How this headline may connect to industries in Utah. Technical scores are below — click any ? for what a metric means.
Spanish Valley pathway project moves closer to construction
UtahGDELTGDELT event0% biasedWed, May 13, 2026, 12:00 AM
0 of 25 sentences classified as biased · Model: roberta-anno-lexical-ft-v1
Spanish Valley pathway project moves closer to construction.Grand County commissioners approved five items during their May 5 meeting, including a key step forward for the long-planned Spanish Valley Multi-Use Pathway project, a new utility franchise ordinance and requests to refill vacant county positions.Spanish Valley pathway property negotiations advance Commissioners unanimously approved authorizing negotiations related to property acquisition for the Spanish Valley Drive Multi-Use Pathway, a proposed separated path intended to improve walking and biking access along Spanish Valley Drive while also addressing flooding and drainage issues in the corridor.The project would create a physically separated multi-use pathway for pedestrians and cyclists extending along Spanish Valley Drive from Mill Creek Drive toward the southern end of Spanish Valley.The project has appeared in regional transportation and trail planning documents for more than a decade.The approval allows the county’s contractor to enter the negotiations phase for right-of-way acquisitions tied to the project.During an April 7 project update, Grand County Active Transportation and Trails Director Maddie Logowitz and County Engineer Sean Yeates said design work was roughly 90% complete and construction could begin in 2027 if funding and property acquisition remain on schedule.A “Spanish Valley Drive Drainage Improvements” summary included in the meeting packet stated the pathway project would also include drainage infrastructure intended to address repeated flooding along portions of Spanish Valley Drive between 1500 South and 1900 South.The summary stated recent storm events caused runoff to overtop the roadway and affect nearby private properties.The project received a $2.7 million funding award from the Utah Department of Transportation in 2021 through a cooperative agreement with Grand County.During the April update, Yeates said the project’s estimated construction cost had been refined to roughly $3.8 million, not including right-of-way acquisition costs, leaving about a $1.1 million funding gap still to be addressed.County backs proposed Book Cliffs land sale In its consent agenda, commissioners approved a letter supporting a proposed sale of more than 50,000 acres of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration property in the Book Cliffs area to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.According to notices included in the commission packet, SITLA is considering a noncompetitive sale of about 50,608 acres of roadless trust lands in Grand County to the Utah Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife Resources.The proposed sale is scheduled for consideration during a May 21 SITLA Board of Trustees meeting in Salt Lake City.The county’s support letter stated the transaction would help preserve wildlife habitat, migration corridors and public hunting and fishing access in the Book Cliffs region while continuing to support revenue generation for Utah schools through the trust lands program.County approves vacant position refills The commission approved requests to refill two vacant county positions: a patrol deputy position within the Grand County Sheriff’s Office and an OHV trail coordinator position within Grand County Active Transportation and Trails.The approvals come as Grand County continues a hiring freeze adopted with the 2026 budget that requires departments to seek commission approval before filling vacancies.According to meeting materials, sheriff’s office patrol coverage is currently being maintained through overtime staffing following a recent vacancy.The OHV trail coordinator position is primarily grant-funded and helps coordinate motorized trail maintenance projects with agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, Utah State Parks and the U.S.Forest Service.County materials stated failing to refill the position could reduce maintenance work and jeopardize future grant funding tied to the program.Rocky Mountain Power franchise renewed Commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance granting Rocky Mountain Power a new 25-year electric utility franchise and general utility easement within county rights-of-way.The ordinance allows the company to construct, maintain and relocate electric infrastructure within county public ways while preserving the county’s authority to regulate work within public rights-of-way.Commission recognizes “Adventure Safe Day” Commissioners unanimously approved a proclamation recognizing May 16 as “Adventure Safe Day” in Grand County as part of a statewide outdoor safety and stewardship campaign organized in partnership with Utah State Parks and the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation.Campaign materials encouraged recreationists to carry enough water, check weather conditions, stay on designated trails and tell others about their travel plans before recreating outdoors.