Notice Date & Time: 1/8/25 7:00 PM -1/8/25 11:11 PM
Description/Agenda:
Laketown Town Council
Meeting Minutes
January 8, 2025
Laketown City Office
10 North 200 East Laketown, Utah
1. Call to Order
The Laketown Town Council held their regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. This meeting was held at the Laketown City Office Building, located at 10 North 200 East, Laketown, Utah. Mayor Burdette Weston welcomed those in attendance and called the meeting to order at 7:01 PM.
Town Council Present:
Mayor Burdette Weston
Council Member Brandon Willis
Council Member Kris Hodges
Council Member Delora Wight
Council Member Denise Johnson
Others Present:
Lisa Johnson, Town Clerk
Jordan McKee
Skye McKee
Tyler Hunter
Erin Quinn
Tyson Larsen
Danelle Larsen
Jordan Gomez, Activity Committee
Duane Robinson, P&Z
Patrick Floyd
Dan Stringham
Jeff Brimhall
Dennis Hodges
2. Opening Ceremony
Brandon Willis conducted the opening ceremony, and Denise Johnson led the pledge of allegiance
3. Roll Call
Mayor Weston asked for roll call of Council Members present: Mayor Burdette Weston, Council Member Brandon Willis, Council Member Denise Johnson, Council Member Kris Hodges, Council Member Delora Wight, Lisa Johnson Town Clerk
4. Approval of Agenda
Mayor Weston asked for a motion to approve the agenda. Council Member Hodges made the motion and was seconded by Council Member Wight. The motion carried unanimously.
5. Approval of Minutes December 4, 2024
Mayor Weston asked for a motion to approve December 4, 2024, minutes.
The motion was made by Council Member Wight and second by Council Member Johnson.
The motion carried unanimously.
6. Questions and Comments
Jordan Mckee - Wanted to let it be known he was here for the discussion on Pre-Paid water hook ups but was not on the agenda. Mayor Weston told him to hold his comments to when that subject is addressed on the agenda
No other comments
7. Budget Review
No comments were made on the budget.
8. Approval of Bills
Bills were circulated for the council members to review and sign
No Motion was made to approve the bills
Action Item: Approval of December bills on February Agenda Item
9. Items of Business
a. Erin & Tina Quinn - removal of unoccupied trailers adjacent to their property.
Erin Quinn appeared, he would like to know the town's status on having the trailers removed,
Council Member Willis has been in contact with the property owners, they will have the trailers removed by 01/31/2025. If the trailers are not removed a letter will be sent from the town attorney on February 1, 2025 (or the next business day). Mayor Weston would like the letter to state that the trailers must be removed by a set date, or they will be removed by the town at the owner's expense.
b. Skyler Buck - Rural Water/City water rights
Skyler: Acquiring water rights
When you are acquiring a water right it's good to have a change application finalized and approved so that you are guaranteed that you will have that water right to use for the purpose you intend it for.
The state looks back over the last 15 years and if there are 7 consecutive years that water was not beneficially used, they do not let that change go forward.
Mayor: What needs to be done if the town has shares in an irrigation Company but wants to transfer them into a culinary well for the town.
Skyler: The irrigation company can either deny or approve the change, the canal company just needs to be consistent with what they do. They would have to reduce historical irrigation to match change in use.
Mayor: If a development is developing ground that is been historically irrigated and putting a house on this land, will this show that the land is being taken out of production and that irrigation water share can be changed to culinary city water in the well.
Skyler: suggested the town file for change of use for those canal share rights turned over to the city, doing it in large batches would be best
Need to show that the source can produce the water that is being changed too. Have historical flow data to protect yourself
Any rights acquired by municipalities prior to 2008 are protected from nonuse, even if a change of use has not been filed
Dan Stringham: wondered since there is enough water in the spring why that the town doesn't just transfer some of the irrigation water rights from the spring to the city spring water rights.
