July 9th, 2026 - Hanksville Town Council

The Hanksville Town Council convened its regular meeting on the 9th day of July 2026 in the Hanksville Community Center; meeting commenced at 6:00pm.

Present: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei, C. Mona Wells (virtually), C. Robert Gilner and C. Shyann Alvey

Absent: C. Peter Devonshire, Treasurer Jessica Alvey and Maintenance Eric Wells

Employees: Clerk Lisa Wells 

Public in Attendance:  Ashton Brian, Morgan Stephens, Dan Thatcher, Aaron Potts, Sue Fivecoat, and Brady Foutz.  Virtually - Neil Rasmussen, Becky Rasmussen, and Duke Alvey.

Pledge: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei

Prayer: C. Shyann Alvey

Roll Call: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei 

Motion to approve minutes from the June council meeting: C. Mona Wells; Second C Robert Gilner Aye: All in attendance.

New Business:  

New water connection at 160 N Star Springs Lane - Morgan Stephens - Morgan has filed an application for a new 1” water connection and that application was approved.

New sewer and water connection at 401 N Hwy 24 - Neil and Becky Rasmussen - There was discussion regarding this commercial connection due to no access for the town to run a water line.  The Rasmussens have contacted Morgan Stephens regarding a utility easement through her property.  There was also discussion regarding the need for the Rasmussen’s to install a fire hydrant.  NOTE: The clerk received an email from Morgan Stephens consenting to a utility easement only.  The Rasmussen’s have agreed to cover all the costs of connecting culinary water to Ms. Stephens property of 160 N Star Springs Lane in exchange for the easement. Both utility connection requests were approved by the council. 

Tabled Business:

The Wildland Fire cooperative agreement was discussed again and there was no agreement and no action was taken on this agreement.

Public Comment: 

Dan Thatcher - Submitted a report in opposition to expanded Flock Surveillance in Hanksville. His primary concerts are Privacy - constant, warrant-less surveillance of citizens’ movements. Data Vulnerability - centralized databases are susceptible to breaches and misuse.  Mission Creep - systems intended for serious criminal investigations are frequently expanded to monitor minor infractions. Resource Allocation - taxpayer dollars spent on private surveillance contracts prioritize vendors over community policing or infrastructure.  Due Process - automated tracking risks erroneous traffic stops based on outdated or flawed data.  He is requesting the following action steps:

1. Suspend Operation - Request that the Wayne County Sheriff’s office (WCSO) pause camera operation on Hwy 24 within town limits pending a full public review.

2. Prohibit Surveillance - Formally vote to adopt a resolution banning the use of Flock cameras with Hanksville town limits to preserve resident privacy.

3. Require Transparency - Mandate that any future surveillance proposals require advance notice to leadership and a formal public agenda item.

He is asking the planning commission to come up with an ordinance to manage Flock cameras in Hanksville.  He says there are 3 cameras in town with full 360” pan-tilt zoom cameras in town that were just newly installed and there 7 Flock cameras in Hanksville.

Aaron Potts - Does not live in Hanksville but another small community out-of-state and has been coming to Hanksville for years.  He started staying in Moab but found it too busy so he came here.  He finds it very frustrating to have all these cameras.

Brady Foutz - He is concerned about people coming and going in the middle of the night in Hanksville.  He wants the cameras to watch traffic that we don’t even know about.

Sue Fivecoat - She understands the people need information in the case of crimes being committed but believes it is a double-edge sword.  The WCSO could single out people and with the cameras they could target them.  Flock footage at times is live for all to see and this is not right.  When is enough, enough.  

Ashton Brian - This discussion needs to be tabled for a future meeting so it can be put on the agenda.  The council could hold a public hearing and an ordinance could be made.

Mayor Pei - In about 2017-2018 it cost the WCSO $1.3 million/year to keep a full-time deputy in Hanksville.  The cameras replaced the cost of a live person.  The mayor has been involved in a raid on a local business.  Public safety comes at a cost, he will talk with the WCSO about the Flock cameras and will put this issue on the September agenda.

