Beaver City council approves routine bills, accepts hospital board recommendation to let 1% prepared‑food tax lapse and moves into closed sessions

At a recent Beaver City Council meeting, members approved routine billing and a city resolution, heard a recommendation from the hospital board to allow a 1% prepared‑food hospital tax to lapse, and authorized two closed sessions on property and personnel matters.

Council members voted to approve the bills circulated for July 18 and adopted resolution number 7‑21‑20‑25 by roll call. Council also heard from city and hospital representatives who recommended allowing the 1% hospital sales tax on prepared food to expire when it reaches its scheduled termination date; staff said the tax would remain in effect through Sept. 30 and would not be renewed at this time. Officials said the 1% levy applies to prepared food and is paid primarily by transient visitors.

The council approved a motion to enter a closed session first to discuss buy/sell negotiations related to city property and then to discuss personnel matters. Those motions passed on roll call after being moved and seconded by council members.

Council members also addressed several operational items. They discussed allowing golf course employees a discounted meal while on shift — a 50% discount for one meal during a shift was proposed, with emphasis that the benefit would be for employees only and not for family members. Staff were directed to follow up with golf course management about details and to consider the discount in cases where employees work longer shifts.

On upcoming events, staff reported mixed views about the Southern Utah Open golf tournament because the course greens are in poor condition. A local golf stakeholder recommended notifying entrants about course conditions rather than canceling or lowering fees; council members agreed staff should notify participants and let them decide whether to play. For the city rodeo, council members described the arena as an active construction site (trusses being set), said concession operations likely will be run under a tent rather than from the unfinished concession building, and said law enforcement would be present during rodeo nights. Staff raised a possible safety step — boarding or securing doors and addressing a reported hole in front of the old concession area.

Staff also noted an outdoor recreation grant application with an Aug. 4 deadline and said they would investigate whether to apply for site improvements or equipment. Council members discussed planning an employee appreciation event for late summer and asked staff to coordinate timing to avoid fair week.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to approve July 18 billing (motion by Council member Owen Spencer; second by Council member Randy Hunter): approved (voice vote reported as "Aye"). - Resolution 7‑21‑20‑25 (motion by Council member Lance Cox; second by Council member Randy Hunter): approved (roll call; recorded yes votes included Council member Owen Spencer, Council member Lance Cox and Council member Allison Webb; roll‑call recording indicated the motion carried). - Motion to enter closed session for buy/sell of property (motion by Council member Hunter; second by Council member Webb): approved (roll call). - Motion to enter closed session for personnel (motion by Council member Hunter; second by Council member [recording indicates a second]): approved (roll call).

What the council was told about the hospital tax

City staff relayed the hospital board’s recommendation that the 1% hospital charge on prepared food not be renewed when it expires on Sept. 30. Staff said the fee is a 1% tax on prepared food and likened the burden primarily to transient customers. Council members said if future capital needs of the hospital or the municipal building authority change, the council could decide to pursue reinstatement or an election at a later date.

Operational follow‑up

Council asked staff to: confirm the meal‑discount details with golf course management (who was named in the meeting as Donji and Dustin), notify Southern Utah Open registrants about course conditions, pursue immediate safety measures at the rodeo arena (securing doors and addressing a hole near the concession stand), and evaluate whether to apply for the outdoor recreation grant due Aug. 4.

The meeting concluded after the council conducted the business described above and voted to adjourn.