Planning commission hears updates on federal grants, event center study and sewer construction complaints

City of Green River staff briefed the Planning Commission on several capital projects and grants and discussed resident complaints about ongoing sewer construction during the Feb. 18, 2025 meeting.

Staff described three federal transportation efforts: a TAP grant for sidewalks on Tidwell and Alberta, and a larger BUILD (formerly RAISE) grant that staff said is roughly $3.5 million and would be managed by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). A UDOT project manager has been assigned and staff said UDOT’s funding comes from federal sources; project timing remained uncertain at the meeting because the grant or procurement schedule was on hold, according to staff remarks.

Commissioners also heard that one local contractor (Randy) planned to begin sidewalk work independently to keep the project moving, and staff said UDOT is expected to match work where appropriate so the grant-funded design intent is not compromised. Staff said Joanne Sontal would survey the work to ensure it meets curb, gutter and sidewalk standards tied to the grant.

An event-center feasibility study is underway. Staff said consultants gathered public comment and conducted interviews and that preliminary findings are expected to be presented to the City Council in April. Staff also described a separate program to audit city-owned property and to identify parcels that could support development; consultant Ben McGaddams discussed examples from other municipalities and potential interest in coordinating development near the Amtrak station.

Water and sewer projects are active across the city, staff said. Work includes a new treatment building and a PFAS filtration system; staff noted the city is a participant in class-action litigation over PFAS and expected to receive some settlement funds this year that could help repay loans for the water treatment work.

Several residents raised concerns about the sewer-construction contractor’s traffic management practices. Complaints included blocked private gates and driveways, inconsistent flagging and equipment left in the roadway during off hours. Staff and commissioners discussed that a traffic management plan should accompany the construction contract; commissioners said the project contractor’s approach had caused access problems for residents on Tamarack and other streets and that Tamarack may need repaving when work is complete. Staff acknowledged the concerns and said they would follow up with the contractor.

The commission also discussed an existing city ordinance requiring in-kind replacement of private property features (curb, gutter, sidewalk and fences) after city-related construction; commissioners agreed to ask the council to revisit whether that in-kind requirement should explicitly apply to city streets and city projects.

On the consent agenda the commission approved the planning and zoning regular meeting minutes from Jan. 23, 2025, after noting several clerical edits had been supplied to the clerk.

Next steps identified at the meeting included staff follow-up with UDOT on the BUILD/TAP schedule, presentation of the event-center feasibility findings in April (to the council), follow-up on traffic-management compliance with the sewer contractor, and discussion at the council level about extending the city’s in-kind restoration ordinance to city streets.