General Information

Government Type

Municipality

Entity

Blanding

Public Body

City Council

Notice Information

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Notice Title

City Council Minutes 8.11.2026

Notice Type(s)

Meeting

Event Start Date & Time

August 11, 2026 07:00 PM

Description/Agenda

CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA Mayor Trevor Olsen (resigned) Mayor Pro-Tempore Charlie Taylor (absent) Council Member Chris Ewald (virtual) Council Member Kellen Nielson Council Member Chad Moses Council Member Jesse Grover August 11, 2026 6:00 PM - Work Session August 11, 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 Landlord Guarantor on Rental Property Discussion Mr. Francom proposed shifting the burden of utility collection from taxpayers to property owners, discussing two primary options: requiring landlords to be the guarantor for utility accounts or mandating that the utility account remains in the landlord's name. The city aims to create a partnership with landlords to address delinquencies efficiently, with plans to notify landlords of late payments on the 10th of each month. The city intends to hold an open house to educate stakeholders before proceeding to public hearings, with a projected timeline of two to three months to implement the new code. Hangar Appraisal Review Pratt Redd introduced the appraisal report for the city's hangers, noting that it covers various facilities. Councilmember Ewald questioned the exclusion of the Guardian Flight Hanger and the terminal building from the appraisal, arguing that these should be included to ensure a complete valuation of city assets. Pratt Redd indicated that these are currently separate contracts but agreed to consult the FAA attorney to determine how these assets should be evaluated and whether the appraisal findings apply to existing agreements. Councilmember Ewald expressed concern that providing office and hanger space at reduced rates without a proper valuation could lead to grant assurance violations, arguing that the city must have a clear understanding of the appraised value for all facilities. The council discussed the balance between offering competitive rates to retain businesses and ensuring fair treatment for all tenants. Pratt Redd proposed a potential contractual structure that provides rate discounts based on the economic impact or number of jobs a business provides to the community. Both Pratt Redd and Councilmember Ewald acknowledged the importance of incentivizing local businesses like Guardian Flight and Freedom Fuels to remain in the area. Councilmember Ewald strongly criticized the appraisal report for using airports in high-cost communities such as Moab, Aspen, and Steamboat Springs as comparables. He argued that these locations do not reflect the economic landscape of San Juan County and result in inflated values. He also advocated for using smaller, more similar airports, such as Farmington, Aztec, or St. Johns, to obtain an accurate and fair market valuation. Pratt Redd framed the discussion as a strategic decision regarding whether the city should heavily subsidize the airport to maintain low rates or adjust rates to better cover costs. Pratt Redd highlighted that the city allocates significant funds to airport infrastructure, such as apron rehabilitation, and sought direction from the council on the long-term vision for the airport. Pratt Redd noted that the Guardian Flight Hanger is governed by a standalone contract and involves tenant-funded improvements, which should be considered when evaluating the lease. Councilmember Ewald maintained that regardless of specific contract terms, it is imperative to align valuations across all hangers to satisfy grant assurance requirements and avoid perceptions of inequity. Pratt Redd assured him that the FFA attorney he has been talking to stated that it is a non-issue. Councilmember Ewald warned that if the city increases hanger rates to match the high values suggested by the appraisal, there is a substantial risk of losing existing tenants and facing vacancy issues. There was discussion about other known hangar rates and costs of rental spaces for businesses. Councilmember Ewald stated that such increases would make operating a business at the airport unfeasible for many current tenants, potentially leading to a loss of the current tenant base. The participants discussed the history of maintenance at the airport, with Pratt Redd observing that limited annual maintenance is performed on the 16 city-owned hangers. Councilmember Ewald noted that maintenance costs for the Guardian Flight Hanger have been relatively minimal over time, with the exception of specific renovation projects like floor painting. Pratt Redd suggested that higher rates might provide more revenue to fund future maintenance and facility improvements. Pratt Redd and Taylor discussed the potential for future collaboration with Utah State University and the need to strategically plan for airport growth, including the possibility of new hangar construction. The discussion highlighted the ongoing challenge of balancing the desire to grow the airport with the financial reality that the facility likely requires ongoing subsidies. Pratt Redd agreed to follow up with the FAA attorney to clarify the status of existing contracts and to seek legal guidance on grant assurance compliance. Councilmember Ewald reiterated the request for more appropriate comparative data. POLICY MEETING Call to Order Roll Call A Prayer was offered by Councilmember Nielson The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance. Consent Agenda & City Council Minutes Approval - 06.23.2026 Meeting Councilmember Moses made a motion to approve the consent agenda and minutes from June 23, 2026. Councilmember Grover seconded the motion. Councilmember Nielson repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Grover Councilmember Ewald Councilmember Moses Those voting nay: None