General Information

Government Type

Municipality

Entity

Blanding

Public Body

City Council

Notice Information

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Notice Title

City Council Minutes 7.14.2026

Notice Type(s)

Meeting

Event Start Date & Time

July 14, 2026 06:00 PM

Description/Agenda

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Mayor Trevor Olsen Mayor Pro-Tempore Charlie Taylor Council Member Chris Ewald Council Member Kellen Nielson Council Member Chad Moses (virtual) Council Member Jesse Grover July 14, 2026 6:00 PM - Work Session July 14, 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 - 6:00 pm Private and Commercial Hangar Lease Agreements Review Pratt Redd introduced the Minimum Standards document, noting that it is required for compliance with federal grant assurances. This document is intended to establish consistent requirements across the board for all commercial activity at the municipal airport, including the Fixed Base Operator, GMR, and other service providers. The council reviewed the definition of commercial aeronautical activity, confirming that it includes any aviation-related business, service, or operation conducted for compensation. The group discussed expanding the definition to explicitly include avionics installation, repairs, and operations conducted under Federal Aviation Administration regulations Part 135 and Part 145. They also deliberated on how to categorize drone operations, flight instruction, and pilot examination testing within these standards. Attendees discussed the approval process for businesses operating at the airport, clarifying that the 'Airport Manager' refers to the city-employed official rather than the Fixed Base Operator. The council debated whether the Airport Advisory Board should be involved in approvals, but concluded that authority should remain with the city manager and city council to ensure consistency with existing municipal business licensing practices. The council reviewed the documentation required from prospective commercial operators, including business descriptions, equipment lists, and hazardous waste disposal plans. It was suggested that the requirements should be thorough but flexible, noting that phrases like 'if applicable' should be added to the plan requirements so that businesses are not penalized for equipment or services they do not utilize. The group discussed prohibited activities and safety protocols, including the storage of explosives and hazardous materials. They reached a consensus that refueling should occur outside of hangars to mitigate risks from vapor gases, and that fuel storage should be strictly limited to what is authorized within a specific contract. Additionally, they discussed the importance of reporting spills or hazardous conditions immediately to the airport manager. The council deliberated on standards for outside storage of vehicles, trailers, and equipment. They agreed that parking should be prohibited in front of hangars, on taxi lanes, or in areas that obstruct aircraft movement. The group decided that outside storage should be limited to locations identified and approved within a tenant's business plan to prevent overcrowding and ensure safety. The council touched upon the need for wastewater runoff and disposal plans for commercial operators. They concluded that while a formal environmental impact study might not be necessary for every operator, a written plan demonstrating that the operator knows how to safely handle cleaning products and waste would be required. The council discussed the next steps for finalizing the commercial agreements and minimum standards. Pratt Redd reported that an appraiser would provide pricing information by August 11, with the goal of finalizing edits by August 28. Several council members recommended that the documents be referred to the airport committee and legal counsel for further review before a final resolution is passed, as they felt additional expertise was needed to ensure the standards were appropriate. They discussed reviewing airport committee findings, contracts, and appraisal numbers, with a plan to hold a discussion item on the 28th and potentially finalize these matters by the 11th. Mayoral Transition Announcement: Mayor Trevor Olsen informed the council that they had been offered a position in Utah County effective July 2027 and would begin the transition process. The mayor noted that this would result in an interim position for the mayor, and requested that this information remain out of the official recording for the time being to allow for proper notification. POLICY MEETING Call to Order Roll Call A thought and prayer was offered by Pratt Redd The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance. Consent Agenda & City Council Minutes Approval - 06.23.2026 Meeting Councilmember Ewald made a motion to approve the consent agenda and minutes from June 23, 2026. 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. Declaration of Conflicts of Interest - None Public Input None Reports Mayor Mayor Olsen stated that an executive order from President Trump reduced the boundaries of the Bears Monument from approximately 1.3 million acres to 121,000 acres. The city administration went to DC and advocated for local interests in late February and continues to push for specific parameters and substantive changes in upcoming 10-year plans. The Mayor presented the Little Miss Blanding royalty. Queen, Annie Kartchner, 1st attendant, Berkeley Lyman, 2nd attendant, Henley Jeppsen, 3rd attendant, Winter Tait. They all came to the front and took some pictures. He also thanked Lacey Ivins for making the pageant happen. The Mayor presented the Blanding Citizens of the Year award to Truit and Bonnie Purcell, recognizing them for their community involvement through education, athletics, and public service. The Mayor initiated discussion on potential plans for the upcoming Christmas and the potential events, including the possibility of closing Main Street to facilitate vendor participation and pedestrian flow. The Council noted the importance of learning from previous events, where cold weather and a lack of direct connection to businesses were identified as challenges. There was a discussion regarding the small triangle park on center street where the FBLA had proposed a flower-planting service project but were denied by UDOT. The Council considered the need for a final decision on the space, including the potential to close an adjacent road to resolve traffic and parking concerns. City Council Councilmember Taylor reviewed the recent fire, acknowledging improvements in communication protocols and firefighting strategy. The Council expressed gratitude for the efforts of the emergency personnel, volunteers, and citizens. City Manager