Issues & Frequently Asked Questions

Other than our children, water is our region’s most precious resource. The future of Iron County’s growth, economy, and identity depends on how we manage our water resources. Over 14 years ago, I first became involved with local public service because I was worried about where we were heading on this issue, and water has always been my top priority in public service. Finally, after working to make water a community priority, I’m grateful the issue is on everyone’s mind and that we are working on solutions.

Most of our county’s water comes from our underground aquifers, which are replenished through snowpack and rainfall that make their way into the ground. The State of Utah monitors groundwater well levels to ensure we use those aquifers sustainably.

Iron County’s aquifers are overdrawn and the State Engineer’s office is taking action to balance them through groundwater management plans. A plan for the Parowan area basin is in progress, and plans for the Cedar City/Enoch area basin and for the Beryl/Enterprise area basin have already been published. These plans stabilize groundwater levels over time but have serious consequences for water users like city and county water providers. In order to comply with the plans while providing residents with water, Iron County and our cities have to work together to conserve, recharge, reuse, and import water.

Conservation: We have to conserve water to preserve a future for our children. Agriculture uses most of this region’s water, and Iron County has been leading the way on researching and using more efficient irrigation techniques. All of our state and local conservation plans also expect homeowners to reduce their water consumption by about 30% over the next 30 years. That future still includes trees, gardens, and useful lawns, but in a better-planned and intentional way like the Localscapes program used in other parts of our state. In our own home, we have been making progress on converting unused turf areas to water-wise landscaping as well adopting new technology that reduces plants' water needs. Our household will continue to find ways to improve in the future.

Water Recharge: Unlike groundwater from wells, surface water from springs and creeks is not predictable or consistent, and it’s not always ready to drink. Instead of building expensive treatment plants, we let the earth do the heavy lifting. As long as surface water has a chance to percolate into the soil, it is clean and ready for our residents to use. However, if that water makes it to a clay pan, it mixes with salts and waits to evaporate without being used. The Central Iron County Water Conservancy District (CICWCD) has been a leader on water recharge ensuring as much water as possible makes it into our aquifer. Except for summer monsoon flood waters that are too high in salts and solids for human consumption, Iron County diverts what excess it can into our aquifers. In 2022 & 2023, we recharged almost 10,000 acre-feet over 3 billion gallons of water into gravel pits that would have otherwise evaporated and left our basin forever. These recharge efforts are only possible because our community has invested in infrastructure to divert water away from salty clay pans into gravel pits and other recharge structures. The bottom of this section of the page will have more photos of some of the projects Iron County has completed in recent years. (http://www.riversimulator.org/Resources/Utah/WahWahPine/News/SearchingNewWaterSourcesWaysToBalanceToAquiferSGN.pdf)

Water Reuse: Indoor water that goes down the drain will eventually arrive at a wastewater treatment plant. The Cedar plant and Parowan valley lagoons both divert treated wastewater to agricultural use as a way to recycle that water and preserve our aquifers. Cedar City has constructed a plant to turn type 2 water into type 1. I support this concept of using type l water for agriculture and having the AG producers idle their wells thus saving the draw down of the aquifer. These treatment plants can treat the water to a point that it can aslo be re-used in municipal systems more efficiently. Those upgrades are happening now in addition to conservation and recharge. [This is exciting progress with waste water in the Cedar Basin]https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1991193731194135&id=1493860074260839](https://ironcountytoday.com/2024/09/02/cedar-city-secures-2-million-grant-to-launch-water-reuse-project-amid-aquifer-concerns/))

Importing Water: Moving water from another basin is always an option when costs allow it and when that water can be moved sustainably without negatively impacting the other water users or the native ecosystem. I first became involved in public service because Cedar City’s commitment to the Lake Powell Pipeline project would not have been financially responsible. On the other hand, some of our community leaders with an eye on the future filed on water rights about 15 years ago in 3 of the neighboring valleys to the north of Iron County.

