September 4, 2025 - Hanksville Town Council

The Hanksville Town Council convened its regular meeting on the 4th day of September 2025 in the Hanksville Community Center; meeting commenced at 6:25pm.(started late due to waiting for a quorum to be present)

Present: C. Robert Gilner, C. Mona Wells and C. Eric Wells

Absent: Treasurer Jessica Alvey, Mayor Jeffren T. Pei, and C. Morgan Stephen

Employees: Clerk Lisa Wells 

Public in Attendance:  Slate Banner, Katherine Roberts, Sue Fivecoat, Sarah Tal and Sandy Borthwick.  Brock Jackson with R6 attended virtually.

Meeting to Order: C. Mona Wells

Pledge: C. Mona Wells

Prayer: C. Eric Wells

Roll Call: C. Mona Wells

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

 New Business: 

  Color Country Animal Welfare report from Sarah Tal and Sandy Borthwick - board members of CCAW - They are a non-profit organization established since 2009.  This is the 3rd year in their new facility in Torry.  They do animal rescue, adoption and animal boarding.  They also have a pet food bank where people can receive food for their animals at no charge.  They continue to spay/neuter and hold vaccine immunization clinics.  They are asking the town to donate $1000 or whatever the town would like at their next budget funding meeting. 

  Brock Jackson - R6 - Informed council of an on-going conversation that has started regarding annexation coordination with Wayne County and municipalities within it.  The idea is to create a buffer zone within 600’ of town boundaries that would require any new development within this buffer zone to get a letter of denial regarding annexation of the project before they would get approval from the county.  This would be a courtesy giving towns the first right of refusal to annex; they could choose to annex the property.  The county currently has a moratorium for any subdividing of more than 4 lots.  Brock is visiting with all the municipalities within Wayne County to see if they would like to implement this or something like it.  The council would like to continue this conversation.

Public Comment:

  Katherine Roberts - She has talked to Jabe at the BLM office regarding land swap of BLM property to be used for the public.  She mentioned that perhaps he could be invited to a planning commission meeting or council meeting.  Sue Fivecoat gave examples of this land swap happening with the BLM and Hanksville for recreation and public services such as the Hanksville park, cemetery and gun range.  As long as the property continues to be used as a benefit to a public need. A resource management plan in 2008 earmarked property that could be swapped.  

  Katherine then read a letter she has written (attached to minutes) titled “The Divisiveness and Cost of Unmoderated Social Media Platforms” and submitted to the council.  She is asking the town council to consider creating an official town forum on the town website that is moderated with clear policies to discuss official town business, including planning and zoning discussions.  She believes that the Hanksville Pickler has become an unofficial public forum that exposes the town to legal scrutiny, particularly concerning the First Amendment rights of constituents and other relevant laws concerning transparency and public access.

The council discusses this issue at length and will table this request and do their best to research better avenues for public discussion in the future.

  Slate Banner - His opinion regarding the request for money from Color County Animal Welfare, all tax money should be used for the town, not a non-profit organization.

Report of Officers:

Council member Mona Wells:

  With cooler weather she is hoping to do work at the cemetery.

Council member Morgan Stephens:

ABSENT

Council member Eric Wells:

He continues to have conversion regarding the left over money from the sewer project.  They will not fund equipment or clean the sewer lines from flood damage.  He is looking for a grinder pump screen at the sewer flume. Public education regarding products that clog the sewer lines would be helpful.  He is also building cement forms at the park to be ready for any surplus cement from Brown Brothers.

Council member Robert Gilner:

He is still planning on doing the crack seal this fall on town roads but did not give a date.

Mayor Jeffren T. Pei:

ABSENT

Treasurer Jessica Alvey:

ABSENT

Planning Commission:

  Slate Banner - The planning commission will not be meeting in September.  SB174 update for subdivision application is complete and under final review.  They are comparing the new version to the old version to make sure everything is transferred over correctly. The P&Z would like the town council to consider 2 new changes:

-A civil engineering review on behalf of the town be required.

-Implementation of a 30 day deadline for recording of final plat with Wayne County Recorder’s office once it has been approved.  Failure to file with the county nullifies the application.

Clerk Lisa Wells:

• Bills presented to council for approval (spreadsheet attached)

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

• Audit by Kimball & Roberts will be October 1, 2025

• A resolution to cancel the council member race due to non contested race will be on the agenda for next council meeting.

• Apartment #2 tenants have failed to pay for 3 months, which has been their history.  What is the recommendation of the council for these tenants?  The council agreed to send an eviction notice to these tenants due to lack of payment for past due rent. dj

Tabled Business:  

  Hanksville 1st Subdivision property line change - Slate Banner - He has several quit claim deeds to change property ownership to make the turnaround on his property smaller.  As per the engineered drawing presented it will be reduced to 100’ diameter, but this will require property ownership to change between Hanksville Town, Slate Banner and Sue Fivecoat.  The right-of-way for utilities will continue underground.  The council would like the planning commission to review this project and make sure it is in compliance with the planning and zoning regulations.

Motion to adjourn: C. Eric Wells; Second C. Robert Gilner. Aye: All in attendance. The meeting adjourned at 8:07pm.