More hurdles cleared to bring water to the Westwater Community

by David Boyle
News Director
Blanding city council members helped the Westwater water project move forward, discussed a variety of projects and swore-in three members at their latest meeting.
Members of the Blanding city council swore-in three council members to four year terms at the January 9 meeting. Council member Chris Ewald, Kellen Nielson and Charlie Taylor were all sworn in for four-year terms; the three ran uncontested in the 2023 municipal elections.
At the meeting members of the council approved a property annexation into the city following a public hearing. The annexation moved city-owned property into Blanding city limits. The property annexed goes along West Center Street all the way to Westwater Canyon rim.
The property at the end of town will be used to run pipelines for water connections to the 27 lots in the Westwater community.
The city will meter the water sent across the canyon into Westwater, with Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) metering individual lines to bill residents for their usage.
At the meeting, the council also approved a change order to speed up and reduce the cost of the same Westwater project for water.
City manager Trent Herring explained with LeGrand Johnson coming to work on a city sewer project, a proposal to work on both projects at the same time would save an estimated $18,000 including mobilization costs.
A grant from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will cover the cost of the project and the change order should make it so as soon as NTUA finishes their end of the project the connection will be ready to go.
Members of the council approved the annexation and change order. 
Blanding city council also received reports on a variety of projects
Members of the council also heard an update on the Wellness Center upgrade project including the installation of additional showers and a fire suppression system, with the project nearing completion council was also reminded the city is receiving a $50,000 grant from the USDA.
Herring also reported the city is getting closer to finalizing an updated general plan. Herring shared that if the plan remains on schedule the final plan will be ready for city council approval in mid-February.
City council also received an update on the historic Swallows Nest structure. The building had been vandalized in early December but city staff shared that city insurance has been cooperative, and staff is looking into working with contractors that specialize in historic buildings.
Members of the council also heard an update on the city pickleball courts. While the new courts have installed four-foot fences the city is seriously considering making the fences eight feet tall to keep players from having to chase balls that go over the fence. 
City staff reported that the conversations with the grant provider gave the council permission to do the update, furthermore the project contractor shared that changing to an eight-foot tall fence would cost $25,000. 
City council asked that staff also look into the cost of city workers doing the installation themselves, with staff committing to look into that cost for future council deliberation.
Members of the council also held extensive conversations about addressing snow removal and the city transfer station.
Regarding snow removal, the council discussed consideration for an ordinance like Monticello’s that prevents residents from parking on the streets during and after a snowstorm to help snow plows.
Council also discussed the future of the city transfer station which has been closed for months following the departure of the lone department employee. Council weighed options ranging from price increases, closure, landfill vouchers and other possibilities. The council also received a presentation from the National Fitness Campaign with a proposal for a fitness court installation. The large outdoor gym would include seven stations and an art installation. 
The project cost would be between $150,000-$225,000 with the organization possibly providing grants of $30,000-$50,000. Following the presentation council members seemed to be in informal agreement that a much larger grant, or sponsorship from other entities would be needed for the city to be able to engage in the project.