The State of Utah and the courts granted those rights to Iron County and all other claims to the Pine and Wah Wah valley water rights were settled when Beaver County’s commissioners signed an agreement with Iron County in 2019

What is now known as the Pine Valley Water Supply Project is currently in environmental approval processes, after which we can explore more specific engineering options to get a more accurate cost proposal. At current estimates, this project is more environmentally- and financially-sustainable than past water importation options and, even if we stopped growing as a community, would only cost $50/month per household to provide ample water to the Cedar City/Enoch area for decades to come. That cost will go down with growth as more water users spread the cost out and as developers pay for the impact of their projects’ demands on local infrastructure.

Water recharge alone isn’t enough to secure our water needs in the future. Neither is conservation, wastewater reuse, or water importation. If we keep working on all of our options and making progress at the rate we have been working, we can provide our children and their children with water that meets their needs and improves their quality of life in our desert paradise.

I love our community, When I moved here in 1980, I contributed to the growth in our county. When my wife and I grew our family from 2 to 7, we caused more growth. I told friends about our wonderful community and contributed to even more growth over the years. Growing for growth’s sake is a bad idea, especially if government is the driving force. Stopping growth for the sake of stopping growth is also a bad idea, especially if government is the driving force (just ask my hometown of Moab).

Without artificial manipulation, Iron County will probably continue to grow for some time as our kids grow up and have their own children, and as more move-ins like me discover the area and want to live here too. Market forces will limit that to some extent, like the cost of water and job opportunities.

One of my most important jobs as a commissioner is ensuring our infrastructure is planned and funded to meet our current and future needs. If doing that job well means requiring developers to bring water rights to the table to offset the water demands of their development or assessing a fair fee for activities that place demands on our infrastructure, then that decision slows growth. If doing that job well means removing red tape on small family businesses or allowing seniors who don’t want to maintain a large building lot to live on a smaller lot, then that decision may accelerate growth.

With monsoon rains, we all have a chance to reflect on our public infrastructure and look at ways to improve. With dozens of families affected by these historic floods, hundreds of residents banded together to preserve and restore homes. County and city workers spent long hours clearing and monitoring public drainage systems to keep damage to a minimum. After the immediate threats subsided, our county workers and some elected officials operated machines 24/7 to clear the mud and debris from our drainage structures so subsequent storms would not be worse. Long-term, the county has been working with our cities to ensure our stormwater plans align and to eliminate weaknesses where county and city infrastructure transition.

As a commissioner, I will continue to make decisions that protect and invest in our infrastructure. Sometimes those decisions will decrease growth and sometimes they will make Iron County a better place to call home. I hope we continue to be a place where people want to live and raise a family and I will work to ensure Iron County has the roads, water, and other amenities that will facilitate that.

As a 'Platform' Republican, I love the party platform and the principles it outlines. The Utah Republican Party Platform truly reflects how I feel about government rules about businesses and housing policies: “We recognize that government regulation can be a major impediment to productivity and to competition. We must rely more on market forces and less on government…We believe that a strong, diversified economy based on a positive work ethic, a well trained and well educated work force, a business-friendly environment, and safe work place will help Utah compete in a world market place. We believe that developing our human resources is essential to the future of Utah.”

People need to have freedom to make a living and to be allowed to own a place they can call their own. Government shouldn’t provide everyone with a job and a home, but we certainly need to stay out of the way.

I have worked on the following policies to ensure Iron County residents have the freedom to live and work with dignity:

• Received the Covid Hero Award from the Cedar City Area Chamber of Commerce for fighting for the right of local businesses to support their families while those who were fighting to shut them down kept their own salaries. I also gave my salary as a commissioner during that time to the Chamber of Commerce which they used to support businesses that were impacted by bad policies.
• Voted in favor of changes to the county animal rights and farm stand ordinance ensuring farmers have a right to sell produce on their property.
• Voted in favor of the R4K zone to allow owner-occupied planned communities to build smaller homes on smaller, more water-conscious lots.

In addition to my record as a commissioner, I am proud of my record as a former city councilman. I will continue to distinguish between needs vs wants and work to keep taxes low and remove unnecessary regulations on livelihoods and homeowners.

County Commissioners work with cities to protect the rights of their residents and the residents of the county that don’t live within the city limits of any city. Sometimes, our rights are threatened by state and federal government policies. As residents of a county where the federal government owns 58% of our land, we are especially affected by decisions made in Washington, D.C.

