General Information

Government Type

Municipality

Entity

Blanding

Public Body

City Council

Notice Information

Add Notice to Calendar

Notice Title

City Council Minutes 6.23.2026

Notice Type(s)

Meeting

Event Start Date & Time

June 23, 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 June 23, 2026 7:15 PM City Council Meeting 50 West 100 South Street, Blanding Utah 84511 Meetings live streamed when available at: https://meet.google.com/ksn-wsxi-zea Councilmember Ewald made a motion to enter a public hearing for the FY 2027 compensation increases for city officials. Councilmember Grover 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. FY2027 Compensation Increases for City Officials - 6:45 pm No comments from the public were made. Councilmember Nielson made a motion to leave the public hearing. Councilmember Ewald 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. Councilmember Ewald made a motion to enter a public hearing for the budget amendments and adoption of the certified property tax rate and adoption of the city's consolidated fee schedule. 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. FY2026 Budget Amendments & Adoption of the Certified Property Tax Rate, and Adoption of the City's Consolidated Fee Schedule - 7:00 pm No comments from the public were made. Councilmember Ewald made a motion to leave the public hearing. Councilmember Niielson 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. POLICY MEETING Call to Order Roll Call A Thought was offered by Nicole Holliday The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance. Consent Agenda & City Council Minutes Approval - 06.09.2026 Meeting Councilmember Ewald made a motion to approve the consent agenda and minutes from June 9, 2026 with a change of spelling on Kasper's name. Councilmember Grover 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 - Councilmember Ewald disclosed that he is a business owner at the airport. Public Input None Reports Mayor The mayor stated that Little Miss Blanding is tomorrow evening. He thanked Pratt for representing the city at that event. He stated that it is a city sponsored event. The mayor encouraged everyone to prioritize safety, follow rules regarding water conservancy, and practice general safety measures for the upcoming holiday as it is always a busy time for Blanding. City Council Councilmember Taylor said that the walking path at the 4th turned out really great and is being used a lot. Signs for the trails will be coming soon. Councilmember Ewald wants to share a great idea during the airport discussion. He believes it will solve all the problems. Pratt Redd City Manager Report - Mr. Redd reported on consultations with Corey regarding the Fourth of July fireworks. To mitigate fire risks, the council decided to align with the governor's recommendation to strongly encourage residents to refrain from recreational fireworks, or to use them only on concrete pads with water sources. They determined that this stance would be communicated via social media rather than establishing an official municipal ban. Mr. Redd announced that the city submitted two grant applications to FEMA this week. One application seeks funding for Chief Spillmans's salary for three and a half years, and the other requests funding for a new fire truck and ladder engine. Mr. Redd received confirmation that state funding is in place for the Recapture boat ramp project. The state will handle procurement, and the project is expected to be awarded and initiated between July 1st and mid-August. The plan includes replacing asphalt with concrete and extending the ramp to the water level. It was reported that the spillway project involves raising it by 3.5 feet, with the water conservancy district actively working on the project. It is expected that the project will be put out to bid within one or two months. The council planned their participation in the Fourth of July parade, discussing the use of a fire truck or other vehicles. Spouses and family members are welcome to join the council members during the event. Court Report - April) Traffic - 75 Criminal - 7 May) Traffic - 92 Criminal - 1 Water Report - Trevor Palmer The May water report indicated that annual precipitation was at 94% of the average at Camp Jackson. Reservoir capacities were reported at 93% for the fourth reservoir and 75% for the third, with the US drought monitor placing the area in severe to extreme drought conditions. Plans were shared for bringing well A online and initiating the new treatment plant by the Fourth of July weekend to supplement the system. Airport & Building Reports - Taylor Francom New permits issued 8 Permits 1 Single Family Dwelling 1 Repair 1 Remodel 2 Electric Meter Sets 1 Commercial remodel 2 Commercial SJSD Inspections Completed 30 Inspections completed 20 Residential 10 Commercial Notes: Active issued permits- 24 Airport Taylor reported that Westech replaced the card reader at the fuel farm, which is now functional, eliminating previous dial-up phone line issues. Additionally, the grant agreement for the apron rehabilitation project has been signed, with construction scheduled for next year. A grant risk assessment was completed in February, and a three-year state master record inspection was conducted that morning, where the state recommended repainting runway stripes. There was also some discussion on installing signs to discourage pilots from overflying the town and to promote preferred flight paths that minimize noise. Annual hanger inspections were conducted, with measurements taken for square footage. The council is reviewing hanger leases and seeking to clean up the contract for fairness. Taylor presented a pricing sheet based on square footage for the 16 hangers, which will serve as a reference for future leasing