General Information

Government Type

Municipality

Entity

Blanding

Public Body

City Council

Notice Information

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Notice Title

City Council Minutes 11.12.24

Notice Tags

Administrative Procedure

Notice Type(s)

Meeting

Event Start Date & Time

November 12, 2024 07:00 PM

Description/Agenda

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Mayor Logan Monson Mayor Pro Tempore Cheryl Bowers Council Member Chris Ewald Council Member Charlie Taylor Council Member Erik Grover Council Member Kellen Nielson November 12, 2024-6-7:00 pm - Work Session November 12, 2024-7pm City Council Meeting 50 West 100 South Street, Blanding Utah 84511 Meetings live streamed when available at: https://meet.google.com/ymf-jwqo-rjs Work Session Look RV Power Upgrade - Trent Herring Jared Barrett is putting in the Look RV north of town off 191. To get power to his development, he has two options, one being Rocky Mountain Power and the other being Blanding City. The Rocky Mountain option was very expensive and it took a long time to get a response from them. Jared wants to know if the city has any interest in sharing the cost of upgrading the circuit and infrastructure needed to get power to his development. A rough estimate is $75,000-$100,000. We have talked about gas in the past concerning this particular development, but Jared wants to get the power figured out before he works on getting gas. He wants to know what Blanding City is willing to do so he can plan accordingly for his costs. There are benefits in upgrading our system. Jared would annex into city limits in a heart beat if he could, but there are a lot of properties in between him and the existing city limits. They talked about the pros and cons of splitting the costs with Jared and what precedence it would set for the future. The upgrade to the grid would definitely benefit the city and future developments. Mr. Parsons talked about the 3rd party load study that Jared had done. Jared is coming to the city because it is significantly cheaper than going with Rocky Mountain Power. Rocky Mountain would have to upgrade about 8 miles of line. They talked about how to protect ourselves and make sure that we get paid if we went that route. They talked about the infill program and updating the policy so that it better serves Blanding and the residents. 2025 Meeting and Holiday Calendars - Trent Herring The November 11th council meeting is on Veterans Day. They decided to just schedule just one meeting in November (unless two are needed). They talked about the holiday schedule, some adjustments will be made and brought back to council. They talked about the work sessions that they have been having once a month. They agreed to continue having them. Mayor Seat Vacancy - Trent Herring Our current ordinance states that we have to have at least a 14-day public notice. We are required to have it on our website and in the newspaper. There was discussion about changing the ordinance and adding social media as a public notice option. There will be a public meeting on December 10th. Applications have to be in by December 4th. The council will interview candidates in an open meeting. Candidates have to live in city limits. They went over the logistics and legalities of appointing a mayor. POLICY MEETING Call to Order Roll Call A Prayer was offered by Councilmember Bowers The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance. Approval: Consent Agenda and Minutes from October 22, 2024 Regular Session Councilmember Bowers made a motion to approve the consent agenda and minutes from October 22, 2024. Councilmember Taylor seconded the motion. Mayor Monson repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Ewald Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Grover Councilmember Bowers Those voting nay: None Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Monson declared the motion carried. Declaration of Conflicts of Interest - None Public Input - Glen Gurney was present. He has multiple airplanes and a tractor trailer at the airport. He said he had a problem during the resealing project. He said that the city moved his tractor trailer illegally. He said that he had a one hour notice to move five aircraft and a tractor trailer. His trailer was used as a storage unit for parts for airplanes. All the parts are on shelves and aren't made for transporting. It was originally said that the trailer needed to be moved to his house. It was agreed that the trailer would be moved to Holliday Construction, because it was a closer distance for the trailer to be moved. Mr. Gurney talked about his communication with a lawyer and he stated that Blanding city is liable for any damage that was done to his equipment and parts in the trailer. Reports Mayor The tree for all is coming up on December 6th and 7th. Mayor Monson officially tendered his resignation. Anyone interested in the Mayor position can fill out an application online. City Council No reports from City Council Youth City Council Macee Palmer, the youth city council Mayor, and Paige Bitsue, vice Mayor were present and they went over what they have been doing and organizing. They hold meetings a couple times a month. There are a lot of students involved with the youth city council. The members are asked to attend 80% of the meetings. And the reason for this is because there is a training at USU in March and in order to qualify for this, they have to have 80% attendance. The youth city council were involved in the local civics day. They were all involved in and very helpful at the Fall Festival. They organized and executed the 