[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6558947,"mediaKeyId","3223712-0f48c649d4492e14d6a9ff71b48288a8","parentId",3223712,"title","Votes at a glance: Toquerville City Council actions, May 20 meeting","audioSeconds",46,"startMs",225000,"endMs",271000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3223712-0f48c649d4492e14d6a9ff71b48288a8&start=225&end=271","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3223712-0f48c649d4492e14d6a9ff71b48288a8/thumbnail_225000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6558947/Toquerville/Washington-County/Utah/Votes-at-a-glance-Toquerville-City-Council-actions-May-20-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6558947-5f4d284b9d21271e949f8da54365b8f9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194264&Signature=j43Cuqmm~WbjlKkx2lsLHDMUCZadsIbgxYxqVzSxRo5e2H1PzNSwID7xEJEcJs8lkP2X0AUIj36J7CKY1GXIfHG0MK2dfEIAxt69Se~0gAN9CFURw-Xs4-7yHHG~9FnXR57~n7fHjdgawY431YqT0MaF~RfqG7O6vTXWMTtL--eDmIE6QfDGl1Xk82FVVmU7WmeWPMcQHS30xnToe7MMqoribki1ruyurjNFVZg8b7pk2zobN20bKXCCVJ-SbRhV7cbSPHf9-REEX1nXa-XIWlnFcPC4ldOnedKhPZSJn3gewrU8hX5AFVKuJwIZs38uvWNNJY8jXJwcrFECqCVZow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Toquerville","date","2025-05-08T02:46:48Z","article","The Toquerville City Council took the following formal actions on May 20.

- Table meeting minutes (04/16/2025): Motion to table the draft minutes from the April 16 meeting carried by voice vote.

- Approve city expenditures for March: The council approved city expenditures for March; the meeting used a roll-call-style affirmation recorded as carried.

- Table Resolution 2025 (create municipal power department): Mayor moved to table the resolution; council seconded and the motion to table carried by voice vote. (See separate article for full discussion.)

- Table business item H4 (Firelight units increase): Council voted to table the item and schedule a separate meeting with Firelight and legal counsel.

- Waive Town Hall rental fee for Community Readiness meetings through March 2026: Motion carried.

- Waive park rental fee for Pioneer Day event (July 24): Motion carried.

- Adopt purchasing policy (Title 1 chapters 11 and 12): The council approved amendments creating city purchasing and surplus property policies; staff had circulated redline edits and made limited clarifying changes prior to the vote.

For each passed motion, council votes were recorded only by voice or brief roll-call in the meeting transcript; specific roll-call tallies were not consistently enumerated in the audio record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","05.07.2025 City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of formal motions and recorded actions from the Toquerville City Council meeting, including approvals, tables and fee waivers.","taxTitle","Toquerville, Washington County, Utah","taxId",7485,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6558952,"Council discusses building recreation area at Chief Toca Reservoir; $6M federal match would require local funding",279,7857000,8136000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3223712-0f48c649d4492e14d6a9ff71b48288a8&start=7857&end=8136","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3223712-0f48c649d4492e14d6a9ff71b48288a8/thumbnail_7857000.jpg","/articles/6558952/Toquerville/Washington-County/Utah/Council-discusses-building-recreation-area-at-Chief-Toca-Reservoir-6M-federal-match-would-require-local-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6558952-edf4d6bb99a4f427147dade14cbf99ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194264&Signature=lHNss2o4LuWJOF4IjqwHBcP2g~ARN-viGn7dNXsje3gsgXpdr1No~PUGJlHJaMHtjk1uJL0nag1SdOR~la4uyiWnV6MgL3kBDEl551dsuaxW56Sw2n0RAsG~IjavWQaxu388LHMVrIgOfss-PhNoZ1aWGlyQAgTDHPNAK5Z8MqXhUvOJOHVGPqmyniPVKqxf882vQRR9nNCrpATV68QF~~xdlomh3Cd49WFns-bD8V~tBe2dqITau9SYZ-NT2eKlr45fh~jabV59P0z3aAxcTvjaxfqEGDPx3Ssz7n28my-Qjk3t4BNeJRQk~QZxB4YzKeQ2wQQM0gUdBA8seYvPjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Toquerville officials discussed options May 20 for a recreation area at the new Chief Toca Reservoir tied to a Bureau of Reclamation grant that covers up to 25% of eligible recreation costs.

