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  • Hanksville Ordinances for Review

    The Planning and Zoning Commission has been reviewing every town ordinance at the request of the Town Council for over a year and here is a copy for the public. There will be a public hearing in September at the P&Z meeting on September 10, 2024 at 6pm (date subject to change but will post any changes to make the public aware of the date.)

  • July 11 2024 - Hanksville Town Council

    The Hanksville Town Council meeting convened its regular session on the 11 th day of July 2024 in the Hanksville Community Center; meeting commenced at 6:00 p.m. Present:  Mayor Jeffren T. Pei, C. Robert Gilner, C. Mona Wells and C. Eric Wells Absent:   C. Morgan Roberts Employees:  Clerk Lisa Wells and Treasurer Jessica Alvey Public in Attendance: Slate Banner, Dennis Alvey, Margarete Re, Stuart Oliver, Colton Roberts, Kathryn Roberts, Mary Devonshire, Neal & Becky Rasmussen, Jared Alvey, Jaron Jackson, Jeanette Pei, Terralyn Labrum, Kole, Pei and Tiffany Martineau – Wayne County EMS director Meeting to Order: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Pledge: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Prayer: C. Eric Wells Roll Call:   Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Motion to approve minutes of June council meeting: C. Eric Wells; Second C. Mona Wells.  Aye: All in attendance. Report of Officers: Council member Mona Wells : The new manager, Kole Pei, of the Silver Eagle would like to do service projects for the town and will start with the cemetery.  The service projects will be open to anyone willing to help but for sure will include employees of the Silver Eagle.  C. Mona Wells will oversee the project at the cemetery. Council member Morgan Roberts:  ABSENT   Council member Eric Wells:  Met with Sunrise Engineering and the lead & copper line inventory project is on schedule.  Ron Pierce with RWAU will continue to get a project ready for submittal and the mayor to review but nothing has been presented yet.  There are currently 2 construction companies using bulk water, Nielson’s Construction and Brown Brothers Construction.  There has been a citizen complaint about selling water to these companies and the concern is that this will draw down the town water wells and there will not be enough water for public use.  The concerns the council discussed were the current storage capacity and they are working on funding to increase the storage capacity. Thank you to all citizens who participated in any way with the many events of the 4th of July celebration.   Council member Robert Gilner: Nothing to report.  Mayor Pei asked C. Gilner to investigate any upcoming grants from UDOT to help Hanksville. Mayor Jeffren Pei: The license has expired for handling hazardous materials which involved the fireworks for the 4th.  He will work through that process with the fire department so they will be ready to manage the fireworks next year. Clerk Lisa Wells:  Bills presented to council for approval (spreadsheet attached) Motion to approve   bills for payment  – C. Eric Wells; Second C. Mona Wells.  Aye: All in attendance. Xpress Bill Pay will soon be ready to go live; the clerk will be trained on August 7th in Hanksville. Treasurer Jessica Alvey: Nothing to report. Planning Commission :  Kathryn Robert  – The planning commission completed the general plan last year and through that process tried to get an understanding of the needs and desires of Hanksville.  The public has been invited to attend their meetings and they have been working on the ordinance document for over 2 years.  They are close to being ready for a public hearing, the next meeting is on August 6th.  The clerk will make the ordinances available to the public through the town website.  The planning commission would like the public to site the ordinance that they have an issue with and provide a solution.  The council were again reminded that they all have commentor status on the ordinance document and C. Robert Gilner mentioned the council ought to go through each ordinance as a council. Tabled Business:  Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between Wayne County and Hanksville and fee to Hanksville Town for EMS services.  The Wayne County commissioners were supposed to attend along with the County Attorney, but they sent their representative, Tiffany Martineau – Wayne County EMS director, to represent them.  She approached the council with direction from Wayne County commissioners to find out why Hanksville is not paying their dues as requested.  Does Hanksville want Wayne County to provide EMS services within the municipality of Hanksville?  The mayor explained his objection to paying the amount levied to Hanksville because Hanksville citizens also pay into the Wayne County general fund through property tax, Wayne County received transient room tax from Hanksville tourism in a greater amount than Hanksville receives for transient room tax so why should Hanksville be asked to pay an additional fee for EMS services. The council also explained that Hanksville is the only town in the county that paid for the EMS building; Hanksville pays about $12,000 annually for the lease and insurance on the building.  Wayne County has been paying the electricity and propane.  In the lease agreement that Wayne County attorney sent to the council the county agreed to pay the lease amount of one hundred dollars ($100.00) with all the utilities and maintenance being paid by Hanksville.  The attorney said this $100 was a place-holder amount and he expected Hanksville to make a counteroffer.  The council agreed to a twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) lease amount, all the utilities and maintenance paid for by Wayne County.  No response ever came back from Wayne County attorney or the commission with this counteroffer.  Ms. Martineau continued to outline that the lease agreement for the Hanksville EMS building and the request for payment of the fees assessed by Wayne County were two completely separate issues; her answer to the agreement for services is if Hanksville doesn’t want to sign with the county to provide these services she will be forced to take all Wayne County ambulances, equipment and supplies out of the Hanksville EMS and station them in Torrey and then respond from Torrey to any 911 calls.  She stated that this would not include any 911 calls from within the boundaries of Hanksville town.  There was discussion of the large area of service that Hanksville EMT’s currently covers Emery County as far as I-70, Garfield County to Ticaboo, beyond Hite on Highway 95, and in Wayne County from Notom to Canyonlands to the Henry Mountains.  She said if they withdraw the equipment from Hanksville they will not be able to respond to these outlying areas. For the town council and local EMS this is not an option, but no agreement could be made without a conversation with the Wayne County Commissioners.  Tiffany then proceeded to hand the mayor a letter from Commissioner Kerry Cook stating that if Hanksville Town did not pay the requested fee of $11,586 by July 31, 2024, then all Wayne County owned ambulances and support equipment and supplies for the ambulance would be removed from the building.  She then gave a new contract from Wayne County regarding the lease of the Hanksville EMS building. The mayor took no more comments and tabled this until the council could schedule a work meeting to discuss options.  Affordable Housing rent increase discussion – The housing needs some work; it needs to be maintained and if rent is increased then the council needs to commit to improving the housing.  The council tabled this issue. Public Comment: Neal and Becky Rasmussen – They introduced themselves to Hanksville council, they recently purchased the Kelly Taylor farm.  They live in Highland UT and would eventually like to move to Hanksville.  Their ideas for this property would be like an oasis in the desert with fruit trees, a vineyard, beehives, vegetables, animals, wildflowers, or a corn maze.  Originally, they purchased a 22-acre lot that Kelly Taylor had split off, but they heard he was going to split up the rest of the farm in smaller lot sizes which included the pivot sprinkler line.  They decided to purchase all the property and since this is a bigger investment they have been brainstorming ideas to make the land profitable and still fit in the zoning of agriculture so that is why they are approaching the council to see if they could have like a creamery or roadside stand to sell their farm goods such as: milk, eggs, butter, fruit, vegetables, honey, and other items.   The council welcomed their ideas and agreed that they fit in with agriculture use.  As they get more concrete with plans then they can request a zone change, that would have to go through the planning commission.  In the future, they might subdivide off some land for their adult children.   MOTION TO ADJOURN :  C. Eric Wells; Second C. Mona Wells.  Aye: All in attendance - meeting adjourned at 8:00pm

