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Willard council rezones 40.29 acres, approves Orchard Pathway trails agreement and adopts tentative budget
Summary
At its May 14 meeting, the Willard City Council rezoned roughly 40.29 acres for a Nelson Homes subdivision, confirmed a planning-commission appointment, approved an interlocal trails agreement with county and UDOT partners and adopted a tentative FY2026–27 budget; staff will follow up on a resident sewer-billing complaint.
The Willard City Council approved a rezoning request from Nelson Homes, confirmed a planning-commission appointment, authorized an interlocal agreement to build the Orchard Pathway Corridor trail, and adopted a tentative fiscal-year 2026–27 budget at its May 14 meeting.
The council unanimously approved rezoning about 40.29 acres near 1561 North Harkness Hill Road from agricultural A-5 to residential R-1/2. Chad Buck of Nelson Homes told the council the developer will place a manhole as part of a concept plan and ‘‘terminate the sewer going through our property’’ so residents to the south ‘‘can still connect to it,’’ a change he said would allow those neighbors to access the line. The council carried the motion by roll call; Jordan was recorded absent.
The council also confirmed the appointment of Jay Thackeray to fill a planning commission vacancy. Thackeray introduced himself as an electrician and a member of the town’s flood board, and the council approved the appointment by voice vote.
On regional infrastructure, council members voted to approve an interlocal agreement to develop and operate the Orchard Pathway Corridor — a multi-jurisdictional trail through a UTA-owned corridor. Staff said the county had already signed, that most of Willard’s share will be in-kind contributions rather than cash, and that the state and county had negotiated the financial split. A council member cited the budget table showing an 80/20 funding split (80 percent paid by the grant or state partners, 20 percent local match) and noted the city’s match would largely be in-kind property or services.
In finance business, the council adopted the tentative FY2026–27 budget (Resolution 04-26) and set a public hearing on the final budget for June 25 at 6:30 p.m. Staff presented the general-fund picture and said the city currently has an unrestricted general-fund balance of $765,000 — about 38 percent of revenue — and that the tentative budget plans to spend roughly $170,000 of that balance in the coming year. The budget includes a proposed 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment and up to 2 percent merit increases (combined impact budgeted at about $72,000), $150,000 earmarked in capital projects for the fire station, and several smaller capital and IT items.
What’s next: staff will return with the consultant presentation on the economic development strategic plan (the council tabled further action pending a work session) and will hold a public hearing on the final budget on June 25. The council asked staff to follow up on several implementation and infrastructure details discussed during the meeting, including sewer-line easements tied to the Nelson Homes project.
Quote from the meeting: ‘‘We will terminate the sewer going through our property and then those people to the south of us can still connect to it,’’ Chad Buck of Nelson Homes said during the rezoning discussion.
Ending: The council completed the agenda and adjourned after approving routine minutes and hearing multiple staff reports on public works, trails and drainage.
