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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.

The Hanksville Adventure Guide Photo Contest  is officially open as of February 9, 2026! The Town of Hanksville is collecting stunning, high-quality photos taken right here in our incredible area to feature in the official Hanksville Adventure Guide and all our tourism and promotional materials. This is your chance to showcase the raw beauty, epic adventures, and unique character of the Hanksville region—while getting the recognition you deserve as a talented photographer (local or visiting)! Contest Categories (Location-Based) Photographs must be taken in one or more of these locations. Each is its own category, and entries will be judged within that category: Bentonite Hills – Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) Moonscape Overlook – Factory Butte Capitol Reef National Park Goblin Valley State Park Horseshoe Canyon Poison Springs Canyon Henry Mountains Little Egypt Lake Powell Hanksville Town Other Entries must clearly represent the listed location. Photos taken outside these areas are not eligible. Eligibility Open to amateur and professional photographers Open to residents and non-residents Participants must be 18 years or older (minors may participate with parental consent) Entrants must be the original photographer and rights holder Entry Limits Maximum of 7 photo submissions per person Entries may be submitted across multiple categories Each photo may only be entered into one category Photo Requirements High-resolution images suitable for print JPEG or PNG format preferred No heavy watermarks or logos Minor edits (color, exposure, cropping) are allowed Heavily manipulated or AI-generated images are not eligible How to Enter Submit your photos via the official contest form: Include: Photographer’s name Email address Photo location (category) Optional: Social media handle or website for crediting Agreement to the photo use terms (Note: The form currently allows up to 5 file uploads per submission. If entering more than 5 photos, submit in multiple entries.) Photo Use & Licensing Agreement By submitting, you confirm: You are the original photographer and copyright holder You have appropriate permission for any people or recognizable private property shown You grant the Town of Hanksville a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to use submitted images for tourism and promotional purposes, including: Printed materials (guidebooks, brochures, signage) Digital platforms (website, social media) Visitor and informational displays Photographers retain full ownership of their images. Credit will be given whenever reasonably possible. Judging & Selection A review panel will judge entries based on: Visual quality Representation of the location Print-readiness and clarity Overall impact and storytelling The Town reserves the right to select multiple photos per category for use, even if not designated as a category winner. Prizes & Recognition Each category may include: Category Winner recognition Featured placement in the Hanksville Adventure Guide Photographer credit (name and/or social handle) Possible prizes such as local business gift cards, lodging or meal vouchers, Hanksville merchandise, or public display of winning photos Prize details may vary by category and are subject to availability. Important Dates Contest Opens: February 9, 2026 Submission Deadline: February 21, 2026 Winners Announced: March 1, 2026 No entry fee or purchase required. The Town reserves the right to disqualify entries that do not meet the requirements. By entering, participants agree to abide by these rules and the decisions of the judges. This contest is intended to celebrate the landscapes and community that make Hanksville special. Thank you for helping tell our story. Grab your camera and capture the magic of our red rocks, starry skies, and small-town charm. We can’t wait to see your best shots!

