June 12, 2025 - Hanksville Town Council

The Hanksville Town Council meeting convened its regular session in conjunction with a public hearing for the amended FY 2025 budget and FY 2026 budget on the 12th day of June 2025 in the Hanksville Community Center; meeting commenced at 6:00pm.

Present: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei, C. Mona Wells, C. Morgan Stephen, C. Robert Gilner and C. Eric Wells 

Absent: Treasurer Jessica Alvey

Employees: Clerk Lisa Wells 

Public in Attendance:  Ashton Brian and Kathryn Hoggatt

Meeting to Order: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei

Pledge: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei

Prayer: C. Eric Wells

Roll Call: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei

Motion to move new business to the first of the agenda: C. Eric Wells; Second C. Robert Gilner Aye: All in attendance.

  New Business:

        Sarah Davenport-Smith with Utah Coalitions of Cities and Counties (UC3) joined the meeting by Zoom and presented information about this non-profit organization to discuss potential membership benefits.

• Advocates for Utah’s cities and counties through a constitutional framework rooted in the principles of freedom, focusing on constitutional analysis of legislation and local government education.

• Committed to amplifying the voices and safeguarding clients’ authority in interactions with state and federal officials and agencies. UC3 aims to reinstate and reinforce local government authority, particularly home rule authority.

• Mission is to empower local municipalities to preserve and enhance the freedom and prosperity of their communities.

• What they offer is full-service lobbying, state and federal constitution analysis and education for elected officials, city and county staff. The fee to become a member of UC3 is .0006 x general fund + $750.  There is a possibility of a discount if all the municipalities in Wayne County become members of UC3.

      Kathryn Hoggatt - Hanksville Tours - Representing Robbers Roost Trails System - This non profit organization has been working to develop a map with a trail system starting in Loa down to Hans Flat and then part of the Flint Trail and back to Loa.  There are still hoops to jump through to get through Capital Reef.  She would like to put a kiosk in Hanksville at the community center with a map that will have all the trails and a QR code for each trail that visitors will be able to scan and get the map on their phone.  They are looking to put a trailhead kiost by the Hanksville Airport and Little Egypt.  Hanksville town can help design the size of the kiosk. Kathryn will email different types of signs to the town.  Anyone interested in joining this organization are welcome if you reside within Wayne County, there is a $25 membership fee.

Motion to approve minutes from the May council meeting: C. Mona Wells; Second C. Eric Wells Aye: All in attendance.

 PUBLIC HEARING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR COMMENT ON 2025 FY AMENDED BUDGET AND 2026 FY BUDGET.

NO PUBLIC COMMENT

 Motion to approve 2025 FY Amended Budget: C. Morgan Stephens; Second C. Robert Gilner Aye: All in attendance.

 Motion to approve 2026 FY Budget: C. Eric Wells; Second C. Mona Wells Aye: All in attendance. 

Planning Commission:

  Ashton Brian - Ekker Subdivision - Dennis will get Lot #1 split with part of that lot Quit Claim to Kathryn Hoggatt so that property won’t be landlocked and Lot will be .50 acres in the subdivision. The planning commission is continuing to work on updating the subdivision ordinance.  They outline the new proces of how to apply for a subdivision.  The next step will be to update all check lists for a subdivision.  Their goal is to have the subdivision ready for Town Council ordinance approval by August 7, 2025.  They will hold a public hearing prior to the council meeting in August.  They discussed maybe adding people to the P&Z since Sandy Wells has not attended any meetings since Ashton has been the chairperson. The planning commission will be posting occasional updates to the town FB page to encourage community input.  

Report of Officers:

Council member Mona Wells:

  Started working on the pavilion at the cemetery.  Some of the block was laid on the support structure and she is hoping to work on it next weekend.

Council member Morgan Stephens:

 Has been researching grants for the town park through private funding sources as well as government grants.  Delores Eccles Foundation is how funded the last park project.  

Council member Eric Wells:

The sewer project is complete.  He will meet with Jones & DeMille to discuss any extra money from the project that may be spent on sewer related needs.  The auto read meters are still in limbo, Peterson Plumbing is aware of the town needs but Eric has not been working on that.  Brown Brothers Construction talked with the mayor and Eric regarding extra cement that will become available at various times as they work on the Hanksville diversion project.  Eric would like to form a group that can be ready quickly to help with any cement projects that the town has. 

Council member Robert Gilner:

 C. Gilner met with Mayor Pei and looked over the roads and he intends to complete the crack seal project this fall.  The Safe Route to Schools project will begin soon.  The Bull Creek crossing has been worked on by Brown Brothers and the mayor told Gilner that Wayne County Commisioner Dennis Blackburn is the go between NRCS and the Bull Creek project.

Mayor Jeffren T. Pei:

Request all council members to use the Connect Team app to clock in and out when working on any town project, even just researching grants.  He would like each council member to define the role of each council seat and write a standard operation procedure.  His expectation is that a council member should be volunteering from 10-40 hours/month.  This information will give anyone running for town government a better understanding of what is required to serve in Hanksville.  The council is accountable to the public and reporting measures andSOP’s will show what is expected.

Treasurer Jessica Alvey:

Absent

Clerk Lisa Wells:

• Bills presented to council for approval (spreadsheet attached)

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

• There will be a Primary Election due to 4 mayor candidates

Tabled Business:None

Public Comment: 

Ashton Brian - 4th of July report - She has most events ready but needs help at the gun shoot competition.  C. Robert Gilner volunteered to help gather money and keep time at the event.  A suggestion was made to ask Stu Oliver as well.  The cowboy poetry will be held at the park pavilion and she needs shade to accommodate the public.  

She asked the council if they would be willing to rent water toy equipment to the public.  Council discussed it but no decision was made.

Motion to adjourn: C. Morgan Stephens; Second C. Mona Wells. Aye: All in attendance. Meeting adjourned at 8:00 pm