Council accepts Truth-in-Taxation notice for North Summit rec district, approves amended director contract and assistant hire

Summit County Council on Wednesday acknowledged a Truth in Taxation notice from the North Summit Special Recreation District that notifies the county of the district’s intent to increase its certified property-tax rate and scheduled the required public hearing for Dec. 6 at 6 p.m.

County counsel explained the notice — delivered to the governing body by email before Oct. 1 — satisfied statutory notice requirements, and the council’s decision point on any rate change will come after that public hearing on Dec. 6. Staff estimated raising the district’s rate toward the previously authorized cap (0.0104) would produce about $75,000 a year; a homeowner with a $785,000 assessed value would see a roughly $18.57 annual increase, staff said.

Separately, the council considered personnel changes for the North Summit Special Recreation District. Amanda, the current recreation director, has accepted a new full-time position and agreed to remain temporarily in a reduced capacity. The board recommended converting her contract to hourly pay ($30/hour) capped at 29 hours per week through March 30, 2024, while the board seeks an assistant recreation director/project manager. Members raised concerns about a six-month severance clause in the original agreement; the council reopened the matter, revised the termination language to remove the six-month severance provision and to require only payment of outstanding compensation through the termination date, and then approved the amended and restated employment contract with that change.

Council also approved the job description and authorized hiring for an assistant recreation director/project manager to cover duties during the transition. Staff said the combined, short-term budget impact for the two positions was estimated at roughly $5,000 additional annually in the near term and that the positions were intended to stay within the district’s existing budget envelope.

The council dismissed as the governing board of the North Summit Special Recreation District and reconvened as the Summit County Council at the end of the item.