When I first started in public service, prairie dog regulations were the main concern affecting Iron County residents. Through the efforts of dozens of engaged residents, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Property Owners sued the federal government and that process led to significant changes in federal and state interaction with the management of the endangered prairie dogs as property owners’ rights were restored.

In 2017, Brian Head experienced a devastating wildfire due in large part to the mismanagement of our federal lands. I appreciate efforts from our federal partners that lead to better forest management, varied uses by multiple parties, watershed restoration efforts, and other measures that help our residents and our economy instead of causing harm. I serve on the National Association of Counties public lands steering Committee that helps shape and influence these policies, and I hope we continue to make progress on ensuring Iron County’s land is used for the benefit of our residents and don’t sit idle waiting for the next spark to set them on fire.

Although I never expected the State of Utah to become a threat to the residents of Iron County, our worst fears were realized in 2020 when state policies hurt rural Utah families by telling mom and pop shops to shut down while government workers and large businesses were allowed to take a paycheck. We fought hard to keep businesses open and avoid the harm caused by shutdowns while encouraging the community to take safety precautions to avoid the harm caused by illness.

As a commission, we passed an ordinance in April of 2021 to send a message to our community that we take our residents’ constitutional rights seriously. In the future, this ordinance allows the county commission and other local officials to discuss threats to civil rights in a public and structured way to determine the best way to protect those rights from the state or federal government. When I brought the resolution to the table, I told Cedar City News that “We will always do our best to preserve their rights to life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. This ordinance gives us a measured and deliberate path toward protecting those rights.”

I appreciate and support law enforcement and have a record as a former city councilman and currently as a commissioner of doing so. We must give these men and women who keep us safe the resources necessary to do their job, and retain those we have on the force. In the face of inflation, low workplace morale, and the cost of losing employees, we voted last year for a pay raise for our first responders to ensure their pay was competitive and that we keep good people on the force to protect our community. I applaud the efforts of our Sheriff’s office in negotiating a win-win arrangement with SUU Aviation for access to helicopters for search and rescue, and I will continue to support collaborative efforts between community organizations that make the best use of our resources to support our residents.

Assisted Parowan with water issues. Serve on the groundwater management plan committee. Helped construct the Little Creek recharge basin.

After six years of work on the CICWCD board the water in Pine & WaWa adjudicated to the CICWCD.

With donated equipment from a local developer, spent a week enlarging the recharge basin for the Quichapa recharge system.

Opposed tax reform by gathering signatures statewide for the referendum to defeat HB441, efforts were successful.

Brought to light the waste of taxpayer dollars in the plans to tear down the capitol office building.

With efforts from other commissioners we fought against the CAFO plans to move large swine operations close to population centers.

Letter to governor to use caution in trying to shut things down due to COVID.

Sold the building on Main & Fiddler's Canyon Drive the county owned. Used the funds to add a new county road department building without burdening taxpayers.

Donated time in cabinet shop manufacturing sneeze guards to help protect our country employees.

Worked with SITLA getting a right to cross permit, fabricated head box and worked with county employees to install and create the Quichapa creek recharge project.

County commission letter to the governor regarding the reopening of closed businesses in Iron County.

Pushed to have the Independence day parade despite COVID lockdowns, sponsored and helped build floats.

Held the first open air concert in America (Collin Raye) at the Iron Springs Resort. 4000 attended with no Ill effects recorded.

Commission letter to the governor to move Iron County from Orange level to Green.

Used Cares act funds that were going to be returned to the state to add 5000’ to our overcrowded senior center to help with social distancing. A much needed addition to allow our seniors the ability to social distance.

Letter to the governor in response to the COVID update.

With county equipment assisted CICWCD employees constructing a dam across Quichapa to add another tool regarding water conservation plans.

Commission issued letter to legislature opposing the cancel culture movement SB278 in support of our friends to the South in preserving the name of DSU.

Passed constitutional and Federalism defense Procedures in order to monitor unconstitutional acts by the state and or federal government.

Passed the R4K housing ordinance in an effort to help with affordable housing.

Passed the resolution drafted by board member Staheli opposing the use of CRT curriculum in Iron County.

Assisted the flooding mitigation efforts. Rented and operated an excavator for 150 hours to help clean flood channels in the county.

