Votes at a glance: Tooele County Council approves off-site storage contract, LSI extension, rezoning, solid-waste purchases and board appointments

The Tooele County Council on Jan. 7 took a series of consent and action votes including approval of an off-site data-backup contract, a one-year contract extension for grant-writing services, a rezoning ordinance for industrial development, new solid-waste equipment purchases, multiple board reappointments and appointment of the council’s chair and vice chair for 2025.

Votes at a glance (selected actions):

- Sky Data Vault off-site storage contract: Council approved a recommended two-year contract to replace the county’s current backup vendor, citing twice‑annual failover testing and local sales support. The county manager said the incumbent contract expires Jan. 17. Motion to approve carried by voice vote (moved by Councilman Hoffman; second by Councilman Wardle). No dollar amount for the contract was presented in the meeting packet.

- LSI grant-writing contract: Council approved a one‑year extension for LSI grant-writing services (the third year under contract), with the county to go to RFP after the extension. Brittany Lopez (county clerk/manager’s office staff) told the council LSI currently has four grants in progress; results pending. Motion carried by voice vote (moved by Councilman Thomas; seconded by Councilman Stromberg).

- Ordinance 2025‑01 (rezoning): Council adopted Ordinance 2025‑01 to rezone 80.36 acres off Burmester Road south of I‑80. Planning staff said the applicant, Charles Ockelow, proposes to integrate the property into the inland-port area; the planning commission passed the matter unanimously. Staff noted traffic and truck-route concerns near Higley Road and said crash gates and no‑truck‑route signage are required as part of development plans. Motion to adopt carried by voice vote (moved by Councilman Wardle; seconded by Councilman Hoffman).

- Solid Waste purchases: The council approved three Solid Waste purchases on the state contract: a Peterbilt semi tractor to haul municipal solid waste (with a trade‑in offset the county said would reduce the buy price), 795 90‑gallon garbage carts to replenish inventory, and a live‑floor trailer (hydraulically driven unloading trailer) to replace an aging trailer. The live‑floor trailer purchase included a trade‑in; specific vendor pricing and net contract totals were not specified in the discussion. Motions carried by voice votes (motions and seconds recorded in the minutes for each item).

- Minutes, check registry and consent items: Council approved the Dec. 3, 2024 council business meeting minutes and the check registry by voice vote.

- Boards and committees: The council approved multiple reappointments and new appointments across advisory boards (Council on Aging, Economic Opportunity Advisory Board, Housing Authority, Mosquito Abatement, Planning Commission appointments, Recreation Special Service District, Trails reappointments and Tourism Tax Advisory Board partial appointments). Most reappointments were unanimous voice votes; the tourism board items were handled with partial appointments and staff to return with additional applicants for vacant slots.

- Chair and Vice Chair: The council installed Jared Hamner as chair and Scott Wardle as vice chair by acclamation after nominations and a motion to close nominations.

- Motion to go into closed session: Council voted by roll call to move into closed session; roll-call ayes were recorded for Councilmen Hoffman, Thomas, Stromberg, Hamner and Wardle.

What the votes mean: The approved equipment purchases and off‑site storage contract are operational decisions the county said are being made under state contract pricing or vendor recommendations. The rezoning ordinance authorizes development consistent with planning commission recommendations; project-level improvements and truck routing were noted as conditions to be enforced during subdivision/plan review. Board reappointments preserve continuity on multiple advisory boards and commissions.

Ending: Several items approved were routine or procedural; council members asked for follow-up reports on grant outcomes (LSI) and vendor contract terms (Sky Data Vault) in future staff presentations.