Richfield partners for alley project

The Richfield City Council agreed to help State Bank of Southern Utah rebuild an alley in preparation for a new facility for the bank. The alley, located at 50 West between Center Street and 100 South in Richfield is located directly west of State Bank’s current parking lot.

State Bank is preparing to tear down its current facility, as well as a neighboring building, and build a completely new building in the same location. The estimated cost of rebuilding the alley is some $78,000. The Richfield City Council voted to allow the city to pay up to $39,000, or approximately half, to help upgrade the alley. Richfield Reaper

Construction advancing at Central Utah Correctional Facility expansion

Construction of the West One expansion at the Central Utah Correctional Facility (CUCF) is proceeding according to plan, officials from Layton Construction told a meeting of Gunnison Valley community leaders. Needed staffing, including 61 new corrections officers, is being addressed, CUCF officials told the Gunnison Valley CUCF Advisory Committee.

The $30-million expansion consists of a 192-bed housing unit, a control room, intake building and a kennel for a program where some inmates are assigned dogs as companions. The facility currently employs about 350 and has a payroll of $26 million. Sanpete Messenger

Feds withdraw approval of plan to expand large Utah coal mine

The U.S. Forest Service has agreed to withdraw for further environmental review a plan to expand Utah’s biggest producing coal mine.

The agency last year approved a plan by Arch Coal subsidiary Ark Land Co. to lease 6,175 acres of coal beneath the Fishlake and Manti-La Sal national forests, essentially expanding the company’s underground SUFCO mine east of Salina. But the Utah Environmental Congress and other groups appealed the decision on grounds that it violates the agency’s roadless rule and could threaten sage grouse.

This week, Fishlake National Forest Supervisor Allen Rowley withdrew the approval. The decision does not mean the expansion is thwarted, but rather that the agency will conduct more studies before deciding. Salt Lake Tribune