Uintah County Commission approves rezone, oil-and-gas lease and routine warrants

The Uintah County Commission on a voice vote approved a rezone for two Davis-area parcels, authorized staff to finalize an oil-and-gas lease pending legal review and approved warrants totaling $1,650,006.69 at its September 2025 meeting in Vernal.

Commissioners approved the rezonings and the lease after brief presentations from county staff and a planning commission recommendation. Clerk/Auditor Mike Wilkins presented the warrants report and recommended action on the lease. Deanna Nyberg of Community Development presented the rezone request.

Clerk/Auditor Mike Wilkins told the commission, "I have warrants from 08/28/2025 in the amount of $1,650,006.69. There is a check here to Central Canal for $1,232,491.09." He also described a $100,000 pass-through payment to "Utah Education and Outdoor" for a recreation program. The commission approved the warrants as presented by Wilkins by voice vote.

On an oil- and gas-related agenda item, staff said the county periodically advertises county-owned mineral interests for lease. The county received two bids submitted through Encore Land Services for two parcels totaling 3.38 net mineral acres. The bid terms reported to the commission were $1,000 per net mineral acre (total $3,380), a one-fifth royalty and a three-year term. Staff recommended approval "pending legal review" and confirmation that the lease meets the county ordinance minimums; the commission voted to authorize signing the lease agreement contingent on review and approval by the county attorney.

Deanna Nyberg, Community Development, presented a rezone application for properties at 2684 East 3950 South and 2656 East 3950 South. The applicant requested rezoning from A-1 to RA-1 to allow the owner to divide the property into three parcels using RA-1 setback and frontage requirements. Nyberg said the request was reviewed by the planning commission on Aug. 20 and that the planning commission "voted unanimously to recommend approval." A commissioner moved to approve the rezone as presented (parcel serial numbers 060520093 and 060520158); the motion passed by voice vote.

No roll-call tallies were recorded in the public transcript for these votes. Where the transcript records only a voice "Aye," the minutes will reflect approval by voice vote. Commissioners excused Commissioner Norton from the meeting. The meeting adjourned after the listed agenda items were completed.

Minutes and related documents are retained in the county clerk's office; the commission instructed staff to proceed with required legal review on the oil-and-gas lease and to finalize the rezone record as presented by Community Development.