Blanding working on zoning, roads

by David Boyle
News Director
Members of the Blanding City Council approved continued participation in a law enforcement task force, received reports on zoning, and discussed an administrative leave award at their latest meeting.
Members of the Blanding City Council formally approved their partnership in the Major Crimes and Drug Task Force through a resolution at their September 9 meeting.
Police Chief JJ Bradford explained that the inter-agency partnership, in place since 1996, provides equipment, training and support for larger investigations with involvement from the local police, sheriff’s office and highway patrol.
Members of the council also approved an update to building permit fees. The new fee schedule will follow International Code Council (ICC) standards by including a one-percent multiplier cap and a half-percentage multiplier for remodel work.
The update also allows the city manager and building department, at their own discretion, to reduce the multiplier to .75 percent should they determine the event ICC valuations create an undue burden on builders to incentivize development and improvements to older homes.
Members of the city council also approved the low bid from CJ Crack Seal for the Blanding City crack seal street overlay project.
Work is expected to begin within the next month and slated to be completed by Thanksgiving.
City council member Charlie Taylor brought the idea of an “administrative leave award” for city employees. The award would allow department heads and city management to grant four or eight hour leave awards to recognize exceptional individual or team efforts, high performance, completion of critical projects or contributions above normal requirements.
Council expressed support for the idea and directed staff to look at a policy including a nomination and approval process as well as guidelines for staff to redeem the award within a years time of it being issued.
Members of the Blanding City Council once again heard public comment about the proposed rezoning of a property around 500 South and 300 East. The request would change the property zoning from residential two (R2) to Mobile Home zoning.
Two comments once again voiced their opposition to the proposal with one comment noting that while affordable housing is needed in the city, she asked the council to consider the quality and long-term impact of a mobile home.
Members of the city council also received an economic development report from community development director Ben Muhlestein. He noted the upcoming Bears Ears Marathon on November 8 with 92 registrants being consistent with previous year’s early numbers.
Muhlestein also reported on work to update R1 zoning which could potentially reduce lot size requirements to 6,500 square feet.
Also reported is the city signed a $13,000 co-op marketing grant with the state, as well as a submitted grant for a bike park complex.