Holden Town Council Meeting
May 14, 2025
Started: 7:00 pm
Present: Council Members: Mayor Darren Fox, LaRee Stephenson, Tamara Dallin, David Wood, Phil Whatcott
Staff; Caralee Wood, Rod Dastrup
Public: Molly Stevens, Patti Carter, Maggie Stephens, Linda Nixon, Ted Bennett, Mark Stephenson, Jason Christensen, Ellen Harmon, Thane Hillestad.
1. Pledge: Phil Whatcott
Prayer: David Wood
2. Approval of April 9,2025 Town Council Meeting Minutes
No comments or corrections were made.
Phill Whatcott motioned to accept the minutes for the Holden Town Council Meeting held April 9,2025, David Wood seconded. Roll was called, LaRee Stephenson- yes, Tamara Dallin-yes, David Wood - yes, Phil Whatcott- yes,
Mayor Fox-yes voting was unanimous
3. Payment of payroll/reimbursements and bills
a. The bills/payroll/reimbursement invoices dated April 9 - May 14,2025 were given to the council before the meeting for review.
Tamara Dallin motioned to pay bills/payroll/reimbursement invoices April 9 - May 14, 2025 LaRee Stephenson seconded. Roll was called; LaRee Stephenson- yes, Tamara Dallin-yes, David Wood - yes, Phil Whatcott- yes, Mayor Fox-yes Voting was unanimous.
4. Petitions, Remonstrance and Communications
5. Planning and Land Use- Ted Bennet
No new building permit applications were submitted.
A town resident would like to put a swimming pool in, does the town have any requirements or permitting for pools? No--In regards to the water usage and the situation with the town's lack of water the council said the citizen will be paying for the water they use.
6. Girst State- Maggie Stephens
American Legion auxiliary was in attendance with Maggie Stephens asking for a town donation for Maggie to attend Girls State, a government conference for girls in high school. The cost to attend the conference is $475.00. The town will donate $250.00.
Darren Fox motioned to donate $250.00 to Maggie Stephens to attend Girls State, Tamara Dallin seconded. Roll was called; LaRee Stephenson- yes, Tamara Dallin-yes, David Wood - yes, Phil Whatcott- yes, Mayor Fox-yes Voting was unanimous.
The town asks those that request donations to donate community service hours. Maggie helped with this year's Easter Egg hunt.
7. Report of Officers
a. - Roads & Landfill
*The spring cleanup went well. The landfill was open for residents to be able to enter and drop off debris. It seems that those who took advantage of this deposited their items in the appropriate locations.
*We have not received any news on the landfill permit; we are hoping that no news is a good sign.
b. Parks, Recreation and CERT
*The Easter egg hunt was a success.
*The town will ask Clair Harmon to spray the weeds along the roadsides again this year.
*Next month at the town council meeting we will honor the three boys who aided a senior citizen who had fallen in her yard.
*There are lights at the pavilion that need to be fixed.
*Restrooms at the pavilion will again be unlocked from 8-5 each weekday, beginning at the end of the school year.
C..David Wood - Electric
*Three electric poles have been chosen to be replaced this month. Each year councilman Wood would like to replace at least 6 poles that are old.
*There was a power outage on 2nd North on the morning of May 7th. A citizen let councilman Wood know and he was able to find the problem and let Dixie power know, so that it was fixed promptly.
*Changes are coming in the way power is allocated, so the future cost of power to the town will be uncertain.
d.Phil Whatcott -Fire Department
*On Tuesday, June 3rd the fire department will host an open house from 5-7pm. They will have food, fire truck rides, the chance to use a fire extinguisher, and information on the new defibrillator at the fire station.
Water
*Water Project- Well site
Two studies have been conducted to determine a location for the drilling of a well. A water Witcher was brought out first to locate a site, according to his recommendations willow stick (a company who uses geophysical techniques) came and checked those sites to determine the one that would yield the most water. The mayor will get in touch with the owner of the property and see if they are still agreeable to the town purchasing and drilling a well on their property. The next step would be to have an environmental study done on the location. The town will use the same drilling company that drilled the first test well.
*There needs to be a supply of about 300 gal. of water a minute coming into the water tanks, at present we are under 240 gal a minute.
*Rate increase- Public Comments
Darren Fox motioned that we open the meeting for public comments regarding the proposed water rate increase, David Wood seconded. Roll was called, LaRee Stephenson- yes, Tamara Dallin-yes, David Wood - yes, Phil Whatcott- yes, Mayor Fox-yes
Public comments:
L.Nixon- Question on the lifestock meters and if the usable gallons had changed.
Reply- No, the amount of gallons has not changed and will stay the same only the cost per gallon will change.
Is the rate increase due to the new well project, and those who use a lot of water?
Reply- Yes the town needs to show the state that the town's average water bill is around $65.00, for the loan. There are those in town who use a lot of water and are willing to pay for the water they use.
T. Hillestad- Why is the town doing a rate increase? Are our expenses more than water revenue? Why now, when we haven't located a new source of water yet?
Reply- It is better to do rate increases a little at a time rather than a larger amount all at once. The town also has expenses in maintaining the water system. We need to have funds on hand to be able to fix any issues in the water system that may come up. The extra money that comes in will be put into the town's water savings account.
