Blanding city approves contract for new bathrooms at Central Park

by David Boyle
News Director
Members of the Blanding City Council approved a contract for new bathroom facilities at Central Park and received several reports at their latest meeting.
Blanding City Council awarded a contract for Central Park restrooms to Davis Construction Solution as part of the July 28 meetings.
The project, which is fully grant-funded, will include new facilities, a storage area for equipment, and an ADA-accessible ramp to the pavilion.
Members of the council also moved forward with the reauthorization of the RAP Recreation, Arts, and Parks tax for the upcoming ballot. The tax – in place since 2007 – generates an average of $8,000 a month to support local recreation programs and facilities.
Council also again visited proposed amendments to the city’s fence code, aimed in part at addressing privacy concerns for homes at different elevations. A public hearing regarding those possible changes is scheduled for August 11.
Council members also received a water report which showed that fire debris in the tunnel area appeared minimal with water running clear. Additionally the city's Third Reservoir is 58 percent full with the Fourth Reservoir sitting at 89 percent full.
The city recreation department reported on a record-breaking second quarter with Wellness Center memberships growing by 477 members compared to the year previous.
Fire Chief Corey Spillman also provided a department report with 30 call-outs in the second quarter including a rise in medical assists and CPR calls.
Spillman also highlighted the new-to-the-city truck received from the Bureau of Land Management which is being outfitted for service. Other items of note including efforts to address false alarms at the high school and USU dorms, but noted that updated systems at the college should help prevent future issues.
Members of the city council reviewed a notable increase in court cases with 144 total cases reported through June which represents more than double of the 62 cases recorded during the same period last year. City officials credited the city’s full police force and efficiencies of the legal teams to that increase in cases.
Council also celebrated Building Inspector Taylor Francom's completion of Commercial B1 certification.