The Hanksville Town Council convened its regular meeting on the 5th day of February 2026 in the Hanksville Community Center; meeting commenced at 6:00pm. Present : Mayor Jeffren T. Pei, C. Robert Gilner, C. Mona Wells  and C. Peter Devonshire. Absent : C. Eric Wells and Treasurer Jessica Alvey Employees : Clerk Lisa Wells  Public in Attendance :  Slate Banner, Ashton Brian, Deanna Mecham Kurt Thomas Pledge : Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Prayer : C. Peter Devonshire Roll Call : Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Motion to approve minutes from the January council meeting : C. Mona Wells; Second C. Robert Gilner Aye: All in attendance. New Business : NONE Public Comment :  Pete Devonshire mentions that he saw on facebook that there was a request for a clothes exchange and he suggested that a metal bin be placed at the town community center for that purpose.  The council discussed that and will leave it for the food bank representative - Sandy Bell to figure out since it was her idea. Deanna Mecham - The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers (DUP) group would like to help the old church with figuring out a sound barrier.  They discussed a stage curtain and also sound absorbers on the walls or ceiling.  The mayor said he would research some ideas.  The DUP is willing to pay for this.  They are also still trying to get the pioneer wagon picture that was donated to the town framed and hung on the wall at the old church.  Deanna is also starting a community garden if anybody wants to help. Tabled Business : NONE Hanksville Tourism Advisory Board :  Kurt Thomas gave an update on events and upcoming projects that they are working on. The board meets the last Monday of each month at 7pm. Hanksville Adventure Guide Booklet - printed guide with an optional of local business advertising to offset printing costs. Outdoor Information Station - large physical map with QR codes linking digital navigation and updated resources. Discussed UTV/OHV trail riding or Jeep Safari ideas. Business Survey Initiative Grant opportunities & park collaboration - identify the council member overseeing the park and explore collaboration on grant applications. Planning Commission : Becky Rasmussen Property - 7 short term rentals request on property Access point to property and how would town utilities be extended to that property were discussed Discussion of applicable ordinances 3.1.6 There shall be no cap for short-term rental The feasibility of enforcing a cap shall be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission once every 12 months. Appendix - short term rentals are allowed on all zoning types The planning commission are reviewing materials provided by R6 in regards to annexation plans from other comparable towns and updated annexation guide. They expect to make assignments to complete the plan and a map.          Mayor Jeffren T. Pei : The mayor is assigning maintenance, Anthony Jones to 1 day at the park and 3 days working on the roads.  A citizen had concerns about the town water and whether it is safe to drink.  The required Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) has been completed and will be available to any consumers regarding Hanksville water and all the required testing within the last year.  There have also been complaints about lights that are too bright.   The painting is almost complete at the town housing by Sotero Torres.  The linoleum needs to be replaced in the bathroom of Apt #2. The tenants need to be reminded of what is in their rental contract regarding parking of cars at the housing.  A new roof on Apt #1 is also on the list for repairs and there was discussion about that process. C. Peter Devonshire asked the mayor if the town housing sells what is the intent of use of the proceeds from the sale.  The mayor would apply that to a new bigger community center that he outlined at the last council meeting.  The mayor would like to implement a resort tax.  He said we currently have a 1% tax but could increase that to 2.5% and also implement a highway tax of .33%. Council member Mona Wells: Nothing to report. Council member Robert Gilner: He is requesting a bid from Brown Brothers Construction and Dennis Lierd II Construction regarding the Bull Creek crossing  with a sidewalk and fencing.  There was discussion regarding the street 80 East, it currently has a sharp drop off on the edge of the road and would last longer if this was addressed by hauling dirt and grading it so it gradually tapers off.  The council talked about a stock piling of road base at the park. Council member Peter Devonshire: He met with Eric Wells and discussed how to use the extra money from the sewer lagoon project.  That has already been decided with Ensign Engineering and they have proceeded with a master water inventory and the remainder will be used for cleaning and video inspection of the sewer lines.  They discussed putting out to bid the old extended reach Bobcat. This would be a sealed bid process and the town could set a minimum bid price.  C. Devonshire will be in contact with the engineers regarding that water storage tank project. Council member 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. Mona Wells. Aye: All in attendance Motion to adjourn : C. Robert Gilner; Second C. Mona Wells. Aye: All in attendance. The meeting adjourned at 7:58pm.

January 16 - 18, 2026 Hanksville, Utah The Hanksville Tourism Advisory Board invites residents and visitors to attend S’mores & Stars, a free community stargazing and campfire event taking place January 16–18, 2026, in Hanksville. Event Details Dates: Friday–Sunday, January 16–18, 2026 Time: Activities begin nightly at 5:30 PM Location: Hanksville Town Park Cost: Free and open to the public Each evening will include campfires with s’mores, guided stargazing, family-friendly activities, and vendor booths. Opening Night Presentation On Friday, January 16 , a special opening presentation will be held featuring Jason Trump  as the main speaker. Date: Friday, January 16, 2026 Time: 6:30 PM Location: Hanksville Firehouse Jason Trump will share a personal and accessible talk about discovering the night sky, the shared human connection to astronomy, and how stargazing can shape our perspective of the world around us. Additional Information Guided stargazing and activities will continue nightly throughout the weekend at the town park from 5:30 PM to approximately 9:00 PM . All ages are welcome. Residents and visitors are encouraged to dress warmly and bring family and friends to enjoy Hanksville’s dark skies and community atmosphere.

