Rationing the Road
A shortage of asphalt, fueled by increased demands and higher prices has led to delays for some UDOT projects
James L. Davis
The high cost of oil is hitting Utah motorists in more than just the fuel tank; it’s making for a bumpy ride as an asphalt shortage is delaying many area road projects until next spring.
Nielson Construction has idled one of its two asphalt paving crews as a result of severe asphalt oil shortages that have limited the ability of contractors throughout Utah and Colorado in completing road construction projects.
The shortage of asphalt oil has been an issue that contractors have had to wrestle with for more than a year, but the drastic increase in oil prices has made a bad situation even worse. With asphalt oil being a byproduct of oil refineries and the higher profits available in gasoline production, many refineries are not producing asphalt oil at the level they once were. Add to that the fact that the demand for asphalt has skyrocketed in the Intermountain area, and the end result has been that the once rapid pace of road construction projects has slowed to a crawl.
The Utah Department of Transportation is looking at postponing a number of projects, partly due to the shortage of asphalt and partly due to the fact that asphalt prices have increased so dramatically that budgets are being busted.
Like many contractors in the state, Nielson Construction is having to adjust to a shortage of asphalt oil and polymers to make its asphalt. Hardest hit have been the asphalt oil and polymers required to make superpave for UDOT projects. Nielson Construction is traveling as far as Montana and Colorado now to purchase asphalt oil, but the oil it has been able to purchase does not meet state specifications for superpave for state and federal highways, meaning that the asphalt they are able to produce can be used for commercial use for such things as county roads, parking lots and driveways, but not for state projects. The cost of the oil has also skyrocketed, as well as the added expense of traveling longer distances to purchase the oil.
According to Robert Peirce, Nielson Construction Asphalt manager, the construction company is running tests on a new asphalt mix using asphalt oil it is able to acquire to see if it can meet UDOT specifications, but the results of those tests are still pending.
“If the mix design passes we can still get a lot done this year,” Peirce said.
UDOT is keenly aware of the problem and has been working with contractors throughout the state on projects that have already been started to allow for extensions and are delaying some of those that have not started.
Locally, Nielson Construction has all but completed a project on SR-6 between Wellington and the Sunnyside Junction. All that remains is a little more than two miles of road that needs an overlay. But with the shortage of asphalt oil, that final two miles will most likely have to wait until spring for completion. The same is true for a road project the company has been working on in Cat Canyon, where five miles of roadway is waiting for asphalt and may have to wait until spring.
A project that was scheduled to begin this fall but has been delayed until next year because of asphalt shortages is the South Moore Cutoff project, which is ready for asphalt.
Of course, the delay on asphalt projects just makes for an even busier spring, as more construction projects planned for next year will increase the demand for asphalt.
The asphalt shortage fuels frustrations for not only motorists but for contractors stalled in their projects due to shortages.
Nielson Construction made modifications to its asphalt plant that produces superpave, updating equipment and making improvements. It relocated its commercial asphalt plant to Carbon County to put it in a better position to meet the demands of customers and the asphalt oil shortage has left customers wanting a product that the company can only provide in a limited supply.
“We’ve been able to keep our two crews busy up until two weeks ago. We’ve gone down to one paving crew for now,” Peirce said.
For Nielson Construction, the company is diversified enough that it has been able to transfer the paving crews to other departments until the asphalt oil crisis is resolved.
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CEU Merger Fears Continue
Josie Luke
News of proposed legislation that would merge the College of Eastern Utah and Utah State University produced a firestorm in Carbon and Emery counties in February of this year, but the legislation was quietly put on hold until more information could be gathered. A task force, organized by the State Board of Regents has recently been doing just that.
The interim task force was called for by the Legislature in House Bill 3 to study possibilities for “greater collaboration and cooperation between the College of Eastern Utah and Utah State University, including consideration of partnerships, alliances, or a merger, in order to increase educational opportunities for the citizens in eastern Utah and maximize state resources.”