The grant can cover roughly $6 million (about 25% on a $24 million estimate shown in early planning), but the city would need to find the remaining 75% of project costs, and construction costs have increased since the original estimates. Ben, the city manager, told the council that if Toquerville wants a year-round recreation pond and permanent amenities, a dike and associated work should be designed and built while the reservoir contractor is onsite to avoid much higher retrofit costs later.

“I just have no idea how we’re going to find extra money right now,” Ben said, noting several funding approaches: phased construction using impact fees, developer-fronted impact-fee credits, county contributions (wrap-tax dollars), or borrowing. Councilmembers discussed modeling the project on Ivan’s Fire Lake, where phased development over several years allowed incremental improvements tied to user amenities.

Council consensus: staff should pursue design work for a protective dike and get a scope and memorandum of understanding to allow the council to consider funding options. County staff had indicated potential willingness to contribute wrap-tax funds for recreation; staff will prepare an MOU and scope of work and route it to the city attorney for review.

No binding appropriation or final plan was approved tonight; the council asked staff to return with cost estimates and an MOU for potential partner funding.","The council discussed a Bureau of Reclamation recreation grant that would fund up to 25% of recreation infrastructure at Chief Toca Reservoir; staff recommended building a small, phased recreation area and urged immediate dike design while the dam contractor is onsite.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6558956,"Toquerville hears tank repair update and raises concerns about district drought plan that would require 20% cuts",5646,391000,6037000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3223712-0f48c649d4492e14d6a9ff71b48288a8&start=391&end=6037","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3223712-0f48c649d4492e14d6a9ff71b48288a8/thumbnail_391000.jpg","/articles/6558956/Toquerville/Washington-County/Utah/Toquerville-hears-tank-repair-update-and-raises-concerns-about-district-drought-plan-that-would-require-20-cuts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6558956-09f1b17ea17fb79d6e3dc8647d83319d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194264&Signature=V6WGdrH1LbKDZzUPBEOUy1b0py03fQrHn4ieQyydUxhg5owSOBm2r1e3MG8~T4-HyPRFRjwPiSbOQPqHZ3qQMxSxHEMUN6V8UJyucCZkUBH5SiuYJgoItk3AYTmLzRvCgrZ5zJgjdhvppSznL3z0U1M~9isbRyLIcwe0EGRGGgaY3-slN1HWO6Q5znGsrlS537PZUR8n~n5j6QO2SEE3a7yXdQ-GuFMfubwDBWm-21Za91ObmgUo~XoRbWjymV-zuS8AxmSegMqZMEd-xI0CtzRuyddco~U0UVtoR~jHzLbx7hyQlkq7M64uc4RyqpmU46t6JHeDiO07Xc2kL7EmGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff briefed the Toquerville City Council on two water items May 20: a technical update about the city’s new 2-million-gallon tank and a broader discussion of a Washington County regional drought contingency plan being proposed by the conservancy district.

Tank update: Darren, a city staff member overseeing construction, said the new tank has not passed a “drop test” and the current plan is to have divers place caps on the inlet and outlet and inspect sleeves and seams. The contractor schedule calls for divers in about two weeks. The contractor and developer remain responsible under warranty for addressing the defect, Darren said, and the city has sought jurisdictional transfer language with UDOT for related road and sand-pocket work.

District drought proposal: Ben, the city manager, summarized a proposed drought-contingency approach the county conservancy district developed to define staged reductions. Under the plan’s Stage 2, the district would impose a 20% reduction target; the plan includes progressively stricter measures (e.g., limits on ornamental lawn irrigation, pool permits and other nonessential uses) as stages increase.

Council concerns included the definition of the 20% baseline, whether the target is a single-year cut or a rolling average, how enforcement would work, and how the plan accounts for local water rights and the city’s existing conservation achievements. “The target big number is 20%,” Ben said, and councilmembers asked how that is calculated; staff said several inputs — reservoir level, snowpack, spring flow and demand — go into the conservancy district’s formula and that some inputs and definitions are not yet clearly defined.

Several council members argued Toquerville has already reduced demand and questioned whether the city should adopt the conservancy district’s plan. The council noted that Toquerville purchased and holds significant water rights and that reuse and local supply changes (including the reuse plant and Anderson Junction well) affect future supply calculations. Council consensus was to gather written concerns and have the city manager and mayor represent Toquerville at the conservancy district’s administrative advisory committee and seek clearer definitions and a cost/impact analysis.

