Utah County Commission takes public comment on Alberta townsite road vacation; approves public‑lands donation, Donate Life proclamation and interim assessor
April 19, 2023 | Utah County Commission Meeting Minutes, Utah County Commission, Utah County Commission and Boards, Utah County, Utah
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
The Utah County Commission on April 19, 2023, heard public comment on a petition to vacate portions of roads in the historic Alberta town site and approved several routine agenda items, including a contribution to a public‑lands education effort, a Donate Life Month proclamation and an interim appointment for county assessor.
County Attorney’s Office representative Ben Stanley briefly outlined the road‑vacation request during the public hearing, saying the petition concerns dedicated roads on a 1908 Alberta town site plat that were never built and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints and Farmland Reserve own the parcels involved. Stanley said technical questions remain — including whether some dedications should be retained for access or realignment — and that the commission would take no final action on the petition on April 19; staff expect formal action at the May 3 meeting.
Residents raised concerns during public comment. "Why are they doing this just on the church property and not through their residential area?" asked resident Wade Eva, who said prior plat work on his lot required vacating alley rights to obtain a building permit. Kent Jorgensen of Farmland Reserve said his organization requested the vacation only for church‑owned parcels and that county staff had contacted neighboring property owners; Jorgensen said none wished to join the request.
The commission closed public comment by motion (voice vote recorded 3–0).
On the consent and regular agenda, the commission adopted a resolution to contribute to the National Association of Counties’ National Center for Public Lands, an education effort on public‑lands grazing and stewardship. "One of the major things that we'll be working on is educating folks ... where their food comes from," the presiding official said in describing the donation. The motion to adopt item 7 was moved and seconded and passed by voice vote.
Item 8 was continued to the May 3 meeting at the commission's request while staff await federal guidance.
Item 17, a proclamation declaring April as Donate Life Month, was presented by county staffer Robert Baxter, who spoke about family members who had been organ donors. Mark Dixon of Donor Connect, an organ procurement organization, told the commission that Donate Life Month was established nationally in 2004 and noted roughly 108,000 people nationwide and about 800 in Utah were awaiting organ, eye and tissue transplants. The proclamation was adopted by voice vote.
On item 21, the commission approved a resolution appointing Bert Garfield as interim Utah County assessor until the next general election. Garfield, who has worked in the assessor's office for 12 years and as an appraiser for 17 years, thanked staff and family; the commission said it would sign the resolution and swear him in immediately after the meeting.
Final business concluded with a motion to adjourn that passed by voice vote.
The Alberta town site road‑vacation matter remains open for further review and will return for possible formal action on May 3, 2023.
County Attorney’s Office representative Ben Stanley briefly outlined the road‑vacation request during the public hearing, saying the petition concerns dedicated roads on a 1908 Alberta town site plat that were never built and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints and Farmland Reserve own the parcels involved. Stanley said technical questions remain — including whether some dedications should be retained for access or realignment — and that the commission would take no final action on the petition on April 19; staff expect formal action at the May 3 meeting.
Residents raised concerns during public comment. "Why are they doing this just on the church property and not through their residential area?" asked resident Wade Eva, who said prior plat work on his lot required vacating alley rights to obtain a building permit. Kent Jorgensen of Farmland Reserve said his organization requested the vacation only for church‑owned parcels and that county staff had contacted neighboring property owners; Jorgensen said none wished to join the request.
The commission closed public comment by motion (voice vote recorded 3–0).
On the consent and regular agenda, the commission adopted a resolution to contribute to the National Association of Counties’ National Center for Public Lands, an education effort on public‑lands grazing and stewardship. "One of the major things that we'll be working on is educating folks ... where their food comes from," the presiding official said in describing the donation. The motion to adopt item 7 was moved and seconded and passed by voice vote.
Item 8 was continued to the May 3 meeting at the commission's request while staff await federal guidance.
Item 17, a proclamation declaring April as Donate Life Month, was presented by county staffer Robert Baxter, who spoke about family members who had been organ donors. Mark Dixon of Donor Connect, an organ procurement organization, told the commission that Donate Life Month was established nationally in 2004 and noted roughly 108,000 people nationwide and about 800 in Utah were awaiting organ, eye and tissue transplants. The proclamation was adopted by voice vote.
On item 21, the commission approved a resolution appointing Bert Garfield as interim Utah County assessor until the next general election. Garfield, who has worked in the assessor's office for 12 years and as an appraiser for 17 years, thanked staff and family; the commission said it would sign the resolution and swear him in immediately after the meeting.
Final business concluded with a motion to adjourn that passed by voice vote.
The Alberta town site road‑vacation matter remains open for further review and will return for possible formal action on May 3, 2023.
View the Full Meeting & All Its Details
This article offers just a summary. Unlock complete video, transcripts, and insights as a Founder Member.
✓
Watch full, unedited meeting videos
✓
Search every word spoken in unlimited transcripts
✓
AI summaries & real-time alerts (all government levels)
✓
Permanent access to expanding government content
30-day money-back guarantee
