Town of Mantua Council Meeting Minutes
For January 15th, 2026
Location: Town Hall, 409 North Main, Mantua, Utah
Council Members Present: Mayor Annette Ash, Ken Jones, Scott Ross, Cheryl Burgan
Absent: Matt Jeppsen
Recorder: Sherita Schaefer
Audience Present: Ronald Wallace, Don Ruhl, Janis Johnson, Pam Eaves, Thomas Peterson, Seth Thompson, Scott Archibald
The meeting was opened by Mayor Annette Ash. The invocation was given by Cheryl Burgan, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Annette Ash, with all in attendance participating.
Minutes: The minutes from the Town Council Meeting held on December 18, 2025, were approved. (Vote: 4-1 absent)
Consideration to Pay the Bills: Ken Jones made a motion to approve the bills, and Scott Ross seconded.
Yes votes: Mayor Annette Ash, Ken Jones, Scott Ross, Cheryl Burgan
No votes: None
Abstained: None
Absent: Matt Jeppsen
MOTION PASSED
Presentation:
Ron Wallace:
HSA (Health Savings Account) Updates: Overview of current HSA benefits for full-time employees.
Scott Ross motioned to approve $1,350 for the HSA proposal. Cheryl Burgan seconded.
Yes votes: Mayor Annette Ash, Ken Jones, Scott Ross, Cheryl Burgan
No votes: None
Abstained: None
Absent: Matt Jeppsen
MOTION PASSED
Additional Holiday for Full-Time Employees: Proposal to add a holiday before or after Christmas. Ronald Wallace proposed adding this holiday for full-time employees, while Ken Jones suggested focusing on creating incentives for part-time workers at this time.
Capital Projects Account for the Town:
Ronald Wallace discussed the creation of a capital projects account following an audit finding. He emphasized the need to adjust the town's fund balance, which exceeded the recommended 35%. Approximately $175,000 should be transferred to a capital fund balance within the existing bank account to ensure compliance. This allocation resolves the issue without creating a separate bank account, keeping funds accessible for capital projects. Wallace will seek official town council approval to establish this fund.
Cheryl Burgan made a motion to create the capital projects fund and authorize an accounting transfer of $175,000. Scott Ross seconded the motion.
Yes votes: Mayor Annette Ash, Ken Jones, Scott Ross, Cheryl Burgan
No votes: None
Abstained: None
Absent: Matt Jeppsen
MOTION PASSED
Discussion and Action Items:
Jeremy and Nichol Roylance - Business License:
Jeremy and Nichol Roylance applied for a business license for their operations at a new location on 318 Fish Hatchery Rd. They own 'Simple Hard Money LLC,' a 14-year-old company providing loans to real estate investors without significant foot traffic. The business operates remotely, with occasional payments dropped off at a 132-square-foot space in their home.
Ken Jones made a motion to approve the business license for Jeremy and Nichol Roylance under the name Simple Hard Money, LLC. Cheryl Burgan seconded the motion.
Yes votes: Mayor Annette Ash, Ken Jones, Scott Ross, Cheryl Burgan
No votes: None
Abstained: None
Absent: Matt Jeppsen
MOTION PASSED
Sign Ethical Behavioral Policy and Form:
All council members signed the annual ethical pledge, and Sherita Schaefer notarized each one. Sherita will file all the forms.
Renewal of Cemetery Moratorium:
Marcus Abel discussed the cemetery moratorium related to cemetery expansion and pricing. The plan includes adding more burial plots and organizing existing spaces, with a proposed 12-month moratorium on new plot sales to non-residents to ensure adequate space for residents. During this period, the focus will be on updating residency eligibility definitions. Although a six-month moratorium was considered, the 12-month period was preferred for thorough adjustments and planning. Sherita will update the resolution and post it to the state website.
Scott Ross motioned to adopt the moratorium proposal, Resolution 2026-01-15, with a modification to clarify Section 3B, specifying that individuals attending school, on a church mission, or moved into a care facility must have been Mantua resident's prior. Cheryl Burgan seconded the motion.
Yes votes: Mayor Annette Ash, Ken Jones, Scott Ross, Cheryl Burgan
No votes: None
Abstained: None
Absent: Matt Jeppsen
MOTION PASSED
Vote on Resolution No. 2026-13-1 Summary of Fees:
Sherita Schaefer noted the absence of a $15 business license late fee in the summary of fees. She will update the resolution and post it to the state website once the document has been signed by the mayor.
Scott Ross made a motion to approve Resolution 2026-1-15 Summary of Fees for the Town of Mantua. Ken Jones seconded the motion.
