Newly sworn-in Utah Inland Port Authority board takes on priorities, sustainability

The Utah Inland Port Authority Board oversees the proposed logistics heart close to the Salt Lake Metropolis airport. Through the legislative session this 12 months, a invoice stripped Salt Lake Metropolis of its majority illustration, changing the previous 11 members with 5 voting appointees and one non-voting member.

These alternative members embody newly elected chair Miles Hansen, vice-chair Dan Hemmert, Theresa Foxley, Rep. Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, Sen. Jerry Stevenson, R-Layton and non-voting Salt Lake Metropolis Council Member Victoria Petro- Eschler. They met for the primary time Wednesday.

Jack Hedge, government director of the authority, introduced a few of their priorities for the 12 months which included addressing provide chain issues, environmental points and enhancing the rail actions into the port.

He emphasised that they need to do these items in smarter, sustainable ways in which cut back air and noise air pollution.

“We want to have the ability to improve rail viability and rail actions into and out of the inland port space,” he mentioned. “That not solely makes us a extra enticing place for manufacturing going into the long run, however the items that are available right here at this time, that come into our economic system at this time and that we ship out of right here at this time, can get to and from the market in a way more environment friendly and sustainable means.”

Through the assembly, District 1 Councilwoman Petro-Eschler mentioned this mission is the largest double-edged sword impacting her group. Whereas there are lots of potential alternatives for the economic system and workforce, she mentioned there are different components to think about.

Environmental teams have raised considerations over the impacts of any port-related initiatives. Probably the most generally cited challenge is air high quality and air pollution.

“This isn’t simply an financial technique to me,” Petro-Eschler mentioned. “…It is not summary for me. You possibly can see from the place the place my youngsters play alongside [the] youngsters who’re refugees from Somalia and refugees from Bosnia. You possibly can see the Inland Port Authority property. No matter occurs there, impacts my kids immediately. This can be a very concrete factor for me.”

Through the assembly, Steven urged they conduct a legislative audit to raised perceive their present contracts. Most of the new members agreed.

A number of members of the general public additionally instructed board members to think about the environmental impacts and questioned how they might contemplate the port’s function within the water disaster.

Deeda Seed, public lands senior campaigner for Cease the Polluting Port Coalition requested them to think about the function of the distribution hub as they proceed their work.

“We have to perceive the defensible enterprise case for this effort,” she mentioned. “How is the Utah Inland Port Authority including worth above and past what would usually be generated by the non-public sector along with present municipal authorities in Utah?