County Council - Regular Meeting

Recording in progress. Welcome everyone. Thank you for being here. Today is December 9th, 2025. We're located at the county building on the third third floor in the county [clears throat] council chambers. It is 5:17 and we will have a pledge of allegiance by own Tim Gilly. Please stand. Please join me in the pledge of

allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. [clears throat]

Thank you, Tim. That will bring us down to roll call. We have our county attorney, Scott Rodhead. We have our county council, Councilman Hoffman, Councilman Thomas, Councilman Stroberg, Councilman Hamner, Councilman Wardle, present. We also have in the county manager's office, county manager Andy Welch, Assistant County Manager Britney Lopez, along from the clerk's office, Nikki. Thank you for being here and thank each one of you for being here. That will bring us down to public comment. Is there anybody in the audience by raise of hand that would like to make a public comment? Seeing one three minutes.

Okay, you you know how to do that. Make sure that light's green.

J Hton toilet county recorder. Council members, thank you for this time. I want to speak briefly about the decision to pause personnel requests and position upgrades until another McGrath wage and position study is completed. You know, I'm a strong supporter of data benchmarking and analysis. I am also fully in favor of budgeting for a professional study that the 2027 budget is built on current information. But the way this decision is being implemented creates real consequences for the people dur doing the work today. Your last McGrath study was completed or was began in mid 2021. It wasn't implemented until mid 2022 and even then at only at the lowest level. The higher competency tiers weren't implemented for the 2023 budget as originally planned. Full implementation has never occurred. Our employees have been doing the work that matches those higher tiers and they have taken on new skills, certifications, and responsibilities that the county itself required of them. They're not asking for anything extraordinary. They're asking the for the county to honor the commitments made three years ago. Now we are pausing everything again. The reason cited was an increase in personnel and upgrade requests this year 20 to 30 instead of the usual four to five. I want to be very clear. The only reason you were seeing increase is because many of us waited until the budget cycle exactly as the council asked us to do so that they would not face midyear surprises. We honored that direction. Our employees did their part.

their supervisors did their part and they are being penalized for following the rules. In our Franklin CVY work, we talk about the see, do, get model. The results we come uh directly the results we get come directly from paradigms we choose to operate from. Right now, the county is choosing a paradigm of delay. The result we will get is discouragement, turnover and erosion of trust. We also talk about effectiveness being getting the results we want today in a way that allows us to get better results in the future. Freezing progress for another study does not get us better results for the future. Studies do not improve morale. Studies do not retain talent. Studies do not reward people who have earned that acknowledgement. Leadership is not only about intention. It's about alignment. Your employees hear the county talking about modernization, about excellence, about being competitive in a difficult labor market. But what they feel is a pattern of stall, delay, and non-implementation. I am asking you to reconsider the approach. F fund the study for 2027. Use it to modernize our entire compensation compensation system, but do not use the study as a tool to delay legitimate earned upgrades and personnel needs this year. Our people deserve clarity, consistency, and leadership that matches the principles we are teaching in Franklin CVY. As habit number one reminds us, we are responsible for our

choices. This is a pivotal choice. Thank you. Thank you. Um that will bring us down to our minutes. O uh November 18th, 2025 is [clears throat] there any corrections or additions to the minutes? If not, chair entertain a motion. So moved. Second here a motion. Councilman Hoffman, second from Councilman Strumberg. All those in favor say I. I. I.

All those may oppose say nay. Sounds unanimous. Brings us down to the check registry. Everything is online. Uh any check that is written out. Chair entertain a motion to check registry. Motion to approve. Here a motion to approve from Councilman Strongberg. Is there a second? Second. Hear a second from Councilman Thomas. All those in favor of approving the check registry say I. I. I. All those may oppose say nay. That is approved. That'll bring us down to um the consent agenda contracts in our local agreement with Lake Point City. Lake Point.

That's right. Thank you uh Chairman Hamner. Um the agreement uh that you have is just the 2026 extension for the interlocal uh services that we provide to Lake Point. Um it it is the same uh that we do every year. They require policing services. They require uh road uh services and they require some uh civil inspection services that that we've been providing. Um the the one thing that we do need to do is we do need to amend uh the contract. They are not technically Lake Point City. They are just Lake Point. And so, uh, if you move to adopt this, I would ask that you amend any reference to Lake Point City to just be Lake Point. Is there any questions or comments from the council on the interlocal agreement? If not, chair to entertain a motion.

Mr. Chairman, I make a motion first that we amend the contract and strike the reference to city throughout the contract and just have it be Lake Point. Hear a motion, Councilman Wardle, to strike uh city and just have a reference in referring to Lake Point as point. No, we have to do the amendment separately. Hearing a second from Councilman Hoffman. All those in favor say I. I. I. All those may oppose say nay. Now Mr. Chairman, I make a motion that we approve the interlocal agreement with Lake Point.

