hearings or floor debates, and details on the bill sponsor.

TOPIC 2: HPV Awareness Day

March 4th is HPV Awareness Day. HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a common virus that can cause cancers later in life. Nearly everyone will get HPV at some point in their lives.

Each year in the United States, HPV causes about 36,000 cases of cancer in both men and women. Most people will not have any symptoms from an HPV infection.

Being vaccinated is the best way to prevent HPV infection, cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers.

Contact the Summit County Health Department today to inquire more about our cancer screening services and about appointments for the HPV vaccine at 435-333-1500

TOPIC 3: Recycling Opportunity in Coalville

Come recycle and share your input with us. We received a grant from the USDA and we are looking for ways to expand recycling resources in Coalville! Share with your family and neighbors—see you there!

TOPIC 4: 2024 Summit BikeShare Recap

As we’re looking forward to spring and the return of Summit Bike Share, the Transportation Department shared some numbers on the success of the 2024 season in Council this week.

The 2024 Season ran from May 14 to October 30 and reached several exciting benchmarks:

We can’t wait to kick off the 2025 season in a few short months!

TOPIC 5: High Valley Transit Open House