  • June 6 2024 - Hanksville Town Council

    The Hanksville Town Council meeting convened a public hearing in conjunction with its regular session on the 6th day of June 2024 in the Hanksville Community Center; meeting commenced at 6:00 p.m.  Present:  Mayor Jeffren T. Pei, C. Morgan Roberts, C. Robert Gilner, C. Mona Wells and C. Eric Wells Absent:    Employees:  Clerk Lisa Wells and Treasurer Jessica Alvey Public in Attendance: Kathryn Roberts, Slate Banner, Christopher Hagedorn, Brock Jackson, Dennis Alvey, Margarete Re, Carla Redmond, Deanna Mecham, Sara Bradbury, Dennis Lierd and Brennen Rees via zoom.  Meeting to Order: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Pledge: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Prayer: C. Morgan Roberts Roll Call:   Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Motion to approve minutes of May council meeting: C. Morgan Roberts; Second C. Robert Gilner.  Aye: All in attendance. Motion to approve   bills for payment  – C. Eric Wells; Second C. Morgan Roberts.  Aye: All in attendance. Public comment on the 2025 FY budget – NONE Motion to adopt the Budget for July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025:  C. Eric Wells; Second C. Robert Gilner.  Aye: All in attendance. R6 – Brock Jackson – Resourced that might be of interest for the council.   Utah Cyber Center – Offering no cost services to local governments of Utah, the funds are provided by the State of Utah. They offer a wide range of services geared to the size of the municipalities and their cybersecurity needs. Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) – Rural community opportunities for grants to partner with businesses to increase employment in our area. Presentation of fees - Presented a NEXUS for fee structure and educated the council that fees should not be arbitrarily assessed but should be tied to the service provided, which should consider the time and resources involved in providing the service.  Trained in best practices and reasonable methodology including the direct or indirect cost, tracking of cost and revenues received from the fees. Report of Officers: Council member Mona Wells : Asked questions about the grant for the gun range and if that was in place yet.   Council member Morgan Roberts:  Nothing to report.   Council member Eric Wells:  The town is selling bulk water to Brown Brothers Construction and Nielson’s Construction right now.  Also, a utility customer that is delinquent and due for shut-off of their water meter but has parked his vehicle directly on top of the meter with a tire on the meter lid.  The maintenance took a picture of the incident; he will post a notice that the vehicle may be towed off the meter at customer expense to gain access to the meter. Council member Robert Gilner:  He has had concerned citizens approach him regarding excessive speeding on center street.  The council discussed a speed bump on center street to help deter speeding.  There was some on center street in the past but has since been removed. Mayor Jeffren Pei: Nothing to report. Clerk Lisa Wells:  Bills presented to council for approval (spreadsheet attached) The charge account at Bull Mountain Market will be closed due to an accounting system at the store that doesn’t identify who is the purchaser and sometimes what is being purchased.  If an employee or council member needs to buy an item from the store they should proceed to purchase with their own money and then submit a reimbursement to the clerk and it will be processed. Planning Commission :  Katie Roberts – They are still working on the sewer section of the ordinances but feel confident that within the next two months they should be ready to hold a public hearing.  The planning commission will allow 2 minutes for each public comment and is requesting that the comments be specific to an ordinance and be ready to submit a solution to their concern of an ordinance.  This should help with an orderly meeting.  The public hearing will be posted in the usual places, but the clerk has been instructed to include it on the monthly utility invoice. Tabled Business:  Affordable Housing rent increase – After discussion in the council, C. Morgan Roberts will meet with the clerk to review upcoming capital improvements that are needed at the housing and adjust the rent as per the needs of the repairs.  She will report back next month.  Slate Banner, a tenant at the housing, said he has noticed the need for deep maintenance such as paint, electrical and the appliances need replacement.   New Business   Brennen Rees – Ensign Engineering – He has not heard anything yet regarding the FY25 Community Project Funding Opportunity – this is through Utah’s Second Congressional District.  This initiative provides financial support for projects that can greatly benefit rural communities.  Hanksville applied to pursue funding for the construction of a new storage tank, and distribution system upgrades.  As part of this process, Hanksville will need to have an updated Water Master plan.  Ensign can provide that through 100% grant if the town agrees to engage them.   Motion to engage Ensign Engineering to update the water master plan for the Town of Hanksville funded by a grant: C. Robert Gilner; Second C. Eric Wells.  Aye: All in attendance.   Brennen updated the council on the SRTS grant, the survey required has been complete and Ensign will work to make sure Hanksville is ready to begin the project when it is funded next July 2025.  Brock Jackson with R6 educated the council that a safe route to the school plan will need to be in place prior to the funding being awarded and that Hanksville Elementary must be part of the process for determining the safest route.  He can help provide a template for the school in making that plan. Ron Pierce with Rural Water Association of Utah (RWAU) met with the mayor and C. Eric Wells recently and he has been appointed to assist Hanksville in securing funding for wastewater projects.  This would be for needs in addition to the current wastewater upgrade.  Such as a mower, tractor, vac pump and jetter to clean the flume screens.  If the council agrees to authorize him to do this research, he will present any funding opportunities to the council to discuss and approve any project. Motion to approve RWAU to find funding for grant opportunities to purchase wastewater equipment for improvements to Hanksville’s wastewater system: C. Morgan Roberts; Second C. Robert Gilner.  Aye: All in attendance. Christopher Hagedorn – Get In The Wild Adventures –His company is an outdoor adventure guide group offering ½ day, full day, extended day tours in the surrounding canyons for canyoneering, rappelling, hiking and backpacking. Since the spring of 2012 he has facilitated many to be able to enjoy this area that is off the beaten path.  He has no storefront in Hanksville and 100% of his bookings are online.  He has all the necessary BLM permits for canyoneering in this area and a conditional use permit with Goblin Valley to work in that area.  About 10 years ago he thought about a storefront for his business and after researching, found a parcel that Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) owns right in Hanksville at the junction of highway 24 and highway 95.  He has worked with UDOT through the evaluation process with surplus property so they could officially sell this parcel.  In 2017, he learned that they could not sell it outright and it had to go to a public auction.  In 2018, Mr. Hagedorn requested to lease the property and he has paid $12,000 in lease payments to UDOT.  He used the money he had received in 2016 through a Rural Fast Track Grant of $50,000 to help with a storefront and provide employment for our area.  In 2021, UDOT was finally set to go to auction with the parcel, but since that time, a law was passed that State entities must furnish notice of the intent to sell property at public auction within the municipality that the property is located.  Giving municipalities the opportunity to exercise the right to purchase the property.  After reading the minutes of a council meeting, he found that Hanksville is interested in purchasing the property and shares similar goals as his company.  His intent to purchase the property was to provide a storefront that would be open year-round so traveling tourists could have opportunities to see canyoneering demonstrations, hold practice sessions, talk to staff about trails, make reservations for a trip.  He noticed the first thing on the Hanksville website that adventures are important to Hanksville.  He has surveyed his guests regarding their spending and how his company has supported Hanksville in sales tax revenue dollars; from 2022 numbers he estimates $52,000 in motel stays, $15,000 restaurant, $12,000 grocery items, $8,000 in fuel.   Mr. Hogedorn has worked with the Utah Office of Tourism to receive funding of $100,000 for advertising, he partnered with ABC News as the first canyoneering guide to be featured.  He has been on AYL and other media outlets.  He believes that a storefront for his company on this property is a win/win for him and for Hanksville.  There have been viral hashtags that are bringing more and more people to Hanksville.  He believes to help Hanksville it is important to have people stay overnight in the community.  Mr. Hagedorn answered questions from the council – he is an advocate of bringing in traffic through social media which brings in more tax dollars to the community, he approves of multiuse of the surrounding land and he also believes we should protect and preserve the environment for all visitors.  He has 6 guides in his employ and would hire permanent on-site staff to run his store.  He has not hired a local from Hanksville due to no applicants with the experience needed for safe canyoneering and all that entails. His employees live a mobile life – he currently works from March through November in the area surrounding Hanksville.  He was asked if he has considered other properties for his storefront.   Triple R – Dennis Lierd and Sara Bradbury – They are proposing to donate 3.5 acres of their property to the town for a location of a new water storage tank along with the agreement to annex their subdivision into Hanksville town and donate 6” pipe they have purchased for the water line extension.  They will donate these items in exchange for Hanksville Town to bear the cost of including their subdivision in the plans of a new water tank and providing water to their subdivision, which will require a booster pump and other specs as outlined by an engineer.  The council will consider their offer, currently no funding has been approved.  The funding that has been applied for is for a new storage tank and distribution upgrades; the scope of work did not include a booster pump and other items that would be required by the developer to provide water to their subdivision. There was no decision made on this item and the council tabled the discussion for a future meeting. Public Comment: Katie Roberts – Is the council willing to comment on the BLM proposed Henry Mountain and Fremont Gorge Travel Management Plan?  She attended the zoom meeting that was held, and the comment period ends Monday, June 10, 2024.  She will be commenting and feels it would be beneficial for Hanksville to have the town council send an official comment as well.  The BLM requested the comments be specific to actual roads and experiences with the area. MOTION TO ADJOURN :  C. Eric Wells; Second C. Mona Wells.  Aye: All in attendance - meeting adjourned at 7:55pm