Yes votes: Mayor Annette Ash, Ken Jones, Scott Ross, Cheryl Burgan
No votes: None
Abstained: None
Absent: Matt Jeppsen
MOTION PASSED
Discuss the Utah State Parks Tour of Echo Reservoir:
Mayor Annette Ash is organizing a February 6th tour of Echo Reservoir at 10:00 am with Utah State Parks to explore the potential conversion of Mantua Reservoir into a state park. The tour seeks to assess benefits and challenges, with attendance by Brigham City Mayor DJ Bott. Ken Jones voiced concerns about potential drawbacks, urging clear benefits for continuation. Local hesitance stems from worries about traffic and community changes. Utah State Parks has indicated the project will not proceed if strong local opposition exists, with a future meeting planned for public input.
Sunrise Engineering:
Seth Thompson from Sunrise Engineering discussed the Mantua Water Impact Fee, emphasizing its role in addressing growth and infrastructure needs over the next seven years. He explained that the impact fees can only be used for growth-related projects, like expanding system capacity, and should be reviewed every five to seven years as new capital projects arise. Seth highlighted the importance of updating the water master plan to identify future needs and ensure the impact fees support infrastructure demands. He also addressed how commercial projects should be assessed for water usage, comparing them to equivalent residential connections to determine fair fees. Pam Eaves expressed concern over assessing commercial impact fees, especially for rezoned areas, and Seth reassured that impact fees could be adjusted for high water-demand businesses. Additionally, he mentioned that legal requirements must be followed to ensure timely updates and compliance with state codes, with a 10-day public notice and public hearing necessary before adopting new impact fees. Sherita will post the 10-day public notice.
Nathan Blaine (Not in attendance)
Cemetery Prices:
Marcus Abel reviewed cemetery prices as part of the management plans, with updates soon to align with future expansion and operational costs. During renovations at the cemetery, the council approved extending a 12-month moratorium on non-resident plot sales to preserve space for residents and future planning. Definition of 'resident' was clarified to include those temporarily away for education, missions, or care. Abel noted that moving a road and designating wooded areas for cremation plots could yield up to 250 new plots. Cremation plots may still be available to non-residents due to their reduced space requirements and sustainability.
Sewer Meter Proposal:
Marcus Abel and Dave Theurer from Intermountain Environmental, Inc. discussed the sewer meter proposal needed to better monitor the sewage flow between the town and Brigham City. The project involves installing new meters and connecting them to existing systems, necessitating coordination with utility companies, including Golden Spike and Rocky Mountain Power, to ensure proper installation and power supply. The goal is to establish a baseline for sewage flow that allows the town to verify billed amounts and identify discrepancies in reported sewage output. The council authorized up to $20,000 for the project, aiming to address overage charges previously incurred due to inaccurate estimations. The system will store data long-term and provide alerts for unexpected flow changes, thereby enhancing the management of the town's sewer infrastructure. Ensuring an adequate power supply for the meters, potentially involving solar options, was highlighted as a critical aspect of the project. The system is expected to save money by aligning precise measurements with actual sewage flow, potentially reducing future charges.
Ken Jones made a motion to approve the sewer SCADA flow meter with the pedestal from Golden Spike and Rocky Mountain, not to exceed $20,000. Scott Ross seconded the motion.
Yes votes: Mayor Annette Ash, Ken Jones, Scott Ross, Cheryl Burgan
No votes: None
Abstained: None
Absent: Matt Jeppsen
MOTION PASSED
Planning and Zoning: Pam Eaves or Representative:
Pam Eaves announced a work meeting on land use scheduled for January 29th, from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. An engineer and potentially USU personnel will assist with the process.
Public Works: Marcus Abel or Representative:
Marcus Abel praised the Public Works team, highlighting the productivity of Eric and James. He emphasized the importance of ongoing maintenance and repair work, including addressing a broken intrusion alarm at the south tank.
Fire Department: Will Hodgins or Representative - None
Ken Jones made a motion to adjourn, which Scott Ross seconded.
Yes votes: Mayor Annette Ash, Ken Jones, Scott Ross, Cheryl Burgan
No votes: None
Abstained: None
Absent: Matt Jeppsen
MOTION PASSED
Adjourn.
Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing auxiliary communicative aids and services for this meeting should contact the Management Services Department at 629-8701 (TTY/TDD: 711 or 888-735-5906) or by emailing town recorder at sschaefer@mantuautah.gov at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.
Notice of Electronic or Telephone Participation
Public meetings may be held electronically in accordance with Utah Code Annotated 52-4-207 to allow Council members to participate via teleconference. The anchor location for the meeting shall be held at the Mantua Town Hall 409 North Main St, Mantua Utah 84324
Other Information
Certificate of Posting
The foregoing agenda was (1) posted on the Utah Public Notice Website created under Utah Code Section 63F1-701. (2) Town of Mantua website, and (3) posted in Town of Mantua City Office on 2/20/2026 by Sherita Schaefer - Town Recorder