General Information

Government Type

Municipality

Entity

Blanding

Public Body

City Council

Notice Information

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Notice Title

City Council Minutes 5.12.2026

Notice Type(s)

Meeting

Event Start Date & Time

May 12, 2026 07:00 PM

Description/Agenda

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Mayor Trevor Olsen Mayor Pro-Tempore Charlie Taylor Council Member Chris Ewald Council Member Kellen Nielson Council Member Chad Moses Council Member Jesse Grover May 12, 2026 6:00 PM - Work Session May 12, 2026 7:00 PM City Council Meeting 50 West 100 South Street, Blanding Utah 84511 Meetings live streamed when available at: https://meet.google.com/xxg-uefm-yut Work Session FY 2027 Budget Discussion - General/Enterprise Funds Mr. Redd discussed the general government budget, noting savings in attorney costs, typically paying an hourly rate of $150 to $175 rather than a fixed contract. Mr. Redd detailed fluctuations in the planning and zoning budget, which ranged from $76,000 to $100,000 and eventually decreased to $51,000. This decrease was primarily due to Taylor moving to the administration department, with building department costs now consolidated within the administration budget. Mr. Redd explained that while the administration budget increased, the city achieved over $50,000 in savings by modifying healthcare coverage while maintaining quality plans for employees. Mr. Redd stated that the economic development budget remains consistent, covering visitor center staff, salaries, and community events such as the Fourth of July, the marathon, and the fall festival. The fireworks budget increased by $2,000 for a total of $12,000, and the UNHS donated $3,000 for a new electronic switchboard to assist with the setting off of fireworks. Mr. Redd reported that the city saved 3% in 2024, broke even in 2025, and is projecting 5% savings for 2026. The general fund operates within a $3.2 million range, and exceeding this limit would require an analysis of other tax revenue sources. He outlined the schedule for the 2027 fiscal year budget: tentative approval is planned for May 26, a public hearing is scheduled for June 9, and formal adoption is set for June 23. Mr. Redd reported that the water fund budget is $1.2 million, which includes a $40,000 replacement pump for a well. The storm water fund, which relies on impact fees and utility bill charges, is set at $170,000 and is considered accurate for current expectations. Mr. Redd explained that the electric fund operates in the $2.5 to $2.7 million range and utilizes UAMPS and the 'extended day ahead buying' system to balance power demand. The city aims to purchase slightly more power than needed because shortfalls during peak hours, particularly between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., can cost between $200 and $300 per kilowatt. Mr. Redd stated that the city holds funds in an account, derived from settlements related to carbon-free power projects, which can be utilized to cover sudden spikes in power demand. Mr. Redd noted that the natural gas fund operates at approximately $1.3 million. Expenses decreased slightly due to reduced tool and training acquisitions, while purchasing levels remain consistent with previous years. Mr. Redd indicated that solid waste management costs saw minor incremental fee increases, while the sewer budget saw slight adjustments related to salary distributions. He recommended a comprehensive review of water and storm water rates within the next 24 months, identifying water as the urgent priority. Currently, the water fund is running in the red when accounting for depreciation, and staff suggests a need to generate an additional $200,000 to ensure long-term maintenance of new infrastructure. Mr. Redd mentioned that a recent House bill requires cities to establish triggers in their policies for enterprise funds, demonstrating that they are reviewing and raising rates as necessary. Mr. Redd and council members discussed improving the audio and visual setup for meetings. Suggestions included installing a central microphone to ensure meeting recordings are clear and adding a television to improve visibility during presentations. He also confirmed that $200,000 is budgeted for the pump track, which has an estimated total cost of $1 million. They briefly discussed the draft agreement with the schools regarding facility use. The city also clarified that, per the Utah Local Government's Trust, school-led athletic events should be covered by the school's insurance in the event of negligence during a game. POLICY MEETING Call to Order Roll Call A prayer was offered by Mayor Olsen. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance. Consent Agenda & City Council Minutes Approval - 04.28.2026 Meeting Councilmember Ewald made a motion to approve the consent agenda and minutes from April 28, 2026. Councilmember Taylor seconded the motion. Mayor Olsen repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Grover Councilmember Ewald Councilmember Moses Those voting nay: None Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Olsen declared the motion carried. Declaration of Conflicts of Interest - None Public Input Tony Wojcik was present at the meeting. He said that the memorial is done, on the inside at least. The outside needs to be done. Mr. Redd assured him the finishing touches will be done. Many of the council members have been there and walked through it and agree that it's beautiful. They will have an opening ceremony on Memorial Day morning all were invited to attend. Reports Mayor The mayor stated that we have another class getting ready to graduate high school and with every graduating class there are countless hours that go into these kids by way of parents, teachers, coaches, volunteers, etc. He wanted to thank everyone that puts time and effort into these kids. There will be some scholarships awarded to some students