  • Torrey Chamber Music Festival Presents a Free Preview Concert in Hanksville

    Join us for an enchanting evening of music as the Torrey Chamber Music Festival (TCMF) kicks off its 2024 season with a special free preview concert. The event will take place on Thursday, June 13, at 6 PM at the Hanksville Old Church. This unique opportunity allows the community to experience the talents of TCMF musicians up close and personal in an intimate and historic setting. The evening promises a delightful repertoire performed by accomplished musicians, showcasing the beautiful sounds of chamber music Bring your friends and family to enjoy a night of wonderful music. For more information about the festival and to get your tickets for the main events, visit torreychambermusic.com .

  • Hanksville's Independence Day Celebration 2024

    The 4th of July is just around the corner, and we’re excited to share our plans for this year’s festivities! Get ready for a fun-filled celebration with family, friends, and our wonderful community. Here’s the schedule for our Independence Day events: Thursday, July 4th: 7:00-9:00 AM - Breakfast at the park Served by the Young Men from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a delicious breakfast of pancakes, eggs, bacon and orange juice. 10:00 AM - Parade Join us for our patriotic parade, themed “ Freedom Is... ”. Watch as floats and community groups parade down Highway 24 from Stan's Burger Shak to the The Church of Jesus Christ. Don’t forget to wear your red, white, and blue! Patriotic Program - following the parade Right after the parade, head over to the Old Rock Church for a special American Heritage Program. Celebrate our nation’s history and heritage with songs, speeches, and more. Winners of the coloring contest will be announced here. Noon - Lunch The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers (DUP) are sponsoring a delicious lunch at the firehouse. Come hungry and enjoy some great food and good company. 1:00 PM - Water Games at the Park The fun doesn’t stop at lunch! Head to the park for a variety of games and activities. It’s a perfect way to keep the kids cool and maybe even engage in some friendly competition. 6:00 PM - T-ball and Softball The kids will start with some easy T-ball and as the evening goes on we will gather adults for a game of softball. Bring your mitts and your skill and "let's play ball"! 8:00 PM - Horseshoes and Music As the evening cools down, enjoy a game of horseshoes and live music. It’s a great way to relax and enjoy the community spirit. We are trying something new this year, the horseshoe games will be played inside the arena under the lights. While the kids play, let's visit and enjoy the music. Dark ≈ 10:00pm - Fireworks No 4th of July celebration is complete without fireworks! Find a cozy spot at the Hanksville town park and watch the sky light up with a dazzling display. It’s the perfect end to a perfect day. Friday, July 5th: 7:00 PM - Gymkhana The fun continues with a Gymkhana event. Come and cheer on the participants as they show off their equestrian skills. Contestants can sign-up online in advance, or in person at 6:00 PM. The concessions are served by Hanksville EMS, with the usual burgers, hot dogs and delicious corn-on-the-cob. Saturday, July 6th: 7:00 PM - ATV Rodeo Wrap up the holiday weekend with the thrilling ATV Rodeo at the arena. It’s an exciting event you won’t want to miss! We will end the night with a family friendly movie at the park. We can’t wait to celebrate with you all. Let’s make this 4th of July one to remember! See you there! Happy Independence Day, Hanksville!

  • May 2 2024 - Hanksville Town Council

    The Hanksville Town Council meeting convened its regular session on the 2nd day of May 2024 in the Hanksville Community Center; meeting commenced at 6:00 p.m.  Present:  Mayor Jeffren T. Pei, C. Morgan Roberts and C. Robert Gilner Absent:   Treasurer Jessica Alvey, C. Mona Wells and C. Eric Wells Employees:  Clerk Lisa Wells  Public in Attendance: Kathryn Roberts, Chylene Whipple, Sara Bradbury, and Andy Alexander Meeting to Order: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Pledge: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Prayer: C. Morgan Roberts Roll Call:   Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Motion to approve minutes of April council meeting: C. Morgan Roberts; Second C. Robert Gilner.  Aye: All in attendance. Council member Mona Wells : ABSENT Council member Morgan Roberts:  Nothing to report.   Council member Eric Wells:  ABSENT  Council member Robert Gilner:  Nothing to report. Checking to see if there was any news on the UDOT property, clerk advised that there has been no communication from anyone at UDOT.  He outlined his ideas if the town purchases this property; turn it into a trailhead/park that could include a kiosk. Mayor Jeffren Pei: An official identifier is required for his H.E.R.T team, he will need 8 badges and each member will need to file an application to serve on the team.  These identifiers will tie the H.E.R.T directly to Hanksville Town. The mayor will be spending budgeted money for ammunition for training purposes.  There will be a training in August for Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) - Solo Officer Rapid Deployment (SORD) held here in Hanksville. The town has applied through Utah’s Second Congressional District for the fiscal year 2025 Community Project Funding for the purchase of water utility infrastructure for a water storage tank. Brennen Rees is helping with that grant and Brock Jackson with R6 is helping with the property required for this tank through SITLA. Clerk Lisa Wells:  Bills presented to council for approval (spreadsheet attached) Motion to approve   bills for payment  – C. Morgan Roberts; Second C. Robert Gilner.  