Blanding discusses Food Trucks, Seniors

by David Boyle
News Director
Members of the Blanding city council approved new prosecutorial services, discussed the proposed food truck park and spoke efforts at the Senior Center at their latest meeting.
Members of the Blanding City Council passed a resolution to accept prosecution services from the law offices of Stephen J. Stocks based in Moab at their October 8 meeting.
The agreement included a flat rate of $42,000 annually averaging 5.4 hours per week, with Stock’s proposal noting that work beyond that would amount to savings for the city.
Speaking to the council, Stocks noted he’d like to work with council members, the chief of police and judge to see and address community needs.
Council member Charlie Taylor, who is a Utah Highway Patrolman, said he worked professionally with Stocks over the years and vouched for his passion to serve the community.
Staff clarified that the flat cost would be signify savings for the city, members of the council unanimously approved the resolution.
Members of the council also approved a resolution authorizing the purchase of a utility truck bed for the Parks and Recreation department.
The city received three bids with Reading Trucks bid of $15,554 for the purchase and included installation of the truck bed chosen as the winning bid.
Council approved the purchase following a discussion about the need for a functional truck and the cost-effectiveness of retrofitting rather than purchasing a new vehicle.
Members of the council also heard a report on efforts to offer additional services at the county-run Blanding Senior Center.
While the city had signaled support to use $2,000 of city funds to extend hours at the building in order to offer classes to seniors, staff reports that county representatives were not keen on extending hours.
However staff shared the county is amenable to using the same amount of funds to allow for additional classes during operational hours, the city reports that local seniors who have been advocating for additional services at the Senior Center signaled they weren’t necessarily looking for offerings at night. 
The council agreed to continue working with the senior center to finalize the proposal and explore options for expanding their services.
During advice and consent council also signaled they’d be willing to send a letter of support for a grant application for San Juan County road maintenance.
The grant would be used to fund application of mag chloride on the dirt road leading up to Nizhoni campground.
Members of the council also received staff reports. City Manager Trent Herring presented the city economic development report sharing the city received positive feedback from the recent Fall Festival.
Herring encouraged the community to volunteer as part of the upcoming Blanding marathon on November 2.
City council also received renderings of the proposed food truck park on city-owned property east of Main street on 200 South.
The rendering included six lots for potential food trucks with water and power hookups.
Several council members voiced a preference to demolish existing city-owned homes on the property. They are abandoned and used for law enforcement training.
Council discussed the possibility of establishing contracts with food truck vendors in order to offer a dedicated space for them to operate with in the city food park. The city also recommended clear signage to identify the food truck park.
Herring agreed to incorporate council feedback and bring back the item for further discussion.
Members of the city council also received a report from Blanding City Police Chief JJ Bradford. 
Bradford recognized officer Dylan Blake who recently graduated from Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) training on the Wasatch front, as part of the training Blake was honored with the Daniel Thomas leadership award.
Bradford also shared a collision last week between an electric scooter and car, with a kid struck after going through a stop sign.
Chief Bradford added that some in the public may not realize regulations with certain types of electric bikes, noting that certain classifications require a drivers license to operate.
Council and staff agreed on the need to emphasize education of youth on regulations and safety on motorized vehicles.
Chief Bradford and council also shared they hear no complaints on the changing of the homecoming parade route, which stayed off of the highway and freed up law enforcement to not have to shut-down the highway and be available for traffic management along the route. 
Members of the Blanding city council also spoke about appointments to different boards to represent the city of Blanding. Monson asked the council to consider who may represent the city on the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) board.
While Monson currently represents the city on the board, he noted that previously city staff have represented Blanding and the council may consider staff or another council member for the board.
Members of the council also discussed nominations for representation on the Bears Ears National Monument Advisory Committee ahead of its submission deadline on October 18, with the council planning to weigh-in on potential nominees.
Council also briefly discussed the recently released management plan for the monument, expressing concerns about its regulations on recreational activities such as the banning of target shooting across the monument, as well as the unknowns around the permitting system for access to Arch Canyon.
City council also plans to weigh-in on the plan as part of the plan 30-day protest period ending on November 4.
Members of the council also heard from Ellen Williams representing the Kigalia Fine Arts Council.
Williams highlighted the nonprofits commitment to providing cultural arts to the community and asked for council support for their season pass initiative. Williams shared season passes cost a single person $40 with passes for an entire family costing $80.
Williams noted the organization is one of a few cultural arts organizations in Utah not sponsored by a city.
Williams said the lineup includes acts the Bar D Ranch which performed last week and BYU’s acapella group Noteworthy, as well as an effort to showcase local arts through a talent show and international night.
Williams invited the council and local businesses to support Kigalia through purchase of season passes or by making tax-deductible donations.