adjustments. Some discrepancies in the hanger configuration data, such as corner hanger sizes and twin versus single-engine capacities, were discussed to better understand the current usage and constraints. There was discussion on potential economic development opportunities for the airport, specifically partnering with Utah State University (USU) to establish a pilot or aircraft mechanic certification school. The council briefly discussed the possibility of using the armory as a potential location for such a school, as well as diversifying services of the FBO, including adding newer courtesy cars, promoting tour operations, and attracting businesses such as flight instruction, aircraft detailing, and maintenance services to increase the airport's competitiveness. They agreed that there is a big market for backcountry flying and we are in a prime location for that. They discussed the potential for holding events such as fly-ins, pancake breakfasts, and car shows to increase local activity, referencing the success of similar models and the potential to partner with existing networks like the Backcountry Santa program. Regan Richmond noted that while the Backcountry Santa program prioritizes supporting reservations, the airport has significant potential to capture traffic currently lost to regional competitors like Moab and Huntington by better promoting its unique offerings. There was strong support for re-establishing a glider operation, utilizing the favorable local soaring conditions and existing expertise, with potential for attracting enthusiasts who previously visited other regions like Durango for similar activities. Discussion Items Airport Update & Economic Development Ideas Mr. Muhlestein noted that current lease agreements are often treated as 'one-size-fits-all' residential leases, which do not suit commercial or service-oriented business operations and create potential issues with grant assurance compliance. Councilmember Ewald emphasized that protecting the airport's grant assurances is the top priority to avoid significant liability, which necessitates creating transparent, fair, and defensible business practices that will satisfy Federal Aviation Administration requirements. He proposed centralizing hangar lease management under the city to ensure fair, equitable, and uniform treatment, thereby reducing the appearance of discrimination or potential conflicts of interest among tenants. He discussed the risk of 'having the appearance of' conflict of interest if one service provider oversees leases for another, proposing that the city manage these contracts directly to provide objective, third-party oversight. There was discussion of the possibility of pursuing business-oriented grants to build larger, eighty-by-eighty-foot hangars, as existing structures are insufficient for the needs of larger commercial operations. The council reviewed the master plan, identifying specific zones designated for growth, including areas suitable for larger hangars to accommodate medium-to-large businesses and future expansion needs. The participants discussed creating a dedicated, standardized lease for service providers that includes requirements for a city business license and terms that mirror existing commercial agreements to ensure equitable treatment. The group agreed to have further discussions with the airport board and gather input from current tenants, and prepare draft lease agreements for review by the second meeting in July. David Redd was present at the meeting and he expressed concerns regarding perceived inequities in current pricing, specifically concerning hangar size, the utility of 'cubby hole' space, and overall cost disparities, emphasizing the need for transparency in how rates are calculated. There was a general group discussion on the concerns of service providers regarding the signing of leases under the current contract, which they argue does not fit the service provider model and feels like an unfair 'one-size-fits-all' approach. Mr. Redd clarifies that while the council cannot officially instruct providers to stop signing or hold off on existing contracts, they acknowledge the desire for fairness and note that the council is not in a position to adjust existing contracts without following proper protocol. A conflict of interest is noted regarding Councilmember Ewald who is a service provider, which limits his ability to vote on financial issues. The consensus is that providers will proceed with current rates to avoid legal complications and conflicts with other tenants, while Mr. Redd commits to having a draft of cleaned-up lease agreements ready by July 14th, with the goal of having them ready for signing on the 28th. Advice & Consent Items Centennial Little League Dirt Field Partnership Mr. Redd presents a proposal from Ryan Palmer regarding a donation of 25 tons of red infield mix (valued at $1,200) for fields three and four at Centennial Park. To facilitate this improvement, the city is requested to authorize a payment of $1,488 to cover the transportation costs from Phoenix to Blanding. Council confirms agreement with the proposal and provides advice and consent to proceed with the donation and funding. Business Items Ordinance 2026-6 FY2026 Amended Budget Approval WHEREAS, the Blanding City Council is required by the Uniform Fiscal Procedures Act for Utah Cities, Utah Code § 10-6-101 et seq., to adopt an annual budget by ordinance; and WHEREAS, the City has reviewed all revenue and expenditure estimates for Fiscal Year 2026 and determined that amendments are necessary to reflect actual and anticipated revenues and expenditures more accurately; WHEREAS, a public hearing was duly noticed and held on the 23rd day of June, 2026, in accordance with Utah Code § 10-6-113 and § 10-6-114, to