Aye: All in attendance. Presented council with tentative budget for approval and to be ready for the public hearing on the budget in June. An amended budget for FY 2024 is not needed. Planning Commission :  Discussion of the process for building permits, it was decided that for an electrical service only building permit, that Garkane requires before they will make changes or install a new power connection, the clerk’s office could approve that without going to the planning commission.  Scott Livingston asked if he needs an additional building permit to add on a porch to his house that he is building.  He will be on the agenda for the next P&Z meeting to see if this would be required.  Chylene brought up that he has multiple RV’s connected to the sewer.   The planning commission has been discussing accessory dwelling units (ADU) such as a mother-in-law house on property.   AUD’s can be external or internal, meaning attached to the primary residence.  They are considering what to put in the ordinance. They must meet setbacks and a range of 400sf minimum up to 1200sf maximum for the additional dwelling. The internal ADU should have a separate entrance and be for long-term rental.  They have discussed this option for employee housing and how many AUD’s should be allowed on one piece of property. Dennis Ekker was on the agenda at the last P&Z meeting; his original plan had several lots that were landlocked so he changed his plan and has a road ending in a cul-de-sac that would allow access to each lot he proposes but he is going to ask for a variance on the road width.  He will be requesting to be allowed a 33’ road instead of a 66’ road as the new subdivision ordinance states. Tabled Business:  NONE New Business   Andy Alexander – His property is zoned residential mixed use (RMU), and he would like to request a variance from RMU and issue conditional use that would allow him to operate his towing business from this yard.  He would like to have a state certified impound yard that would allow him to be a holding place for wrecked vehicles. This would entail putting up a 6’ chain link fence with 3 strand security wire on the top and must be lighted.  He is willing to put slats on the fence if the council requires that but would rather not due to security issues.  Typically, a wrecked vehicle would be in the impound yard for an average of 7 to 10 days.  He does not intend to operate as a salvage yard or a vehicle repair shop.  He does off-road 4x4 recovery and towing services. The council discussed his request and asked him to have his impound fence back off the property line by 3’ or 4’ and didn’t think slats are necessary. The council will review this conditional use in a year to determine if Mr. Alexander will be allowed to continue with this conditional use. Motion to allow a conditional use that differs from RMU for Andy Alexander to operate his towing company out of his property : C. Morgan Roberts; Second C. Robert Gilner.  Aye: All in attendance. New sewer connection request by David and Melissa Weber at 25 E 100 N, they already have a water connection but are requesting sewer service. They have submitted their application and paid the connection fee. Motion to allow a new sewer service connection for David and Melissa Weber;  C. Morgan Roberts; Second C. Robert Gilner. Aye: All in attendance. Sara Bradbury – Triple R Management subdivision water options – Sara outlined the process they have gone through regarding their subdivision with Wayne County and accessing water through Hanksville Town. They thought they had approval to install a 6” water line and purchased the product but Hanksville stopped the job due to information received from John Chartier, Division of Environmental Quality, to see if a boost pump would be required.  They are now collaborating with an engineer and found there is not enough pressure to climb in elevation to meet the water needs of the subdivision.  They have a couple of options:  a boost pump or a smaller pump with a storage tank; both options are expensive. Triple R is aware that Hanksville Town has just applied for funding for a 500,000-gal tank to increase the storage capacity of the town water system.  They are willing to trade property to Hanksville to put a storage tank on and would like to work as a team with Hanksville in getting water to their subdivision. The council would like to work with Triple R and asked Sara to bring the engineered plans for town approval of how they plan to get water to their subdivision. Public Comment: Chylene Whipple – Hanksville EMS will be hosting EMS Awareness week on May 15th at 6pm under the pavilion at the community center.  She also has concerns about temporary housing that has turned into permanent housing in town. She asked the council what happened to raising the rent at the town housing as was discussed last year. The clerk will put that on the agenda. Kathryn Roberts – She has talked with many photographer groups, dirt bikers, and Instagrammers and they have conflict of the use of the land.  With the increase in tourism and the demand on town infrastructure she would like to hold the state of Utah accountable for their part in this.  The Utah Department of Tourism has marketed this area heavily and she would like the council to consider inviting Phil Lyman, Representative  - Utah State Legislator District 69, to attend a council meeting and outline the pain points of serving the influx of tourists such as – EMS services, additional infrastructure of water and other demands.  Through this process find avenues for help from the State of Utah. Alex Cabrero with KSL has talked about our area as well as other news outlets. MOTION TO ADJOURN :  C. Morgan Roberts; Second C. Robert Gilner.  Aye: All in attendance - meeting adjourned at 8:00pm

