Blanding City Council approves raw water sale, supports youth Halloween event

Members of the Blanding City Council signaled support for a youth Halloween carnival, made changes to the planning commission and approved a sale of raw water at their latest meeting.
Members of the Blanding City Council approved a resolution authorizing the sale of raw water to the San Juan Water Conservancy District at their October 14 meeting.
The resolution finalizes intent to sell up to 30 acre-feet of the city’s 800 acre-feet of water from the reservoir to the district for one water year starting November 1. The sale rate was set at $200 per acre-foot. The water shares will only be leased when excess water is available as determined by the city engineer and the chief water systems operator.
Members of the city council also tabled a proposed moratorium on mobile home zoning moratorium on a technicality.
The proposed moratorium would temporarily stop development of new properties in the mobile home zoning for a few months to allow the city to upgrade the zoning regulations. A public hearing was held on the proposed moratorium with no public comments made. At the meeting city staff clarified that since the measure involved temporary land use regulation it needed to be enacted as an ordinance and not as a resolution as it appeared on the agenda. Council tabled the resolution with intent to bring back the item as a formal ordinance at the next meeting.
Members of the council approved funding and support for a youth Halloween carnival. Members of the council heard the request from the San Juan County Prevention Action Collaboration Coalition (SJCPAC). Shauna Sherrow and youth representative Boston Bowers presented the proposed activity on October 31 at Blanding’s Central Park. The proposed event would include karaoke, dancing, costume prizes and games for older youth to avoid destructive behavior during Halloween. Members of the council approved a $500 ask by the coalition to help fund the activity.
City Manager Pratt Redd also provided project updates sharing that the new Veterans Memorial project is underway with a ribbon-cutting ceremony targeted for Veterans Day on November 11.
Other projects include a new roof at the Visitor Center, design progress for a trail around fourth reservoir and the commencement of a water treatment plant near the city well. Taylor Francom also reported construction is underway on a new wildlife fence at the airport which should provide a “huge safety improvement”.
During city infrastructure discussions council member Charlie Taylor raised concerns about the condition of 700 North which he said is not equipped to handle the sustained construction traffic that has been along the road during the new Blanding Elementary School construction.
Members of the city council also approved a policy for administrative leave bonus time. The policy allows city department heads to award up to 16 hours of paid leave per year for employees going “above and beyond” their duties.
An ordinance was also passed related to electric utilities to remove a 10-percent surcharge previously applied to temporary service rates. The change was recommended by staff stating the tracking the increase rate provided no financial benefit or accountability leverage as it also complicated administrative work.
Members of the city council also approved an ordinance updating the make-up of the planning commission. The new measure outlines that the commission will consist of five appointed voting members with the city council representative serving as a non-voting liaison.
Members of the city council also approved a letter of support for the Utah State University nursing program, defending against proposed state legislative cuts for the program as city council emphasized the importance of the program in rural areas.
Members of the Blanding city council also recognized and honored city residents who helped save a life on July 19 at a gas station. City residents Byron Clarke and Heather Howe observed an older man fall from his motorcycle, with the man becoming unresponsive. The two began administering CPR with Officer Cole Palmer and Payton Palmer arriving quickly to the scene to help with resuscitation efforts. Off-duty sheriff’s deputy Jeremy Homedew and his wife Kelsey arrived on scene with a flatbed truck allowing the man to be transported to Blue Mountain Hospital with additional Blanding city firefighters Sydney Felstead, Fielding Adams, and Chance Hancock aiding as the man was able to be brought back to life. The city council, mayor and staff all offered thanks and recognition for the quick life-saving work of residents.