from the city at an assembly on Monday. City Council None Pratt Redd City Manager Report Mr. Redd reported that everything is going well with the city. Everything is running smoothly. He asked Mr. Wojcik if there are any remaining funds for the city to manage for ongoing maintenance for the memorial. He stated that yes, there are some funds. He didn't specify how much. He is still selling pavers as well. Court Report April Court Cases - Criminal: 7 Traffic: 75 Monthly Finance Report - James Francom Mr. Francom has the check register and operational budget available for the council tonight. Mr. Francom wanted to point out and clarify some of the numbers on the water and sewer fund and the budget vs the expenses. The council had no questions for Mr. Francom. Police Report - Chief JJ Bradford We have completed the Field Training Program with the two new officers and things are going well. The new officers are getting a good variety of calls and cases to look into. They are on their own as of this past Saturday. The vehicle traffic has greatly increased with the warm weather and people starting to travel more. New legislation has come out and became active on May 6, 2026 regarding the use of electric scooters and bicycles. Here's a quick breakdown of the new rules: -No one under the age of 8 can ride any e-bike on a public road -All e-bike and e-scooter riders under 21 must use a CPSC helmet while operating on a road, and e-motorcycle riders under 21 must use a DOT approved helmet. -Devices that travel over 20 mph w/o pedaling are considered e-motorcycles and require a driver's license and motorcycle endorsement - Those under 16 may not operate e-motorcycles or high-powered e-devices on any public road. It is illegal to operate any e-device impaired, or to alter one from its original design - Beginning May 5, 2027, riders ages 8 to 15 must have direct supervision or a Department of Public Safety personal electric vehicle safety certificate. -He stated that Ben is willing to work with Bike Utah and do a safety training of sorts for the kids that are riding scooters and e-bikes, etc. Community Development Report - Ben Muhlestein Events: July 4th: Our schedule is filling out! The theme for this year is 'Made In America'. Vendor Spots are just about full for the 4th. If you haven't checked out 'Goosechase' and all of our challenges there, please do so! Fall Festival: The Fall Festival committee has met several times so far this year and we are looking at keeping some elements while shaking up other parts of the event. We are tentatively planning on September 12th for the event this year. Community Development: - The Planning Commission has been hard at work with Subdivision policies. We also had a potential fence ordinance brought forward from the community that they are reviewing. They'll likely send that to council review later this month or in June. Trails: - The 4th reservoir trail is under construction! We are in the last week or so and expect to hold a grand opening late May or early June. Grant: The grant that was applied for to build bathrooms at the pickle ball courts was approved today. Shauna Sherrow was present and shared some results from a couple community surveys regarding youth health and behaviour. She handed out a sheet that showed the results. The survey covered topics such as the amount of sleep students get, the amount of time they eat dinner with family, the use of alcohol and drugs, including marajuana and prescription drugs. The survey identified a desire for more outdoor activities and space for youth. Shauna highlighted successful events such as the 'Music in the Park.' which launched in April at the ballpark and attracted approximately 100 people. The group is also planning a biking obstacle course for the fall festival to provide healthy, social activities for families and promote safety. Discussion Items Blanding Elementary School - Steve Francom Mr. Francom was at the meeting, he and the council members and staff discussed concerns regarding traffic visibility and water retention at the elementary school at the intersection of the retention pond. Steve confirmed that the school district has every intention to be compliant with city code and the requests to beautify and secure the pond, while acknowledging the challenge of balancing safety and code interpretations for the pond and school site. The group evaluated options for managing school traffic, including the use of stop signs and creating one-way streets to improve safety for students. It was noted that even with stop signs, visibility remains a challenge with the current fence. They discussed potential drop-off patterns. The discussion included potential solutions such as adding safety mirrors across the street. They discussed where the best place will be for cross walks and cross walk signs with flashing lights. It was emphasized the importance of monitoring traffic patterns and students walking routes in August and September to determine the effectiveness of these measures. B3 Project Update - Bill, Tyler & Kendall Bill Knowlton was present at the meeting, he is with the company, B3. He presented a status update on the affordable housing project at 650 South Main Street. They have secured approximately 11 million dollars in capital and established a project area with the Inland Port Authority, which is projected to generate 600,000 dollars in tax increment for the city. He explained that recent Utah State Legislature changes have created growing pains for housing entities, particularly regarding tax credit applications. They identified a financing gap of approximately 1 million dollars and are seeking 300,000 dollars in additional funding, emphasizing that they are working with various state agencies to secure more funding. They discussed potential matching funds from the county and the city's commitment of 151,000 dollars. Mr. Redd noted that the city is exploring ways to assist with