Brady Foutz - Would like to know when the town will spray for mosquitoes.  The town has sprayed a couple of times and will continue to do so.  

Planning Commission:

Ashton Brian -Nothing to report.  Curt Thomas may be interested in serving on the planning commission.

Hanksville Tourism Advisory Board: ABSENT

Mayor Jeffren T. Pei:

The mayor reported on the 4th of July, asking what worked and what didn’t.  He would like those in charge to make notes of their events to make it easier for transitioning to a new person.  All events were a success.

New job openings outlined by the mayor - part-time/seasonal position up to 20 hours/week for park maintenance.  $15/hr.  full -time position starting pay of $15 to $18 depending on experience.  This will include all public property grounds, all town roads, mosquito abatement, cemetery and weed control.  Jobs will be posted. The money for the new full time position will come from the B&C roads funds, 10% sewer fund, 10% water fund and the remaining from the general fund.  There will be tax money coming in from the new highway tax that has been adopted.   The mayor approved a new tractor to be purchased with the money from the sale of the 2015 extended reach excavator. He will actively pursue the sale of the excavator  The proposed tractor will be capable of mowing roads, maintaining grounds around the sewer ponds and care of the rodeo grounds.

Advertise for bids on 2 cement pads for gun range pavilions. 25’x25’, reinforced, 5” thick and 6” above grade. The mayor has requested the 8 picnic tables be purchased for the gun range project.  The UROG will be down to inspect the gun range project.  It still needs a portable toilet. 

Public safety - the mayor intends to purchase cameras to be placed at the firehouse, water tower, gun range and the navajo water well.  In regards to the flock cameras there is one at the airport, 2 by the junction of hwy 24 & hwy 95.  The new camera placed on SR 24 near the post office is different from the FLOCK cameras, its intended use is to read people - there has been reported suspicious activity in that area.  This camera was posted by the Wayne County Sheriff's office and is temporary.  

Buildings - The mayor would like to get rid of some town assets like the community center, he would like to split the property of the town housing, he will approach the commissioners about buying the EMS buildings - he proposes to use the income generated for a new community center that is in the early stages of development.  The bathroom at apartment #2 still needs repairs to be completed..  

Council member Mona Wells:

Nothing to report.

Council member Robert Gilner:

Anthony Jones fixed the spot by Erne Krabbe.  Mr. Gilner is worried about the berm around the cement batch plant and the effects on surrounding properties if there is a flood down Bull Creek.  Curtis Whipple has voiced a complaint to the mayor regarding access issues to his property with the design of the SRTS sidewalk project.  Brennen Rees with Ensign Engineering said it's too late in the process to change the design now, it would have to be a change order issued after the project has been awarded.  The mayor, C. Robert Gilner, Brennen Rees and Curtis Whipple will meet next week to discuss options.

Council member Peter Devonshire:

ABSENT

Council member Shyann Alvey:

C. Alvey collected $950 from sponsors for the water games on the 4th of July.  She spent the donation money on new water equipment for the games and will purchase a tote to store the equipment in at the firehouse.  

She has been in contact with Timberlee Wood from Lyman regarding where they received funds for their new park facilities.  She will talk with Brock Jackson at R6 and she is willing to gather donations for matching funds for phase one of the park update.  She is pursuing other grants as well.  There is a grant called Outdoor Recreation Mitigation Grant (ORMG) that can be used for tourism related emergency costs and safety costs which could include EMS, road repair, and solid waste disposal. It could even be retroactive on money already spent.

Maintenance Utility Director Eric Wells:

Absent

Treasurer Jessica Alvey: 

Absent

Clerk Lisa Wells:

• Bills presented to council for approval (spreadsheet attached)

• Motion to approve bills: C. Robert Gilner; Second C. Shyann Alvey Aye: All in attendance. 

Motion to adjourn: C. Robert Gilner; Second C. Shyann Alvey Aye: All in attendance. The meeting adjourned at 8:17pm.