Bluff council adopts ordinance to disconnect 640 acres; approves two support letters

The Town of Bluff council on a unanimous roll call adopted an ordinance to disconnect 640 acres of Acton property from municipal jurisdiction, while leaving roughly 8,874 acres held by Sitla, BLM and Saint Christopher’s unaffected.

The motion, introduced as "Town Of Bluff ordinance number 2025-07-10," passed after a roll call in which all present voted aye. Following the vote, Speaker 1 said, "It's unanimous, and I will be signing the ordinance," and staff were directed to notify counsel for Sitla and the Actons.

The council also approved a letter of support for the Bears Ears Partnership’s effort to secure funding for summer programs for San Juan County youth. Speaker 2 moved to approve the letter and Speaker 1 seconded; the motion passed with four ayes and one abstention. One council member explained the abstention by saying, "I'll abstain since I work here." Council members described the program as serving middle- and high-school students and offered personal endorsements about its benefits.

Separately, the council voted unanimously to approve a letter of support for the Bureau of Land Management’s application to designate the Bluff River Trail as a National Recreation Trail. Speaker 5 described the trail’s route through town and the ADA-accessible section at Sand Island; Speaker 3 moved the letter, Speaker 5 seconded, and the motion passed.

What happens next: the signed ordinance will be filed with the town attorney, who will notify counsel for affected landowners; staff will return signed support letters to meet application deadlines for the trail designation and the Bears Ears Partnership request.