State lawmakers didn’t necessarily tell Summit County officials what they wanted to hear during the county’s eighth annual legislative reception this week to discuss priorities and collaborative strategies for the upcoming general session.The 45-day legislative blitz, during which most statewide bills are proposed and decided upon by the Legislature before heading to the governor’s desk, starts on Jan. 21.Lawmakers have already released a list of priorities for this year, including clean energy, affordable housing and education. Many key issues outlined by the Legislature already align with Summit County’s own goals, according to Deputy County Manager Janna Young.The legislative reception served as an opportunity for Summit County councilors and department heads to share their wants and concerns with state senators and representatives. It was also a chance for legislators to connect with the local government and communicate their objectives for this year.Reps. Mike Kohler and Hoang Nguyen attended the reception, as well as Sens. John Johnson and Ronald Winterton.County officials didn’t necessarily receive what they’d consider good news from their state representatives, though. Despite each lawmaker expressing a willingness to collaborate, specifics on key issues did not always appear to line up with the county’s philosophy.County Clerk Eve Furse, for example, noted that there are a number of bills slated to address election security concerns. While she said she understood the desire to revise and verify procedures, she asked that lawmakers not be too harsh on mail-in ballots.Voting by mail has increased voter participation from around 30% to 90%, Furse said, adding that she hoped legislators would consider “what people like” in terms of voting methods.There are 20 proposed bills related to election concerns so far, according to Kohler, who said that “not all clerks are going to like” what legislators are considering, describing the discussion around security concerns as a “fervor.”He added that the state would “need to find a happy medium” while also maintaining that there “will be changes to make it more strict.”Similarly, Eva de Laurentiis, the county’s deputy director for regional transportation planning, emphasized the importance of the Kimball Junction interchange and S.R. 224 improvements. She requested guidance and help from the state as the county continues to work with the Utah Department of Transportation on the project.Winterton told county officials that the state wants to “take care of it before the Olympics” and not wait until 2033 to prepare for 2034 but that UDOT has “more priorities than that,” including the Silver Creek area and U.S. Route 40.In general, though, the state’s revenues are down, which will make appropriations requests difficult, according to both Winterton and Johnson. Winterton recommended that the county make any appropriations requests as soon as possible — and with a strong argument regarding need — in order to be considered.Johnson added that there will likely be “pretty big cuts” in higher education as a result, although he predicted the Legislature would find a way to “stave off cuts to public [K-12] education.”Additionally, both Johnson and Kohler discussed the Dakota Pacific Real Estate deal that the County Council recently approved in a 4-1 vote, saying they were advocates for “local control.” During an explanation of their vote in December, multiple county councilors mentioned pressure from the state as a deciding factor.Councilor Roger Armstrong was the lone “no” vote.“It’s hard when the Legislature gets involved and tells people what to do,” Johnson said. “I don’t like people trying to take zoning up to the state level.”Instead, he said, zoning issues should be left to the local community, which will have a better understanding of the area and be affected by any changes.Nguyen, who represents fewer than 200 Summit County residents, said she’s been contacted by constituents concerned about the Dakota Pacific deal as well.Other issues brought up during the reception included utility prices and a possibly “controversial” attempt to gain control over energy policy, which utility companies like Rocky Mountain Power predominate, according to Winterton.Kohler also mentioned environmental concerns about the Great Salt Lake and incentives the state has implemented for farmers to cut back on water consumption, although he added that “Mother Nature will need to help” and give the mountains more snow and water for the lake to truly recover.To track the busy chaos of the legislative session, Summit County established an internal working group in 2017. The group meets once a week and helps the county coordinate its position on certain bills and engage in the process, whether it’s by speaking directly to a representative or appearing before the Legislature at a committee meeting.Kohler, Nguyen, Johnson and Winterton all told county officials to reach out at any time to provide feedback or ask questions as the general session progresses over the next few months.The post State lawmakers talk legislative priorities with Summit County officials on eve of next session appeared first on Park Record.