No formal vote on the district plan was taken at tonight’s meeting. Council members asked staff to collect comments from council and residents and return with a recommendation and suggested edits so the council can decide whether to adopt, opt out or propose alternative measures.

","Public works staff reported the city’s new 2-million-gallon tank has failed the drop test and divers will inspect it; council also discussed a regional drought contingency plan that could require a 20% water-use reduction at Stage 2 and asked staff to press for clearer definitions and protections for local water rights.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6558961,"Residents urge Toquerville to oppose Laverkin ‘critical infrastructure’ designation for Interstate Rock site",2110,3601000,5711000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3223712-0f48c649d4492e14d6a9ff71b48288a8&start=3601&end=5711","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3223712-0f48c649d4492e14d6a9ff71b48288a8/thumbnail_3601000.jpg","/articles/6558961/Toquerville/Washington-County/Utah/Residents-urge-Toquerville-to-oppose-Laverkin-critical-infrastructure-designation-for-Interstate-Rock-site","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6558961-9d9dcd85ed91e84877ef9cfb10b42fb0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194264&Signature=aIDtsu324xdLBv092mQL120~FawIQIZ2SgWJu1nQtQkm4WOWW5mJpqb-YAi7XpOr9haN3Qkek8OYGPJnQlf4VIml9eMHR0RMY-DpagEtChypzB7SkpTJa8991KbtO5ds9qdGwlKiNDLjHD28pg3u2xPojz-uw~u0f0W03Zk4z7bCOY0OAfeQsIlzfp0mrHVDV-3WfuqyIMg8UPSBq6TqINc0Tda8IWdjcj9Xh98Ie81eoIV5RJjHbRVGF4SR7Haks8blFyQ9oZ43XE1aIYkPeCCAgFD4ykWoUJuBwegEN~fPGbrGsoCcM7s8B5u5~3rukiesKA4k~ulfEp3LJf0Zzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of Toquerville-area residents told the city council on May 20 they want Toquerville to oppose a proposed critical infrastructure materials protection area that would cover Interstate Rock’s mining property on the border with La Verkin.

Why it matters: Residents said the proposed designation could let the mine expand operations, including continued and deeper extraction of basalt, with potential for dust, noise, heavy truck traffic and hillside removal adjacent to homes. Many said the existing quarry has already caused dust, rockfall and noise problems and voiced alarm at plans they said could include road cuts and additional processing equipment.

Bonnie Chandler, speaking for Trailridge Estates, said Interstate Rock’s past operations already affect backyards and a neighborhood park and warned that a broader critical-infrastructure designation would reduce local control. “If they are given carte blanche, we have no power,” she said.

Other homeowners gave similar testimony, describing dust, boulders falling near backyards, early-morning equipment and what they called a lack of mitigation. “They do not water. They do not have a watering truck even on site,” one resident said.

City staff described limits to Toquerville’s direct authority: the property and hearing process sit inside La Verkin’s jurisdiction, and La Verkin will hold the public hearings that determine the designation. But council members and staff discussed practical steps Toquerville could take on behalf of affected residents.

Council direction and next steps: Council members asked staff to draft a letter from Toquerville to La Verkin’s mayor and city council outlining the city’s concerns and proposed mitigation conditions — for example, restrictions on asphalt or concrete plants, limits on hours of operation, dust-control and truck-route conditions. Ben, the city manager, said staff could prepare the draft and return it to the council for ratification at the next meeting.

Council members also discussed enforcement tools and monitoring. Staff recommended residents document dust events with photos and to submit complaints to the state division that enforces fugitive dust rules; the council also discussed installing a Toquerville-owned air-quality monitor near the neighborhood to produce objective particulate measurements. The council’s consensus was to pursue both a formal letter and exploration of an air-quality monitor and to encourage residents to attend La Verkin’s hearings and submit public comments.

No formal resolution was voted at tonight’s meeting; the council’s action was to direct staff to prepare a written letter for future council ratification and to investigate practical monitoring and complaint mechanisms.