  • April 4 2024 - Hanksville Town Council

    The Hanksville Town Council meeting convened its regular session on the 2nd day of May 2024 in the Hanksville Community Center; meeting commenced at 6:00 p.m.  Present:  Mayor Jeffren T. Pei, C. Morgan Roberts and C. Robert Gilner Absent:   Treasurer Jessica Alvey, C. Mona Wells and C. Eric Wells Employees:  Clerk Lisa Wells  Public in Attendance: Kathryn Roberts, Chylene Whipple, Sara Bradbury, and Andy Alexander Meeting to Order: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Pledge: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Prayer: C. Morgan Roberts Roll Call:   Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Motion to approve minutes of April council meeting: C. Morgan Roberts; Second C. Robert Gilner.  Aye: All in attendance. Council member Mona Wells : ABSENT Council member Morgan Roberts:  Nothing to report.   Council member Eric Wells:  ABSENT  Council member Robert Gilner:  Nothing to report. Checking to see if there was any news on the UDOT property, clerk advised that there has been no communication from anyone at UDOT.  He outlined his ideas if the town purchases this property; turn it into a trailhead/park that could include a kiosk. Mayor Jeffren Pei: An official identifier is required for his H.E.R.T team, he will need 8 badges and each member will need to file an application to serve on the team.  These identifiers will tie the H.E.R.T directly to Hanksville Town. The mayor will be spending budgeted money for ammunition for training purposes.  There will be a training in August for Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) - Solo Officer Rapid Deployment (SORD) held here in Hanksville. The town has applied through Utah’s Second Congressional District for the fiscal year 2025 Community Project Funding for the purchase of water utility infrastructure for a water storage tank. Brennen Rees is helping with that grant and Brock Jackson with R6 is helping with the property required for this tank through SITLA. Clerk Lisa Wells:  Bills presented to council for approval (spreadsheet attached) Motion to approve   bills for payment  – C. Morgan Roberts; Second C. Robert Gilner.  Aye: All in attendance. Presented council with tentative budget for approval and to be ready for the public hearing on the budget in June. An amended budget for FY 2024 is not needed. Planning Commission :  Discussion of the process for building permits, it was decided that for an electrical service only building permit, that Garkane requires before they will make changes or install a new power connection, the clerk’s office could approve that without going to the planning commission.  Scott Livingston asked if he needs an additional building permit to add on a porch to his house that he is building.  He will be on the agenda for the next P&Z meeting to see if this would be required.  Chylene brought up that he has multiple RV’s connected to the sewer.   The planning commission has been discussing accessory dwelling units (ADU) such as a mother-in-law house on property.   AUD’s can be external or internal, meaning attached to the primary residence.  They are considering what to put in the ordinance. They must meet setbacks and a range of 400sf minimum up to 1200sf maximum for the additional dwelling. The internal ADU should have a separate entrance and be for long-term rental.  They have discussed this option for employee housing and how many AUD’s should be allowed on one piece of property. Dennis Ekker was on the agenda at the last P&Z meeting; his original plan had several lots that were landlocked so he changed his plan and has a road ending in a cul-de-sac that would allow access to each lot he proposes but he is going to ask for a variance on the road width.  He will be requesting to be allowed a 33’ road instead of a 66’ road as the new subdivision ordinance states. Tabled Business:  NONE New Business   Andy Alexander – His property is zoned residential mixed use (RMU), and he would like to request a variance from RMU and issue conditional use that would allow him to operate his towing business from this yard.  He would like to have a state certified impound yard that would allow him to be a holding place for wrecked vehicles. This would entail putting up a 6’ chain link fence with 3 strand security wire on the top and must be lighted.  He is willing to put slats on the fence if the council requires that but would rather not due to security issues.  Typically, a wrecked vehicle would be in the impound yard for an average of 7 to 10 days.  He does not intend to operate as a salvage yard or a vehicle repair shop.  He does off-road 4x4 recovery and towing services. The council discussed his request and asked him to have his impound fence back off the property line by 3’ or 4’ and didn’t think slats are necessary. The council will review this conditional use in a year to determine if Mr. Alexander will be allowed to continue with this conditional use. Motion to allow a conditional use that differs from RMU for Andy Alexander to operate his towing company out of his property : C. Morgan Roberts; Second C. Robert Gilner.  Aye: All in attendance. New sewer connection request by David and Melissa Weber at 25 E 100 N, they already have a water connection but are requesting sewer service. They have submitted their application and paid the connection fee. Motion to allow a new sewer service connection for David and Melissa Weber;  C. Morgan Roberts; Second C. Robert Gilner. Aye: All in attendance. Sara Bradbury – Triple R Management subdivision water options – Sara outlined the process they have gone through regarding their subdivision with Wayne County and accessing water through Hanksville Town. They thought they had approval to install a 6” water line and purchased the product but Hanksville stopped the job due to information received from John Chartier, Division of Environmental Quality, to see if a boost pump would be required.  They are now collaborating with an engineer and found there is not enough pressure to climb in elevation to meet the water needs of the subdivision.  They have a couple of options:  a boost pump or a smaller pump with a storage tank; both options are expensive. Triple R is aware that Hanksville Town has just applied for funding for a 500,000-gal tank to increase the storage capacity of the town water system.  They are willing to trade property to Hanksville to put a storage tank on and would like to work as a team with Hanksville in getting water to their subdivision. The council would like to work with Triple R and asked Sara to bring the engineered plans for town approval of how they plan to get water to their subdivision. Public Comment: Chylene Whipple – Hanksville EMS will be hosting EMS Awareness week on May 15th at 6pm under the pavilion at the community center.  She also has concerns about temporary housing that has turned into permanent housing in town. She asked the council what happened to raising the rent at the town housing as was discussed last year. The clerk will put that on the agenda. Kathryn Roberts – She has talked with many photographer groups, dirt bikers, and Instagrammers and they have conflict of the use of the land.  With the increase in tourism and the demand on town infrastructure she would like to hold the state of Utah accountable for their part in this.  The Utah Department of Tourism has marketed this area heavily and she would like the council to consider inviting Phil Lyman, Representative  - Utah State Legislator District 69, to attend a council meeting and outline the pain points of serving the influx of tourists such as – EMS services, additional infrastructure of water and other demands.  Through this process find avenues for help from the State of Utah. Alex Cabrero with KSL has talked about our area as well as other news outlets. MOTION TO ADJOURN :  C. Morgan Roberts; Second C. Robert Gilner.  Aye: All in attendance - meeting adjourned at 8:00pm

