Blanding water use up, city changes rate tiers

By David Boyle
News Director
Members of the Blanding City Council received a report on affordable housing, approved a trade with the county and warned about water usage at their latest meeting.
Members of the city council received a report on a letter being sent out to residents to encourage water conservation at the June 10 meeting.
City Manager Trent Herring shared city users had used 100 acre feet more this year than at the same time last year.
It was also shared that the city has moved from a green tier to a yellow tier. Herring added that with wells pumping, the city is doing okay with water for this year, but a bad winter could be the city in worse shape.
The city encourages conservation to avoid progressing into an orange tier, which would be about a 40 percent increase in water rates.
Members of the Blanding City Council also received a presentation from B3 Development, specializing in affordable housing. Representatives explained the group focuses on low-income housing although clarifying they don’t provide Section 8 housing but rather workforce housing such as for teachers, law enforcement and service workers.
Rents are set based on 25-60-percent of the area median income, which would have two-bed two-bath units starting around $500 a month in Blanding. 
The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program was created under President Ronal Reagan. The program does not require a contribution from the city but the group did ask the city to modify it’s zoning laws to allow for density that will fit the projects 12-15 units per acre on 2-3 acre parcels. The group told the city they aim to start with 20-30 units in one location. 
Members of the council also continued previous discussions regarding updates to the city R2 zone. Following up from last meetings, community development manager Ben Muhlstein shared updated definitions for professional offices allowed in the zone with criteria for traffic and signage.
Additional updates included revisions to temporary conditional uses allowing RVs for those building homes, the update would allow one-year permits with five total and a $2,000 fee for subsequent years after the first free one, or for sick/disabled family members with two-year permits in those cases approved by the city council.
A new subdivision policy was also presented to streamline the process for developments under 1.5 acres already serviced by city utilities. Council members expressed concern that the policy doesn’t extend to larger lots that want to divide into two lots as those fall under major subdivision processes, with suggestions to revisit that aspect to possibly encourage developing of vacant lots.
Members of the city council also approved a resolution supporting the America 250 Utah initiative. The year-long celebration effort by the state could mean potential funds available for different celebrations and activities throughout the year.
Members of the council approved the resolution supporting the effort, with details and potential events and celebrations to come at a future date.
Members of the council also gave advice and consent to trade an old backhoe to the county to cover demolition fees to tear down some buildings on city property.
Herring explained the city is looking to demolish buildings on their lot across from the LDS South Chapel on Main Street as the city plans to establish a food truck park in the location.
While the city didn’t want to set a precedent of waiving the fees, they did express interest in trading the work for an old backhoe that is no longer being used by the city. Members of the council gave advise and consent for the city and county to move forward on the potential trade.
Members of the city council also approved methods for the city to have weather-related closures at the baseball fields. Herring shared reports of deep bicycle tracks in the mud after rains, and the damage that can do to the fields. Noting the city’s recent $25,000 investment into new dirt at the ball fields, members of the council approved efforts to close the city complex as needed to protect from weather-related damages. 
At the meeting, members of the city council also re-approved an ordinance for the Leonard Howe Annex Disconnection. The re-approval was required as the original 30-day window was missed. A public hearing was held for the disconnect in April.
The project has been in the works since 2021 and is focused on squaring out a property on 300 West south of town near the detention center. The disconnection will square away a former annexation boundary line that ran through the middle of the property.
City council also received reminders on upcoming events including the annual Little Miss Blanding pageant on June 19.
Additionally the city, with Energy Fuels, will have a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 23 at the new pavilion at Central Park.
The San Juan County Clean Energy Foundation provided a grant for the work done at the park. The event will include an ice cream social, cornhole and pickleball events.