Monticello approves ADA playground project

by David Boyle
News Director

Monticello City approved the construction of an ADA accessible playground, reported on conversations with Empire Electric and worked on the ATV code at their latest meeting.
Members of the council received positive news from Assistant City Manager Megan Gallegos on the Veterans Park playground project at their May 13 meeting.
The proposed project would replace playground equipment at Veterans Park with new offerings in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Gallegos said the city was awarded a Community Parks and Recreation Grant through the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation in the amount of $152,000.
The city also was awarded $70,000 from the San Juan Clean Energy Foundation, totalling $230,000 for the project in grant funding.
With an estimated price tag of $253,000, the project is closer to becoming a reality.
The city planned to receive the final $30,000 through funding and in-kind work. The project includes concrete work for sidewalks, ADA accessible playground equipment, and curb/gutter updates in the parking lot.
The project would be the first ADA accessible park in the county. Council also discussed possible uses for the old equipment with staff clarifying liabilities with the equipment means it will need to be disposed of rather than donated elsewhere.
Members of the council approved the receipt of the grant and the reconstruction project at Veterans Park.
At the meeting, members of the council also heard updates on the city considerations related to the management of the electric system.
Mayor Bayley Hedglin said they attended an Empire Electric Association (EEA) board meeting to fill them in on the city process to evaluate the city system with Heglin saying communication went very well between the two parties.
With the city contract with Empire Electric coming to a close soon, the council earlier approved a study to analyze the costs and benefits of operating the power system as is, or for the city to purchase and operate the electrical systems moving forward. The study is estimated to cost about $40,000.
Hedglin said the EEA board understood why the city is going through the evaluation process, adding that they are not the only community to evaluate their contracts with EEA at the end of a contract.
Hedglin clarified that the city is evaluating its options without a predetermined decision.
“I made it very clear, – when we were approached by multiple community members– that we felt the obligation to be able to answer the community on such a large decision.”
Three options are being considered, including continuing to have EEA service the city, Monticello purchasing the power system and running the system itself, or Monticello purchasing the system and having an organization operate the system.
EEA said they would not be interested in contracting to operate the system if the City of Monticello were to purchase the system.
Empire Electric board members were invited to the June 10 city council meeting city, when the city plans to review the report.
At the meeting, members of the council also heard public comment from resident Malin Erickson. Citing his 49 years of experience in the electricity sector, he advised the city against buying the electric system noting concerns of the complication of managing an electric system including equipment and debt management and questioning if the city would be able to sell power at Empire’s current price.
Erickson also provided comments suggesting the city could cut electricity usage by not running the city wells 24/7 but instead placing them on timers to use during off-peak hours. City council welcomed further exploring that idea and invited Erickson to meet with city staff about the issue.
Members of the city council also continued conversations around the proposed ATV (All Terrain Vehicles) code after it received review from attorneys to keep in line with Utah law.
A few items in the code were discussed by the council but it was noted by council members that they’d be interested in receiving more feedback from residents on the code.
Among considerations was allowing ATV’s on city highways which is not allowed for golf carts. The council also discussed allowing open travel throughout the city or limiting travel to and from recreation areas with the council leaning to match the city golf cart code to allow for open travel through most of the city.
The council also discussed requiring that unlicensed drivers only travel on ATV’s in town while supervised by an adult. Council also discussed insurance requirements to align with the state and plans a hearing before passing an ATV code.
Members of the city council also reviewed and approved an economic blueprint study program. The item was presented by Deborah McKee from the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity.
The program aims to help rural communities create strategic plans. While the planning is free from the state it will require a time commitment from the city. The process includes city appointment of an economic development champion and forming a steering committee.
The process will include interviews, workshops and data analysis for a detailed blueprint to use for potential projects, funding sources and a strategic vision led by the city. The city was selected from rural applicants and will start the three month process in summer. The city council approved moving forward with the program.
The council also held a discussion related to the city RV code which limits RV residency to 120 days in an RV park and 14 days elsewhere.
Noting housing challenges, the city agreed to schedule a work session to review the code and consider possible amendments for full-time RV residents.
The council also reviewed proposed update to meeting procedures. The city will consider an updated policy to manage public comments. While city staff recognizes the importance of protecting First Amendment rights, without a policy the city can’t stop individuals from speaking on topics unrelated to city business or use of profane language. The topic was introduced to the council with plans made to review a potential update to the policy.