The Grand County Commission held its regular meeting on April 15, 2025. Below is a summary of key highlights, with timestamps to help you jump to relevant parts of the meeting video. View the agenda packet here.
- Road Department Report (9:55)
Road Department Supervisor Bill Jackson reported on storm repairs, spring grading, culvert upgrades, and ongoing design work for the Spanish Valley Drive multi-use path and East Holyoak sidewalk project. Updates included work on Mineral Bottom, Triangle area roads, monsoon prep, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service All-American Wash project. - UMTRA/Oil & Gas Report (19:05)
Jessica Thacker, UMTRA liaison, noted that 96.2% of tailings have been removed from the site, with full removal expected by year’s end and closure by 2029. She also updated the Commission on local oil and gas inspection efforts and conditional use permit issues. - Commissioner Reports:
- Trish Hedin (26:39) reported on County Fair Board activities, creek restoration work with volunteer humanitarian organization Team Rubicon, a spike in burials of young people at the cemetery, and Planning Commission decisions including High Density Housing Overlay progress and zoning for Ravens Rim Adventure Park.
- Mike McCurdy (30:11) shared that he attended High Density Housing Overlay meetings and has requested financial data from local recreation and transportation districts.
- Mary McGann (30:45) gave updates from the Housing Task Force, celebrated a reported drop in homelessness, and shared insights from solid waste board visits and a public lands history session.
- Brian Martinez (41:19) discussed media planning with the Travel Council, HDHO subcommittee work, and potential new trail reroutes on the Falcon Flow bike trail.
- Melodie McCandless (48:26) summarized BEACON Afterschool’s reduced programming plans, legislative planning, a Community Impact Board grant request for the MAPS Senior Living campus, and rising needs for elder care and companionship services.
- Bill Winfield (51:41) noted participation in Community Impact Board and Utah Association of Counties meetings, discussed cleaning up airport lease insurance requirements, and emphasized the importance of seeing HDHO updates through.
- Consent Agenda approved 6-0 (58:36)
- Approval Of Meeting Minutes For April 1, 2025
- Ratification Of Payment Of Bills
- Ratification Of Final Report For Groundwater Monitoring Network Grant
- Ratification Of Local Consent For Expedition Eighty8 At Gravity Haus Hotel
- Approving Independent Contractor Agreement With Harrison Field Services For Landscaping Work At The Airport – Using State Revitalization Grant Funds
- Approving Awards Of Bids For Landscaping At The Airport Using State Revitalization Grant Funds
- Revision To Rydman Lot 16 Lease With Airport (To Build A Hangar)
- Independent Contract Agreements For The 2025 Grand County Fair For The Sean Moon Band With Keith McCloud.
- Independent Contract Agreement With Berentis Rodeo For The 2025 Grand County Fair.
- Approving Criminal Investigator Job Description Revision.
- Special Events – Intent to Apply for Q4 & Early 2026 Submissions (1:00:48)
Special event proposals included the 2026 Moab Red Rock Rally, 2026 Grand Circle Trail Fest, 2025 Moab 240 Endurance Run, Jeep Jamboree, and Dead Horse Ultra. Commissioners discussed concerns about pre-approving large-scale events and emphasized monitoring 2025 outcomes before locking in 2026 commitments. Events passed 6-0 with Jacques Hadler absent. - Award RFP for Media Agency (1:15:28)
The commission formally awarded the tourism media agency contract to Madden Media, following a competitive Request For Proposals process that included 18 applicants. Staff and elected officials participated in scoring, and the recommendation came with strong backing from the Office of Tourism. The vote passed with five in favor, with Commissioner Hedin abstaining and Commissioner Hadler absent. - Ordinance Approving General Rezone of McKnight Subdivision (1:17:49)
The Commission approved a rezone of 19.27 acres in the McKnight Subdivision from Multi-Family Residential to General Business, following findings aligned with the county’s land use plan. The vote passed with five in favor, with Commissioner Martinez abstaining and Commissioner Hadler absent. - Letter Regarding Closure of Federal Offices (1:25:55)
Commissioner Hedin introduced a letter opposing recent proposed federal office lease closures in southeastern Utah affecting agencies like US Geological Survey, National Park Service, and the Farm Service Agency. The motion to approve and send the letter passed 6-0 with Commissioner Hadler absent. - Engaging a Recruitment Agency for Planning & Zoning Director and County Engineer Search (1:29:53)
Personnel Services Director Tess Barger presented options for hiring a recruitment firm to fill the long-vacant Planning & Zoning Director and County Engineer roles. After comparing three firms, the Commission voted to approve a contract with Slavin Management Consultants. Anticipated total cost for both hires was in the range of $47,000–$51,000. Motion passed 5-1 with Commissioner Hedin opposed and Commissioner Hadler absent. - Discussion: Community Impact Board (CIB) – Grand County List (1:51:20)
Todd Thorne, regional planner for Utah’s South Eastern Regional Development Agency, presented the updated Community Impact Board project list for Grand County’s 2026 funding cycle. Projects carried over from last year include the Spanish Valley Drive multi-use path, courthouse renovation, solid waste truck replacement, and an irrigation extension. Commissioners discussed cleaning up the list to focus on “shovel-ready” projects, recommending removal of the courthouse renovation due to lack of planning and funding. Final project rankings will be made at a future meeting before the May 1 submission deadline. - Discussion: Public Infrastructure Pro Rata Reimbursement Agreement (2:04:00)
Cristin Hofhine, acting Planning and Zoning administrator, proposed creating a formal reimbursement process for developers who build public infrastructure—like roads or drainage—that future developers then connect to. She sought commissioner feedback on timelines, minimum investment thresholds, and how reimbursement rates should be calculated. Commissioners asked for further examples from similar counties.
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