Trent Herring selected as Blanding City Mayor

by David Boyle
News Director
Members of the Blanding City Council selected Trent Herring to serve as the Blanding City Mayor at their latest meeting. Council also heard public comments on a proposed housing project on the south end of town and a report on utility expansion.
After interviewing five candidates to fill the Mayoral vacancy members of the Blanding City Council selected Trent Herring to be the mayor of Blanding at the September 22 meeting.
The selection was made necessary with former Blanding Mayor Trevor Olsen resigning in early August, citing a new professional opportunity outside of Blanding.
Herring was one of five candidates who interviewed for the Mayoral position with the city council. The appointment will run through December 2027 with residents to vote on the mayoral race in municipal elections in November 2027. Herring says he plans to run for office then.
Herring was appointed Blanding City Manager in October 2023 and left for a job as the UNHS Human Resource Director in July 2025. Herring pointed to his previous experience working for the city as a strength to help Blanding succeed.
“I know the inner workings of the city, understanding the budget, the utilities, the staffing, the development, the challenges and the opportunities that face Blanding. Watching and reading the great things that (City Manager) Pratt (Redd) has been doing, especially with staff. It just gives me the opportunity to serve more.”
Herring also said he thinks the city is doing a good job looking out for its citizens and looking for practical ways to improve quality of life. Upcoming challenges included tackling the economy including community development, water and affordability. Herring says he hopes to help people return to Blanding that would like to and improve day to day living, meaning finding responsible ways to build the community through responsible development such as housing and business growth while balancing that growth with existing infrastructure with a particular eye on water and other utilities.
City residents Bryce Parker, Talia Hansen, Bret Hosler and Levi Myers also applied and were interviewed for the position.
Council thanked all five candidates for their willingness to serve and recommended they stay involved including considering running for city council.
After one round of voting Herring had earned the majority of the vote and was selected as Mayor. His formal appointment will happen at the next city council meeting.
Members of the council also heard public comments about a proposed 22-trailer manufactured home community planned on a 1.6 acre lot. The Pioneer Estates development would be located around 1st east and Rogers lane on the south end of town.
Resident Pam Keele shared a petition signed by 57 neighborhood property owners opposing the high-density project. Keele raised concerns regarding property devaluation, increased traffic and safety hazards for children who would need to cross a four-lane state highway to reach Centennial Park with no designated open space on the site.
Other project neighbors shared concerns about potential noise, crime and strain on existing storm drainage systems. With requests that the city make sure land-use codes are strictly followed and even a suggestion to require a financial performance bond from the developer to make sure project commitments are kept.
Redd clarified that while the planning and zoning has reviewed the proposal, no formal application has been submitted for internal city staff review yet. Council made plans to examine the proposal further at an upcoming work session.
Redd also updated the council on a major utility expansion project to serve Energy Fuels’ White Mesa Mill. Engineering designs for a dedicated natural gas line has been approve. The city and company are pursuing funding through the Utah Inland Port tax increment financing. That effort is expected to take up to six months alongside construction bidding.
The mill’s planned expansions are projected to double Blanding’s overall natural gas consumption and strengthen the city’s fuel purchasing power with construction targeted to begin in Spring of 2027.
San Juan County is set to assume operation of the municipal transfer station and recycling center starting November 1 with operations on Fridays and Saturdays.
The city also has posted a part-time job opening for a Justice Court Clerk.
In airport news staff shared they repaired a fuel pump transmitter under warranty and upgraded the cellular card reader.