Bluff begins process to explore, again, incorporation as a town
Though it looks and feels like a quaint little town in southeastern Utah, Bluff is officially an unincorporated area of San Juan County.
A group of residents has decided the time has come for Bluff to explore incorporation and will hold a community meeting for voters and property owners to learn about the incorporation process.
A community meeting regarding incorporation is Thursday, February 9, at 7 p.m. at the Bluff Community Center.
At the meeting, attendees will learn about the formal process, which is detailed in state law, for an area such as Bluff to officially incorporate as a town. A 30-minute presentation will help community members understand some of the following:
• What steps must be taken to incorporate
• The geography under consideration to become part of the Town of Bluff
• Some of the pros and cons of incorporation
• How to get involved in the incorporation process
• The timeline for the town to make a formal decision on incorporation.
Following the presentation, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and sign the official petition that is submitted to the Utah Lieutenant Governor’s Office to start the incorporation process.
Twenty percent of the registered voters and individuals representing 20 percent of the assessed property value within the proposed town boundaries must sign the petition for the process to begin.
Following a successful petition drive, an independent financial feasibility study is performed and a formal public hearing conducted.
An affirmative vote by more than 50 percent of participating voters in a formal election is required to approve incorporation.
Individuals signing the petition to start the incorporation process are under no obligation to vote for incorporation.
This community meeting is not an official public hearing. It is only an informational meeting to help community members understand the process. No decisions will be made at the meeting.
For those who cannot attend the community meeting, a website is being developed with Frequently Asked Questions, Maps, and the incorporation process details at www.IncorporateBluff.org.