Town of Cedar Fort
Regular Council Meeting Minutes DRAFT
Date: January 20, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Town Hall, 50 East Center Street, Cedar Fort
CALL TO ORDER
The Town Council Meeting of the Town of Cedar Fort was called to order by Mayor Wyatt Cook at approximately 6:36 p.m.
1. Roll Call
Present:
Mayor Wyatt Cook
Council Member Alex Carter
Council Member Travis Giles
A quorum was present. See attached sign in sheet.
2. Prayer / Thought
A prayer was offered by Travis Giles.
3. Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Cook.
REPORTS
1. Mayor
Mayor Cook provided updates including:
Upcoming irrigation company meeting and coordination with council availability
Ongoing discussions with a developer regarding water planning and infrastructure needs
2. City Council
Alex Carter provided updates including:
Progress on delinquent utility accounts, payment agreements, late fee policies, and possible liens
Clarification that water accounts are required to be held in the property owner's name
Discussion regarding possible extension of payment agreements beyond 12 months and potential late-fee waivers, with the understanding that any changes would require council approval
3. Department Reports
Police (Utah County Sheriff's Office):
A detailed report was presented summarizing 2025 call statistics, including total calls for service, case numbers, traffic stops, citations, and category breakdowns. Overall calls were reported as slightly down from the previous year.
Fire Department:
Fire Chief Kale Black reported:
Two callouts since the last meeting
Progress on station organization and training goals
Continued work on PC classification and wildfire mitigation planning
Discussion regarding future budget planning, grants, and possible emergency services impact fees
Water:
Work continues on replacing antennas on water meters to improve readings and service efficiency.
Clerk:
The Clerk reported that the Town is scheduled to participate in OMPA training during the February Council meeting. It was noted that the training will be conducted by a representative from the Utah League of Cities and Towns (MAG) and is intended for Council members, the Planning Commission, and the Cemetery Committee. The Clerk indicated that calendar invitations would be sent to participants.
Additional updates were provided regarding the status of meeting minutes, audit-related requests, and ongoing administrative coordination.
Treasurer / Billing Clerk / Clerk:
Updates were provided on audit progress, budget preparation timelines, training requirements, and administrative matters.
Building Clerk:
Current permit activity and inspection processes were reviewed. Discussion occurred regarding possible changes to engineering and inspection contracts.
Sexton / Cemetery Committee:
No report; the committee has not met since November.
Planning Commission:
The Commission reviewed proposed residential water connection standards and is working toward a recommendation, including a possible public hearing.
Public Information Officer:
No report.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comments were offered.
CONSENT ITEMS
1. Approval of Minutes - December 16, 2025
Motion: Council Member Alex Carter moved to approve the December 16, 2025 meeting minutes as amended.
Second: Council Member Travis Giles.
Vote:
Wyatt Cook - Yes
Alex Carter - Yes
Travis Giles - Yes
Motion carried.
2. Approval of Budget / Town Bills
Motion: Mayor Wyatt Cook moved to approve the Town bills and budget for December 2025.
Second: Council Member Alex Carter.
Vote:
Wyatt Cook - Yes
Alex Carter - Yes
Travis Giles - Yes
Motion carried.
BUSINESS ITEMS
1. Oath of Office
The Oath of Office was administered to newly seated council members Alex Carter, Travis Giles and Wyatt Cook.
2. Community Center Well
The Council discussed a request from Geneva Gravel Pit to utilize water from the Community Center well for construction-related use. Mayor Cook explained that Geneva Gravel Pit inquired about accessing water from the well and proposed using portable, pop-up storage tanks that could be filled from the well and then used to supply water trucks as needed.
Discussion included clarification that the Community Center well is no longer connected to the Town's primary water system and that its historical use and remaining water rights would need to be confirmed. Mayor Cook noted that while the well previously served the Community Center, Town water was later extended to the facility due to water quality issues, and there may still be water rights associated with the well that could potentially be utilized.
The Council discussed metering requirements, potential impacts on well capacity, and ensuring that any water usage would be tracked and billed according to the Town's existing water rate schedule. It was noted that large-volume usage could require extended fill times and that on-site storage would be necessary to avoid overburdening the well.
Council consensus was that allowing temporary use under the Town's current water rate structure appeared reasonable, provided proper metering and safeguards were in place. No formal motion was made, and the item was informational only.
3. Community Center Grounds Improvements
The Council discussed a request from a church group that regularly uses the Community Center to perform limited grounds improvements in preparation for an upcoming wedding and related events planned for later in the year. The request included clearing sagebrush and brush from a small area near the Community Center to create an outdoor reception or gathering space.
Mayor Cook described the proposed location, noting that the area is already partially cleared and accessible by an existing road and trail. Discussion included potential use of adjacent areas for parking and pedestrian access, as well as consideration of whether the proposed improvements would benefit the Community Center and Town in the long term.
Council members expressed general support for allowing the brush clearing, provided the work remained limited in scope and did not negatively impact surrounding areas. Mayor Cook indicated he would discuss layout considerations with the requesting group, including whether alternative nearby areas might better accommodate parking or foot traffic.
Council members expressed general support for the request, provided the work remained limited in scope. No formal motion was made.
4. Wage for Interim Fire Chief, Eric Boud
The Council discussed potential compensation for Eric Boud, who served as Interim Fire Chief. Mayor Cook referenced an email from Mr. Boud stating that he did not request compensation for his service and would prefer not to receive payment. It was noted that Mr. Boud expressed concern that any compensation would be taxable income and indicated that, if paid, he would donate the funds back to the Fire Department.
Council members discussed the implications of providing compensation, including potential tax consequences and whether payment could affect the Fire Department's volunteer status or eligibility for grants in the future. It was noted that similar departments operate with stipends or administrative compensation without impacting grant eligibility, though the Council agreed that this issue warranted further consideration as part of future budget planning.
No motion was made, and no compensation was approved.
5. TextMyGov Proposal
The Council discussed a proposal for TextMyGov, a communications platform designed to improve communication between the Town and residents through text messaging, notifications, and information sharing. Mayor Cook explained that the platform is similar in function to other municipal communication tools and would primarily be used for notifications, announcements, and public information.
Brian Papworth, a guest presenter from Senewave Communication, addressed the Council and provided an overview of his company and the services it offers. Discussion included how the proposed services compare to other communication platforms used by Utah County and neighboring municipalities, potential benefits for improving resident communication, and how such a system might be implemented if pursued in the future. Council members asked questions regarding functionality, scope of service, and general use cases.
No contract, pricing, or formal approval was considered at this meeting. The item was informational only, and no motion was made.
6. Joint City Meeting - March 31, 2026
The Council discussed the upcoming Joint City Meeting scheduled for March 31, 2026. Mayor Cook explained that the meeting is intended to provide an opportunity for coordination and discussion among neighboring jurisdictions and entities on shared issues and regional planning matters.
Council members discussed potential scheduling considerations, agenda workload, and how the joint meeting would fit within existing council and committee calendars. It was noted that further details regarding the meeting agenda, participants, and logistics would be provided as the date approaches.
No formal motion was made, and the item was informational only.
CLOSED MEETING
Motion: Alex Carter made a motion to enter into a closed meeting.
Second: Council Member Travis Giles.
Vote:
Wyatt Cook - Yes
Alex Carter - Yes
Travis Giles - Yes
Motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:15 p.m.
Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)
Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations during this meeting should notify the Town Clerk, at 801-768-2147 at least 24 hours priors to the meeting.