When the proposed merger legislation was initially announced in an article by the Salt Lake Tribune, many were caught off guard, including many of the faculty and administration at CEU, who along with many community members were reticent because of what they viewed as “unanswered questions.”
Now that the interim task force is examining the idea, concerns have risen again, the most prevalent issue being the possible loss of vocational programs at CEU were the two colleges to merge.
Edward Clark, the career and technical education director for the Emery County School District is especially concerned over the possible loss. “If CEU and Utah State were to merge, there’s a good chance we’ll lose vocational programs,” said Clark.
He bases his view on the differing missions of the two institutions, with USU moving toward becoming a research institution and CEU recently merging with the Western Energy Training Center as an example of its commitment to continuing vocational education.
Emery High School currently has four programs that are tied into CEU programs. Clark fears that two of those programs would be lost were the merger to occur. “I’m just afraid people don’t really understand the issues,” said Clark, who fears that along with the loss of vocational programs, tuition would also jump, and scholarships, which benefit local students would be lost.
The loss would also have the “potential to have a huge effect” on the local economy, according to Emery County Economic Development Director Mike McCandless. He explained that the job training that students receive at CEU provides capable workers needed in local industry.
McCandless held, “Any proposal to merge must include how to continue these programs.”
Brad King, State Representative and CEU Vice-President of Institutional Advancement and Student Services commented that of the “myriad of things” people are concerned over, he would put the possible loss of vocational programs “at the top,” explaining, “We share those concerns about vocational programs.”
King also revealed that although the task force is still “in the middle of the study, direction will come in the near future.”
The CEU Dean of the Professional, Career and Technical education Division, Russell Goodrich is also intent on preserving the programs. He believes that vocational education is “crucial” for the college and the community. He revealed that many of those who were interviewed by the task force expressed the same view. “I think they [the task force] understand that particular message, and I think Utah State understands that as well” he said. “We need to continue to send that message.
Goodrich is more optimistic about the prospects. “Interest in expanding vocational programs throughout our region has come from an increased desire for that training, and I think the vocational programs will continue,” he stated.
CEU’s Interim President, Mike King, also attempted to ease any anxiety, stating “the college’s vocational programs are not in jeopardy.” He believes that language in the House Bill that created the task force specifically addresses the issue.
The language he referred to states: “The study shall include ways of protecting the traditional community college role including access to career and technical education currently provided by CEU. The task force and the Board of Regents shall provide their recommendations to the Executive Appropriations Committee for any changes that require legislative action or funding.”
President King conveyed, “I know lots of people are concerned, but we intend to make sure the programs are not reduced. Those programs are integral to the mission CEU has and will continue to be. I’ve told faculty here that there is going to be a CEU here next year just like there is this year.”
He encouraged those who are concerned to be patient while the study is conducted, saying there would be more answers when the study was concluded.
Clark is still not convinced. “They can’t really build a safeguard into it. If USU takes over, they’ll do what’s best for USU,” he maintained. “It may be protected for a year or two, but they can’t guarantee it.”
Miles Nelson, associate vice-president for workforce education at CEU is also concerned. He related, “It is unclear on how they would keep that intact because that is not part of USU’s mission. How will they maintain those programs when that’s not their focus?”
Without more information, the issue will continue to draw concern, as the task force is not expected to make their final report until the next legislative session.
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Industrial Park interest more
than just nuclear
Josie Luke
Although much of the focus on the large industrial park west of Green River has recently been placed on a nuclear power plant possibly being built on the land, county officials are receiving inquiries from a myriad of companies interested in the area.
Emery County Economic Development Director, Mike McCandless reported that he receives inquiries from companies “once to twice a week.” He said that many of them are excited about Green River, but explained the area will not fit every business. “I’m targeting businesses that fit Green River. If it’s not a good fit, we don’t want to pursue it,” he said. Still, many are interested, and McCandless is in contact with them on “a daily basis.”
Because the companies involved have not committed, he is hesitant to name them specifically, but revealed that several would be “exciting opportunities” for the community. One of the companies McCandless spoke specifically about was a “very large, well-respected distribution company” who works in the gas and energy industry. Another is a large manufacturing company, dealing with paper manufacturing, and a third is a “recycling project.”