Mayor: informed Dan that this does not solve the cities problem of the state mandate that the city must have a second source of water
Patrick Floyd: asked do some cities allow paying in instead of transferring a water right to the city. Sklyer explained that some cities do not require a water right to be transferred instead the city would prefer the money to help with infrastructures.
Duane Robinson: if you have a developer that is developing a subdivision and they have both irrigation water rights and shares in Laketown irrigation, which would be most beneficial to the city to go after.
Skyler: as long as there is an approved change on both, they are equally fine to accept as long as the water has been historically used
Delora: What do we need to do if a personal well is being turned over to the city
Sklyer: file a change application, the current owner may be required to abandon that well,
Mayor: if that well is going to be used as a 2nd source for the city, the city would need to redevelop the well to meet Bear River Health Department (BRHD) water standards
Brandon: what regions should we be looking at if someone is transferring water rights to the city
Skyler: The closer the better
Brandon: Can anyone drill a well and what do they need to do for culinary purposes
Skyler: Yes, along as they meet BRHD standards, they are allowed to file for a small amount of water for a home, 10 head of livestock stock and irrigate 1/4 acre. The application fee is $150 but the main cost is drilling the well.
Brandon: How many water rights do you need to dig a well
Skyler: no minimum amount is required but you will need to go through the process for a change application
Mayor: Can we do a change application on the current irrigation shares that have been turned over to the city even though we haven't found a location for the well
Skyler: Yes, we could specify several possible well locations and the water right will be certificated where the well is eventually drilled, and the other possible locations will not be recognized on the final water right
Mayor: what are the requirements for individual wells so that back water is not put into our system
Skyler: it's up to those to follow the BRHD standards, he is only concerned about the water rights
c. Tyler Hunter - Prepaid Water Hook ups
Tyler would like to know the town's stand on charging the Water Impact Fee to those who pre-purchased water hook ups. He felt like he was told at previous meetings he would not be charged any further fees when he decided to build, since he had a pre-purchased water hook up.
Mayor: when they did the new ordinance addressing the impact fee and addressing the pre-purchased water hook ups, those with pre-purchased water hook ups had 90 days to either file for a building permit or hook into the water system, so that they would be charged for the water allowing them to become invested into the new system. He further explained that if those who had pre-purchase water hookups had hooked into the water system at the time of purchasing the hook up they would have been paying into the system the entire time.
Duane Robinson: explained that the prepaid hook up applies to only hooking into the water system, the Water Impact Fee is to pay for the new system on the hill and future improvements.
Jordan Mckee: question on the assessment fee, Is to pay for the system? What is the hook up fee vs the impact fee
Mayor Weston: stated that the impact fee to buy into the system and the hook up fee is to pay the expenses of hooking up into the system. He also explained that you need to follow the code at the time you apply for a building permit
Brandon Willis: would like the town council to have further discussion on this issue
Action Item: Lisa - locate the Impact fee Report
Tyler Larsen: Can they put a meter on a lot so they are paying into the system, but not yet ready to start building
Mayor: with current town code this is not allowed
d. Prepaid Water Hook Ups
Brandon: We asked the attorney how to handle this issue, the attorney advised do what you want to do but be consistent for everyone. When the prepaid water hookups were sold, those purchasing thought they were buying into the system at that time. Fast forward to today the city now requires more fees and water rights that need to be turned over to the city. The city should honor what was agreed when the prepaid hook ups were purchased. They should never have been allowed to buy into the system
Mayor: you cannot bind a future council
Brandon: example a previous decision bound the town council on storage sheds, even though the current council doesn't approve we were bound by a 2017 council decision
Denise: give those who prepaid water hookups a timeline that they need to build by a certain date or be subject to the current code
Unknown: how many is this effecting
Mayor, Brandon, Kris: about a half dozen prepaid hookups
Kris: We should honor the $1000 hookup but the other fees to come in to play since the pre-purchased water hook up should be paid by those. The system had not been updated since the 1990's. The impact fee is used to help improve the system.
