HOW I HAVE BENEFITED MILLARD COUNTY
EMERGENCY RESPONDERS
I have deep appreciation for the people who protect Millard County and help keep our communities safe. Our law enforcement officers, EMTs, firefighters, and search and rescue teams provide essential services, often under challenging conditions, and I am truly grateful for their dedication.For some time, I have recognized that our law enforcement officers and EMTs needed additional support and more competitive compensation. After being elected, I worked to secure raises for our law enforcement personnel, along with a $10,000 signing bonus for new deputies. My goal was to improve morale and retention. While this was an important step forward, conversations with deputies have made it clear that there is still more work to be done, and I remain committed to making those improvements.In supporting our EMTs, I met with many of them directly to better understand what fair compensation looks like for both on-call availability and active response time. Working in coordination with the Sheriff’s Office, we were able to implement meaningful pay increases. I also partnered with IPP to provide every active EMT in the county with emergency jump kits—each valued at $350—which are now distributed across Delta, Eskdale, Fillmore, and Scipio. The county will also reimburse the cost of education for new EMTs. The state will also pay for health insurance for EMTs.I am equally grateful for our search and rescue teams, and I was proud to help make it possible for them to acquire drones to assist in their lifesaving work. Looking ahead, I will continue working to secure funding so our local fire departments can upgrade their equipment and remain well-prepared.I am deeply appreciative of all these individuals. Our county simply could not function without their service, commitment, and sacrifice.
NO NUCLEAR CAMPUS
I’ve been told that my strong opposition, to the proposed Nuclear Fuel “lifecycle” Campus, played a role in Millard County no longer being considered as the site for this project. I want to clarify my position, with my background in chemistry and physics, I believe this is a worthwhile and beneficial project for the United States—but not the right fit for Millard County. Let me explain both perspectives.First, why this nuclear project has merit. Advances in nuclear technology have made it a far more viable and safe energy source than in the past. Modern reactor designs—particularly smaller, modular reactors—have significantly improved safety features. For example, instead of relying on water for cooling, some designs use molten salt. This is a major improvement, as water under extreme heat can create high-pressure steam with explosion risks, whereas molten salt systems operate at lower pressure and are therefore more stable.Additionally, these reactors are designed with passive safety systems. In the event of a power outage, they can cool themselves through natural circulation and gravity, reducing the risk of overheating without needing human intervention.Efficiency has also improved dramatically. These newer reactors can repurpose spent nuclear fuel from older systems, extracting far more energy from it. Instead of large fuel rods, these reactors use smaller uranium pellets, allowing the fuel to be used much more completely. During the process of nuclear decay, subatomic particles and enormous amounts of energy are given off which transforms uranium into thorium. Thorium is radioactive but it is less hazardous than uranium.There are also potential medical benefits. Thorium is very good at targeting and destroying cancer cells and has fewer side effects than other forms of cancer treatment. Currently there is a shortage of thorium, these reactors could help support the healthcare field by increasing the supply of thorium.Another advantage is scalability. Smaller reactors can be manufactured in centralized facilities and then transported to where they are needed, reducing construction costs.Environmentally, nuclear energy remains one of the cleanest large-scale energy sources available—it produces no air pollution, requires relatively little land, and minimizes long-term waste through improved fuel use.For all of these reasons, I believe this project is beneficial for the country as a whole.However, Millard County is not the right location.One major concern is the proposed use of local salt domes for nuclear waste storage. These formations are well-suited for storing liquids and gases, which can be injected and retrieved through pipelines. They are not designed for the long-term storage and retrieval of solid materials like nuclear waste. This raises serious practical and safety concerns.Additionally, our region contains ancient fault lines. Even if seismic activity is infrequent, the presence of unstable ground makes it an unsuitable location for storing nuclear materials. The risks, however small, are not ones we should be willing to take.Equally important is the issue of growth. The project is estimated to create over 10,000 jobs. With Millard County’s population just over 13,000—and Delta at around 3,700—the influx of workers and their families could increase the population by as much as 40,000 people. That kind of growth would be sudden and overwhelming, effectively transforming our rural community into something unrecognizable in a very short time.Such rapid expansion would strain our infrastructure, including housing, roads, schools, and especially water resources. It’s not clear that our area could support that level of demand, now or in the future.Finally, there’s the character of our community. Many people choose to live here because of the rural lifestyle. A population surge of that magnitude would fundamentally change the nature of Millard County. While thoughtful, measured growth is important—especially to provide opportunities for younger generations—this scale and speed of development is not what most residents want.In summary, this nuclear project represents meaningful progress in energy and technology, and it has clear national benefits. But Millard County is not the right place for it. We must be careful and very selective about the kind of growth we accept, ensuring it aligns with both our capacity and our values.
UNDERGROUND WATER
Water is one of our most vital and limited resources, and in this region, protecting our water rights must remain a top priority. Increasingly, we are seeing efforts—both from within Utah and beyond—to tap into our aquifer. The most recent proposal comes from Iron County. While many of you may already be familiar with this project, I want to outline the key facts and share what is being done to oppose it.The proposed project would transport groundwater from Pine Valley in Beaver County to Iron County. It includes plans for 15 production wells, approximately 70 miles of pipeline, and a 10-million-gallon storage tank. The project seeks to withdraw up to 36,000 acre-feet of water annually. Hydrological models indicate potential groundwater declines ranging from a few feet to several hundred feet across the aquifer. These projections are especially concerning because the targeted aquifers recharge very slowly—meaning any losses could be effectively permanent.The aquifer itself is believed to extend from Beaver County north through Millard County, into Juab County, and west into White Pine County, Nevada. This means the impacts of the project could reach far beyond its immediate footprint.The legal history of this issue dates back to 2006, when Iron County filed applications with the State Engineer to appropriate groundwater from this aquifer. In 2014, certain appropriations were approved with conditions. These approvals were challenged, but on February 27, 2019, those challenges were resolved through a stipulated judgment in Utah’s Fifth Judicial District Court. As a result, Iron County obtained the legal right to pursue diversion of up to 25,550 acre-feet per year.In response, Millard County has joined forces with several other counties and municipalities to oppose the project. I personally spent two weeks working alongside one of the four attorneys representing the counties, helping document the potential impacts. Together, the legal team and participating counties have compiled a comprehensive 528-page report detailing evidence of possible irreparable harm.Regarding the potential for irreparable harm to Millard County, I worked closely with attorney Iris Thornton to thoroughly identify and document the likely impacts. Our analysis—spanning 16 pages—details the significant risks this project poses to our water resources, local economy, and long-term sustainability. This work has been incorporated into the broader legal effort to challenge the project and prevent the pipeline from moving forward.This issue is not just about water—it’s about protecting agriculture and the future of our communities.