Monticello cuts five-member planning commission to three members after failing to make a quorum

by David Boyle
News Director
Members of the Monticello City Council made plans to shrink the size of the planning and zoning commission, abandoned plans for a not-developed dead end road and made a purchase of airplane fuel at their latest meeting.
Members of the city council made plans to reduce the size of the city planning and zoning commission at the August 27 meeting.
The city has been seeking a replacement for the fifth member of the commission since a resignation in November. An additional resignation in the past month has left the commission with just three members. 
The commission has been able to make a quorum of three members just once since May, with several meetings being canceled including a meeting where someone had driven from Salt Lake City.
City staff recommended reducing the size of the planning commission to three members, meaning a quorum would only require the attendance of two commission members. If the commission had been just three members the previous months, meetings would have occurred as scheduled.
In addition, city staff recommended a $40 stipend for each meeting attended as an incentive and a note of appreciation for the volunteer work.
City council agreed that the lack of quorum has been an issue and the proposed changes for the planning and zoning commission should offer a solution.
The council directed staff to draft the required ordinance updates in order to officially pass the changes at the next scheduled city council meeting.
Members of the city council also approved the abandonment of an old plan that would have included the continuation of 300 South to the west past 200 West.
The city had previously believed that it owned a piece of property that would act as an eventual extension of 300 South past 200 West into a current empty lot.
City staff and council shared no appetite to purchase the property followed by maintaining what would essentially be a dead-end road.
Two property owners who wish to develop lots in the area also shared the sentiment that a road designation would not be the ideal path forward for their interests.
The decision to abandon the old plan came after a public hearing on the issue was held in a previous city council meeting.
Monticello city council members also approved the purchase of fuel at the city airport. The city needs 5,000 gallons to fill the 100LL fuel tanks.
City Manager Kaeden Kulow received two quotes for the fuel, with AV Fuel selected as the company to fill the city tank. The fuel will be available for purchase with the city earning about one dollar for every gallon sold.
City council approved the roughly $22,000 purchase with Mayor Bayley Hedglin noting, “It’s not often we make a decision on spending money that we end up making money back on.”
At the meeting, members of the city council also approved a contract with Mitch Maughan to be the city prosecutor. Maughan was recently appointed as San Juan County attorney, and offered four hours of civil legal service for the city each month. City council approved the contract.
Members of the Monticello city council also discussed the city landfill. Council member George Rice notes that some construction materials end up in the yard waste pile.
Rice recommends the city place a stop sign and checkpoint at the entrance to make sure landfill users are properly directed where to go. Rice also recommends the city look at raising the landfill rates to keep up with costs. Council agreed to bring the item back for the next meeting.
Members of the council also signaled support to lease two vehicles, one for public works and one for administration. The city-owned administrative Ford Explorer would be moved to the airport to serve as a courtesy car.
Council voiced support for three-year lease for the vehicles, with plans to bring back the item for final approval at the next city council meeting.
City staff also shared upcoming events for the city. 
The city will provide a free screening of the animated movie Fireheart at the Hideout Community Center on Friday, September 20 with the movie starting at 7 p.m.
The next day, a public health and safety night will be held at the city ballfields from 4 to 6 p.m. on September 21.
The event will include a touch a truck event, helicopter landing and other public health and safety information, as well as free hot dogs.
A community cleanup is planned for Loyds Lake on September 28, with volunteers working on the path around the lake, at the picnic areas and the bathrooms at the lake. The city will host a s’mores cookout following the clean-up.
Another event will be a clothing drive and distribution in November. The city plans to expand the event to two days with drop off for clothing likely starting Thursday the 14th and open all day Friday the 15th. The drive will be for clothing for children up through adults, the city will be looking for volunteers as well as donations.