Utah County gives itself a pat on the back for year's achievements

PROVO — Utah County commissioners held what they hope is the first annual state of the county address Wednesday.

"We want to show you what Utah County is and where we're going," said Chairman Gary Anderson.

The other commissioners, Larry Ellertson and Steve White, along with the heads of several Utah County departments, spoke about what they hope to achieve and what they're doing.

White mentioned treatment services provided by Wasatch Mental Health for the mentally ill at about 40 percent less than the usual cost. Without these services, some of those people will commit crimes; however, these services saved the county from that crime, White said.

"We saved almost 3,800 bed nights (at the county jail)," he said.

It costs the jail $62 a day to house prisoners, so the 3,800 beds saved county taxpayers about $200,000, he added.

Elected officials of different departments touted forward-thinking and some unusual county services. County Assessor Kris Poulson discussed the new implementation of online property-tax filing, as well as pictometry, aerial photographs that show close-up photos of buildings and have the ability to take measurements. Poulson said this technology allows employees in the assessor's office to reappraise without having to leave their office.

County Treasurer Robert Kirk talked about the new "lockbox" system for collecting property taxes. The county teamed up with Wells Fargo Bank to use their system to open and scan the taxes, which allows the county to receive the money sooner. That money is then invested and the county receives revenue from the interest, which helps offset taxes.

The county's rapid growth has spurred economic development growth as well, and the county wanted to honor businesses that contribute to the county.

County commissioners named two Utah County Businesses of the Year, Action Target and Pacific States Cast Iron Pipe Co., both of which are manufacturing companies. Anderson said manufacturers are the largest employers in Utah County.

The commission also presented the Commissioner Medal of Honor to three people Anderson called "county treasures," people who have improved the county and made a difference.

Bill Anderson received the first award. Anderson has served on the UVSC board and various other county boards and was described by Gary Anderson as "one of the finest men I know."

The second award went to Clyde Naylor, the county public works director. Naylor has helped the county keep up with growth, Gary Anderson said. "Utah County wouldn't be the county it is today without Clyde Naylor," he said.

Gary Anderson presented the third award to Hesther Rippy, who founded the Rippy Literacy Center in Lehi, helping teach people to read. The center now has reading, math, English-as-a-second language and Spanish classes. The center currently has 928 students, Anderson said.

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