March 5th, 2026 - Hanksville Town Council

The Hanksville Town Council convened its regular meeting on the 5th day of March 2026 in the Hanksville Community Center; meeting commenced at 6:00pm.

Present: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei and C. Robert Gilner (Quorum not present so no motions)

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

Employees: Clerk Lisa Wells 

Public in Attendance:  Slate Banner, Ashton Brian, Mary Devonshire, Sue Fivecoat, Morgan Stephens, Brock Jackson and Brennen Rees.

Pledge: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei

Prayer: Lisa Wells

Roll Call: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei

Motion to approve minutes from the February council meeting: NONE

New Business: 

Brennen Rees - Ensign Engineering - Reviewed with the Safe Route to Schools project; informed the mayor of an alignment issue on the sidewalk at the junction point of the north corner of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints property line. The church’s fence is in the town right-of-way which interferes with a direct connection of the new planned sidewalk with the existing sidewalk.  Mayor said he will talk to Bishop Alvey about moving the fence back about a foot if that is not possible then Ensign will design an L-shape curve to the new sidewalk to go around the fence and then connect with the existing sidewalk.  Mr. Rees also discussed the storm drain box that will be near highway 24 and informed the town that it will be their responsibility to maintain that.  C. Robert Gilner discussed Bull Creek and all the trash and debris and his concern of future flooding because there isn’t drainage.  Mayor Pei told C. Gilner to contact NRCS regarding funds to address Bull Creek.

Brock Jackson - R6 - Invited the council to attend the annual Regional Growth Summit on May 5th in Richfield hosted by R6. Any town Outdoor Recreation plans need to be on the Central Region Outdoor Recreation Plan. Utah LTAP is a program that can provide a date-driven understanding of pavement conditions, roadway assets, and key safety concerns..  Utah Project Portal is the new location for any future CIB funded projects and needs to be updated by May 1, 2026.  Mr. Jackson also advised the council on HB 41 regarding Wildland-Urban Interface Code (WUI Code) - the legislature requires the adoption of 2024 WUI Code by ordinance and he provided a sample ordinance for the council to review.  Informed the council of an upcoming ULCT conference and also a recommendation for a free GIS mapping service.  He will send the details on this service later.  R6 would like to sponsor another mayors and commissioners meeting in Hanksville on May 11th. They would like to use the gun range prior to the meeting for skeet shooting as they did last year.  

Tabled Business: 

Mayor Pei - request that serving council members be provided the water and sewer for free at the base rate, any water overage from the base will be charged to the council members. He also is implementing that each council member is paid a monthly stipend of $100. He will amend the budget to cover this expense.

Public Comment: 

Sue Fivecoat - Expressed thanks to the council for the road base material on the edge of her street on 80 E to fix the drop off edge of the road more gradually.  She would also like the council to consider not losing any existing land zoned agricultural because that is one thing that makes this valley beautiful is the green fields.  She would like to keep as much greenery in our town as possible.

Hanksville Tourism Advisory Board:  Absent. Submitted flyer outlining visitor information project that includes a Hanksville Adventure Guide and plans for an Outdoor Visitor Information Station.

Planning Commission:

• Town of Hanksville Annexation Policy Plan - presented the draft to the council to review; there will be a public hearing at the next planning commission meeting on March 24th for the public to comment.  

• New planning commission members are needed due to no or low attendance to meetings by some members.  Council agreed and will advertise for any interested in serving. It’s important for continuity to train upcoming members to serve.

• Neil & Becky Rasmussen Property - request for a zone change for an 11 acre section to be rezoned from Agricultural to Commercial.  They are also requesting a variance on utilities to put in a septic system and drill a water well.  The council discussed this with the planning commission present. Brock Jackson listed 5 specific reasons a town might deny a utility variance request:

  • The hardship is purely economic or personal

  • The hardship is self-imposed

  • Lack of unique physical circumstances

  • Conflict with the General Plan of Public Interest

  • Attempting a "Use Variance” or Code Modification

 The planning commission is the governing body to make decisions on a variance request and also zoning changes.  All properties that border the request for zone change should be notified and given opportunity to give their input.

 Mayor Jeffren T. Pei:

The old excavator is almost ready to sell and that will be by sealed bids.  There will be a minimum bid amount set.  

Council member Mona Wells:

ABSENT

Council member Robert Gilner:

Nothing to report.

Council member Peter Devonshire:

ABSENT

Council member Eric Wells: 

  ABSENT

Treasurer Jessica Alvey: 

ABSENT

Clerk Lisa Wells:

• Bills presented to council for approval (spreadsheet attached)

• Motion to approve bills: NONE

• Muddy Creek water bill error in meter reading discovered upon audit of readings and usage. They will be issued a check for the overpayment.

Motion to adjourn: NONE The meeting adjourned at 7:40pm.