December 31, 2025 – January 1, 2026 Hanksville, Utah Ring in the New Year with a small-town adventure under the desert sky. The Town of Hanksville invites residents and visitors to celebrate with a New Year’s Eve Scavenger Hunt paired with a cozy, family-friendly New Year’s Eve social . New Year’s Eve Scavenger Hunt Dates: December 31, 2025 – January 1, 2026 How to Participate: Pick up a scavenger hunt checklist on New Year’s Eve at a participating front desk or town location. Complete the challenges anytime between New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Completed checklists must be turned in by 5:00 PM on January 1, 2026  to be eligible for a prize. This hunt is open to locals and visitors, is family-safe, and encourages participants to explore iconic spots, support local businesses, and enjoy the beauty of Hanksville. Scavenger Hunt Challenges Participants will be asked to complete fun activities such as: Take a selfie with Factory Butte in the background Visit Stan’s Burger Shak and photograph your favorite shake flavor Capture the first sunrise of 2026 anywhere in Hanksville Find a heart-shaped rock near the Bentonite Hills or another scenic pull-off Crack open a geode at Rockin’ Riddle Rock Shop Count the hidden unicorns near the Whispering Sands Motel office area Write down one thing you’re grateful for from 2025 Photograph your favorite sculpture or feature at Carl’s Critter Garden Attend the New Year’s Eve Social and snap a selfie or collect the secret pickup item Make a purchase at Bull Mountain Market and include your receipt New Year’s Eve Community Social Date: December 31, 2025 Time:  7:00 PM – 10:00 PM Location:  Hanksville Firehouse Join friends, neighbors, and fellow travelers for a warm, relaxed evening celebrating the New Year together. Event Schedule 7:00 PM – Welcome and Snacks Guests are welcomed with soft background music, a hot cocoa and cider bar, popcorn, cookies, and light snacks. Festive New Year’s hats or glow bracelets will be available. 7:30 PM – Family Movie and Games A family-friendly movie will be shown on a large screen or projector. Board games, cards, and trivia will be available for casual mingling. 9:15 PM – Dessert and Toast A s’mores-style dessert table will be available, followed by a sparkling cider toast. 10:00 PM – Early Countdown Celebration Celebrate the New Year with an “Eastern Time” countdown so families can participate and still head home comfortably. Celebrate the New Year in Hanksville Whether you are a long-time resident or visiting for the holiday, this event is an opportunity to explore the town, support local businesses, and welcome 2026 together as a community.