Unknown: why don't we assess every person on the system the approximate $16K,
Mayor: Those currently connected have been paying into the system with their monthly water payment. It's the growth that is causing the strain on the system and the need to improve and enlarge the system; the water impact fee is what is used for new growth to pay into the existing system and future projects
Town Council would like more time to discuss this issue
Action Item: Place on February Agenda
10. Action Items from Previous Meeting
a. Brandon - letter from attorney addressing abandoned trailers on empty lot next to Quinn's
This was addressed earlier under agenda item 9.a
Action Item: February agenda for an update
b. Brandon - updated the wording of the road cut ordinance
Tabled until next meeting
Action Item: February agenda item
c. Lisa - rewording the code1.7.4 to include paying P&Z secretary
It was determined that Laketown Code 2.1.1 Creation of the P&Z Commission consists of 5 members and ex officio member. The P&Z secretary falls under the ex officio member; therefore, the Town Council determined no wording change to code 1.7.4 is needed
d. Lisa to update Web site to include the state fraud hot line
A link to the state auditor hotline will be added to the town website www.auditor.utah.gov/hotline/
e. Lisa - cost and options of programs that scan websites for short term rentals in our city
Spoke with Garden City office, the program they use only scans the vacation rental websites. If a rental is listed on KSL classified, Facebook marketplace or similar classified sites the program does not pick up these rentals. The cost for this program is approximately $40,000/year. Discussion this issue lean towards it might be most beneficial to the city to work with the county on exposing short term rentals within the city limits.
f. Lisa - adjusted the cemeteries water fee usage to reflect the 25% increase placed in July 2024
The cemeteries bill was adjusted to reflect the 25% increase. The cemetery received this increase on their yearly bill, that was mailed out the first of January 2025
11, Town Council Business
a. Activity Committee - Jordan Gomez
The Christmas party was a great success, approximately 115 people attended.
Local businesses sponsored the fireworks, $1950 was donated
The committee will be taking down the Christmas lights at the park on Friday.
Committee Members for 2025 year: Jordan Gomez, Emma Carver, Betty Mills, Casey Jones, Jaydale Argyle, Tiffany Nelson, and Danielle Rickert
They will be having a meeting next week
The Committee would like to host another concert in June. Since June can still be cold and rainy it was suggested that maybe a better date would possibly be mid-July or over the 24th weekend and having the concert start later in the evening after 7:00 PM.
Easter will be the next activity
b. Planning & Zoning Commission Duane Robinson
Duane Robinson asked if it would be possible for the Cemetery District to use a couple of the empty filing cabinets that are stored upstairs. Mayor Weston did not see a problem with that. The Cemetery District will coordinate with the town clerk on which filing cabinets they will use and where they will be stored upstairs.
Duane Robinson stated if the town clerk receives any building permit information for buildings within the city limits, to be forwarded onto him. Lisa pointed out that since November the clerk has not received any building permit information except for her own house being built in Meadowville.
Duane Robinson is concerned that property on the corner of 300 South and 100 East (owned by the Meyers) is being subdivided and sold, and if it is being subdivided it should follow the subdivision rules. Town Ordinance only allows land to be divided every 7 years.
Action Item: Duane will check with the county recorder on whether this land is being subdivided and why the County Recorder is allowing it to happen
It was also discussed that the Delford Webb property is being sold as two separate lots. This should fall under the subdivision ordinance
Action Item: Duane will look into this issue
Update on realignment of the Cemetery/Pugmire property
It was not put on the January County Commissioners Agenda; therefore it is scheduled to be on the February County Commissioner Agenda
Action Item: February Agenda
Update on 1/2 acre vs 1 acre lot size study
P&Z did not have a meeting in December
Action Item: February Agenda
c. Water Updates - Delora
Added fee for BRHD water sample collection $200 annually for 1-4 samples/month
The Town Council approved paying the added fee of having BRHD collect and sample the town's water. It was determined to be cheaper than paying someone to collect the sample and run it over to Logan in a timely manner and return to Laketown. The $200 annual fee is in addition to the $25 fee for each sample.