  • Hop Into Spring with Hanksville's Annual Easter Egg Hunt!

    Join us for a morning of fun at the Hanksville Town Park on March 30th at 10:00 AM. Bring your Easter baskets and get ready to hunt for colorful Easter eggs scattered throughout the park. It's a great opportunity to bring the community together for some springtime fun. So, gather your family and friends, and let's make this Easter Egg Hunt a memorable event for everyone. See you there for some egg-citing adventures!

  • March 7 2024 - Hanksville Town Council

    The Hanksville Town Council meeting convened its regular session on the 7th day of March 2024 in the Hanksville Community Center; meeting commenced at 6:00 p.m.  Present:  Mayor Jeffren T. Pei, C. Morgan Roberts, C. Mona Wells, C. Eric Wells and C. Robert Gilner Absent:   Treasurer Jessica Alvey Employees:  Clerk Lisa Wells  Public in Attendance: Doug Roberts, Katie Roberts, Chylene Whipple, Tyson Hunt, Tony Bell, Sandy Bell Meeting to Order: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Pledge: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Prayer: Lisa Wells Roll Call:   Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Motion to approve minutes of February council meeting: C. Morgan Roberts; Second C. Robert Gilner.  Aye: All in attendance. Council member Mona Wells : Nothing to report. Council member Morgan Roberts:  The annual Easter Egg Hunt will be on Saturday, March 30th at 10am at the town park.   Council member Eric Wells:   Report on the Rural Water Conference he attended in St. George, UT. The Lead & Copper inventory law requires an inventory of what type of material is used for piping the water to each home and business that is served by the Hanksville water system.  The deadline is October 2024, there is funding through Sunrise Engineering to pay for the cost to become compliant; Eric Wells will contact Sunrise Engineering.  Cross connection is another certification that is required for our system.   Hanksville Town received a donation from Lou Ann Barton Charity Foundation in the amount of $10,000.  She read an article in The Insider, written by Adus Dorsey, outlining Hanksville’s rodeo ground improvements and gave the information for Hanksville if anybody was interested in donating.  She read the article and the funds have already been received through Schwab Charities at the request of Lou Ann Barton.  A thank you note was distributed to all council members to sign that will be sent to Ms. Barton.  Eric has a small group of Hanksville citizens that are helping with the ideas for the rodeo equipment.  The first phase of upgrades will be a holding pen and a return alley for the stock for roping events. Repair the lights, PA system and purchase a laser light timer for the starting line.  The second phase of upgrades will be a groomer to care for the dirt in the arena before events, mobile restrooms, better concession stand, and better steps up to the announcer’s stand.  Eric has already found a roping shut to purchase for the start of the upgrades. Council member Robert Gilner: Nothing to report.  Mayor Jeffren Pei: Food bank – the mayor and council discussed opening space for the food bank again but agreed that they did not want to do that for now due to problems (mice, calling for food in off times, storage of the food) with the way it was managed last time.  Tony Bell and Sandy Bell discussed with the council that they would like to pick up the food boxes from Bicknell and then deliver them directly to the people who have signed up. This would eliminate the need for a place to store the boxes.  They will be getting nonperishable food only for right now.  They discussed with the council to use the patio space on the west side of the community center as a gathering place for people to get their boxes. But today, Tony and Sandy need a place to store the boxes that they just picked up so the mayor said they could put them in the back room. They will contact the clerk to let them in when they can deliver them. Mayor Pei has heard some discussion at the county level regarding the Hanksville landfill and individual dumpsters, he said Wayne County wants to discontinue all dumping and expects Hanksville to run their own dump. Clerk Lisa Wells:  Bills presented to council for approval (spreadsheet attached) Motion to approve   bills for payment  – C. Eric Wells; Second C. Mona Wells.  Aye: All in attendance. A horse group is interested in using the arena to camp overnight and put their horses in the arena .  The council agreed that they could use the facility for $250 but only 2 truck/trailers could stay on the park property to watch the horses.   Lantis Fireworks has increased their fee by 15% ; the same show as usual will now cost $7168. C. Eric Wells would like to contact other organizations to compare pricing. CIB Capital Improvement list – Informed council members that projects must be on the list by March 31, 2024, to be considered for funding in the next year. Planning Commission :  Katherine Roberts - The planning commission has found it beneficial to learn how the water/sewer system works.  The water and sewer ordinance language does not match the application language.  The commission would like an updated map of both the sewer and the water so they can make better decisions when approving permits and subdivisions.  They discussed the difference between a sewer masterplan and a capital facility plan.  Brock with Six Counties is looking into how small communities can implement an impact fee without the study required of communities over 1500 people.  Katie would like Eric Wells to be involved in the approval of permits for buildings or subdivisions from the utility standpoint.   Building permits will now be issued at the town level.  The process for a building permit is first obtain an application from clerk’s office.  Next, a request is to be on the agenda for the next planning commission meeting for approval of the permit.  When the planning commission has signed the permit, it goes back to the clerk’s office and will be submitted to the building inspector, Eric Torgerson.  He will set the fee on the permit and the clerk will notify the customer of the amount and collect that fee.  He will invoice the town for 68% of the fee, quarterly the town will submit a report to the state and pay a 1% fee of all building permits issued.   Brock Jackson with Six County is providing the planning commission a trailer park ordinance for the P&Z to review.   Accessory dwelling units – P&Z would like the opinion of the council regarding smaller accessory dwelling units on property – should it be allowed to rent for personal use, like a mother-in-law unit or should it be allowed to rent as a short-term rental? The council discussed this, and long-term rental is, in their opinion, the better use of an accessory dwelling. Tabled Business:  Tyson Hunt & Maring Pei Affordable Housing Apt #2 – Tyson was in attendance and requested of the council that he be able to continue renting from the town.  His account has been past due 4 months, the council directed that an eviction notice be sent in January, and he was given until February 1st to pay his back rent in full or he will be evicted.  At the February council meeting no money had been paid by the tenants nor any contact from the tenants.  The council then directed the clerk’s office to send an eviction notice and collection of past due rent.  The mayor was given permission at that time to talk with Tyson and Marina and give them notice of eviction.  He gave them until March 1, 2024, to move out.  They paid the mayor $700 towards their back rent on 2/3/2024.  On February 29, 2024, Tyson paid $1850, which was the amount to bring all past due rent paid in full through February 2024.  The council agreed that Tyson and Marina could continue to rent apartment #2 and that March rent needed to be paid by March 12th and that all future rent needed to be paid on time. Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between Wayne County and Hanksville Town regarding Emergency Medical Services – Council discussed that a lease agreement for the use of the Hanksville EMS building needs to be collected by Hanksville in exchange for the use of the building to house the ambulances and the fire equipment.  They discussed $15,000 yearly and they are required to pay the utilities.  The mayor feels that Hanksville citizens are being double taxed for this service and that it should be fair to Hanksville or the upper hand. New Business   Discussed the building permit process change earlier in the meeting. Public Comment: NONE  MOTION TO ADJOURN :  C. Mona Wells; Second C. Morgan Roberts.  Aye: All in attendance - meeting adjourned at 7:27pm