Passed RESOLUTION 2021-6 A RESOLUTION PLACING TRUST IN INDIVIDUAL HEALTH DECISIONS AND ESTABLISHING A POLICY AGAINST LOCKDOWNS AND MASK MANDATES

Overseeing new bleachers for the Iron County Fairgrounds.

Worked to get a carve out for the requirement to install secondary water meters, avoiding a disaster for Parowan.

Pushed back and defeated another disastrous CAFO bill that continues to be an effort to take away zoning authority from counties.

Saved the five mile day campgroung in right hand canyon Parowan

Expanded the Schmidt pit recharge project by adding another pit giving us more capacity

How do you feel about Iron County’s COVID-19 response and your performance as a county commissioner?

I believe Iron County handled, and is handling the COVID issue well. Iron County has been open for business which has allowed our businesses to provide jobs and to pay their bills the best they can. I believe that ALL workers are essential, they provide for themselves and loved ones. We have taken a personal responsibility approach. My heartburn though has been watching bureaucrats try to dictate that certain businesses close or place unreasonable restrictions on them, preventing them from providing for their needs and the ability to pay the bills. I called many of the bureaucrats out for continuing to draw a paycheck that is derived from the very businesses that they wanted to restrict. As a board member of the Five County board of health we have been in nearly daily communication with our health director Dr. David Blodgett who has helped us navigate through this tough spot in our history.

While I strongly oppose shutdowns and mandates, I also believe that there is a time and a place for different kinds of protests. In my mind, private businesses and homes are off limits, and on more than one occasion I had strong words for those who planned to bring the fight to the homes and families of those shaping health policies.

I have lost good friends and loved ones to this disease and I hope that the lessons we learned over the last two years help us better protect civil rights and livelihoods while individuals take the steps they need to protect their health.

What are your current assignments as a commissioner and what have you accomplished in those roles?

I serve as the liaison to the commission for the CICWCD. One of the most important roles we have as a commission is board appointments to the Central Iron County Water Conservancy District (CICWCD). This board is responsible to look ahead 50 years and ensure that we have sufficient water for our needs. I served on that board for eight years and we accomplished a great deal. We currently have a great board and staff to oversee this operation in our county.

I currently serve on the Groundwater Management Plan Committee for the Parowan Valley where we are beginning the same process the Cedar valley went through for the last four years.

I spearheaded the completion of the latest recharge project in the Cedar valley at Quichapa Canyon using a gravel pit that was formed using material to improve the roads in that area. As a commissioner I have supported the CICWCD in accomplishing its goal of water security in our valley.

I serve on several Five County Association of Governments (a coalition between Beaver, Iron Kane, Garfield, and Washington counties) boards including the Southwest Behavioral Health board, the Southwest Utah Board of Health, steering committee, and the Health and Human Services council. I especially appreciate serving in these roles with Dr. David Boldgett whose expertise and level head have been invaluable during the pandemic.

Commission liaison to the County Assessor, County Auditor, County treasurer, County Engineer, Justice Court, regional wastewater treatment plant, Television services, Fleet supervisor, Library, and Bookmobile.

I am over new construction and maintenance in the county. We sold the county-owned building on Main Street & Fiddlers Canyon Drive and built a much needed and more efficient road Department building. We were also able to use a portion of Iron County's CARES Act funding to add a 5,000-square-foot addition to our Senior Center helping our senior citizens have much needed space to safely gather in an otherwise lonely time.

I serve on the Utah Association of Counties Board of Directors. I also serve on the NACo Public Lands Steering Committee

Some projects come from a group effort and others happen because someone is leading the charge. What have you accomplished as a commissioner where you were the primary driver or played a pivotal role?

Quichapa Canyon recharge project

Assisted the construction of the Little Creek recharge basin.

Assisted with the new dike across Quichapa lake for water reclamation.

County Road Department building

Senior Center building addition.

Assisted in clearing flood channels after the monsoon events of 2021 and helping flood victims with cleanup.

Timeline of acomplishments on commission

March 2019- Assisted Parowan with water issues. Serve on the groundwater management plan committee. Helped construct the Little Creek recharge basin.

March 2019 - After six years of work on the CICWCD board the water in Pine & WaWa adjudicated to the CICWCD.