E. Harmon- Will the money only go toward the water project?
Reply- The money that is collected on water goes into the water budget, excess funds get put into the water PTIF account. This account is used strictly for water.
? How much money does the town have to come up with first before the loan kicks in to fund the water project?
Reply- $150 thousand, The town has met the self-participation amount. We have received grant money from USRDA, some of that has been used already and more will be used on the next well. The town received a grant of $1 million.
L. Nixon- Will money need to be transferred to balance the budget?
Reply- No
R. Dastrup- (Public Works) 3 years ago the state did an inspection on the town's water system. At this time they found the town lacking in water, putting the town in a corrective action state. On June 16 the town will have another sanitary survey. Our water levels are lower now than they were three years ago.
Mayor Fox- the extension the state gave the town to fix our water issue has come and gone. The town sent the state documentation that we were working on correcting the problem, the Mayor has not heard back yet.
L. Nixon- Right now there is overflow from the tanks being filled. Is there any plan to put in another tank, to catch that water?
Reply- In the water plan proposal, is to demolish the two older tanks that are leaking and replace them with a half million-gallon tank. With the new tank we will have a total of holding a million gallons of water. Depending on the time of year and usage there still may be run off but more water will be able to be stored.
E. Harmon- How long will it take to re-start the well drilling process?
Reply- Should go fairly quick, the mayor has contacted the landowner. Once the permission is given, an environmental study will be done and then the drilling company can be notified. We will be able to use the same drilling company, saving time in not having to re-bid the project.
T.Hillestad- Are other items for the water project being postponed until we have a successful well? What is the estimated time is water is successful at the new test site?
Reply- Yes, the estimated timeline cannot be predicted at this time.
The loan with the state is closed when the main project is bid. Before we can use the state money the town has to have a closed agreement with the State. The main project is ready to be bid right now but is on hold waiting for a sure well. This new increase may put us at an average of where the state would like us or we may have to make a slight rate increase.
? Will the new rate and schedule give us an average of $65.00?
Reply- We will be close
The new rates will go into effect June 1st, 2025- The water used in June will reflect the water increase and be on the bill that comes out July 1st.
Phil Whatcot motioned that we close the meeting for public comments regarding the proposed water rate increase, Tamara Dallin seconded. Roll was called, LaRee Stephenson- yes, Tamara Dallin-yes, David Wood - yes, Phil Whatcott- yes, Mayor Fox-yes
Phil Whatcott motioned to increase Residential water rates; 0-30.000 gal $37.00, 30-60,000 gal base plus $1.50 gal, 60-75.000 gal base plus $7.50 gal. 75-100.000 gal base plus $12.50 gal, 100.000 + base plus $17.50 +a gal.
Secondary water rates; 0-15.000 gal $37.00, 15-25,000 gal base plus $2.50 gal, 25-35.000 gal base plus $3.75 gal, 35-45,000 gal base plus $8.00 gal, 45-55,000 gal base plus $10.75 gal, 55.000 +gal base plus $17.50 gal.
Commercial water rates; 0-15.000 gal $37.00, 15-25,000 gal base plus $3.50 gal, 25-35.000 gal base plus $5.50 gal. 35-45,000 gal base plus $7.50 gal, 45-55,000 gal base plus $10.50 a gal, 55 +gal base plus $17.50 gal.
Dormant meter; $20.00
LaRee Stephenson seconded. Roll was called, LaRee Stephenson- yes, Tamara Dallin-yes, David Wood - yes, Phil Whatcott- yes, Mayor Fox-yes voting was unanimous.
e. Mayor Darren Fox
This is an election year, with one mayor and two councilman positions open. Those wanting to run need to declare intent to run June 2 -6 by 5:00pm, to Roseanne Frost at the post office.
The backhoe needs new front tires, the side walls are bad, and the tires keep coming off the beads. Public works has received two local bids; Steves tire-$1164.00 and the Tire shop- $821.98. The decision was made to go with the tire shop.
The town received three applications for summer temporary help. The council will go to a closed meeting to discuss the applicants.
Decision was made in the closed meeting to hire M. Kumorek.
7.New Business
*Resident wonders what can be done with the bus parking in front of Centro de la familia. At the intersection when pulling onto main street you cannot see vehicles coming from the North. She worries there is going to be an accident.
*What is being done regarding the Mormon cricket in town? The town contacted the state, and they came and looked but said there is not anything they can do for us. The bait they have needs to be reserved for grasshopper infestations on the farming ground.
8. Outstanding Business
9. Closed meeting
Darren Fox motioned to close the public meeting and move into a closed meeting at 8:10pm to discuss a real estate matter and an employee matter. Phil Whatcott seconded. Roll was called, LaRee Stephenson- yes, Tamara Dallin-yes, David Wood - yes, Phil Whatcott- yes, Mayor Fox-yes voting was unanimous.
Phil Whatcott motioned to close the closed meeting at 8:30pm and move into a Public meeting, Tamara Dallin seconded. Roll was called, LaRee Stephenson- yes, Tamara Dallin-yes, David Wood - yes, Phil Whatcott- yes, Mayor Fox-yes voting was unanimous.
10. Adjournment
Phil Whatcott motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 pm.
Caralee Wood
Holden Town Clerk
May 14, 2025
Holden Town
Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations (including auxiliary communicative aids and services) during this meeting should notify Caralee Wood, town clerk, at 435-795-2213.