Wellsville Council approves several new business licenses including pallet plant and seasonal firearms course

The Wellsville City Council on Feb. 18 approved a slate of business licenses that will add manufacturing jobs and new local commerce.

Mark Thompson received approval to operate Pallets of Utah, a high-capacity pallet manufacturing facility expected to employ about 48–50 people and produce roughly 15,000 pallets per week at 1150 East 640 North. The same address won approval for Cast Horn Designs, Thompson’s light-manufacturing line that makes rotational-molded antler-style chandeliers (Thompson said the operation produces about 150 chandeliers per week), and Thompson Long Range, a seasonal long-range shooting school that uses the Wellsville facility for classroom instruction and a private 1,000-yard range for live fire.

"We’ll run both sites for about 45 days to move inventory and be at full capacity in Wellsville by April," Thompson said, describing a staged transition from his Logan site. He told the Council a prior electrical contractor had used inadequate #12 wiring across a long run, which produced a voltage drop that disabled equipment; Thompson said a rewire with mixed gauge wiring remedied the problem after consultation with a retired master electrician. He said the wiring issues have been resolved.

Thompson told the Council his firearms training business is structured so classroom instruction and technical assembly occur at the commercial facility while actual shooting takes place off-site at his private range. "Firearms and ammunition are kept separate at the facility," he said, adding that rifles are stored at a secure off-site location and are brought to the facility only for class-day use. He also said clients may purchase new rifles through a Federal Firearms License (FFL) process that transfers firearms between dealers for required background checks.

Council members cited the economic benefits of the move. Mayor Chad B. Lindley and other members said the new workforce would support local businesses and broaden the city tax base.

Also on Feb. 18 the Council approved a business license for T’s Trees LLC, owned by Austin Beard, at 673 East Main. Beard said he sources so-called "B-grade" trees from Oregon growers—trees with minor cosmetic flaws that allow lower retail pricing—and that he plans to direct customer parking to the southwest interior yard and install signage. Beard confirmed he will not continue third-party equipment rentals that had occurred under a prior owner.

All business-license approvals passed unanimously.

What happens next: license paperwork will be completed by the city recorder’s office and Thompson said he will hold an open house at the new facility once operations are established.

Sources: Council discussion and applicant statements at the Feb. 18 Wellsville City Council meeting.