Category Archives: Press Releases

News, Press Releases, Public Notices

Washington County Sheriff’s Office Workers’ Housing Building

HURRICANE, Utah — The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will soon begin construction of a single level, 14,000 square foot, low security detention facility. The site is located at the Purgatory Correctional Facility in Hurricane, Utah (Google Maps).

The building will replace the current work release buildings that were initially intended as a temporary solution, but have been used over the last sixteen (16) years, and are now in a state of dilapidation.

In addition, this building will expand the Sheriff’s Office capabilities to provide inmates with jobs that help them transition back into society. Once complete, the building will house approximately 128 low-risk inmates.

Washington County’s inmate worker program is one of the best work programs in the state. Additionally, this program provides revenue to offset some of the costs of incarceration.

Naylor Wentworth Lund is the project’s architect, and Hughes Construction, Inc., is the contractor, who was selected after a Request for Proposal (RFP) process.

Construction will begin March, 2018, and is estimated to be completed by September, 2018.

Elections, News, Press Releases

Voting Changes in Hildale, LaVerkin and Toquerville

The Washington County Clerk’s office has made a change in how registered voters in Hildale, LaVerkin and Toquerville will vote in the upcoming 2018 election year and for all successive county elections. These communities will now be voting By Mail.

(This decision by the county will not change Hildale, La Verkin and Toquerville cities ability to administer their municipal elections as they see fit.)

By Mail voters will be receiving their ballots 2 to 3 weeks before each Election Day. Active registered voters in these communities do not need to request a ballot to be mailed to them, one will be mailed to their residential or mailing address automatically.

NOTE: The Post Office cannot “Forward” ballots. In the event that a resident will be traveling or will be away from their residence, the registered voter can go to vote.utah.gov and fill out an absentee ballot request. By filling out this absentee ballot request the resident will be able to tell us where to mail their ballot for each individual election.

To ensure that voters get their ballot quickly, if you have moved or have had a mailing address change, please go to vote.utah.gov and re-register to vote with your current residential and or mailing address.

If you are a registered voter in Hildale, La Verkin or Toquerville, you will no longer have a poll location in your city. If you need help or you would like to drop your voted ballot off in person, the Hurricane Community Center located at 63 S 100 W, Hurricane (Google Maps) will be available to assist you on Election Day from 7am to 8pm.

*Any registered voter in Washington County who is not living in a By Mail precinct, can obtain an Absentee Ballot by filling out an Absentee Ballot Requests form at vote.utah.gov.

Zion National Park
News, Press Releases, Public Notices

Notice of Vacancy — Rockville Springdale Special Service District Administrative Control Board

Link

NOTICE is hereby given that there are one (1) vacancy on the Rockville Springdale Special Service District Administrative Control Board.

To qualify for appointment to that Board, an individual must meet the following qualifications:

  • Be a U.S. Citizen;
  • Be a qualified elector (registered voter) of the Rockville Springdale Special Service District

Those wishing to serve on the Rockville Springdale Special Service District Administrative Control Board should submit a Candidate for Appointment form (click here to download) to the Washington County Commission Office (Google Maps) no later than Thursday, January 25, 2018.

The County Commission will consider the nominees for appointment to this board at its February 6, 2018, County Commission meeting.

Published in The Spectrum January 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, 2018.

News, Press Releases, Public Notices

Notice of Vacancy – Washington County Planning Commission

NOTICE is hereby given that there are three (3) vacancies on the Washington County Planning Commission.

To qualify for appointment to that Board, an individual must meet the following qualifications:

  • Be a U.S. Citizen;
  • Reside in Washington County;
  • Be registered to vote in Washington County

Those wishing to serve on the Washington County Planning Commission should submit a Candidate for Appointment form (click here to download) to the Washington County Commission Office (Google Maps) no later than Thursday, December 28, 2017.

The County Commission will consider the nominees for appointment to this board at its January 16, 2018, County Commission meeting.

Published in The Spectrum December 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, 2017.

News, Press Releases, Public Notices

RFP for Janitorial Contracts on County Offices and Library Branches

Washington County is seeking two separate bid proposals from janitorial contractors to provide equipment and labor for the janitorial and cleaning of the following offices and branches:

  1. Washington County Offices
    • Administration Building
    • Boulevard Building
    • Justice Center
    • Office Plaza
    • Annex I
    • USU Extension
  2. Washington County Library Branches
    • Administration Building
    • St. George branch
    • Hurricane branch
    • Washington branch
    • Santa Clara branch
    • Enterprise branch
    • New Harmony branch
    • Hildale branch

Bid documents can be picked up at the Washington County Commission offices starting Monday October 30, 2017 through November 12, 2017.