The Hanksville Town Council convened its regular meeting on the 11th day of December 2025 in the Hanksville Community Center; meeting commenced at 6:00pm. Present: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei, C. Robert Gilner, and C. Mona Wells  Absent: C. Morgan Stephen and C. Eric Wells Employees: Clerk Lisa Wells and Treasurer Jessica Alvey  Public in Attendance:   Slate Banner, Sue Fivecoat, Brennen Rees and Jack Jeppson - Ensign Engineering, Duke Alvey, Brittani and Adam Wells. Pledge:  Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Prayer: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Roll Call: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Motion to approve minutes from the October council meeting:  C. Robert Gilner; Second C. Mona Wells Aye: All in attendance. Report of Officers: Council member Mona Wells:   Nothing to report Council member Morgan Stephens: ABSENT - Unit #2 is empty.  The mayor inspected the apartment and it’s in need of new sheet rock, paint, carpet cleaned, the tub had a big hole, there has been water leaking down the wall so that needs to be addressed.  The unit is not rentable as is and will need to be fixed before it is rented again; Megan Pearson has expressed a desire to rent it.   Council member Eric Wells: ABSENT - Eric and the clerk met with Daniel Hawley, Jones & DeMille regarding the left over funds on the sewer project.  George Meados with Utah Department of Water Quality is requiring an asset management plan as outlined in the conditions of the funding.  Jones & DeMille has a lot of that information and they are willing to complete the requirement.  Mr. Meados approved the use of the extra money to pay for this, which will be approximately $20,000, which will leave around $40,000.  Daniel Hawley will gather an estimate of the cost to install a grinder pump on the sewer system, but the extra funds will not be sufficient to cover this expense so he will see if they State is willing to re-open this package to include this and then check with Brown Brothers about the possibility of doing a change order for the project.  The town will have to secure additional funding if this is pursued.  There is a possibility that the funding can be applied to the loan on the lagoon system, which might be a good option. Council member Robert Gilner: The mayor is considering hiring a part-time employee to help maintain the roads.  C. Robert Gilner is waiting until it gets warmer to do the crack seal of the streets.  UDOT sent a form to update Class B or Class C mileage data; C. Gilner said he will calculate the miles of paved, gravel or dirt within the town boundary. Mayor Jeffren T. Pei: The mayor and Eric Wells met with UDOT regarding the Hanksville Airport.  They are currently making a master plan for the use of the airport.  They would like to invest in Hanksville and discussed needs like bathrooms or a pilots lounge.  Steve Domino had been hired by UDOT to compile this master plan and they will continue to work with the town regarding the needs and ideas of Hanksville. Treasurer Jessica Alvey: Jessica Alvey will do some budget training with the council next month and would like to start discussing the budget for FY2027.  The mayor mentioned another tax like the transient room tax that doesn’t require the truth-in-taxation process.   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 The clerk requested Dec 30th and 31st off. The Hanksville Special District Audit findings from Kimball & Roberts - Fraud Risk Assessment report wasn’t filed.  A report was presented to the mayor and CFO to review and sign a Fraud Risk Assessment report for fiscal year 2026.   Due to New Year’s Day on the first Thursday, the next council meeting will be held January 8, 2026.  New council member, Pete Devonshire, will be sworn in at that meeting.   Follow-up with the mayor regarding cell phones and should the town pay for council members' phones.  The mayor would like all the council to attend various trainings throughout the year and he would like an incentive, such as cell phone stipend, to motivate council members.  The mayor would like to raise the expectation of each council member and how much time required for projects and service. Planning Commission: Slate Banner - The planning commission reviewed any new bills that will impact Hanksville, as per a training from R6 this past spring.  They will be reviewing the general plan and submit any needed updates to that plan to the council.  (See attached report).  The clerk will make sure to put on the agenda for the next council meeting the revised subdivision ordinance that has been through a public hearing and now needs the approval of the council. Hanksville Tourism Advisory Board: Brittany Wells - reported on the formation of this board. Current members include, Brittani Wells, Adam Wells, Jessica Alvey, Kurt Thompson, Ashton Brian, Cathy Rosenbaum, and Colton Roberts.   The purpose of the tourism advisory board is to promote smart, sustainable tourism in Hanksville and strengthen the local economy.  We are here to protect Hanksville. Support local families. Improve safety. Preserve our way of life.  We are not growing tourism - we are managing the tourism that already exists.  She is in need of a liaison from the council to attend this board.  The board has planned two upcoming events.  A New Year’s Eve Scavenger Hunt and Community Celebration and is requesting $1300 for this event to help with photography/videography, prize items, and food, and other event materials.  The second event will be the S'mores & Stars Weekend event, January 16-18, 2026.  She is requesting $1,750  to be used for photography/videography, telescopes for future use, and other products needed for setup, supplies, and enhancing the guest experience.     