The Toquerville City Council on Dec. 4 heard progress reports on multiple water and transportation projects, approved an updated citywide fee schedule, and voted to accept a regional reuse authorization contract from the Washington County Water Conservancy District.

The meeting opened with department reports that centered on wastewater and reuse infrastructure serving new development. City staff said the Confluence Park treatment plant construction is well under way and that the plant is expected to be operating in late January 2025. City staff reported that the reuse pump station tied to the project will finish months later: "the treatment plant will be running, probably by January 26, but the reuse pump station will lag by several months on that," said Mike (city staff reporting on utilities).

Why it matters: finishing the treatment plant and reuse pump station is central to connecting planned residential developments — including Firelight and the Grapevine subdivision — to sewer service and to the city’s plans to reuse treated effluent. Council members and staff flagged pipeline capacity constraints downstream and said the city may need upsized trunk mains if full build‑out proceeds.

Major developments and schedules
- Treatment plant and reuse pump station: Staff reported tilt‑panel and casting work is complete or scheduled; a large crane mobilization is expected in January and the site will be busy through much of 2025. The reuse pump station structural drawings were expected by Dec. 20, and subgrade excavation had begun for the pump station substructure. Staff estimated the overall reuse project completion would move from February into April or early May 2026.
- Firelight and Grapevine subdivisions: Staff said final punch lists are circulating among joint utility stakeholders for Firelight phases 1 and 2; the city’s MOU allows recording final plats without active power or water, but the fire district has asked the developer not to build additional housing until fire protection is in place.
- Capacity: City staff warned that a 12‑inch line crossing private property could become a future constraint as multiple developments build out.

Regional reuse contract approved
The council voted to accept the Washington County Water Conservancy District reuse authorization contract, a regional agreement intended to govern delivery and use of reclaimed water among participating cities and the district. Council discussion noted that the contract leaves some rate details to the district and that municipal boards will still see proposed rates before they take effect. One council member summarized the tradeoffs: joining the regional framework secures additional water rights and access to reuse supply, but some contract terms remain to be implemented and monitored.

Smart irrigation controller grant: staff to refine plan
Public works staff explained a DNR smart‑controller (grant) award is available for irrigation control upgrades at city parks and the cemetery. The grant would match up to $75,100 and is a 50/50 cost‑share for eligible equipment. Staff described two commercial systems under consideration (Toro and Rain Bird) and discussed tradeoffs including hardware durability, decoder costs already in the ground, remote notifications and the need for master‑valve flow sensors to detect leaks. Council asked staff to obtain apples‑to‑apples bids that include commercial‑grade options (Toro, Rain Bird and Hunter), to check the cemetery’s internet/firewall connectivity before committing equipment there, and then return with a recommendation. Staff said the grant’s spending deadline and winter installation window provide time to finalize equipment choice.

Fees, meters and utility procedures
The council adopted an updated uniform fee schedule that adds a formal meter‑testing fee and a meter replacement option. Staff said the new proposed process lets a resident request third‑party meter testing (the fee would be waived if the meter is found defective) and allows the city to supply a replacement meter. During discussion staff noted practical steps residents can take first — such as shutting off in‑house valves and using a calibrated container to self‑test — and that testing involves removal and temporary meter arrangements. The resolution was approved after council struck language that had sought to treat retroactive permitting as a double fee (the council directed legal staff to pursue any penalties by ordinance rather than by resolution).

Parkway and other public works projects
Council and staff gave several construction updates: power‑pole relocations tied to the Parkway project; the need to start a north cut excavation and to relocate utilities; improvements to Joya Creek turn lanes; and progress at the Sat Brothers Travel Center site, which includes the city’s first signalized intersection. Staff said coordination with UDOT and Rocky Mountain Power remains active and that a temporary north tie‑in may provide earlier public access to Firelight before the Parkway fully opens.

Planning and zoning items
Planning staff reported several code projects in review — updates to the subdivision submittal checklist, parking and sidewalk safety rules, exterior lighting hours, and an annexation policy that will require planning commission hearings before returning to the council. Firelight Phase 3 final plat is scheduled for planning commission consideration after being filed under the previous code.

Dog control ordinance tabled for redline revisions
Council took up extensive proposed revisions to the city’s dog control ordinance that would clarify definitions for bites, attacks, guard dogs and “vicious” animals, add reporting duties and enumerate enforcement options. Council discussed overlap and enforcement limitations (for example, impound capacity and whether the county or a contracted kennel would hold seized animals) and asked staff and counsel to produce a consolidated, cleaned redline. The council voted to table the ordinance so staff can return with a revised draft, definitions cleaned up and implementation options (animal control, contracting for kenneling, and how park leash rules would be enforced).

Other items
- Public works reported 22 water leaks fixed this year and that cross‑connection survey outreach has produced 85 responses out of roughly 730 connections; staff plans additional outreach and a January public awareness session.
- Council approved the annual meeting schedule adjustments requested for January and agreed to staff’s recommended calendar changes.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of meeting agenda: motion approved (vote recorded as in meeting). Motion/second: not specified. Outcome: approved.
- Approval of November 2024 meeting minutes: motion approved (vote recorded as in meeting). Motion/second: not specified. Outcome: approved.
- Resolution adopting the updated uniform fee schedule (with the double‑fee language removed): motion passed. Outcome: approved.
- Acceptance of the Washington County Water Conservancy District reuse authorization contract: motion passed. Outcome: approved.
- Motion to table proposed dog control ordinance revisions pending consolidated redlines and implementation analysis: motion passed. Outcome: tabled.
- Annual meeting schedule adjustments: motion passed. Outcome: approved.

What’s next
Staff will return with (1) refined recommendations and competitive bids for the irrigation controller grant after confirming network connectivity at the cemetery, (2) consolidated redlines and an implementation plan for animal control/kenneling and leash enforcement, (3) final engineering and punch‑list signoffs for Firelight and other subdivision projects, and (4) continued updates on the Confluence Park treatment plant and reuse pump‑station timelines.