09-28-2021 Cache County Council Meeting

- The council heard an update on SR-30 from UDOT, including plans to advertise the project in winter and begin construction next spring/summer if right-of-way and Pacificorp issues are resolved. UDOT said most of the road will stay open during construction, but the railroad crossing remains a major unresolved obstacle because state law currently prevents UDOT/local governments from paying for at-grade railroad maintenance. - The council held a public hearing and later approved Ordinance 2021-21, amending Title 17 to allow wineries as a new land-use type. After discussion, the council removed the proposed FR-40 and resort-recreation zoning allowances, leaving wineries permitted in the A-10 zone with conditional use approval. - The winery ordinance sets limits and safeguards, including a 15,000-case annual production cap, a requirement that wineries be accessory to primary agricultural use, and a 51% in-county agricultural product threshold with limited exceptions for startup or natural-disaster shortages. The ordinance also allows tasting rooms, limited food service, and some overnight accommodation tied to the winery use. - The council approved a modification request from the Cache Valley Center for the Arts to redirect remaining WRAPS funds toward installing chillers as a backup cooling system. The arts center said its canal-water cooling source is becoming unreliable due to canal changes and warmer water, and it needs the backup system in place before next summer’s performance season. - The county’s drought outlook remains serious, according to Cache Water District Manager Nathan Doggs. He reported extreme statewide conditions, low reservoir levels, record-low streamflows in parts of the state, and continued concern about next year if snowpack does not improve. - The council approved the 2021 Cache County Fair and Rodeo report, with organizers saying the event was a strong success despite pandemic-era constraints. Highlights included sold-out rodeo performances, a record junior livestock auction nearing $793,000, strong carnival revenues, and plans to improve parking and grandstand/screen capacity for future fairs. - USU Extension reported strong community impact, including expanded Master Gardener participation, youth programs, agricultural support, health and wellness outreach, and suicide-prevention efforts. Extension emphasized that its county funding helped leverage more than $2 million in broader programming and partnerships. - The council approved a budget amendment for 2021, including the previously authorized restaurant-tax support for the suicide-awareness concert. Staff clarified several budget items, including the airport’s CARES-related grant and a chamber of commerce payment tied to a one-time COVID recovery service arrangement. - The council unanimously approved an economic development grant application using $80,000 in ARPA matching funds. The request will support priorities including the economic development department budget, workforce development/retention, and an innovation/workforce hub, while one proposed “community analysis” item was removed from consideration. - The Bear River Health Department’s elementary-school “test to stay” order was debated extensively, with the council ultimately delaying any decision until the October 12 meeting. Supporters argued it is a limited, targeted public-health measure, while opponents raised concerns about low pediatric risk, student stress, and whether the order is still necessary as case trends decline. - The council denied two property tax relief requests after the auditor reported missing documentation and insufficient demonstration of hardship. Members said the county wants to help when legitimate need is shown, but both applications lacked enough supporting information. - The council agreed to restart work on agricultural protection efforts, including reconstituting both the agricultural protection area advisory board and the agricultural advisory board. Members and staff said protecting farmland and creating a functioning board structure are increasingly important as development pressure grows.