Virgin Town Council adopts water fees, creates town manager post and approves rezoning; several code items move forward

The Virgin Town Council on Jan. 21 approved multiple ordinances, a resolution and administrative purchases that the council said are tied to regional water planning, ongoing code updates and town operations.

The council adopted the remaining excess‑use water fee required by the town’s Regional Water Supply Agreement with the county Water Conservancy District, voted to add those fees to the town’s fee schedule, created a new town‑manager position in the municipal code, repealed the code’s uses chart and removed lodging and service stations from commercial zones, and approved a property rezoning conditioned on a development agreement. The council also approved the purchase of a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado for public works.

Why it matters: Together the votes finalize fees the town must adopt as a member of the county Water Conservancy District, set up a staff position the council said will be needed in future but does not fill it immediately, and change land‑use rules that could affect what kinds of businesses are permitted in town.

Key actions and outcomes

- Water fees (Ordinance 2025-01) and fee‑schedule (Resolution R2025‑A): The council held a public hearing and adopted the final fee in the regional agreement applying to homes built before Jan. 1, 2023: $1 per 1,000 gallons for monthly water use in excess of 36,000 gallons. Council also approved a resolution to add the new charges to the town fee schedule. The council recorded a roll‑call approval; public commenters asked whether the rate structure treated newer and older homes differently. Council members said the fees come from the regional agreement the town joined and that joining gives the town a vote at the district’s table going forward.

- Creation of town‑manager position (Ordinance 2025‑02): The council voted to add a town‑manager position to the municipal code. Councillors clarified the ordinance only creates the position; it does not hire or appropriate funds for a manager. A roll‑call vote passed with a majority in favor.

- Repeal of uses chart and code cleanup (Ordinance 2025‑03): Council approved repeal of the existing uses chart in the zoning code and removed references to it from related chapters. Members and the planning commission said the chart had been inconsistent with zone text and caused confusion.

- Removal of lodging and service stations from commercial zones (Ordinance 2025‑04): The council approved removing “lodging” and “service station” uses from commercial zones except in the highway resort zone. Commissioners, planning staff and public commenters debated tradeoffs between short‑term lodging revenue and the town’s long‑term vision for locally serving businesses. The ordinance passed on a roll call; several council members voted no.

- Rezoning and development agreement (Ordinance 2025‑05): The council approved a zone‑map amendment (rural‑residential to commercial) for a parcel owned by an applicant, subject to a development agreement that the applicant will prepare and the town attorney will review. The development agreement will prohibit certain uses (applicant agreed to prohibit hotels, motels, automobile service stations and food trucks on the site) and include conditions such as dark‑sky‑compliant lighting, limits on light trespass and noise decibel standards; council also required that outside entertainment, if any, be oriented away from the highway (behind the building). The motion passed 3‑2.

- Public‑works vehicle purchase: Council approved purchase of a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado (approximately $26,554) to provide an additional vehicle for public‑works staff. Council also directed staff to continue searching for a low‑mileage small SUV for general town use and code‑enforcement.

What’s next: The development agreement tied to the rezoning will be revised per council direction and sent to the town attorney for review and return to council for final approval. Code and ordinance language that was tabled or needs final formatting will return to a future meeting.

Council comments captured in the meeting record

Council members expressed differing priorities: some urged preserving town revenue and the capacity to pay for infrastructure, while others emphasized conserving rural residential land and limiting lodging growth. Several council members and planning commissioners repeatedly asked for clearer ordinance formatting and better maps when the council takes up zoning subjects.

Votes at a glance (as recorded)

- Ordinance 2025‑01 (excess‑use fee for pre‑2023 homes): adopted (roll call recorded at meeting). - Resolution R2025‑A (fee schedule): adopted (roll call recorded at meeting). - Ordinance 2025‑02 (create town‑manager position): adopted (roll call: April yes; Paul yes; Jean yes; Misty no; Valerie yes). - Ordinance 2025‑03 (repeal uses chart / code cleanup): adopted (unanimous). - Ordinance 2025‑04 (remove lodging and service stations from commercial zones except highway‑resort): adopted (roll call recorded; at least one council member voted no). - Ordinance 2025‑05 (rezoning subject to development agreement): approved, subject to applicant delivering the development agreement with conditions (motion carried 3‑2). - Public‑works vehicle purchase (administrative action): approved (majority vote).

Meeting context: The council combined open forum and council comments, heard a planning commission report, public comment on stormwater and water and several rezoning concerns, then took the above actions.