Motion to approve funding of $3,300 from TRT tax to be used on these events.: C. Mona Wells; Second C. Robert Gilner  Aye: All in attendance.   Tabled Business: Brennen Rees and Jack Jeppson - Ensign Engineering - gave their full report and completed copy of the Hanksville Town Water Master Plan.  In summary from the report - Hanksville Water System provides culinary water to approximately 205 residents.  The main economy of Hanksville consists of tourism to local parks, agriculture, ranching, and the service industry of local businesses.  There is a secondary water system that the majority of residents use for outdoor use, however, there are some locations that use a substantially larger amount of culinary water during the summer months.  This document discusses the existing system and will make recommendations that will help the Hanksville Town Water System meet state requirements for their current circumstances and for their future demands.    Brennen Rees said we have to figure out the MAGI for Hanksville before he can explore the funding options completely.  He suggested contacting Rural Water for help with this.   New Business:  Jessica Alvey - Red Desert - presented 3 different properties that she is in the process of splitting.  All the lots will meet the requirements of at least a ¼ acre and she isn’t splitting any property into more than 3 lots.  The council discussed this with the planning commission.   Motion to approve the lot splits as presented by Red Desert: C. Robert Gilner; Second C. Mona Wells  Aye:All in attendance.   Public Comment:          Slate Banner is willing to manage the Affordable Housing for the council to help with collections and coordination of tenants.  Motion to adjourn to a closed secession to discuss the sale of real property: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei; Second C. Mona Wells  Aye: All in attendance. Motion to adjourn:  C. Mona Wells; Second C. Robert Gilner. Aye: All in attendance. The meeting adjourned at 8:15pm.

Hey Hanksville! We’ve got an exciting update to make renting our town buildings even easier for you. While many of you have been using our online rental form for some time now, we’re happy to announce a new feature: you can now make payments online at the time of booking ! What’s New? In the past, many of you have called the town clerk to handle your rental requests, not realizing that the form has been available on our website. Now, with this new update, not only can you submit your rental requests online, but you can also complete payment right away once your booking is approved. This makes the process smoother, faster, and more convenient for everyone! How It Works Step 1 : Visit our town website and go to the Reservations  section that is listed under the Government tab. Step 2 : Fill out the rental form for your desired building—whether it’s the Firehouse, Town Hall, or Old Church. Specify the requested rental period. Step 3 : You will then be guided through the online payment process and be able to pay immediately online ! Step 4: The town clerk will email you a confirmation or rejection* of your requested booking dates. * If rejected a full refund will be issued. No more waiting to settle payments through the office—everything can be done in one go from the comfort of your home! Why Make the Switch? This online system saves you time, avoids confusion, and ensures your booking is confirmed quickly. It also helps our town clerk focus on other important tasks, rather than handling rental requests over the phone. So next time you need to rent a building, skip the call and visit us online! We’re proud to make these improvements and appreciate your support as we continue to make things easier for the whole town.

The Town of Hanksville is pleased to announce that our final service line inventory has been officially classified as non-lead . This means that no lead service lines, galvanized lines downstream of lead, or unknown service lines were identified within the system. This determination was made after a detailed review of all available records and data sources, including: Aerial and historical imagery Water system documentation and construction as-built drawings Water distribution system inspections Installation and construction timelines Digital data management tools such as ESRI ArcGIS, AutoCAD, and Excel We appreciate the cooperation of our residents throughout this process and remain committed to maintaining a safe and reliable water system for our community.

Mark your calendars for December 1st where we will be kicking off the holiday season with one of our favorite town traditions! The annual Christmas Tree Lighting brings our community together for an evening of cheer, lights, and festive fun. Event Details: Where: The Old Church, Hanksville, UT Time: Starting at 6:00 PM Schedule of Activities: 🎅 A special visit from Santa , stopping by to greet all the children 🍩 Fresh donuts ☕ Cozy hot chocolate 🎄 The official lighting of the town Christmas tree Bring your family, bring your friends—everyone is welcome! Let’s celebrate the start of the season together. We can’t wait to see you there! 🎁✨

Hanksville Town, Wayne County, State of Utah  - We are pleased to announce the certified results of the 2025 Municipal General Election, as reviewed and certified by the Board of Municipal Canvassers on November 18, 2025. Official Totals Mayor (4-Year Term) Vote for 1 William (Bill) Raynald Wells  - 21 Jefferson Thomas Pei  - 62 TOTAL VOTES: 83 Council Member (4-Year Term) Vote for 2 Robert G. Gilner  - 66 Peter Arthur Devonshire  - 53 These results were certified by Lisa J. Wells, Hanksville Town Clerk, with the official seal of the Town of Hanksville. The general election process has now concluded. We thank all candidates and voters for their participation in this democratic process.

The Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing on November 18, 2025, at 6:00 PM to receive public comments regarding proposed changes to Subdivision Ordinance 2023-01. Please note: The only changes being proposed are to Chapter 11-7: Subdivision Approval Procedures. A draft of the revised chapter has been prepared to replace the current version. Residents and interested parties are encouraged to attend and share their input. Current Subdivision Ordinance Proposed Section Change to Subdivision Ordinance Please remember this is a  DRAFT  document and that your constructive feedback is welcome at the public hearing.

The Hanksville Town Council convened its regular meeting on the 6th day of November 2025 in the Hanksville Community Center; meeting commenced at 6:00pm. Present: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei, C. Robert Gilner, C. Mona Wells and C. Eric Wells Absent: C. Morgan Stephen Employees: Clerk Lisa Wells and Treasurer Jessica Alvey  Public in Attendance:   Slate Banner, .Brennen Rees and Jack Jeppson - Ensign Engineering, Brad Childs - Gerber Construction, Kelton Brown - Brown Brothers Construction, Duke Alvey, Ashton Brian, Cathay Rosenbaum, Brittani and Adam Wells. Pledge:  Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Prayer: Lisa Wells Roll Call: Mayor Jeffren T. Pei Motion to approve minutes from the October council meeting:  C. Mona Wells; Second C. Robert Gilner Aye: All in attendance.   Motion to move new business items to first of the agenda: Robert Gilner; Second C. Eric Wells Aye: All in attendance.   New Business:    Kelton Brown -Brown Brothers Construction - Truck traffic on 100 East - An email from Brown Brothers Construction “regarding the town’s current restriction on our cement trucks using 100 East to Highway 24.  We fully understand and respect the Town’s desire to protect its roadways, but we’d like to ask if there’s any flexibility in that decision.  The alternative route available to us adds considerable travel time and involves rougher conditions, which increase wear on equipment and overall project costs.  Using 100 East would allow us to operate more efficiently and safely.  To address concerns about potential road damage, we’d like to propose the same approach we’ve successfully used in other cities: Before beginning hauling, we take a video inspection documenting the existing road conditions. At project completion, we take another video to compare and confirm the road’s condition. If any damage occurs, Brown Brothers will repair the road at no cost to the Town. If any issue becomes evident before the project concludes, we will immediately stop using the route, switch to the alternate route, and make the necessary repairs right away. It’s worth noting that our concrete trucks are designed specifically for city street use, with proper axle spacing and load distribution to minimize pavement impact.  We value our working relationship with Hanksville Town and want to operate in a way that benefits both parties.  We would greatly appreciate your reconsideration of this route restriction and the opportunity to discuss a potential arrangement that protects the road while allowing us to use 100 east.”  Mayor Pei mentioned a previous construction project where a sign was broken and not repaired by the construction company. Kelton is hopeful that there are no incidents, they don’t want to make anybody angry. He said if they do something wrong, for sure Brown Brothers will fix it.  When this location of the batch plant was originally discussed the mayor was mainly concerned about triple axle truck traffic on 100 east.  The mayor doesn’t see a problem with loaded cement trucks driving on that road. Kelton said the trucks are all axled out for correct weight span to drive on city streets.  He reminded the council again that if Brown Brothers do any damage to the road they will repair it. Brad Childs with Gerber Construction said that Hanksville agreed to maintain that road for potholes and normal wear and tear.  Brown Brothers and Gerber Construction have both taken a video of the road (100 East) and he would suggest the town also take a video of the road to compare at the end of the job and make sure everybody is on the same page. So everyone understands this is the condition of the road currently and it needs to be in this same condition when they get through with the project.  The mayor mentioned some complaints about speed and noise, he realizes that those things are just going to happen.  That’s the nature of this type of project.  