infrastructure costs, such as rerouting power and water lines, and mentioned that an estimator from Rocky Mountain Power is scheduled to visit the site to provide firm costs. Bill stated that the project application is due on June 16th, with an anticipated result by September 1st, and that they hope to break ground in the first quarter of next year. Mr. Redd and the council expressed appreciation for the collaborative effort, and Bill commended the city for their cooperative approach. Shared Use Facility Updates Mr. Redd stated that the school district didn't give any direct feedback on the contract that we sent to them. The school district sent one back and Mr. Redd went over the main differences between them. The three main things that he suggests are the appendix which covers the facility matrix, the insurance clause and the written agreement for field readiness. He noted that the school district submitted a new contract without prior verbal feedback and suggested that these additions would provide necessary clarity and consistency. Walking Trail Surface Proposal Mr. Redd presented a choice between a G3 stabilized pathway, which was the original grant-funded plan, and an asphalt pathway for the site. Austin Phillips with Phillips Construction Co., recommended installing two inches of asphalt instead of the G3 stabilizer to handle high traffic usage. This change requires an additional $32,000 in cash funding, which is not currently included in the approved budget for the project. Austin Phillips stated that asphalt provides superior durability, a longer lifespan of approximately 30 years compared to the 10- to 20-year lifespan of G3, and a smoother surface for ADA use, bikes, and strollers. Mr. Redd noted that G3 requires intensive maintenance every three to five months, whereas asphalt needs maintenance only once a year or as needed. To address concerns about potential failures, Austin Phillips proposed a three-year warranty where the contractor would return to the site to repair any failures at their own cost. The discussion addressed the difficulty of keeping dirt bikes and side-by-side vehicles off the pathway. Austin Phillips suggested that the visual distinction of an asphalt surface might deter some vehicular traffic compared to a dirt surface. To further prevent unauthorized access, Mr. Muhlstein discussed installing decorative metal bollards or other natural-looking barriers at entrance points to restrict larger vehicles while still allowing public access. A concern was raised regarding the local clay soil and its potential for expansion and folding, noting the challenge this poses for infrastructure in the reservoir area. Austin Phillips clarified that the designs provided by Jones and DeMille utilized a solid foundation material rather than the native clay, meaning that both the G3 and asphalt options would be supported by a stable base and would not require a significant redesign. Business Items Resolution 05-12-2026-1 Approving Change Order #001 with Phillips & Co Construction WHEREAS, Blanding City previously approved the walking trail project around the Blanding 4th Reservoir; and WHEREAS, Phillips & Co. Construction was selected as the contractor for the project; and WHEREAS, the original project scope included installation of a G3 stabilized aggregate trail surface; and WHEREAS, after further review and discussion regarding long-term durability, maintenance, public use, and trail conditions, the City Council has determined that changing the trail surface from G3 stabilized aggregate to asphalt is in the best interest of Blanding City; and WHEREAS, Phillips & Co. Construction has submitted Change Order No. 001, dated May 3, 2026, to replace the G3 stabilized path with a 2-inch asphalt surface; and WHEREAS, Change Order No. 001 includes a credit of $55,608.00 for the G3 Stabilizer Path, an asphalt cost of $90,250.00, a clearing and grubbing credit of $5,621.00, a subtotal increase of $29,021.00, a 10% general contractor markup of $2,902.10, and a total change order amount of $31,923.10; and WHEREAS, the change order adds 0 days to the project schedule; and WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the proposed change order and finds that approval of the change order and surface change will support the long-term use and durability of the walking trail. Councilmember Ewald made a motion to approve Resolution 05-12-2026-1 approving the change order with Phillips and Co Construction. Councilmember Moses seconded the motion. Mayor Olsen repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Grover Councilmember Ewald Councilmember Moses Those voting nay: None Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Olsen declared the motion carried. Adjournment Councilmember Ewald made a motion to adjourn. Councilmember Moses seconded the motion. Mayor Olsen repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions, hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Grover Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Ewald Councilmember Moses Those voting nay: None Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Olsen declared the motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:25pm.

Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)

In compliance with the ADA, individuals needing special accommodations during this meeting may call the City Offices at (435) 678-2791 at least twenty-four hours in advance. Every effort will be made to provide the appropriate services.

Notice of Electronic or Telephone Participation

One or more Council Members may partcipate electronically.

Meeting Information

Meeting Location

50 W 100 S
Blanding, UT 84511
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Contact Name

Pratt Redd

Contact Email

predd@blanding-ut.gov

Notice Posting Details

Notice Posted On

May 29, 2026 12:28 PM

Notice Last Edited On

May 29, 2026 12:28 PM

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