Applications for Blanding Mayor due September 17

by David Boyle
News Director
The Blanding City Council made additional updates to airport policy, set a date for Mayoral interviews and considered donation requests at their latest meeting.
Blanding City staff provided an update on the process to replace Mayor Trevor Olsen at the September 8 meeting.
Olsen resigned in early August. citing a new professional opportunity outside of Blanding. Applications for the vacant mayoral position are open now and will remain open until September 17 at 5:30 pm. 
The city has received four candidates so far, with council planning to hold a meeting on September 22 to interview candidates and formally appoint a new mayor.
The appointee will serve through December 2027. Municipal elections are scheduled for November 2027 with the mayoral candidate chosen at that election set to fill out the original term through 2029.
Members of the city council also adopted a resolution establishing minimum operating standards for the Blanding Airport.
The decision follows a review of a 40-page draft commercial hangar lease covering lease terms, maintenance duties, and liability insurance guidelines. The resolution passed with a revision to clarify approved aviation fuel language.
Council member Chris Ewald declared a conflict of interest as a current hangar tenant operating a business at the Blanding airport, with the declaration of the conflict Ewald was allowed to participate in discussion and voting as a result of that disclosure.
Members of the council also gave advice and consent to city staff to begin an annual no-cost lease agreement with San Juan County to operate a municipal transfer station. The county-run transfer station will open two days a week with a starting time as early as November 1.
The city also shared that they are anticipating a transfer of the triangle parcel near the Visitor Center from the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) to the city in the next few months. The city hopes to take control of and make plans for the awkward triangle shaped island located where highway 191, Center Street and 200 East meet.
Members of the city council also approved a donation to the San Juan ATV Safari. While organizers initially requested $500 the council voted to provide $1,000 from discretionary event funds to match the level of support granted last year.
That aid was particularly important for the event with registration at 120 down about 40 from previous years. Organizers shared that drop is likely due to the results of the Babylon fire with wildfire closures affecting trails including Shay Ridge and North Long Point.
The vote showcased council showed support for the event which runs September 16-19.
Another request for a contribution however was turned down as Utah State University asked for a $5,000 contribution towards the “Hero Twins” scholarship at the Weaving Our Stories conference. Council members expressed hesitation allocating public tax dollars to a single recipient who might not be a local resident. Council requested further details on eligibility and fund usage before considering future involvement.