Bluff moves to name emergency manager and successors to meet Utah House Bill 96 deadline

At its June 9 work session, the Bluff Town Council discussed Utah House Bill 96 requirements that towns submit an Emergency Operations Plan, name an emergency manager and provide an ordered list of four interim successors by July 1. Council staff and members noted that in prior years Erin Nelson had served as Emergency Manager without a formal order of succession.

Mayor Josh Ewing said he is willing to serve as the town’s primary emergency manager with Erin Nelson as the second in succession. Council members discussed candidates for third and fourth interim successors; the council decided to list Malia Collins as a successor and selected Council member Britt Hornsby as the fourth successor. The minutes note all four must complete Incident Command training and be familiar with the town’s Emergency Management Plan.

The work session also covered who in town will be authorized to send emergency alerts. Ewing recommended four designated individuals plus the fire chief be authorized to send alerts; the minutes list the fire chief (Chief Dawn DiLego) among possible designees. Council members discussed that, absent a submitted list by July 1, state rules could default the mayor and other officials into the succession order.

Council staff said the Emergency Management Plan and Emergency Alert Plan will be completed at current staff capacity and that the required names and order will be reported to the state before the statutory deadline.