April 2019 - With donated equipment from a local developer, spent a week enlarging the recharge basin for the Quichapa recharge system.

May 2019 - Opposed tax reform by gathering signatures statewide for the referendum to defeat HB441, efforts were successful.

January 2020 - Brought to light the waste of taxpayer dollars in the plans to tear down the capitol office building.

Feb 2020 - With efforts from other commissioners we fought against the CAFO plans to move large swine operations close to population centers.

March 2020 - Letter to governor to use caution in trying to shut things down due to COVID.

March 2020 - Sold the building on Main & Fiddler's Canyon Drive the county owned. Used the funds to add a new county road department building without burdening taxpayers.

March 2020 - Donated time in cabinet shop manufacturing sneeze guards to help protect our country employees.

April 2020 - Worked with SITLA getting a right to cross permit, fabricated head box and worked with county employees to install and create the Quichapa creek recharge project.

April 2020 - County commission letter to the governor regarding the reopening of closed businesses in Iron County.

May 2020 - Pushed to have the Independence day parade despite COVID lockdowns, sponsored and helped build floats.

June 2020 - Held the first open air concert in America (Collin Raye) at the Iron Springs Resort. 4000 attended with no Ill effects recorded.

September 2020 - Commission letter to the governor to move Iron County from Orange level to Green.

October 2020 - Used Cares act funds that were going to be returned to the state to add 5000’ to our overcrowded senior center to help with social distancing. A much needed addition to allow our seniors the ability to social distance.

October 2020 - Letter to the governor in response to the COVID update.

November 2020 - With county equipment assisted CICWCD employees constructing a dam across Quichapa to add another tool regarding water conservation plans.

February 2021- Commission issued letter to legislature opposing the cancel culture movement SB278 in support of our friends to the South in preserving the name of DSU.

April 2021- Passed constitutional and Federalism defense Procedures in order to monitor unconstitutional acts by the state and or federal government.

June 2021 - Passed the R4K housing ordinance in an effort to help with affordable housing.

July 2021 - Passed the resolution drafted by board member Staheli opposing the use of CRT curriculum in Iron County.

July 2021 - Assisted the flooding mitigation efforts. Rented and operated an excavator for 150 hours to help clean flood channels in the county.

August 2021 - Passed RESOLUTION 2021-6 A RESOLUTION PLACING TRUST IN INDIVIDUAL HEALTH DECISIONS AND ESTABLISHING A POLICY AGAINST LOCKDOWNS AND MASK MANDATES

September 2021 - Overseeing new bleachers for the Iron County Fairgrounds.

February 2022 - Worked to get a carve out for the requirement to install secondary water meters, avoiding a disaster for Parowan.

February 2022 - Pushed back and defeated another disastrous CAFO bill that continues to be an effort to take away zoning authority from counties.

Do you support the Iron Mine?

Unfortunately, I need to clear up another rumor this week due to campaign misinformation. There is a rumor going around that I want to shut down the iron mine. This is obviously false. I love the mine and the jobs that it creates for our community. As a new board member of the water district in 2012, I voted in favor of the district supplying water to the mine after the mine's private well ran dry overnight. This action by the board likely saved close to 100 jobs at the time. One source of this unfortunate rumor has been in regard to some disagreements the county commission has had with the mine about access to public lands. We support the mine's operations and approved necessary easements for critical infrastructure, but I believe I speak for all of my fellow county commissioners when I say that we firmly believe that public lands should remain open and accessible to the public. These issues appear to have been resolved and the mine has since been a great partner in keeping access to public lands open. The second unfortunate source of this rumor has been related to property taxes, which we rely on to pay our county staff and keep our operations running. The State of Utah, not Iron County, places tax values on properties like the iron mine, and public records through the State Property Tax Division show pending disputes with Black Iron LLC for tax years 2014-2019 and with Utah Iron LLC for tax year 2021. We continue to look forward to a resolution on these matters so we can ensure those who maintain our roads, enforce our laws, protect the integrity of elections, and keep us safe can feed their families and make a fair wage. At the end of the day, I am grateful that the iron mine provides high paying jobs to our community and generates the tax revenue we need to support those jobs and the jobs of our county workers. I call upon my opponent and others spreading this falsehood to stop immediately.