Report - Pratt Redd Mr. Redd reported that the city has submitted paperwork for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) plan to protect critical water infrastructure from fire-related debris. The city must provide a 25% match for the project, which can be fulfilled through in-kind labor or cash, and they are planning to install systems to divert dirty water away from the drinking supply. Finance Report - James Francom Mr. Francom provided the final June financial report for the fiscal year, noting that total revenues reached 104% of the budget. The airport budget initially appeared over-budget due to a miscoded project expense, which has been corrected, and the department is in good financial standing. Police Report - Chief JJ Bradford June was busy with many more cases pulled and citations written compared to June of last year. I would like to thank the community and all those who attended the 4th of July celebration for understanding the current fire situation and not lighting off fireworks and being so willing to work around the inconvenience the fire on the mountain created for the parade and other events near the school. The celebration from a law enforcement perspective went very well and we did not have problems like we've had in the past. Community Development Report - Ben Muhlestein Events: July 4th: The 4th of July went really well this year. We had great attendance at many of the events and we were lucky to avoid the worst that the smoke had to offer. We'll be meeting as a committee to talk about improvements for next year. We want to thank our sponsors, UNHS, Redds Ace Hardware, Energy Fuels and the many others that contribute to the continued success of our Independence Day Celebration. 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 planning on September 12th for the event this year. Vendor Openings will open up for the Fall Festival in another week or so. Community Development: The Planning Commission has been hard at work. We'll review the fencing policy update in this meeting. They have also worked on a conditional use permit, Planned Unit Development and continued work on our Subdivision Policies. Trails The 4th reservoir trail is open! We had a successful grand opening in June with around 100 people that participated. We've seen a lot of use on the trail and are happy with the results. Discussion Items Fence Ordinance Review Mr. Muhlestein presented proposed changes to the fence ordinance, which include allowing up to an eight-foot fence in rear setbacks with a builder's permit for heights over six feet, and restricting front yard fences to four feet to eliminate the use of six-foot chain link. The Council requested a red-line version of the document to compare against current policies before taking an official vote. Business Items Resolution 07-14-2026-1 MOU with Kigalia Fine Arts Club WHEREAS, Blanding City recognizes the value of arts, culture, education, and community programming in strengthening the quality of life for residents, students, families, and visitors; and WHEREAS, Kigalia Fine Arts Club provides arts-related programming, events, education, and community engagement opportunities that may benefit Blanding City and the surrounding region; and WHEREAS, Blanding City desires to support cooperative partnerships that promote cultural enrichment, community involvement, and access to arts programming; and WHEREAS, Blanding City and Kigalia Fine Arts Club desire to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding to outline the general roles and responsibilities of each party in supporting arts programming and community events; and WHEREAS, the Memorandum of Understanding does not create a direct financial obligation for Blanding City unless separately approved by the Blanding City Council; And WHEREAS, the Blanding City Council finds that approval of the Memorandum of Understanding is in the best interest of the City and supports the public purpose of promoting arts, culture, education, and community engagement. Councilmember Nielson made a motion to approve resolution 07-14-2026-1 approving the MOU with Kigalia Fine Arts Club. 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. Resolution 07-14-2026-2 Authorizing Intent to Utilize the County EMS WHEREAS, Blanding City recognizes the importance of reliable, coordinated, and timely emergency medical services for residents, businesses, and visitors within the City and surrounding area; and WHEREAS, San Juan County has undertaken, or is undertaking, a competitive procurement process for the selection of a countywide ambulance and emergency medical services provider; and WHEREAS, Blanding City desires to participate in and utilize the emergency medical services provider selected by San Juan County through that competitive procurement process; and WHEREAS, a coordinated and integrated countywide emergency medical services system promotes consistent emergency response, clinical quality, operational efficiency, and equitable access to emergency medical care; and WHEREAS, Blanding City desires to work cooperatively with San Juan County, the selected emergency medical services provider, and the Utah Bureau of Emergency Medical Services regarding any associated licensing, designation, service area, or implementation requirements; and WHEREAS, the Blanding City Council finds that supporting a coordinated countywide EMS system is in the best interest of the City and serves an important public safety purpose. Jeremy Hoggard and Linda Swenson were both present at the meeting and talked about the impact of Senate Bill 215, noting that prior to this legislation, Emergency Medical Services were not classified as an essential service for municipalities. The bill was intended to improve communication between Emergency Medical Services directors and fire chiefs to ensure that Emergency Medical Services are recognized as essential, similar to fire services, although the mandatory RFP process was noted as being confusing for rural areas lacking competition. Councilmember Ewald made a motion to approve resolution 07-14-2026-2 authorizing intent to utilize the county EMS. 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. Closed Session Councilmember Ewald made a motion to go into closed session to discuss pending litigation. Councilmember Nielson seconded the motion. Mayor Olsen repeated the motion. He 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. Adjournment Councilmember Ewald made a motion to adjourn. 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 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 8:38pm.

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

September 03, 2026 03:00 PM

Notice Last Edited On

September 03, 2026 03:00 PM

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