He added that discussions are continuing with Mancos Resources, and said that work on that front is “progressing well.”
McCandless continued to stress that the power plant is a long-term process, and so he is looking at many other options. He has been frustrated with reports in state newspapers about the plant which “just don’t tell the whole truth.” He clarified that those who wish to lease land in the area would be required to do so on a “first come, first served basis and, if the company were to purchase the land, there would still be a large amount of land still available, with the industrial park consisting of 2,500 acres of state institutional trust lands and 800 acres of private land.
“I am still trying to fill every acre,” he stated. “At this point, I don’t have any concern with excluding anybody.”
At a recent Emery County Commission Meeting, the commissioners elected to sign the latest draft of development lease on the land with SITLA, and a public hearing on rezoning the area is scheduled for Sept. 10, at 7 p.m. in the Green River City Hall.
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Meal services for center seniors
about to go upscale
Josie Luke
Meal service for residents of the Emery County Care and Rehabilitation Center in Ferron will soon be revamped, including having made-to-order breakfasts and elegant restaurant-style dinners. The changes were announced by the Center’s management at a Board Meeting held Aug. 27.
Al Shakespeare, center administrator, described several changes which will be made, including the made-to-order breakfasts which will be extended by half an hour, 8 to 9:30 a.m., in order to allow residents to sleep in longer
The lunch meal will be much the same, but will be held at 1 p.m. instead of noon. Dinner will be served in a more elegant style with china and table cloths on the tables. The dining room will also be decorated to look more like a restaurant, including draperies on the “windows” and an awning with the name of the new dinging room, Mill Creek Café.
They hope the changes will help the residents “feel like they’re going out to eat, so it is a better dining experience.” So far, the response to the upcoming change has been quite positive. At a monthly Resident Council, the dietary manger explained the changes, and Shakespeare revealed the residents were “really excited.”
The moves will not be as simple for the facility as simply offering a menu, redecorating and using nicer dinnerware; the changes will require rescheduling of many of the usual activities during the day, including work schedules. “It will kind of change everything we do,” said Shakespeare.
Barry Snow, nursing administrator, echoed his judgment, explaining that the changes would take some time to get used to. “It might take us a couple of weeks, or a month, or longer,” he quipped.
Donna Sorensen will start decorating the dining room this week and the new dining schedule will begin Sept. 8, with the grand opening to occur mid-September.
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Commission holds hearing on tax increase
Kathy Ockey
Emery County Commissioners Jeff Horrocks and Gary Kofford, along with Darrell Leamaster of the Castle Valley Special Service District led a Public Hearing on Aug. 20 to discuss the judgment levy tax increase to repay Pacificorp as a result of judgments issued by the Utah State Tax Commission on 2007 valuation.
The county judgment levy tax increase to repay Pacificorp is $95,700. The Emery County Special Service District also has a judgment levy tax increase for Pacificorp in the amount of $38,910.
The commissioners explained that each year Pacificorp appeals to the Utah State Tax Commission that Emery County is overcharging them on their property taxes and each year they are granted an adjustment to their taxes resulting in a judgment levy. The Utah Association of Counties is litigating this ongoing issue with their attorneys and trying to get it settled. One citizen at the meeting said that the UAC attorney doesn’t seem to be making progress on the situation and suggested a new approach be taken, possibly getting the county attorney involved.
The commissioners said the judgment levy hit hard this year because the State Tax Commission claimed property taxes were undervalued and had to be within 20 percent of value and the county needed to be in line with these figures. The Tax Commission told the county to bring the taxes up or they would do it for the county. The county did raise values, but they still can’t collect any more taxes than they collected last year. This makes the values go up but the tax percentage goes down and is equalized. Empty lots and improved property is also included in the average sales. Farmland falls under Green Belt and is not affected.
One citizen reported his property taxes went up 300 percent. The commissioners said there is a process available to review or change the taxes but an appraisal has to be done and the matter has to be completed before Sept. 15.
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