ST. GEORGE – Washington County Commissioners reviewed agreements and plans for the Ironman 70.3 St. George on May 2 Tuesday night at their regular meeting. The Ironman 70.3 St. George is now a North American Pro Championship race, offering 30 qualifying slots for the 2015 Ironman 70.3 World Championship, rather than just a United States championship.
“For the past couple of years, we’ve been the U.S. Pro Championship course,” Assistant County Attorney Eric Clarke said, addressing the Washington County Commission Tuesday. Now, the race is a North American qualifier, he said.
“What that does is, that draws more professionals to our race, because they automatically qualify for the world championship by placing in a certain place in ours,” Clarke said.
The Washington County Commission approved a host venue agreement for the Ironman and also OK’d interlocal agreements for Ironman, pending attorney review.
“Obviously the more professionals you draw, the more media coverage, the more television coverage, so it’s more publicity for our area,” Clarke said. “It gives people around the world the chance to see some pretty amazing videos of the area.”
The Ironman course runs through some very scenic areas, starting with the swim at Sand Hollow Reservoir, biking through Hurricane and Washington cities and into Snow Canyon State Park before heading into downtown St. George for the transition from bike to run. The athletes then run back out up and through Red Hills Parkway and the Red Cliffs Reserve before returning to the finish line on Main Street, St. George. See the full course here.
Other commission business
During the meeting, the commission also attended to other matters, including a request from Sheriff Cory Pulsipher for in-car camera system upgrades and body cameras for deputies.
The commission also:
- Updated the county policy manual to standardize employee recognition, and cap recognition awards at $25, barring commission approval
- Appointed Commissioner Zachary Renstrom to the Specially Funded Transportation Special Service District
- Approved an application to the Federal Surplus Property Program, and designated Ron Whitehead to oversee the program and ensure the county’s compliance
Purchases approved
The county commission approved these purchase requests:
- $280,228 to St. George Ford from the Sheriff’s Office for six 2015 Ford Explorer vehicles with four-wheel drive and police packages; and four 2015 Ford F-150 pickup trucks
- $50,000 to Tuacahn Center for the Arts from the Tourism Office for the county’s annual sponsorship
- $37,500 to Huntsman World Senior Games from the Tourism Office for a Silver medal sponsorship
- $30,130 for the Sheriff’s Department for upgrading vehicle cameras and body cameras
- $12,000 to the St. George Chamber of Commerce from the Tourism Office for visitor support services
- $10,000 to the Downtown Merchant Group from the Tourism Office for a promotion partnership
- $281 for the purchase of a 2016 Ford Fusion for the Assessor’s Office, with trade-in of four 2005 Chevy Malibu vehicles, as the Assessor’s Office is reducing the size of its fleet
Resources
Ironman 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George
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