Sanpete County joins Utah Infrastructure Coalition

MANTI — Sanpete County will join a regional energy infrastructure coalition and help rebrand the organization as the Utah Infrastructure Coalition after a unanimous vote by the Sanpete County Commission on Feb. 3.

The commissioners approved an interlocal cooperation agreement formally adding Sanpete County to what has been the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition. In a separate motion, they approved renaming the group to reflect its expanded membership.

Commission Chair Scott Bartholomew said the coalition has led major infrastructure efforts tied to energy development in eastern and central Utah.

“They’re the ones that have done the project that got the railroad back up in the Duchesne area,” Bartholomew said. “They will be the ones that will be heading the deep port (proposed for the Sea of Cortez) for the coal for us and the rest of the state.”

The coalition was formed by energy-producing counties to coordinate large-scale infrastructure projects tied to coal, oil and gas development. Member counties have included Carbon, Emery, Sevier, San Juan, Duchesne and Daggett.

“It’s coal-producing counties is what it is,” Bartholomew said.

He said joining the coalition positions Sanpete County to participate more directly in future rail, port and export-related projects affecting the region’s coal industry.

Leaders say the group’s primary focus is on improving transportation capacity for energy products, including coal. The coalition previously coordinated efforts to restore rail access in the Uintah Basin, including initiating extended litigation against the federal government over rail development proposals.

Bartholomew also noted shifting coal production levels in the region. “Sevier County has always been the largest coal producer the last few years,” he said. “As of May, they will no longer be. Emery will be taking that over.”

While the county will participate financially in the operation, the commissioners did not mention a specific amount during the meeting.
License plate reader approved In a separate action, commissioners approved a $6,000 purchase of a stationary license plate reader for the Sheriff’s Office using grant funds.

“It’s stationary, but mobile,” Sheriff Jared Buchanan said. “It goes on a pole, and we can move it.”

The system will be operated by the detective division and connected to statewide and multi-county networks.

“You could use it for drug trafficking,” Buchanan said. “It comes in handy on missing person cases or Silver Alerts.”
He said there are currently no license plate readers operating in Sanpete County.

The reader requires an annual subscription fee. Buchanan said the county may explore whether the state would assume that cost in the future if the device is placed along a state roadway.