Emotional crowd expresses support for 4-H educator at commission meeting

Sheila McGuire, Herald Reporter
Posted 1/23/18

Residents, youth show support for Sanchez at meeting

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Emotional crowd expresses support for 4-H educator at commission meeting

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EVANSTON — Multiple community members addressed the Uinta County Commissioners to express their support for 4-H Educator Dawn Sanchez during an emotional meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 16. The commission had voted to discontinue paying the county’s portion of Sanchez’s salary during the previous meeting on Jan. 2.

Commission Chair Eric South told the packed room they were going to allow 30 minutes for attendees to address the commissioners on the topic of Sanchez’s position, and would limit speakers to three minutes each. However, Alex Morrill, the first to approach the podium, said people had missed work to attend the afternoon meeting and the public deserved to be heard. 

Subsequent speakers echoed Morrill’s assertion that the public should be heard, and ultimately more than an hour passed as one individual after another got up to share their concerns. 

The vast majority of those who spoke said the commissioners had made a mistake in their decision and repeatedly asked that the issue be reconsidered. Speaker after speaker said Sanchez had changed the lives of both children and adults in Uinta County with her encouragement and support. 

Crystal Labrum, member of the 4-H Council, said she didn’t understand why the decision to discontinue paying a portion of Sanchez’s salary was made, especially in light of recent meetings between the Uinta County Fair Board and the 4-H Council that she believed had made “huge strides” to address the problems and complaints surrounding the Uinta County Fair.

“This feels like a slap in the face. We wasted our time at a two-and-a-half-hour meeting. This is going to have a huge impact on me and my kids,” she said. 

The lengthy meeting Labrum mentioned was a meeting held last year among 4-H, county and fair board officials.

She demanded an explanation as to why the decision was made, and said the conflict was over the two weeks of the year when the fair was taking place and the activities of 4-H and Sanchez during the rest of the year should have been considered.

“Dawn’s contract was for services and services were provided,” she said. “I wonder, do you commissioners have a 100 percent approval rating? I don’t think you do.” 

Several young people took turns at the microphone, many in tears, expressing their admiration of and gratitude to Sanchez for how she had helped them. Lukas Simmons said he was speaking for kids and youth.

“I’m going to college now,” he said, “and I’m there because of Dawn. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for her.” 

Taylor Bindl of Fort Bridger told the commissioners she didn’t believe Sanchez could possibly be replaced.

“I have never ever seen Dawn get mad,” she said. “You won’t find anybody like her, and I hope you guys realize there are just no words ... [to describe] her.”

Bindl then admonished the three commissioners by saying, “A wise man changes his mind.” 

Jim Bechaver of Evanston said he didn’t believe anything said at the meeting was going to make a difference in the decision as the commissioners appeared to have made up their minds. However, he said, if letting people go was the solution to the conflicts regarding the fair, then there was another step the commissioners should take.

“Address the whole problem and deal with the other side of the issue,” he said. “Find some people with some common sense. Of course, start at your level and let it trickle down. Find people who care about these kids and not petty issues.” 

Cara Trees, 4-H leader in the Bridger Valley, shared a letter written by a 13-year-old girl in her 4-H group.

“The fair and 4-H said it’s all about the kids,” read the letter. “It doesn’t seem like it’s about the kids. All of us kids, we love Dawn. I’m one of those kids, and to me this seems like a selfish fight about adults.” 

Although multiple speakers asked for the commissioners to explain their decision, Uinta County Attorney Loretta Howieson told those in attendance that no explanation would be given as it was a confidential personnel matter that would not be discussed.

“The reasons for any issue relating to her contract will not be discussed. It is contrary to her rights and contrary to the law,” she said. 

The commissioners acknowledged that 99 percent of those speaking did so in support of Sanchez. In fact, only one individual who spoke said she agreed with the decision that was made. After more than an hour of comments, the public was left with no official answer on why the decision was made, and only the commissioners’ assurances that their concerns were heard and would be considered. 

Other business conducted during the meeting included an authorization of the appointment of a special prosecutor in the State vs. Evanston Housing Authority case, requested because Howieson has a conflict of interest and recused herself. Howieson said the federal investigation has now been submitted to the courts for possible filing of charges. She said there are a number of issues under consideration, and John Worrall, Washakie County Attorney, has agreed to take the case.

Howieson also addressed the Ryckman Creek sale and $2.5 million payment of back taxes to the county. She said those funds would be distributed to the multiple mill levy holders, which are primarily the schools. Uinta County itself will receive less than $300,000. She said there were also charges totaling approximately $106,000 incurred for obtaining a bankruptcy attorney to help navigate the process. Those charges will be divided proportionately among the mill levy holders and deducted from payments to those entities.

County planner Kent Williams presented a request for a conditional use permit for Verizon Wireless to erect a cell tower in Mountain View. Representatives from Verizon Wireless said they want to put in a 125-foot-tall tower to address a coverage gap with cellular service in the area. 

Mountain View Mayor Scott Dellinger spoke in opposition to the tower, stating he didn’t believe it needed to be so high and he wondered what would happen if a tower of that height were to fall. Dean Podzamsky, county communications coordinator, requested the permit be put on hold until Verizon representatives responded to multiple requests regarding 911 services in the Bridger Valley. 

Although Williams said the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the 125-foot tower, the commissioners asked many questions about why a tower of such height was necessary. Ultimately, they approved the construction of a tower limited to 50 feet in height instead.