The council understands that aspect of the job and asks that the drivers be aware of that. C. Eric Wells clocked the alternative route and it would add an extra mile to their route, the difference of using the dirt road and 100 West, just something for Brown Brothers consideration.  There will always be complainers, he doesn’t know all the details about running cement trucks.  C. Eric Wells asks Brown Brothers to consider that it might just be better for Brown Brothers to be out-of-sight-out-of-mind for the Hanksville residents.  The citizens are concerned about kids riding bikes on the road and that kind of thing with the heavier truck traffic; just something to think about.  C. Robert Gilner has worked with Brown Brothers and believes that they have integrity and will do the right thing all around.  He agrees with the mayor to let them drive on 100 W, the alternative is only a mile more but it’s all dirt road and uphill.  C. Mone Wells mentioned the project has to be done. Mayor Pei agreed that all parties are aware of this concern and will allow them to continue to use 100 East and get this project done but also to be mindful of the community.  Keep the town updated throughout the 4 year project.   Duke Alvey - Red Desert Inc. - Tourism Advisory Board idea -Hanksville is based on tourism and he would like to know what are the plans of the town council to promote tourism.  The council didn’t respond with any ideas.  Mr. Alvey went on to discuss the transient room tax collected that should benefit the town.  In the past year about $22 thousand was collected but what was that money spent on?  The only thing the money was spent on that is tourism related is the town website and flyers promoting the town.   C. Robert Gilner - Hanksville attracts other tourists besides Lake Powell Boaters. C. Eric Wells - There has been a kiosk proposed to be placed at the community center with a map showing the trails all around us.   Duke Alvey - Presented an idea of forming a Hanksville Tourism Advisory Board.  He said people from every walk of life come through this town.  He recently attended a tourism conference at Ruby’s Inn by Bryce Canyon and he highly recommends someone from the town council attend to hear what the State is doing to promote tourism and also what surrounding counties and towns are doing to promote tourism.  His company, Red Desert, went on a quest to promote Hanksville instead of just promoting their several businesses.   Brittani Wells - Created a new brochure to find your next adventure in Hanksville.  All of their motel rooms and cabins have a book promoting Hanksville and the surrounding area with brochures, flyers, business cards, maps, local business advertisements and more.   There is a Wayne County Tourism Board and Jessica Alvey is a member of that board.  Is there an interest from the town council in becoming a member of this board?  There was discussion of social media and the town should focus more on that.  Brittan said we don’t need to focus on social media because the public are already promoting us.  Hanksville needs to address those people seeing us on social media.  The town of Torrey loses money from TRT because they were not willing to annex more property so those businesses that surround Torry collect TRT money but all of that goes to Wayne County.   Brennen Rees - There are grants available through the State for Outdoor Recreation projects that the TRT money could be used for.   Brittan Wells is willing to head a Hanksville Tourism Advisory Board.  This board would consist of community members and business owners that would discuss best ideas to promote Hanksville and then recommend options to the town council.  She already has several ideas for the community.  Duke Alvey said tourism is the industry we have now so let’s focus on that.     Tabled Business:   Report of Officers: Council member Mona Wells:    She continues to work on the cemetery pavilion, she may need scaffolding to finish the walls.  C. Eric Wells mentioned that many people are using the gun range and a gentleman from Toole was there recently and said it’s one of the best shooting ranges he’s seen. Thanks Mayor Pei for your hard work on that project.   Council member Morgan Stephens: ABSENT - Council discussed tenant #2 at the Affordable Housing and where are they at with eviction.  Mayor Pei said the tenants will be moved out by the 9th of November.          Council member Eric Wells: The new Bobcat extended reach was delivered last week but it was not what C. Eric has ordered.  He had the mayor sign a new order today that has the correct equipment.  On the grinding pump for the sewer that is in the works to purchase with the remaining funds for the sewer project, Peterson Plumbing is working directly with Jones & DeMille.  