A hearing was held during Tuesday’s Uintah County Commission meeting that allowed stakeholders of the Ashley Gorge access dispute the chance to speak. Item 4 on the meeting agenda was ‘Consideration of Resolution 09-15-2026 R1 - Authorizing and Approving Proceedings In Eminent Domain as Necessary: Ashley Gorge Road’. This is referring to Uintah County considering Eminent Domain, or condemnation, of private property owned by Ashley Valley Water and Sewer Improvement District and the D.T. Johnson Family Partnership. Isaac Hatch, Assistant Manager of Ashley Valley Water and Sewer Improvement District, read a statement. It stated, in part, “This condemnation would eliminate critical opportunities for future expansion of the treatment plant at its current location. The land immediately west of the existing treatment plant is essential to the district's long-term infrastructure planning. Its elevation is critical for maintaining gravity flow to the district's 3 million gallon water tank storage, making this area the only practical location for future expansion. So, preserving access to this property is necessary to ensure the continued reliability, capacity, and operational efficiency of the public drinking water system.” The AVWSID statement also claimed that alternatives, including the construction of a trail on the east side of the treatment facilities, was proposed and rejected by Uintah County. Ted Johnson spoke on behalf of the Johnson family, sharing about the family’s deep roots and love for their land while criticizing Uintah County’s actions. Johnson gave his account of learning that Uintah County claimed there was a road or roads through the Johnson property, calling the claims “ridiculous” and “absolutely preposterous”. Uintah County made a thorough presentation of the timeline of events starting in March 2019, emphasizing that efforts have continually been made for negotiation and communication. Legal counsel also made statements during the meeting. The Uintah County Commission voted to table the Resolution agenda item in order to allow time for further counsel. Public comment was allowed at the end of the meeting. The entire meeting can be watched on the Uintah County YouTube channel. The Uintah County Timeline presented during the meeting, along with other relevant links, have been included below.
Link to 6/30/26 Uintah County Final Notice Letter to AVWSID Re: Ashley Gorge Easement Agreement
Link to 7/27/2026 Ashley Valley Water & Sewer Improvement District Press Release