'Futures Football Game.' They also helped with the Bears Ears Marathon and had a great time. They hold their meetings during the civics class, Jesse Grover is the teacher for that class and is a big help with that. Mayor Monson said that there is a youth city council day at the capital during the legislative session. The league of cities and towns puts it together. They do training in the morning and then the youth can have lunch with their legislators. There are speakers and activities throughout the day. It is on Feb. 13th. Finance Report - James Francom The check register is in the packet. Councilmember Bowers asked about the fall assessment water purchase. She asked if we are buying new shares or if that expense is just our portion of the assessment. Mr. Herring stated that is just our portion of those assessments. Payroll Change: We are using the police department as the guinea pigs on a four week payroll schedule. They have been doing it for about 3 months and have had no problems. It will be a 28 day pay period instead of monthly. It will reduce any payroll mistakes and will reduce having to go back to the previous pay period to check over time or comp time, etc. The change will take place on the next pay period. Economic Development - Ben Muhlstein Marathon: We had a total of 161 register for the race with around 130 showing up to the race. The overall numbers were a bit lower than last year due to the election, however we saw more families and larger groups stay in the area. We are waiting to hear back from a survey, but feelings about the marathon were very positive at the finish line. There were runners from all over the world. Several runners qualified for Boston. There was a lot of community involvement. The Blue Sage was fully booked. Rural Counties Opportunities Grant: We submitted a grant to fund the feasibility study for the pipeline extension to Energy Fuels. It was submitted on time and we heard that the application was favorable. We should hear back before the end of the year. Outdoor Recreation Initiative: This grant is a new one offered by the state. Ben became part of the ranking council for the region earlier this year. Our application will pay for a feasibility study and NEPA analysis of BLM lands surrounding Blanding, helping us develop trail opportunities that our Trail Committee has shown we are lacking. Police Report - Chief JJ Bradford Sargent Hillhouse and Chief Bradford attended a mental health training with the sheriff's office that was put on by the FBI. Officers participated in the active shooter drills in Monticello and Bluff. Officers assisted with an administrative checkpoint looking for impaired drivers in October. Mayor Monson asked about the logistics of the checkpoint. Chief Bradford said that we have to get a warrant from the judge. You can only have so many cars stopped at a time. Councilmember Taylor read off the actual stats of that night. State money is used to pay overtime hours for highway patrol. You have to have a minimum of 6 officers to staff it. Officers can only ask certain questions to drivers that come through the check point. Court Report - Trent Herring Total cases for the court in September: 54 and for October: 87 September: Total Criminal Cases: 9 Traffic cases: 44 Civil: 7 October: Total Criminal Cases: 15 Traffic Cases: 72 Civil: 0 Parks and Recreation - David Palmer We have finished Flag and Tackle Football for the year. Girls Basketball is underway. The pool is winterized for the winter. The parks will all be winterized this month. We are still on track to finish the Shade Structures in Centennial Park in November. The equipment was delivered yesterday. We had 2,476 recorded 'member' visits during October and 331 visits from patrons without a membership. (Adults 191 - Child/Seniors 140) Year to date total recorded entries is 43,894. Business Items Resolution 11-12-2024-1 Blanding City Police Department Cell Phone Policy Blanding City recognizes the need to provide certain employees with reliable means of communication to carry out essential city functions and public safety duties. The Employee Cell Phone Participation Policy outlines the terms and conditions under which city employees participate in cell phone usage, including allowances for personal and city-provided cell phones. Blanding City has determined that, due to the unique and essential functions performed by the Police Department, officers and other designated personnel require access to reliable, city-issued cell phones to enhance communication, ensure rapid response, and maintain public safety. Updates to the Employee Cell Phone Participation Policy, as detailed in Attachment A, include the provision for the Police Department to be issued Blanding City-provided cell phones if they desire, allowing officers and authorized personnel to meet public safety responsibilities more effectively. The proposed updates have been reviewed and are recommended for adoption by the appropriate city staff and council. The policy does include a no expectation of privacy portion on city phones and computers. Councilmember Taylor made a motion to approve Resolution 11-12-2024-1 Acceptance of the Blanding City Police Department Cell Phone Policy. Councilmember Ewald seconded the motion. Mayor Monson repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Ewald Councilmember Grover Councilmember Bowers Those voting nay: No Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Monson declared the motion carried. Resolution 11-12-2024-2 Millard County Power Project Power Sales Contract Blanding City, Utah is a member of Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems ('UAMPS') pursuant to the provisions of the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems Amended and Restated Agreement for Joint and Cooperative Action, as amended. One of the purposes of UAMPS under the Joint Action Agreement is the acquisition and construction of electric generating, transmission and related facilities in order to secure reliable, economic sources of electric power and energy for its members. UAMPS proposes to acquire and construct a natural gas-fired electric generating facility consisting of multiple reciprocating internal combustion engines to be known as the 'Millard County Power Project' to be located at a site in Millard County, Utah, and to sell the capacity and output of the Project pursuant to the Millard County Power Project Power Sales Contracts between UAMPS and the Participants. The Governing Body has reviewed (or caused to be reviewed on its behalf) certain descriptions and summaries of the Project and the Power Sales Contracts, and representatives of the Participant have participated in discussions and conferences with UAMPS and others regarding the Project and have received from UAMPS all requested information and materials necessary for the decision of the Governing Body to authorize and approve the Power Sales Contract. The Participant, Blanding City, acknowledges that the obligation of the Participant to make the payments provided for in the Power Sales Contract will be a special obligation of the Participant and an operating expense of the Participant's electric system, payable from the revenues and other available funds of the electric system, and that the Participant shall be unconditionally obligated to make the payments required under the Power Sales Contract whether or not the Project or any portion thereof is acquired, constructed, completed, operable or operating and notwithstanding the suspension, interruption, interference, reduction or curtailment of the output thereof for any reason whatsoever. The Governing Body has reviewed (or caused to be reviewed on its behalf) its current and projected needs for electric power and energy and information with respect to the Project prepared by UAMPS setting forth, among other things, preliminary estimates of the Development Costs, the Cost of Acquisition and Construction, the estimated timeline for the development and construction of the Project and related matters, and now desires to authorize and approve the Power Sales Contract. Councilmember Bowers made a motion to approve Resolution 11-12-2024-2 Acceptance of the Millard County power project power sales contract. Councilmember Nielson seconded the motion. Mayor Monson repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Ewald Councilmember Grover Councilmember Bowers Those voting nay: No Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Monson declared the motion carried. Resolution 11-12-2024-3 Power County Power Project Power Sales Contract Blanding City, Utah (the 'Participant') is a member of Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems ('UAMPS') pursuant to the provisions of the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems Amended and Restated Agreement for Joint and Cooperative Action, as amended (the 'Joint Action Agreement')One of the purposes of UAMPS under the Joint Action Agreement is the acquisition and construction of electric generating, transmission and related facilities in order to secure reliable, economic sources of electric power and energy for its members. UAMPS proposes to acquire and construct a combined cycle natural gas-fired electric generating facility plant known as the 'Power County Power Project' (the 'Project') to be located at a site in Power County, Idaho, and to sell the capacity and output of the Project pursuant to the Power County Power Project Power Sales Contracts (the 'Power Sales Contracts') between UAMPS and the Participants. The Governing Body has reviewed (or caused to be reviewed on its behalf) certain descriptions and summaries of the Project and the Power Sales Contracts, and representatives of the Participant have participated in discussions and conferences with UAMPS and others regarding the Project and have received from UAMPS all requested information and materials necessary for the decision of the Governing Body to authorize and approve the Power Sales Contract. The Participant, Blanding City, acknowledges that the obligation of the Participant to make the payments provided for in the Power Sales Contract will be a special obligation of the Participant and an operating expense of the Participant's electric system, payable from the revenues and other available funds of the electric system, and that the Participant shall be unconditionally obligated to make the payments required under the Power Sales Contract whether or not the Project or any portion thereof is acquired, constructed, completed, operable or operating and notwithstanding the suspension, interruption, interference, reduction or curtailment of the output thereof for any reason whatsoever. The Governing Body has reviewed (or caused to be reviewed on its behalf) its current and projected needs for electric power and energy and information with respect to the Project prepared by UAMPS setting forth, among other things, preliminary estimates of the Development Costs, the Cost of Acquisition and Construction, the estimated timeline for the development and construction of the Project and related matters, and now desires to authorize and approve the Power Sales Contract. Councilmember Taylor made a motion to approve Resolution 11-12-2024-3 Acceptance of the Power county