Alpine Council approves midyear Lone Peak wage boost, budget amendment and updates fees; appoints staff representative to League committee

Alpine City Council took several formal actions during its Jan. 28 meeting, approving pay adjustments for the Lone Peak Public Safety District, adopting a mid‑year budget amendment for fiscal 2025, and updating the city’s consolidated fee schedule among other routine business.

Key votes at a glance - Lone Peak Fire Department midyear wage adjustment: The council approved a midyear wage adjustment proposal for the Lone Peak Public Safety District. The motion, as recorded in the meeting, approved the proposed adjustment and noted the city’s share—which staff earlier described as $36,009.15—would be paid subject to the council’s midyear budget adjustment. The motion was moved and seconded on the floor and recorded as unanimous. (Moved by Councilwoman Jessica Smuin; seconded by Councilman Brent Rummler. Roll call: Thielen—yes; Hanneman—yes; Law—yes; Smuin—yes; Rummler—yes.)

- Ordinance amending the FY2025 budget (Ordinance 2025‑03): Council adopted the midyear budget amendment ordinance to recognize updated revenue and expense items, including a retroactive wage increase and newly recognized grant funds. The ordinance passed on a roll call vote with unanimous support. (Moved by Councilman Jason Thielen; seconded by Councilman Brent Rummler.)

- Memorandum of Understanding (R‑2025‑03) — Ridge Park fence: The council approved a memorandum of understanding with resident Andrew Stewart to implement previously authorized fence modifications at Ridge Park and to fund replacement fence material as described in the MOU. The resolution passed unanimously. (Motion moved by Councilman Kelly Law; seconded by Councilman Rummler.)

- Consolidated fee schedule update (R‑2025‑04): The council adopted updates to the city’s consolidated fee schedule that implement a 3% increase to the pressurized‑irrigation base rate (from $41.20 to $42.44 per acre‑month) and a 3% increase in related usage tiers; the council also approved adjustments to cover two scheduled 15% TSSD sewer increases (effective Jan. 1 of the current and following year) by raising the existing monthly TSSD surcharge on utility bills from $7 to $10. Council members debated fairness between customers served by pressurized irrigation and those who use culinary water for irrigation; the council directed staff to complete a culinary‑rate study promptly but declined to attach a specific contingency to the fee motion. The resolution passed unanimously. (Moved by Councilman Jason Thielen; seconded by Councilwoman Chrissy Hanneman.)

- Appointment to Utah League of Cities and Towns Legislative Policy Committee (R‑2025‑06): The council approved a resolution appointing Ryan Robinson (city staff) as the city’s third voting member to the League’s Legislative Policy Committee during this legislative session. The motion passed unanimously. (Moved by Councilwoman Chrissy Hanneman; seconded by Councilman Kelly Law.)

Why these votes matter The wage adjustment aims to keep firefighters’ pay competitive to reduce turnover and maintain service levels, and the city’s FY2025 budget amendment provides the appropriation authority to cover the retroactive costs pending the midyear budget adjustment. The fee schedule update addresses sharp rate increases from the local sewer utility (TSSD) and smooths revenue collection by increasing a temporary surcharge until the city completes a comprehensive water/sewer rate study.

Noted discrepancies and clarifications requested by council Staff reported the city’s share of the Lone Peak wage adjustment as $36,009.15 earlier in the meeting, while the motion placed an amount of $36,915 in its language; council members asked staff to reconcile and document the exact figure as part of the city’s midyear budget adjustments.

Council vote counts and outcomes are recorded in the minutes and roll call recorded for each motion was unanimous in favor. No motions failed or were tabled at the Jan. 28 meeting.

Procedural and follow‑up items Council asked staff to complete the culinary water rate study promptly and return with recommendations so the council can evaluate the impact on residents who do not have pressurized irrigation. Staff also agreed to verify the TSSD impact fee notice and any numeric typos in the fee schedule cover sheet before final customer billing.