[{"_1":2,"_105":-5,"_106":-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",[32,75,85,95],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6681120,"mediaKeyId","3379238-8480fd935752c755e18761109543f60b","parentId",3379238,"title","Votes at a glance: minutes, computer purchase, executive session and other council approvals","audioSeconds",4342,"startMs",23000,"endMs",4365000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3379238-8480fd935752c755e18761109543f60b&start=23&end=4365","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6681120/Utah/Votes-at-a-glance-minutes-computer-purchase-executive-session-and-other-council-approvals","mediaUrl","author","Bluff Town Council","date","2025-01-21T16:00:00Z","article","At its Jan. 21 meeting the Bluff Town Council recorded a series of routine approvals and several formal actions:

- Minutes: The council unanimously approved multiple sets of meeting minutes (regular meeting minutes from Jan. 7 and Jan. 14, work session minutes from Jan. 14, and a joint meeting with Planning and Zoning on Jan. 14). The minutes approvals were taken by voice vote and recorded as unanimous in each instance.

- Desktop computer: The council unanimously approved purchase of a Dell desktop device for town offices to host accounting functions and replace an aging machine. Staff cited a quoted cost range of about $1,500–$1,700 plus setup, with Galaxy handling sourcing and setup. A council member said the device would relieve repeated restarts of existing equipment and allow migration of accounting software.

- Executive session: The council voted unanimously to move into an executive session to discuss imminent or pending litigation and adjourn from that executive session without returning to the public meeting.

- Other routine approvals: The council approved payment to Helgerson Property Management for culvert/cattle-guard clearing (covered in a separate article) and approved a motion to sign and forward the UDOT Class C road submittal (see separate article).

Why it matters: The approvals authorize administrative operations (record keeping and finance systems) and an executive session to address legal matters; minutes approvals and administrative purchases are standard municipal governance but required formal action.

What’s next: Staff will proceed with ordering and configuring the recommended desktop, and the council will handle litigation matters in closed session as stated.","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","Bluff Town Council Regular Meeting - 250117_1311","oneSentenceSummary","The Bluff Town Council approved meeting minutes, authorized a desktop purchase for town offices, moved into executive session on litigation, and recorded several other unanimous approvals during the Jan. 21 meeting.","taxTitle","Bluff, San Juan County, Utah","taxId",79934,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":50,"_51":82,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6681123,"Council sets DRC meeting with Uncommon Architects; staff to refine project goals and subaward agreement",463,1702000,2165000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3379238-8480fd935752c755e18761109543f60b&start=1702&end=2165","/articles/6681123/Utah/Council-sets-DRC-meeting-with-Uncommon-Architects-staff-to-refine-project-goals-and-subaward-agreement","The Bluff Town Council approved inviting Uncommon Architects to the town’s Design Review Committee meeting on Feb. 6 and asked staff to prepare focused guidance so the architects can match design recommendations to available grant funds.

Malia Collins told the council Uncommon Architects \"want to meet with all decision makers of the project to discuss project goals, uses, pain points, priorities, etcetera.\" The council agreed it should prepare a prioritized list of required and desired spaces (for example, offices, preschool/classroom, shared community spaces) and send questions to staff before the Feb. 6 DRC meeting to make that session constructive.

Council members discussed funding constraints. The council noted $1,000,000 in USDA grant funding for the project (with a $200,000 pass-through portion managed by the Rural Utah Project Education Fund) and said available funds are currently sufficient for a \"face-lift\" — basic building repairs and upgrades — but not for a full programmatic retrofit. Malia and staff said the pass-through partner is overseeing window replacement and has funds to replace as many as 12 of the oldest single-pane windows.

Project administration updates: the council learned the project officer assigned to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-related grant has been reassigned and a new officer will be named; the town will retain the project financial specialist (Sina) who handles drawdowns. Staff reported they attempted a first drawdown but had not yet received funds; staff said a subaward agreement with the Rural Utah Project Education Fund will be needed to proceed and that Lanise provided a draft for council review.

The council also reviewed outreach and partnership concerns: Uncommon will be asked to produce guidance appropriate to the town’s cultural context and to advise what can be achieved with the funding on hand. Councilors emphasized the need for clear DRC meeting invitations to all partners and asked that decision-makers be present for the Feb. 6 meeting.

Why it matters: The Cooperative Cultural Center is the town’s primary community facility project; architectural direction and clear agreements with pass-through partners will shape how grant funds are spent and which parts of the building are prioritized for upgrades.

What’s next: Staff will circulate a prioritized list of project goals, complete or finalize the subaward agreement for review, and confirm logistics and participants for the Feb. 6 DRC meeting.","Uncommon Architects will attend the town’s Design Review Committee meeting on Feb. 6 to discuss goals for the Cooperative Cultural Center project. Councilors asked staff to assemble a prioritized wish list, finalize a subaward agreement with the Rural Utah Project Education Fund and proceed with drawdown paperwork for grant funds.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":50,"_51":92,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":93,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":94,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6681128,"Council to hold work session on ordinance enforcement after legal advice; staff to compile enforcement chart",358,1141000,1499000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3379238-8480fd935752c755e18761109543f60b&start=1141&end=1499","/articles/6681128/Utah/Council-to-hold-work-session-on-ordinance-enforcement-after-legal-advice-staff-to-compile-enforcement-chart","The Bluff Town Council agreed on Jan. 21 to schedule a work session in February to develop a coordinated approach to enforcing the town’s ordinances and to clarify roles between the mayor, town manager, planning and zoning and any dedicated enforcement position.

