County commission OKs easement for Gunnison Tarr Canyon waterline

MANTI—The Sanpete County Commission gave conditional approval Oct. 20 for a major Gunnison City waterline project, heard updates on a regional fiber-optic network and approved several public safety grants, infrastructure agreements and personnel changes.

The Gunnison project received considerable discussion as city representatives outlined plans to install 16-inch and 12-inch waterlines along Farmer’s Freeway west of Gunnison.

The pipeline is associated with Gunnison City’s Tarr Canyon well project, which is intended to provide an additional water source for the community.

Gunnison Mayor Mike Wanner, City Manager Dennis Marker and engineer Kelly Chappell of Ensign Engineering participated in the discussion, addressing the proposed pipeline route and concerns about construction within county road rights-of-way.

Wanner said the city was ready to advance the project despite ongoing negotiations with two landowners over easements needed along the proposed route.

“We need to move the project forward,” Wanner said.

Chappell explained that portions of the pipeline would cross private property, while other sections could be installed within county rights-of-way or alongside existing roads.

He said the city hoped negotiations would allow portions of the pipeline to be moved farther away from county roads.

“There may be a chance that that portion gets moved outside of the right of way, which is our hope, and I know the county’s desire there,” Chappell said.

The plans include horizontal directional drilling beneath waterways and certain road crossings, along with an open-cut crossing where drilling would be impractical. An existing fiber-optic line would also require temporary relocation during construction.

County officials emphasized that no valves, risers or other equipment should protrude into roadways where they could interfere with graders and other maintenance equipment.

Commission Chairman Scott Bartholomew expressed concern about the size of the project and the need for additional contractual protections.

The commission conditionally approved the right-of-way application, requiring a written agreement addressing bonding, road restoration and other construction requirements.

Bartholomew also directed that the agreement include the prohibition against risers extending into roadways.

“Let’s get that in writing,” Bartholomew said.

UDOT fiber project nearing completion

Representatives from the Utah Department of Transportation provided an update on the Central Utah Fiber Project, a partnership with CentraCom involving nearly 70 miles of fiber-optic infrastructure across Central Utah.

The project includes installations along SR-28, U.S. 50, U.S. 6 and U.S. 89, connecting communities and transportation systems in Sanpete and surrounding counties.

Staci Arthur, who presented the project update, said construction was nearing completion.

“We are scheduled to be done with this project by the end of the year, if not sooner, if weather is on our side,” Arthur said.

The network is designed to improve communications for transportation systems and emergency services while creating opportunities for internet providers to expand broadband connections into underserved communities.

Lynne Yocom, UDOT’s fiber optics director, explained that improving highway communications is a primary purpose of the project, but the infrastructure can also benefit nearby communities.

“We need connected roads. Might as well connect the communities while we’re there at the same time,” Yocom said.

The project also includes public Wi-Fi hotspots planned for parks in Nephi, Levan, Gunnison and Scipio, according to the presentation.

UDOT representatives said the additional connections would improve network redundancy, potentially reducing service interruptions by providing alternative routes for internet traffic.

Public safety grants and emergency planning

The commission approved a request to apply for, sign and expend funding through the 2025 State Homeland Security Program.

The proposed projects include approximately $60,000 for a shelter to cover trailers near the Sheriff’s Office and another $22,000 for emergency management needs, including public alerting systems and Starlink communications equipment.

Sanpete County Emergency Manager Deputy Josh Allsop explained that the grant would support projects and related expenses over a three-year period.

“It’s a 100% grant from Homeland Security,” Allsop said.

Allsop said the county has received funding through the program for multiple years, although changes in the grant schedule mean Sanpete County is now expected to be eligible every other year.

Commissioners also ratified approval of a $229,500 grant supporting the jail’s Residential Substance Abuse Treatment program. The county will provide a $76,500 match, bringing the total project cost to $306,000.

In another emergency preparedness matter, the commission approved a memorandum of understanding with the school district allowing the Sanpete Event Center to serve as an emergency shelter and mass-care facility if Manti High School must be evacuated.

The arrangement would provide a nearby location for students, parents and emergency personnel during an evacuation. Officials described the agreement as renewable annually, with emergency use taking precedence over other scheduled events.