Emery County amends property-disposal rules and moves ahead with potential Valor Atomics sale

The Emery County Commission on March 17 approved an amendment to county property-disposal policy that gives the commission the option to rely on Utah Code when the county cannot complete a 30-day posting within the typical timeline.

Commissioner (voice 3) said the proposed language would allow the commission to follow UCA 17-78-103 and related sections in circumstances where posting delays prevent the county's usual 30-day process, enabling a shorter, state-statute-based public notice (including a 14-day comment period) when warranted. Commissioners debated retaining the county's 30-day posting as a general practice versus adopting state code by default; after discussion the commission approved the amendment by majority vote while one commissioner asked for an attorney's review of the draft language.

Separately, commissioners moved to proceed with steps toward selling a county-owned industrial park parcel to Valor Atomics. Staff said two appraisals were scheduled to determine fair market value; the commission authorized posting and a public hearing for April 7 and passed a motion to continue the sale process contingent on receiving two appraisals. Commissioner discussion included whether the buyer should annex the parcel into Orangeville City and how sewer and water utilities would be handled; commissioners directed staff to include annexation discussion in the April public hearing agenda.

The commission also approved a separate, immediate action: a letter granting Valor Atomics temporary use of a county-owned parcel north of the Energy Research Center as a laydown and staging area while construction of two nearby buildings is ongoing. The county attorney will prepare a draft letter to limit county liability as part of the permission.

Commissioners said the combined approach (amending the ordinance, scheduling appraisals and permitting temporary use) is intended to move a long-dormant industrial park parcel into productive use and potentially broaden the county's tax base while preserving procedural safeguards such as appraisals and a public hearing.