Payment of a 2023 bill submitted by Dan Stringham
Dan submitted invoice#2495 for work and supplies completed 12/4/23-1/4/24 for $1805. It was determined that the town had already paid this invoice.
Note: This invoice was paid on April 17, 2024, check #2999. The check was written to Dan Stringham, Dan returned the check and asked that it be made to Stringham Construction. Therefore Check #2999 was voided and check #3006 was issued to Stringham Construction for payment of invoice #2495. Check #3006 was cashed on 5/31/2024
Mayor Weston told Dan Stringham and Jeff Brimhall that they need to turn in invoices for hours and parts each month or in a timely manner after projects are completed. They need to include receipts for parts purchased or if parts are taken from their own inventory to write up a receipt from their own company and submit with their invoice.
d. Roads and Streets Updates Brandon
Contact Justin regarding 370 West becoming a city road
Action Item: February Agenda
e. Parks and recreation updates Denise
She is working on grant funding for new playground equipment at the park.
f. Rodeo and Arena Updates Kris
Reevaluating rodeo sponsorship and what is offered. Last year they ran out of room on the poster and programs. Kris would like to start getting out sponsorship letters to business.
In need of new flags and a new entrance rodeo arena sign. 16ft height restriction for signs
Possibly holding a rodeo meeting in March
Action Item: Kris will investigate the cost of a new entrance sign
Action Item: Lisa find last year's sponsorship letter, program and poster for Kris
12. Mayors Report
Bear Lake Regional Commission Report
Recreation numbers are higher than ever
Honored those leaving the Commission and discussing who will be replacing those retiring,
Update on when Delmas Equipment will have bleachers completed at the Rodeo grounds
This was discussed during agenda item 11.a
More dirt fill is needed than originally thought. They are waiting for the weather to warm back up before hauling in more fill.
Some of the bleachers may be built in Delmas's shop and hauled up to the site
Planning bringing in fill and compacting in the spring
13. Updates from clerk's office
a. Update on Utah Cade 63D-2-105 requiring all government entities within the state must use an authorized dot gov (.gov) domain for website and emails
working on getting the domain
b. Business licenses not renewed for the year 2025
The following five businesses have not renewed their license for the year 2025: Salix Foot Zone, Upland Rural Landscaping, Laketown Management LLC, Hunter Brothers Mowing and Ridgeline Construction.
Action Item: Mayor Weston will contact the first two businesses listed to let them know they need to renew. The town clerk is to contact the remaining 3 businesses on renewing.
Businesses have a 30-day grace period after December 31 to renew their business license before the late fee is applied
The following business applied for licenses later in 2024 there for a renewal letter that was inadvertently not sent: Own Stuff LLC, South Shore Barn LLC, and Framework Fab LLC. The Town Council determined renewal letters should have been sent to those businesses, for renewal for the year 2025.
Action Item: The Town clerk will send out renewal letters to these businesses. No late fee will be charged.
c. Help with the Town Web Site Maintenance
The Town Council agreed that getting some technical help with the maintenance of the website and changing over to the .gov domain is needed
d. HB 80 conflict of interest disclosure statements for office holders/candidates
Town Council felt like this disclosure form did not apply to them. Further research is needed
Action Item: The Town council would like Lisa to look further into this before they completed the disclosures form sent by the Lt Governor's Office, Clarifications on who needs to complete the forms.
14. Executive Session
No session was needed
15. Adjourn
Mayor Weston asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was made by Council Member Wight and second by Council Member Willis. The motion carried unanimously.
The Meeting adjourned at 11:11 PM
