The Utah Association of Counties has awarded employees from Grand and Washington Counties with Awards of Excellence for their hard work and tireless efforts in overseeing the construction of new library facilities in their respective counties.         

    The award winners, chosen from among ten nominations from officials in counties across Utah, were honored in conjunction with County Government Week in April.

    "With so many outstanding nominees, it was hard to decide who should receive the Awards of Excellence," says Doug Perry, communications director for the Utah Association of Counties.  "We chose to focus on these new libraries, because libraries benefit all citizens, no matter their age or economic status. Now the residents of these counties are receiving the benefit of having these top-notch facilities right in their communities."

    Grand County Library Director Eve Tallman was recognized for overseeing the completion of the new Grand County library, which is three times the size of the old facility. Without any additional compensation, Tallman took on the job of project coordinator and traveled to and from the old library to the new building ‒ a distance of several blocks ‒ three to six times a day, sometimes riding her unicycle.         Tallman supervised every element of the library construction, starting with the bond election and land purchasing, to obtaining grants for the many computers and wireless access now found in the new facility. The library has since won awards from a national masonry group and was named the Best Small Library in the Nation by Library Journal.

     Washington County employees John Willie, County Administrator and Interim Library Director, and Jerry Rasmussen, Budget Director, were honored for their roles in the completion of three new county libraries in Springdale, New Harmony and St. George. Although building and land costs have both skyrocketed in the few years since Washington County originally bonded for the construction of these new libraries, all three facilities have been completed within budget. Willie was involved in negotiating cost-sharing agreements, soliciting contributions and efficiently managing county resources, including inmate labor. Rasmussen also worked closely with Willie in the library project. Under his stewardship the county pursued and acquired an improved bond rating for the new library bonds, thereby saving the county hundreds of thousands of dollars.

    "These individuals have put in countless hours over the course of several years to see these library projects come to fruition," continues Perry. "Without their efforts, it is doubtful that these projects would have been completed as efficiently and beautifully as they were. The Utah Association of Counties is proud to recognize their extraordinary efforts and wants these county employees to know how much we appreciate their efforts to make these essential resources available to county residents."