","Trailridge Estates and nearby residents raised dust, noise, safety and property-value concerns about an Interstate Rock proposal before La Verkin; Toquerville councilors agreed to draft a letter and investigate air-quality monitoring and enforcement options.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6558966,"Toquerville council tables vote on developer-backed plan to create municipal power area",2865,747000,3612000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3223712-0f48c649d4492e14d6a9ff71b48288a8&start=747&end=3612","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3223712-0f48c649d4492e14d6a9ff71b48288a8/thumbnail_747000.jpg","/articles/6558966/Toquerville/Washington-County/Utah/Toquerville-council-tables-vote-on-developer-backed-plan-to-create-municipal-power-area","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6558966-a7f5c3ef2c9d860e4458549adc24d415/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194264&Signature=fjeCxa2QUq4aIoL-w~XtRHPYMHJRowOLkuAKnVCtr8PHAn-FKxFn0szOpsegIPJrCX~gk5T74BCpy8URRvhna~Z6MESZdMZ7EmRkxOB8mAmBgWdKM~LPVVhCEfZL5RPT61UDECnXdT5Avxt1pSiTc~ytR30po4J0LuI8Q3haZ6kTz~-qMOl0KWAsaNRgredtAIo0EixASbLPQqMqkwaBAH4TaRgd4U9uiqurPpAb9WoA2DRVcxK9hB35IjKFvG92yYwX3PrBdGD0k6eUG8Lxyz6x1UHJlPMTgwgGUkVEydyhgPoOHbTJ823yxfZGp281FIAYf7upmHkw8CXlFcMWAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Toquerville City Council on May 20 heard a detailed presentation from a developer and the developer’s attorney about a plan to establish a municipal power area tied to the Boulder Ridge development and a proposed solar facility, then voted to table Resolution 2025 to allow more time for legal and financial review.

The proposal presented by Jerry, the project developer, and Adam, the developer’s attorney, would create a separate retail electric service area for the portion of the city that includes the Boulder Ridge annex and allow the developer’s solar generation to supply power onsite and, when available, sell surplus power to the city or on a secondary market. “We were able to create that and create a additional revenue stream for the city,” Jerry said, describing developer-paid infrastructure and an arrangement in which the developer initially bears construction costs.

Why it matters: creating a municipal power department would move a portion of retail electric service out of Rocky Mountain Power’s regulated framework and into city control for the specified area. That shift could affect who sets rates, how wholesale power is sourced, and what infrastructure or legal work the city must authorize. Council members repeatedly pressed the presenters on costs, liability, and what responsibilities would fall to the city if the project later transitioned from developer-managed infrastructure to city-run service.

Developers and attorneys described a phased, hybrid approach: Rocky Mountain Power would continue serving most customers, while the new municipal power area would take retail responsibility for the Boulder Ridge parcels and buy wholesale power from a mix of sources — the developer’s solar generation, joint action agencies such as UAMPS, or the open wholesale market. “The city has to buy power from somewhere,” Adam said, explaining how municipal power entities operate differently from investor-owned utilities and often participate in joint-action agencies for wholesale supply.

Council members asked about who would carry the cost and risk for infrastructure, meter reading, billing and emergency repair. Jerry said the developer expects to build infrastructure as part of the development agreement and initially bear costs, and that maintenance and repairs would be contracted to local electrical contractors. “If the city wants us to become the power department, we’ll set up billing and operations. The residents out in the commercial part of Boulder Ridge right now is gonna cover the cost of operating and maintenance of that power part,” he said.

City staff and council repeatedly requested written documentation. Councilman Gary and others asked to see a copy of the development agreement referenced by the presenters and to receive a formal cost and reimbursement schedule in writing. Several council members said they need an explicit guarantee that the city would not carry unanticipated costs for ordinance changes, consultant time or legal review unless the developer reimburses the city in writing.

Outcome: Mayor moved to table Resolution 2025 to allow the council, city attorney and city manager to review the developer’s documents, request a draft memorandum of understanding and a cost-reimbursement schedule, and hold a follow-up meeting with the developer and legal counsel. The motion to table carried by voice vote. No substantive change was adopted at tonight’s meeting.

What’s next: Council members and the developer agreed to schedule a separate, focused meeting with the city manager and the developer’s counsel to review the development agreement, draft MOU language and a detailed cost breakdown before the council takes any formal vote.

","After a lengthy presentation and questions from council members, the council voted to table Resolution 2025, which would begin the process to create a municipal power department covering a new Boulder Ridge development and associated solar generation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Toquerville City Council actions, May 20 meeting

Council discusses building recreation area at Chief Toca Reservoir; $6M federal match would require local funding

Toquerville hears tank repair update and raises concerns about district drought plan that would require 20% cuts

Residents urge Toquerville to oppose Laverkin ‘critical infrastructure’ designation for Interstate Rock site

Toquerville council tables vote on developer-backed plan to create municipal power area