The Hanksville Town Council meeting convened its regular session in conjunction with a public hearing for the ordinances on the 6th day of February 2025 in the Hanksville Community Center; meeting commenced at 6:00pm.
Present: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei, C. Robert Gilner, C. Morgan Stephens and C. Mona Wells
Absent: C. Eric Wells and Treasurer Jessica Alvey
Employees: Clerk Lisa Wells
Public in Attendance: Slate Banner, Sue Fivecoat, Margaret Re, Doug Roberts, Tyson Hunt, Doug Wells and Cathy Rosenbaum. Planning Commission members - Katie Roberts, Jan Hunt and Ashton Brian
Meeting to Order: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei
Pledge: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei
Prayer: C. Morgan Stephens
Roll Call: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei
Motion to approve minutes from the January council meeting: C. Morgan Stephens; Second C. Robert Gilner Aye: All in attendance.
Report of Officers:
Council member Mona Wells:
.Nothing to report.
Council member Morgan Stephens:
She has been gathering information from all tenants regarding suggestions of items that need fixed or updated at the housing.
Council member Eric Wells:
ABSENT - Mayor Pei reported that maintenance will be cleaning and removing some trees along Bull Creek. He has also discussed with C. Eric Wells the need to upgrade some equipment. They will continue that discussion.
Council member Robert Gilner:
C. Gilner has a quote for $2500 in materials and $450 in rental of equipment to crack seal the town streets. He has several volunteers that will help with that. The council agreed that he should move forward with this project to prolong the life of the streets.
Mayor Jeffren T. Pei:
The Utah Outdoors Grant will open March 17th, this grant could help with our parks, recreation areas, trails or possible pavilion. He is discussing with R6 regarding a land swap with the BLM.
Treasurer Jessica Alvey:
ABSENT
Clerk Lisa Wells:
Bills presented to council for approval (spreadsheet attached)
Motion to approve bills: C. Morgan Stephens; Second C. Robert Gilner. Aye: All in attendance.
Town event assignments:
Easter - C. Morgan Stephens
4th of July - C. Eric Wells and Mayor Pei
Founder’s Day - C. Mona Wells
Christmas Tree Lighting - C. Robert Gilner
Planning Commission:
Ashton Brian - The ordinance document needs to be corrected with the formatting since the changes that the council has made but all other changes that were recommended by the council at the work meetings have been changed. The next planning commission meeting will be February 11, 2025 at 6pm.
Katie Roberts - The 3 year term that the original planning commission signed on for is coming to an end this month. Whe is stepping down, she will make assignments at the next planning commission meeting and will vote to appoint Ashton Brian as the new president. Jan Hunt and Chylene Whipple are also stepping down.
Tabled Business:
Zoning and Land Use Ordinance Document -
Motion to accept the Zoning and Land Use Ordinance Document as now updated with all the changes the council has recommended: C. Morgan Stephens; Second Mayor Jeffren T. Pei. Roll Call Vote: C. Morgan Stephens and Mayor Jeffren Pei - AYE and C. Mona Wells and C. Robert Gilner - NAY. C. Eric Wells is absent.. Tie vote on this motion. This item will be tabled.
A work meeting was scheduled for February 20, 2025 for council to discuss the zoning ordinance.
The public will be notified of vacancy on the planning commission and applications will be accepted and submitted to the council for their review and appointment.
New Business:
Doug & Mona Wells - Discussion regarding their property that borders a town well. Mona stated that the town doesn’t have legal access to the well by their property. Doug and Mona are proposing an access road that could be used but currently there is a Garkane power pole directly in the path of the proposed access route for the town to access that well. They are asking for help from the town to approach Garkane about moving the pole about 8’. They then would give a right-of-way to the town to access the well. Mayor Pei said he would contact Garkane about the possibility of moving that pole and what the cost would be. Doug Wells will get with Eric and explain his thoughts on how and where the access would be moved.
Tyson Hunt - He submitted a bill back in December for $1100 to repair a firetruck at the mayor’s request. That bill was not approved and Tyson was told those repairs would be paid by Wayne County. He also was wondering how Dana DeMambro was paid for this work and he wasn’t. The council approved to pay $250 to Mr. DeMambro at the last council meeting because Tyson asked Dana to help with the repair. The mayor said originally he wanted the town to have control of that particular fire truck because it is owned by Hanksville Town, but, according to the mayor, Wayne County wants that fire truck to stay in the county fleet as a backup. He said Wayne County will have to pay for that bill. After some discussion with the counci8l they decided to compromise with Tyson, Mayor Pei paid $500 to Marina through Venmo out of his own pocket, so the council agreed to pay $350 directly to Tyson Hunt for the repairs. The mayor directed the clerk to bill the county for this repair on the fire truck.
At the 1/16/2025 council meeting “the mayor directed the clerk to send an eviction notice without the possibility of catching up on the rent but just an eviction notice.” (Quote from minutes of 1/16/2025 meeting). Clerk Lisa Wells sent the eviction notice. Council discussed with Tyson that he continues to be late on rent. He has received several eviction notices. Tyson argued that if he would have been paid the $1100 owed him from the town then he would have paid his rent. As of today, Tyson Hunt and Marina Pei owe $1475 (3 months past due) C. Robert Gilner said to give them another chance and C. Mona Wells would agree to that. C. Morgan Stephens stated that this is the last chance that she will agree to this, only because there are children involved. Council agreed that if Tyson would pay tonight $1475 then he would not be evicted. Tyson Hunt agreed to pay in full.
Public Comment:
Ashton Brian - Asked the council to give some feedback to the planning commission on what they expect regarding the draft ordinances because it appears that they are at a standstill with the council. The commission will move forward with the annexation plan and updating the subdivision ordinance.
Motion to adjourn: C. Morgan Stephens; Second C. Mona Wells. Aye: All in attendance. Meeting adjourned at 7:10 pm