Monticello City Council visits with DWR to address resident deer population issues

Members of the Monticello City Council received a clean audit, approved a wastewater plan, and met with state officials to address the resident deer population at their latest meeting.
The city council is making plans to address the deer population in town. A dry and warm winter has resulted in a large population of deer that didn’t ever leave town in search of warmer weather.
City council received a presentation from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) about the possible implementation of an “Urban Deer Control Plan” 
City council members said that the deer situation is at a breaking point. With council members sharing stories from residents being unable to walk through their yards without tracking waste and other residents reporting deer entering greenhouses to eat produce.
DWR District Wildlife Biologist Ian Montgomery and Landowner Assistance Biologist Casey Olsen outlined the process through the DWR that allows a city with a resident deer population that is significantly damaging private property or threatening public safety to request a certificate of registration to design, create and administer an urban deer control plan.
To receive that certificate the city must apply for it, enact and enforce an ordinance prohibiting the feeding of deer, elk and moose, and submit an estimated deer population with a final target population to seek through removal, as well as other steps and requirements including having general liability insurance.
If enacted the plan allows the city to use lethal methods to control deer including baiting to effectively remove deer with the city selecting and supervising individuals to perform deer removal activities. Methods of take could include archer or professional sharpshooters. Part of the requirements include timing removals no later than September to avoid migratory deer with potential to donate the meat to residents or food banks.
The plan requires additional oversight including complying with laws related to the lethal removal of deer including requirements for the process of removal of viscera from the kill site and the surrender of antlers to the DWR as well as outlining locations and time periods where specific types of deer removal activities can be used.
Additional public meetings with opportunities for input are required as part of the process. City council agreed to begin drafting the required non-feeding ordinance to start the city down the path of application for an urban deer control plan.
In other matters, the city received a good report on the 2025 fiscal year audit at their February 24 meeting. 
The report compiled by Aycock, Miles and Associates CPAs was presented by Mike Miles. Miles reported the city is on good footing with significant cash reserves noting the city’s` $5.8 million in cash across all funds significantly outweighs its $3.9 minion in debt.
Miles reports that a one to one cash to debt ratio is excellent with the city well beyond that. Of particular note are the strength of the city enterprise funds including water, sewer and sanitation which maintain a two to one ratio of cash on hand relative to annual operating expenses.
Miles also noted that much of the city’s debt is at zero-percent interest leaving little incentive to pay it off early.
One finding is general administration, parks and recreation and golf course all exceeded their annual budget.
City Manager Kaeden Kulow took ownership and explained that discrepancy sharing that capital leases for new equipment, including 50 golf carts and two lawnmowers, were recorded originally as spread out over the life of the lease.
However, state law requires the full price of the lease to be recorded upfront as an expense, putting the department budgets over their limits.
During public comment at the meeting, resident Geoff McIntyre raised concern over potential property tax increases, saying there is little tolerance for tax hikes especially for those on fixed incomes.
Mayor Kevin Dunn acknowledged there has been talk about the issue, but no definitive plans have been made.
During the meeting Kulow illustrated some of the upcoming capital needs for the city, with major project on the horizon, including a runway remill at the airport. The city is required to pay five-percent of the FAA project, estimated at about $100,000, There is also $300,000 replastering project at the city pool.
Members of the Monticello City Council also adopted the city wastewater plan following a report from city wastewater operator George Rice.
Rice said the Monticello’s sewer system is in excellent condition, in part from being 100 percent gravity-fed. This eliminates costly power dependent lift stations. It was also noted that the city non-discharging lagoon system is highly efficient, with treated wastewater used to irrigate alfalfa crops resulting in what is described as a win-win for the city and local agriculture. Recent reports show the lagoons are healthy and do not require dredging.
During reports Kulow also shared an update on the issues with the Jet A fuel system at the municipal airport. Replacements for fuel filters have been ordered but may not arrive until late April.
It was also reported that the credit card system at the airport is running on an obsolete platform and may require an expensive upgrade.