\"I put that on there not so much to tie up a discussion today, but to kind of get some direction on how you want how everybody wants to handle talking about enforcement,\" Council member Linda Sosa said, explaining why the item was on the agenda.

Councilors said they want a focused work session (the next regular work session was scheduled for Feb. 11) with preparatory materials: a chart listing each ordinance, its written enforcement remedies and the common issues staff encounter. One councilor volunteered to compile the list if staff provides the spreadsheet template. The council discussed combining enforcement responsibilities with related administrative functions (for example, addressing and permitting) or hiring a contractor, and noted the need to draft a clear scope of work and salary estimate if the town seeks to hire a position.

The council also referenced a recent San Juan County public hearing in which Kendall Laws cited the nuisance provisions of the Utah Code as an enforcement avenue, suggesting that in some cases private parties may pursue remedies under state nuisance law rather than use town-paid enforcement resources. Council members stressed that the work session should identify which ordinances require town enforcement and which could be channeled to civil remedies.

Why it matters: The town currently lacks a consolidated enforcement framework; creating a job description or contracting approach and clarifying remedies will define who responds to recurring problems, what the town enforces directly, and what residents must pursue through civil court.

What’s next: Staff will prepare a spreadsheet listing each ordinance number, remedy and current enforcement mechanism and circulate it to council members before the Feb. 11 work session.","Council members agreed to schedule a February work session to develop enforcement options for town ordinances, direct staff to compile a chart of current enforcement provisions, and consider whether enforcement should be an in-house position or contracted role.",{"_33":96,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":97,"_41":98,"_43":99,"_45":100,"_47":101,"_49":50,"_51":102,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":103,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":104,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6681133,"Council approves UDOT Class C road submittal despite ownership questions; votes to pay culvert contractor",786,230000,1016000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3379238-8480fd935752c755e18761109543f60b&start=230&end=1016","/articles/6681133/Utah/Council-approves-UDOT-Class-C-road-submittal-despite-ownership-questions-votes-to-pay-culvert-contractor","The Bluff Town Council voted 4–1 on Jan. 21 to approve the town's Class C road disbursement submittal to the Utah Department of Transportation and authorized signature to forward the packet to the county contact.

The motion to approve the submittal was made during unfinished business by Linda Sosa and seconded; the council recorded four ayes and one opposed. Michael Havochen, who prepared the revised UDOT form with Brad Bunker, recommended approval. \"I recommend that the town approved this, submitted and we send it on with Utah,\" Havochen said.

Council discussion focused on several line-item and ownership questions. Members noted the consultant corrected omitted road segments (for example, Transfer Station Road and Sand Island Road) and adjusted mileage totals. Councilors asked about specific removals or reductions in reported mileage — including Cottonwood Wash, Nelson Road and a half-mile reduction on other segments — and whether plats or vacating records supported the changes. Havochen said vacating records existed for some stretches and that the surveyor had applied consistent methodology across the town’s roads.

Some council members pressed for proof when private property ownership was in dispute. One councilor raised concern about what they described as the optics of improving or adding surface near the driveway of a council member, saying, \"it looks especially bad where you're adding surface to a driveway on private property of a council member. That looks really bad.\" The council did not name the council member connected to that parcel during the public discussion.

Councilors also debated whether to include a 0.09-mile segment (Cecilia) on the UDOT form pending title verification. One proposal discussed adding the segment now as 0.09 miles and removing or revising it later if ownership is resolved in court; Havochen said the town can revise the map later if new legal records are presented.

Separately under consent/other business, the council unanimously approved payment of $2,400 to Helgerson Property Management for cleaning three cattle guards and some adjacent drainage clearing. A council member said they inspected some of the work and that, until the county can provide grading support, the town should budget for recurring cleanouts every two years.

The council designated Michael as the town’s point of contact for the UDOT submittal and asked staff to send the packet to Chris Potter at the county. The council chair also said the town manager or another staff member should be included on future committee calls related to roads.

Why it matters: The Class C road allocation affects how state road funds are distributed to the town for maintenance (gravel, dirt and paved road categories). Accurate mileage and ownership documentation determine the town’s share and can have recurring budget implications.

What’s next: The signed submittal will be sent to the county contact, and staff will follow up on disputed ownership claims; councilors suggested landowners asserting contrary title should pursue a quiet-title action so records can be updated.

","The Bluff Town Council voted 4–1 to approve a Class C road disbursement submittal to the Utah Department of Transportation and unanimously approved payment to a contractor for culvert/cattle-guard cleaning. Council members raised questions about road ownership and a potential conflict involving a council member’s private driveway.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: minutes, computer purchase, executive session and other council approvals

Council sets DRC meeting with Uncommon Architects; staff to refine project goals and subaward agreement

Council to hold work session on ordinance enforcement after legal advice; staff to compile enforcement chart

Council approves UDOT Class C road submittal despite ownership questions; votes to pay culvert contractor