Commissioners briefed on WUI bill developments and DNR appointment

Commissioner Myers briefed the commission on state legislative developments affecting counties, focusing on the Wildland‑Urban Interface (WUI) bill and a gubernatorial appointment to the Department of Natural Resources.

Myers said forester Jamie Barnes has been named by the governor as a nominee to head the Department of Natural Resources and is pending confirmation. "Jamie Barnes ... has now been named by the governor as the head of Department of Natural Resources," she said, adding that counties expect a potentially different interpretation of WUI requirements under new leadership. Myers also described county coordination with the Utah Association of Counties and interim committee work aimed at checks and balances for preliminary approvals.

No formal county action was taken; the briefing was presented to prepare commissioners for the upcoming legislative session and implementation considerations for mitigation fees and program changes.