City Council discusses soils repository, primary election, and COVID-19

The Marsac Building in Old Town. Photo: TownLift // Bailey Edelstein

PARK CITY, Utah — In their first meeting since July and the primary election earlier this month, Park City Council addressed a variety of issues.

The meeting was set to be in-person at City Hall, however, it was switched to entirely virtual shortly before the group commenced.

“We are very aware of the community concern,” said Mayor Andy Beerman about a recent statewide surge in COVID-19. “And I’m confident that the health officials will make the … best move for our health, not the best political move, and that they will get good support from all of us when and if that happens.”

Mask mandates in Municipal buildings were discussed, but there are currently no plans to implement a requirement.

Despite the concern, Summit County remains quite an outlier in regards to vaccination status.

79 percent of people eligible (age 12 and older) to receive a vaccine in Summit County are fully vaccinated. 90 percent of that population has received their first dose.

For the age 12 and older demographic in the entire state, 59.4 percent are fully vaccinated. 68.3 percent have received at least one dose.

On the agenda was a follow-up on the soils repository following the 60-day public outreach period earlier this summer. Council had proposed building a soils facility along SR 248 to store mining-era contaminants like lead and arsenic that remain in Park City today because of its mining past.

Currently, the soils are taken over 100 miles away to a repository in Tooele County. A City estimate said they could save over $17 million by storing the soil locally.

Several council members seemed to convey that the City lost the messaging battle.

“It’s political. It’s total BS,” said Councilmember Max Doilney. “If this had happened at a different time of year, if it didn’t happen during a campaign it’s entirely likely you wouldn’t have had the same kind of uproar.”

Council members Steve Joyce and Tim Henney echoed Doilney’s sentiments.

“We’ve gone through this,” said Joyce. “We’ve had tens of thousands of trucks of this soil going through town. The next little batch of them’s not going to make any difference. But at the same time, I think the community just kind of worked themselves into a frenzy and doesn’t want to see this. I don’t see how we step back into that.”

Joyce highlighted that the money saved by storing the soils locally would open up funds for other initiatives like affordable housing or the Arts and Culture District.

“People were so irresponsible and said things like toxic and hazardous materials,” said Henney. “But as I’ve said in the past, once it’s been said, once it’s been heard, it’s not going to be unheard.”

Mayoral candidate Nann Worel said she’s never heard a clearer mandate from Parkites.

“We need to honor the fact the community doesn’t want us to move on this,” said Beerman. “And so I think for the moment we need to put this on hold.”

Council members officially voted against the proposal.

John Greenfield, a candidate for City Council who ran because of his opposition to the facility, said he achieved his objective despite losing in the primary race.

“I entered the race because of the Gordo project,” said Greenfield. “I do understand the primary election for City Council was not about issues. That much is painfully obvious at this point. Regardless, I believe my contribution to the community effort to stop the development of the Gordo project was significant and helpful. To that end, mission accomplished.”

The results of the primary election earlier this month were also certified. There were 103 rejected with ballots, with 68 of them being denied because they were postmarked after the deadline.

Council also approved two concerts at Deer Valley over the Miners’ Day/Labor Day weekend. One show, being Sheryl Crow.

Other matters that were approved include contract amendments with AECOM for the Quinn’s Junction Park and Ride design, and a transportation review of the Park City Mountain Base development.

Council also approved a professional service agreement for Treasure Hill wildfire mitigation services.