  • February 1 2024 - Hanksville Town Council

    The Hanksville Town Council meeting convened its regular session on the 1st day of February 2024 in the Hanksville Community Center; meeting commenced at 6:00 p.m.  Present:  Mayor Jeffren T. Pei, C. Morgan Roberts, C. Mona Wells and C. Robert Gilner Absent:   C. Eric Wells and Treasurer Jessica Alvey Employees:  Clerk Lisa Wells  Public in Attendance: Doug Roberts, Katie Roberts, Brock Chappell with Six County AOG Meeting to Order: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Pledge: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Prayer: C. Morgan Roberts Roll Call:   Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Motion to approve minutes of January council meeting: C. Morgan Roberts; Second C. Mona Wells.  Aye: All in attendance. Council member Mona Wells : Met with Six County AOG regarding a possible grant for improvements at the gun range. Council member Morgan Roberts:  Nothing to report.    Council member Eric Wells:   Absent Council member Robert Gilner: Nothing to report.  UDOT bridge on the old highway 25 north of town was discussed. Mayor Jeffren Pei:  TASK force training in CO that the mayor would like to attend.  He wants to split the cost with the town; he will pay half and the town will pay the other half.  There is also training in SLC and 2 training courses in May; he will pay for that training. Clerk Lisa Wells:  Bills presented to council for approval (spreadsheet attached) Motion to approve   bills for payment  – C. Morgan Roberts; Second C. Robert Gilner.  Aye: All in attendance. Planning Commission :  Katie Roberts – Asked the council about their thoughts on setbacks; should they be changed due to the smaller lot size?  The council discussed leaving them the same.  The sewer and water ordinances are the main things left to finish reviewing before they can hold a public hearing.  They are hoping to accomplish that in March.  They have changed the wording on the planning commission ordinance to say “at least 5 members” instead of currently 5 members. Tabled Business:  Discussion regarding the EMS building and the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between Wayne County and Hanksville regarding the emergency medical services.  In the agreement Section 2 -J it says, “to provide for housing of ambulances located in the Hanksville Town, whether in Wayne County owned facilities or leased facilities.”  Currently there is no lease agreement regarding the building, historically, Wayne County has always paid the utility service of Garkane Power.  The clerk sent an email to the Wayne County attorney requesting clarification on any official lease but hasn’t heard back yet from the attorney.  The mayor asked the council to consider charging the county to lease the building, and the council agreed that there needs to be more discussion with Wayne County regarding Hanksville’s EMS building.  The clerk also has the documents to verify the EMS call outs for 2020 – 2022 and the 3 year average for each community and was able to verify that the number was accurate as the EMS call outs within the Hanksville town boundary.  The fees are due by March 1 of $11,586 for Hanksville’s allocation.  The fees will be recalculated each year by looking back to the previous year EMS calls within Hanksville. New Business   Brock Jackson with Associated County of Government gave an update on items for the council to be aware of.  Survey for CDBG grant needs to be filled out. 3 projects that Hanksville is ready to move forward with on the CIB to be considered for funding. Regional Growth Summit – May 21, 2024, Governor Cox will be attending.   Hazard mitigation plan – make sure Hanksville has one in place to be eligible for Federal funding in case of a natural disaster. B&C road funding has been increased for municipalities. Broadband initiative. Safe Routes to School Grant FY 2026 has not been approved yet. Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant Privacy Policy Statement – needs to be on the town website to comply.\ Motion to approve resolution #24-01 Municipal Wastewater Planning Program: C. Morgan Roberts; Second C. Mona Wells.  Aye: All in attendance. Public Comment: NONE IN ATTENDANCE MOTION TO ADJOURN :  C. Morgan Roberts; Second C. Mona Wells.  Aye: All in attendance - meeting adjourned at 7:00pm