power project power sales contract. Councilmember Grover seconded the motion. Mayor Monson repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Ewald Councilmember Grover Councilmember Bowers Those voting nay: No Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Monson declared the motion carried. Advice and Consent Items Variance Officer - Trent Herring Currently our ordinances state that we have a board of adjustment. If a variance is requested then it goes to the board. The board hasn't met in over 10 years. A lot of cities are going to a variance officer. It makes it an easier and quicker process when a variance request is made. They have discussed having Mr. Herring and Mr. Muhlestein being that officer and switching to one or the other if there is a conflict of interest. They talked about an appeal process. There is usually a fee to appeal, that fee is paid by the person making the appeal. They talked about why the council isn't the board. Shade Structure RFP - Trent Herring There was a map provided to show what the shade structure will look like. We have the grant for $70,000 and the city budgeted an additional $50,000. We want to update the electrical in this area. The hope is to use the existing concrete. Veterans Memorial - Trent Herring Mr. Parsons has talked to the district engineer, the maintenance engineer, the guy over permits and rights of way, with UDOT and they have given a hard no on the veterans memorial proposal. Councilmember Taylor stated that he has a contact at UDOT that he can talk to. UDOT has said that it is their right of way. Council wants to know what they are supposed to do with it if it is UDOT's. UDOT wants us to move the clock as well. There was discussion about moving the whole project over to the visitor center area where there is an existing memorial. Mr. Wojick talked about the new plan in the new space. The plan had to be shrunk down, and that will shrink costs as well. They discussed the pros and cons of the new location. Council is in favor of the parking going forward. Discussion Items Natural Gas Stub Fee - Trent Herring Mr. Herring has looked and researched and he has found everything but the contracts that were signed when stub fees were put in. He found some minutes from 2009 that talked about stub fees. Mr. Herring believes that there are 72 stubs that aren't being used. Mr. Herring stated that we want to change it from being called a stub fee to calling it a maintenance fee. The city collects roughly $7000 a year in stub fees. He feels like that fee could be cut in half and we'd still be in good shape. Abandoned Utilities Lines and Meters (Line Maintenance Fee) - Trent Herring We have a lot of water lines that have been somewhat abandoned, but we still have to maintain them up to the meter. In the past, there were people who discontinued their water line and it was discontinued in the billing system too, which is not what it was meant to do, the billing should stay because that is access to the grid. Mr. Herring wonders if we should do the same with these water lines as we do with the stub fee and charge them a maintenance fee. Mr. Herring stated that he and Mr. Parsons will create a route that will get checked quarterly. CDBG Public Hearing - Trent Herring We will have a public hearing next meeting. You can't have a project in mind, you have to let the public voice their thoughts on what they would like to see. Then we go to a second public hearing with a project in mind. Annexation Policy Update - Trent Herring The biggest changes that he has made to the policy, was he added a link to each Utah state code, which tells them how, what, when, why of annexation. Anyone that accesses the Blanding City utilities, has to sign a restrictive covenant for annexation. This allows annexation to be done on Blanding City's time line. It cuts down costs and makes us more efficient. If someone is ready to annex and doesn't want to wait for the 6-8 month process, they can sign a declaration of restrictive conditions and they can get inside city limit rates. We don't want to have to make people wait to connect to our utilities. Employee Driver's License Validity The city has to send out all the city's driver's information and one came back with an invalid driver's license. They recommended that we put a policy together. The policy states the employee has 30 days to resolve the issue. Infill Program - Trent Herring Two of the main things that they want to change on the infill program is to make it available to residential and commercial and to raise the rate to $10,000. It will be a good move for the city to allow more growth. Mayor Seat Vacancy - Trent Herring The vacancy will be in the paper this week. It will come to the council on December 10th and someone will be appointed. Closed Session Councilmember Grover made a motion to go into closed session to discuss legal, employees and contracts. Councilmember Ewald seconded the motion. Mayor Monson 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 Bowers Those voting nay: None Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Monson declared the motion carried. Adjournment Councilmember Grover made a motion to adjourn. Councilmember Ewald seconded the motion. Mayor Monson 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 Bowers Those voting nay: None Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Monson declared the motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:24pm.

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

December 11, 2024 11:02 AM

Notice Last Edited On

December 11, 2024 11:02 AM

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