Council approves UDOT Class C road submittal despite ownership questions; votes to pay culvert contractor

The Bluff Town Council voted 4–1 on Jan. 21 to approve the town's Class C road disbursement submittal to the Utah Department of Transportation and authorized signature to forward the packet to the county contact.

The motion to approve the submittal was made during unfinished business by Linda Sosa and seconded; the council recorded four ayes and one opposed. Michael Havochen, who prepared the revised UDOT form with Brad Bunker, recommended approval. "I recommend that the town approved this, submitted and we send it on with Utah," Havochen said.

Council discussion focused on several line-item and ownership questions. Members noted the consultant corrected omitted road segments (for example, Transfer Station Road and Sand Island Road) and adjusted mileage totals. Councilors asked about specific removals or reductions in reported mileage — including Cottonwood Wash, Nelson Road and a half-mile reduction on other segments — and whether plats or vacating records supported the changes. Havochen said vacating records existed for some stretches and that the surveyor had applied consistent methodology across the town’s roads.

Some council members pressed for proof when private property ownership was in dispute. One councilor raised concern about what they described as the optics of improving or adding surface near the driveway of a council member, saying, "it looks especially bad where you're adding surface to a driveway on private property of a council member. That looks really bad." The council did not name the council member connected to that parcel during the public discussion.

Councilors also debated whether to include a 0.09-mile segment (Cecilia) on the UDOT form pending title verification. One proposal discussed adding the segment now as 0.09 miles and removing or revising it later if ownership is resolved in court; Havochen said the town can revise the map later if new legal records are presented.

Separately under consent/other business, the council unanimously approved payment of $2,400 to Helgerson Property Management for cleaning three cattle guards and some adjacent drainage clearing. A council member said they inspected some of the work and that, until the county can provide grading support, the town should budget for recurring cleanouts every two years.

The council designated Michael as the town’s point of contact for the UDOT submittal and asked staff to send the packet to Chris Potter at the county. The council chair also said the town manager or another staff member should be included on future committee calls related to roads.

Why it matters: The Class C road allocation affects how state road funds are distributed to the town for maintenance (gravel, dirt and paved road categories). Accurate mileage and ownership documentation determine the town’s share and can have recurring budget implications.

What’s next: The signed submittal will be sent to the county contact, and staff will follow up on disputed ownership claims; councilors suggested landowners asserting contrary title should pursue a quiet-title action so records can be updated.