The sewer system needs all lines to be flushed and would either hire that out or buy a jester and vac truck to complete that project. Council member Robert Gilner: .Nothing to report. Mayor Jeffren T. Pei: He would like the planning commission to get going on the annexation plan.  He has several ideas to get land swaps in place with BLM ground and also some State sections as part of annexation of surrounding property.  He agrees that an economic board is needed for different kinds of industry for Hanksville.  He would like to see more projects like the At Your Leisure video about trails around Hanksville. Treasurer Jessica Alvey: The transient room tax has to be used for tourist related expenses and she recommends to stay in compliance with the purpose of the tax and use the money how it should be used.  She gave an example of how Garfield County has created a nice video promoting the whole county.  In her studies she learned the people will spend 7x more money if they stay an extra night in a town.  She is proposing a budget policy addendum for the use of transient room tax revenue.  (See Attached) 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 New door locks needed on the Old Church doors, Eric Wells will get those installed. Audit for Hanksville Special Service District is required due to the funding received for the sewer project; Kimball & Roberts will handle that on 11/14/2025. Kenny and Kim McCoy have submitted an application for a building permit. Election Canvass date 11/18/2025 Tonya Pearson - Delinquent sewer bill - discussed ideas to collect payment - lien on property, theft of services, an attorney, notices with all options that could be pursued. Planning Commission: The revision of Ordinance 2023-01 regarding the process to create a subdivision is ready to present to the public and hold a public hearing.  The hearing was set for 11/18/2025 at 6pm.  The clerk will post that meeting on the public meeting notice website, town office, and the post office 10 days before the public hearing.  They will hold their regular meeting portion after the public hearing where they will discuss the priority list for 2026 from the council and review 2025 and how they can improve their processes.       Public Comment:  Brennen Rees - Ensign Engineering - Presented where they are at on the Hanksville Water Master Plan and distributed the map of our system. Jack Jeppson - Ensign Engineering - came and met with Eric Wells and went through the maps.  Ensign is lacking one or two sections that need to be finalized to be complete.    The map shows all water lines, fire hydrants, water wells, and how water is distributed throughout the town.  A tablet was given to Eric Wells with GIS mapping that Eric can update or make changes to the map so it will be accurate and up-to-date. Brennen Rees - Ensign Engineering - Reviewed the water master plan.  Alternative A - would be to do nothing.  Alternative B - would involve a new storage tank, some 8” and 10” lines, control valves for the arsenic plant and address different pressure zones.  This would cost approximately $3.15 million.  Alternate C - would be system improvement.$975,000.  Their recommendation is to install a new 500,000 tank south of town, with a distribution system involving the arsenic treatment plant.. The funding options: Division of Drinking Water has a moratorium on funding for the next 6 months.  Hanksville is not showing on the modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) list. Rural Water can help with this or possibly R6 can help with the MAGI. This will need to be addressed prior to any funding.  The council would have to address a rate increase to the water user.  This discussion was tabled for today and Ensign Engineering would like to request it to be on next month's agenda. All this information will be in the completed water master plan.                       Mayor Jeffren Pei - Council members remember that your phone and your communications with each other or anything government related is available to the public and can be brought up.  How they do it is they will email you for a request.  So that being said, if the mayor's phone, from now on, can be looked at, or requests of his texts, he would like the town to pay for his phone bill, or purchase 5 different phones for each council member so they can use that strictly for town business.  He highly regards his privacy and his texts, it’s very personal.  Clerk asked if all communication could be through hanksvilleutah.gov  emails? Mayor doesn't want any of his records accessed.  Clerk requests the mayor and council members to check their email. Motion to adjourn:  C. Mona Wells; Second C. Robert Gilner. Aye: All in attendance. The meeting adjourned at 8:11pm.