receive public comment on the proposed amended budget; WHEREAS, the Blanding City Council finds it is in the best interest of the City and its residents to adopt the amended budget for Fiscal Year 2026. Councilmember Ewald made a motion to approve Ordinance 2026-6 accepting the FY2026 amended budget. Councilmember Nielson 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. Ordinance 2026-7 FY2027 Compensation Increases for City Officials WHEREAS, the Utah State Legislature during the 2024 General Session passed S.B. 91; WHEREAS, S.B. 91 amended Utah Code Section 10-3-818 regarding City employee salaries; and WHEREAS, the City of Blanding must now publish public notice and hold a separate public hearing on proposed compensation increases for executive municipal officers before adopting those increases; and WHEREAS, the Blanding City Council finds that enacting the proposed compensation increases as set forth in this Ordinance will comply with Utah Code requirements and will promote the public health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the City of Blanding, Utah. Councilmember Ewald made a motion to approve Ordinance 2026-7 accepting the FY2027 compensation increases for city officials. 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. Ordinance 2026-8 FY2027 Budget Adoption WHEREAS, the Blanding City Council, in accordance with the Uniform Fiscal Procedures Act for Utah Cities (Utah Code § 10-6-101 et seq.), is required to adopt a budget for each fiscal year by Ordinance; WHEREAS, the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027 (July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027) has been prepared, reviewed, and tentatively adopted in accordance with the law; WHEREAS, a public hearing to receive public input on the proposed budget was duly noticed and held in June 2026, in accordance with Utah Code § 10-6-114; WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that the proposed budget reflects the priorities and fiscal needs of Blanding City for the coming fiscal year. Councilmember Taylor made a motion to approve Ordinance 2026-8 adopting the FY2027 budget. Councilmember Ewald 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. Ordinance 2026-9 FY2027 Fee Schedule Adoption WHEREAS, the Blanding City Council has the authority to establish and amend fees for municipal services, licenses, permits, and other administrative costs in accordance with Utah Code § 10-3-717 and other applicable laws; and WHEREAS, a comprehensive review of the existing fee schedule has been conducted, and updates have been proposed to reflect the actual costs of providing city services; and WHEREAS, a public hearing to receive public input on the proposed FY2027 Fee Schedule was duly noticed and held in June 2026, in accordance with Utah law; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the proposed fee schedule is fair, reasonable, and in the best interest of Blanding City and its residents. Councilmember Taylor made a motion to approve Ordinance 2026-9 adoption of the FY2027 fee schedule. Councilmember Ewald 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. Ordinance 2026-10 FY2027 Adoption of Certified Tax Rate WHEREAS, pursuant to Utah Code § 10-6-135 and § 59-2-924, the Blanding City Council is required to adopt a property tax rate as part of its annual budget process; and WHEREAS, the San Juan County Auditor, in coordination with the Utah State Tax Commission, provides Blanding City with a Certified Tax Rate (CTR) for Fiscal Year 2027; and WHEREAS, Blanding City does not intend to exceed the certified tax rate, and thus a Truth in Taxation hearing is not required; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds it necessary and in the best interest of the residents to adopt the certified tax rate in order to fund essential municipal operations. Councilmember Nielson made a motion to approve Ordinance 2026-10 adoption of FY2027 certified tax rate. 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. Resolution 06-23-2026-1 Election of Tier 2 Public Safety Retirement WHEREAS, the Utah Retirement Systems has established new employee contribution rates for Tier 2 Public Safety employees for Fiscal Year 2027, effective July 1, 2026; and WHEREAS, the IRS allows employers to 'pick-up' the employee portion of this retirement contribution by adopting a formal action such as resolution; and WHEREAS, the City desires to provide a competitive and fair compensation and benefits package to all of its public safety employees and further desires to include these rates in its compensation package for its Tier 2 Public Safety employees; and WHEREAS, for a Tier 2 Public Safety Hybrid employee, Blanding's total URS retirement cost is 30.41% of wages in FY27, up from 29.56% in FY26. For a Tier 2 Public Safety DC/401(k)-only employee, the total drops from 24.83% to 24.33%. Therefore, the budget takeaway is that Hybrid Tier 2 public safety is slightly more expensive this year, while DC Tier 2 public safety is slightly less expensive; overall, this represents no significant increase or decrease to the budget. Councilmember Taylor made a motion to approve resolution 06-23-2026-1 accepting the election of tier 2 public safety retirement. Councilmember Nielson 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 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 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 9:06pm.

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
Show in Apple Maps Show in Google Maps

Contact Name

Pratt Redd

Contact Email

predd@blanding-ut.gov

Notice Posting Details

Notice Posted On

July 28, 2026 03:54 PM

Notice Last Edited On

July 28, 2026 03:54 PM

Subscribe by Email

Subscription options will send you alerts regarding future notices posted by this Body.