Groves Council approves TotalEnergies backup EOC MOU, sets Nov. 18 hearing on two game-room permits and adopts city-manager pay grade

The Groves City Council on Oct. 20 voted to authorize a memorandum of understanding allowing TotalEnergies to use designated municipal facilities as a backup emergency operations center and directed the mayor, city manager and fire chief to negotiate and execute the necessary documents. Council members said the fire station training room would serve as the primary backup site, with the activity building lounge or the courtroom EOC as possible alternatives if needed.

The action came amid other agenda items: the council set a joint public hearing with the Planning and Zoning Commission for Nov. 18, 2024 to consider specific-use permits for game rooms at 5011 Monroe Boulevard and 5170 Twin City Highway, and it adopted Ordinance 2024-25, establishing the pay grade for the city manager position. The council also approved an Oct. 21 invoice list totaling $99,245.99 and approved the minutes of a Sept. 30 special meeting.

Why it matters: the TotalEnergies agreement gives a private energy company pre‑arranged access to municipal facilities if the company’s own emergency operations center is disabled, a contingency the council described as relating to major catastrophes. The scheduled Nov. 18 joint hearing responds to a recent rise in game-room permit requests and community concerns about where those businesses should be located relative to residences and schools.

Council discussion and votes Council members and staff described the MOU as a contingency arrangement for major incidents; staff identified the fire station training room as the preferred facility because of proximity to TotalEnergies’ operations and suitability for an emergency response team. The council voted to authorize the mayor, city manager and fire chief to finalize paperwork on the MOU.

On the game-room permits, several council members raised concerns about proximity to apartment complexes and whether local ordinances could impose distance limits beyond those the state already requires for schools. Staff said state law restricts distances from schools but does not currently impose distances from apartment complexes; council members asked staff to review other municipalities’ ordinances and bring refined recommendations back for discussion. The council set Nov. 18 as the date for a joint public hearing with the Planning and Zoning Commission on the two permit applications.

The council adopted Ordinance 2024-25 to set the pay grade for the city manager position; the ordinance number was provided during discussion. The Oct. 21 invoice list — presented by staff with line-item amounts for landfill and landfill-sludge disposal, fuel, HVAC repair and raw water — was approved with the total of $99,245.99.

EDC officer appointment and other business During an Economic Development Corporation segment, trustees reported a strong sales-tax year and growth in the EDC fund balance; the EDC moved to elect interim officers due to board turnover and council-approved nominations. The EDC nominated and the body approved Lehi Canals as interim president; the remaining officer appointments were tabled for later action.

What’s next Staff was asked to return with a more detailed ordinance review on gaming distance restrictions and with the finalized MOU documents for signature. The joint public hearing on the game-room permit applications is scheduled for Nov. 18, 2024. The council adjourned following routine member comments and logistical notes.

Attribution: This article summarizes statements and motions recorded in the Groves City Council meeting transcript for Oct. 20, 2024. Direct quotes and attributions are limited to material explicitly tied to speakers identified in the transcript.