Constituting all members thereof, Councilmember Nielson declared the motion carried. Declaration of Conflicts of Interest -Councilmember Ewald stated that he runs a business out of the airport. Public Input - None Reports Mayor Councilmember Nielson read the resignation letter from Mayor Olsen effective on today's date. Mr. Redd outlined the timeline to fill the mayoral seat: a public announcement will occur on August 25, followed by interviews during the second city council meeting in September, with a vote taking place on September 28. An appointed individual would serve until December 2027 and would need to file for election to remain in the position through the original term ending in 2029. City Council Councilmember Grover stated that he has had a lot of people approach him about Walter C. Lyman park. It has been run down for a lot of years and people would like to see it restored. He stated that the grant money for the pump track could go to something like helping restore the park. Mr. Redd stated that Clint Black is known for his green thumb and he is confident that he can get that park to a place where it only needs to be watered twice a week and have nice grass. Councilmember Grover would like to see some funds go towards making the Walter C. Lyman park nice again. Councilmember Nielson stated that he has also had some people talk to him about the same park. City Manager Report - Pratt Redd Mr. Redd stated that we are starting to close out five or six fire land use agreements with the fire fighters, which include billing for water usage and reservoir access. Additionally, the mountain area near the causeway will remain closed for approximately four to five weeks to allow for continued mitigation and tree/soil repair. Pratt Redd reported that the city is working with attorney Peter Kersh of Kaplan and Kersh on minimum standards and contract reviews. The minimum standards are expected to be ready for the next meeting, and the three associated contracts are on track to be completed by August 25. Finance Report - James Francom Mr. Francom presented an update on the implementation of Tantalus meters, which collect data remotely to avoid manual reading. Of the meters currently in use, 307 are Tantalus meters, and the city aims to replace remaining manual-read problem meters. The system provides daily usage data, assists in identifying water spikes, and allows for remote disconnection of services. Mr. Redd noted that the new metering system proved effective during a recent lightning storm, allowing city staff to identify and report specific power outages to crews immediately, which saved time and resources compared to manual reporting. Police Report - Police Chief JJ Bradford We stayed busy with a lot of calls for service and arrests. I was able to work more alongside our newer officers and assist them with cases. We had cases where an officer stopped a car for reckless driving and arrested the driver and three occupants for drug related offenses. Our new dash cameras have arrived and we are awaiting the crew to come and install them in the vehicles. Discussion Items Hangar Rates and Other Airport Items Pratt Redd requested the council establish a goal for the maximum acceptable rate for private and commercial hanger leases, suggesting that if rates are not finalized, the city should at least determine a pricing ceiling. The council discussed whether to keep rates low to foster airport growth versus increasing them to match regional comparables, with Pratt Redd noting that current rates are not subsidized. The council discussed the need for stricter enforcement of lease requirements. New contracts will include stipulations requiring hangers to be 'airworthy' and used for aircraft, with a process to remove tenants who do not comply. It was suggested that the city should lock in rates for a multi-year block (3 to 10 years) to provide consistency. Councilmember Ewald also criticized the current appraisal as inaccurate, arguing that it compared Blanding's 'bare-bones' hangers to fully equipped facilities in other, wealthier communities, and requested that Pratt Redd follow up on the appraisal quality. Landlord Guarantor on Rental Property Continued There was no more discussion on this item. Fee Tier Review for Vacant Properties Mr. Redd introduced a proposal to create tiered classifications for utility billing to address properties that remain inactive yet retain connected infrastructure. The proposed classes are: Class 1 (Active/occupied properties), Class 2 (Connected but inactive, paying base rates), Class 3 (Stubbed utilities, paying a $4 fee), and Class 4 (Surrendered or unique properties, such as non-buildable lots). The city aims to move away from the current $4 stub fee for properties with fully connected infrastructure, as this currently incentivizes property owners to leave homes vacant. The goal is to incentivize owners to improve properties or rent them out, rather than allowing them to deteriorate while paying minimal utility fees. The city plans to mirror the process used for landlord agreements, which involves holding open houses and ensuring affected community members are properly informed and consulted before adopting the new policy. Pratt Redd will investigate the policies of comparable cities, such as Nephi, to ensure the new fee structure is aligned with industry standards. Adjournment Councilmember Moses made a motion to adjourn. Councilmember Grover seconded the motion. Councilmember Nielson repeated the motion. He asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Grover Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Ewald Councilmember Moses Those voting nay: None Constituting all members thereof, Councilmember Nielson declared the motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:48pm.

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 03:08 PM

Notice Last Edited On

September 03, 2026 03:08 PM

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