Washington County Commission
111 East Tabernacle
St. George, UT  84770
Account #: 1359
(Google Maps)

Publish on:

  • October 26, 2017 (Libraries)
  • October 27, 2017 (Offices & Libraries)
  • October 28, 2017 (Offices & Libraries)
  • October 29, 2017 (Offices & Libraries)
  • October 30, 2017 (Offices & Libraries)
  • October 31, 2017 (Offices)
Washington County Fair on August 9 - 12
News, Press Releases, Public Notices, Things To Do

Washington County Fair on August 9 — 12

Video

Washington County Fair celebrates 20 years!

“Lions and Tigers and Bears… Oh my!” That’s what you’ll see if you attend the Washington County Fair in Hurricane this week, Aug. 9-12. Fair goers will help celebrate 20 years with a theme of “There’s no place like home.” Fair Director Wendy Sandberg said this year promises everything they’ve encountered in the past, and more. For more information go to washcofair.net.

Grafton Building at Washington County Legacy Park in Hurricane
News, Press Releases, Public Notices, Things To Do

Grafton Building Dedication

Video

Washington County dedicates new Grafton Building in time for the fair.

It’s taken only about four months to complete and it’s just in time for the Washington County Fair. The new Grafton Building at Washington County Legacy Park in Hurricane is officially open for business. County officials and those involved in it’s creation attended a ribbon cutting ceremony dedicating the new 28,000 square foot building. The space will not only be used to host events but will also house the USU Extension and 4-H offices.

Meetings, News, Press Releases, Public Notices

Fire Restriction Order by Utah DNR

Due to current and forecasted weather conditions coupled with the extremely dry conditions in Washington County, the State Forester, in consultation with the county commission, has determined that measures must be taken to prevent the ignition of forest and rangeland fires. Therefore, pursuant to Utah State Law, Section 65A-8-212, the following acts are prohibited in the areas described below until rescinded by the Utah State Forester and the County Commission:

  1. Setting, building, maintaining, attending or using open fires of any kind, except within the facilities designated for them in improved campgrounds, picnic areas or home sites where running water is present.
  2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, trailer or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area that is paved or free from dry vegetation.
  3. Discharging or using any kind of fireworks, tracer ammunition or other pyrotechnic devices including exploding targets.
  4. Cutting, welding or grinding metal in areas of dry vegetation.
  5. Operating a motorcycle, chainsaw, ATV, or other small internal combustion engine without an approved and working spark arrestor.

The following persons are exempted from the above prohibitions:

  1. Persons with a permit or waiver specifically authorizing a specified act at a specific location.
  2. Any on-duty firefighter in the performance of an official duty.

Area Description:

All unincorporated private and all state lands within the following area:

  • Washington County

This order does not affect private lands within incorporated towns or city limits.

Effective Date: 12:01 am, 20th day of June, 2017

Any of the above acts is a violation of state law and is punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. These restrictions will be enforced by county law enforcement.

RESOLUTION NO. R-2017-2214

A RESOLUTION OF WASHINGTON COUNTY ADOPTING THE FIRE RESTRICTIONS PROPOSED BY THE STATE FORESTER

WHEREAS, Washington County (“County”) recognizes the fire threat that naturally caused weather conditions pose to people and property within the County; and

WHEREAS, the County has participated in a cooperative agreement with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands (FFSL) to manage wild fire risk; and

WHEREAS, FFSL has flagged the current weather conditions in Washington County as high risk for fires; and

WHEREAS, FFSL has proposed to Washington County a set of temporary fire restrictions aimed at minimizing the risk of human caused wild fires;

WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the residents of Washington County that the temporary fire restrictions be approved.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSION OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, UTAH, that the fire restriction order proposed by the State Forester, attached as Exhibit A, is hereby adopted.

VOTED UPON AND PASSED BY THE WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSION AT A REGULAR MEETING OF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSION HELD ON THE 20th DAY OF JUNE, 2017.

News, Press Releases

Old Highway 91 Road Work from Mile Post 4 to Mile Post 16

Road work will resume Monday June 19th on a road project to improve the safety of Old Highway 91 in Washington County from Mile Post 4 to Mile Post 16 on the road from Ivins, Utah to Littlefield, Arizona. Work is expected to cause traffic delays until completion in mid- July 2017.

Work will consist of installing guardrail. No overnight or complete road closures are anticipated. Delays of 15 minutes or more will be common due to lane restrictions and potential safety concerns in the work zones. The work area is 12 miles long and work crews could be working at many different locations throughout the project. Reduced speeds will be enforced through the work areas.

Please make your travel plans anticipating these delays. The public is encouraged to use Interstate 15 through the Virgin River Gorge as their main travel way during this period of time to allow the construction crews to work and increase safety in the work zones.