  • January 4 2024 - Hanksville Town Council

    The Hanksville Town Council meeting convened its regular session on the 4th day of January 2024 in the Hanksville Community Center; meeting commenced at 6:00 p.m.  Present:  Mayor Jeffren T. Pei, C. Eric Wells, C. Morgan Roberts, C. Mona Wells and C. Robert Gilner Absent:   NONE Employees:  Clerk Lisa Wells and Treasurer Jessica Alvey Public in Attendance: None Meeting to Order: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Pledge: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Prayer: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Roll Call:   Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Swearing in of new council member Robert Gilner by Mayor Jeffren Pei Motion to approve minutes of December 2023 council meeting: C. Eric Wells; Second C. Morgan Roberts.  Aye: All in attendance. Council member Mona Wells : Nothing to report. Council member Morgan Roberts:  Nothing to report – Clerk informed the council that the tenants in Apt #2 at the Affordable Housing have not paid since August.  They owe $2,125 to get them current.  The council discussed the history of these tenants and the procedure to evict tenants for failure to pay; they advised the clerk to send an eviction notice demanding payment in full and if they don’t pay in full how to proceed from there.  The eviction notice will include a request from the council for a mandatory meeting with the tenants at the next council meeting to discuss payment history.  The clerk will give them until the end of the month to pay in full, no partial payment will be accepted.      Council member Eric Wells:   Discussion of 2 utility customers that only have a sewer connection and have failed to pay.  There has been no recourse to shut off the sewer due to health concerns.  C. Eric Wells will investigate the best practices to discontinue a sewer connection.  Also, discussion of Justin Ekker – his water was shut off in December due to failure to pay, it has been over a year since he has paid anything on his water.  An anonymous person would like to pay $1000 to Justin’s account but is requesting from the council if they would consider forgiving some of the past due amount and then Justin would have a credit on his account.  After deliberating on that request, the council opted to not forgive any past due amount since Justin has tampered with town property in the past and turned his disconnected water back on several different times.  He has a long history of not paying his account.  The council will accept the $1000 and it will be applied to all past due and the rest will be applied as a credit. He owes $778.50; the clerk has not received the money yet from the donor.  His meter will remain off until payment is received. Triple R has been given notice that they won’t be able to install the 6” line as approved by the council preciously in August 2023.  C. Eric Wells contacted Ensign Engineering to see what would be required as per the State of Utah regulations to connect the subdivision that Triple R is developing.  Ensign said the proposed 6” water line will be insufficient to provide adequate flows and pressures for the new development; neither a 6” nor 8” line would be able to meet the system’s needs during peak demand periods beyond 500’ into the subdivision.  This is due to an increase in elevation beyond that point.  The results consistently showed that without a booster pump station, the flows and pressures drop below minimum acceptable levels past 500’ into the new development regardless of the pipe size and the only way to feasibly service the full scope of this subdivision would be to have the developer install a properly sized booster pumping station.  The design and specifications would need to be reviewed and approved by the Division of Drinking Water prior to installation.  The mayor directed the clerk to advise Wayne County planning & zoning, as well as the Wayne County Fire District of this situation.   Mayor Jeffren Pei:  Mayor Pei made assignments for the council: C. Mona Wells will be over Cemetery, Gun Range and Park facility, C. Robert Gilner was assigned roads, C. Eric Wells – sewer and water and C. Morgan Roberts – buildings.  Town Event assignments were also made:  Easter- C. Morgan Roberts 4th of July – C. Eric Wells Founder’s Day – C. Mona Wells Christmas Tree Lighting – C. Robert Gilner Clerk Lisa Wells:  Bills presented to council for approval (spreadsheet attached) Motion to approve   bills for payment  – C. Eric Wells; Second C. Mona Wells.  Aye: All in attendance. Motion to approve 5% cost of living raise for Eric Wells and Lisa Wells – C. Mona Wells; Second Morgan Stephens.  Aye: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei, C. Mona Wells, C. Morgan Stephens, C. Robert Gilner ABSTAIN from voting: C. Eric Wells Planning Commission :  ABSENT  Tabled Business:  Discussion of EMS building utilities that are currently being paid by Wayne County.  The mayor would like the council to consider charging rent to Wayne County Fire District and Wayne County EMS and then take over the utility bills. New Business   NONE Public Comment: NONE IN ATTENDANCE MOTION TO ADJOURN :  C. Morgan Roberts; Second C. Mona Wells.  Aye: All in attendance - meeting adjourned at 7:10pm

  • 2023 General Election Official Results in Hanksville

    Official Results General Election November 21, 2023 Hanksville Statistics: Registered Voters - Total 107 Ballots Cast - Total 54 Voter Turnout - Total 50.47% U.S. House District 2 TOTAL VOTE% Perry T. Myers 4 7.55% Rep Celeste Maloy 38 71.70% Con Cassie Easley 0 0.00% UUP January Walker 0 0.00% DEM Kathleen Riebe 7 13.21% LIB Bradley Garth Green 2 3.77% Joe Buchman 2 3.77% Write-in Totals 0 0.00% Write-In : Jonathan La Rele Peterson 0 0.00% TOTAL Votes Cast 53 100.00% Hanksville council 2 year term Vote For 2 TOTAL VOTE% Robert G Gilner 24 29.63% Tanesha M Conder 22 27.16% Morgan Stephens 35 43.21% Total Votes Cast 81 100.00% /s/ Lisa J. Wells Town Clerk Dated: 12/07/2023

Town Office:
PO Box 127
30 South Hwy. 95
Hanksville, UT 84734

435.542.3451

clerk@hanksvilleutah.gov

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