Here a motion. Councilman Wardle approve the interlocal agreement with Lake Point. Is there any uh comments? If not here in a second. Hearing a second from Councilman Strungberg. All those [snorts] in favor of approval of the interlocal agreement with Lake Point say I. I. I. All those that may oppose say nay. That uh passes [clears throat] unanimously from what I That brings us down to resolution resolution 2025-30 adjusting in the Tula County budget for the 2025 fiscal year.

All right, council. Uh this will be our last adjustment for the year. Um the manager's office is um uh transferring $19 million from the general fund to the capital projects fund. Okay. Is there any other questions or comments from the council? If not, this was the amount that was recommended by Carrie from the Yeah, we worked together on this. I had a higher amount. She had this amount and I agreed this is the the correct amount to I agreed with that. You got um chair to entertain a motion to open up public hearing. So [clears throat] second here motion council ward, second from Councilman Strongberg, open up public hearing. All those in favor say I.

I. I. All those may oppose say nay. Hearing none. Public hearing is now open. Is there anybody by in the audience by raise of hands that would like to speak to resolution 2025-30 adjusting the Tula County budget of 2025 fiscal year? Thank you.

So to Kai's point about Carrie collaborating with the manager's office, um Carrie did collaborate with the manager's office. My concern with this transfer is that when the funds are transferred, they do need to have a plan associated with them. And right now there is no plan associated with those funds being transferred to to the capital projects fund. The funds staying in the the comment was that we can have them in the general fund and take a write up for them being over or we can transfer them to the capital projects fund with no plan. And either way is a writeup. So my counsel to the council has been that it is much easier to leave them in the general fund than it is to transfer them back out of the capital projects fund. So this is a management recommendation, not an auditor's office recommendation.

Comments noted any um with that said, chair to entertain a motion to close public hearing. So moved. Hear a motion from Councilman Stroberg. Is there a second? Hearing a second from Councilman Wle. All those in favor of closing public hearing say I. I. I. All those may oppose say nay. Okay. Chair to entertain a motion for Mr. Chairman I have a question. Andy in the association as we've talked about this you indicated that there are several projects that we have identified these funds to be used.

That is correct. So we have a capital improvement plan that we put together. It's a five-year plan. If you look at that there are that many projects over the next number of years actually. So I do have that if we want to at some point adopt that so that that is the plan that we have. We can certainly do that at a future meeting if you'd like. There are that many projects going out the next 5 years. So okay, I do have those identified by it's a lot of the parks and recreation roads um emergency um services. So we do have a number of projects that are lined up for that. Okay, sounds good. chair to entertain a motion for resolution 2025-30. So moved here a motion from Councilman Hoffman. Is there a second?

Second. Hear a second from Councilman Strungberg. All those in favor of resolution 2025-30 say I. I. All those may oppose say nay. That is adopted. That will bring us down to resolution 2025-31. Establishing the salaries of the Twilla County officers for 2026 fiscal year. Andy

council as you recall last year we have to adopt the salaries of department heads and elected officials each year. That was some legislation that was passed a couple of years ago. So last year was the first year that we did adopt that. So we use their current salaries times the cola that we were and and the merit that we were including in and updated that table and we need to approve that. But we have to have a public hearing on that each year. So this is just an update from last year based on the coal and merit that you've recommended. Thank you. Any questions for Andy comments? If not, chair to entertain a motion to open up public hearing on resolution 2025-31. So moved here a motion Councilman Wardle. Is there a second? Second.

Hearing a second with Councilman Strongberg. All those in favor of resolution 2025-31 say I. I. I. All those may oppose say nay. Okay, public hearing is now open. Is there anybody in the audience by raise of hand that would like to speak to resolution 2025-31 that's establishing the salaries of the Tullet County officers for the fiscal year of 2026? Seeing none, chair entertain a motion to close public hearing. So moved. Hearing a motion from Councilman Strong. Is there a second? Second. Hear a second from Councilman Wardle. All those in favor of closing public hearing on resolution 2025-31 say I.

I. All those may oppose say nay. That is adopted. Public hearing is now closed. Uh chair to entertain a motion on resolution 2025-31. So move here. Motion from Councilman Wardle. Is there a second? Second. Hear a second for Councilman Strungberg. All those in favor of resolution 2025-31 say I. I. I. All those may oppose say nay. That is adopted. Thank you. That will bring us down to resolution 2025-32 adopting the Twilla County budget for the 2026 fiscal year. Andy,

just as a recap from our last meeting, there were still a couple of items that we needed to have a discussion on that we needed a final decision on. And if we we have the tenative budget prepared and if you make these recommendations, we'd have to amend that to include or exclude as you see fit. So the the remaining items that we had to discuss were some personnel positions. It was the event coordinator from the parks and recreation from a part-time to full-time. The internal auditor with the with the county um from the auditor's office moving it from a part-time to full-time. Meals on wheels from a 0.25 to 0.5. and then two food preparation workers in the aging department moving from 0.25 to 0.5. Those were the remaining items that we discussed the last two meetings, but we wanted everybody to be here before we made a final decision on those. And so these are the positions that we need some discussion. We have all of the departments are here to answer more questions if you have additional questions.

Thank you. Any questions for Andy? If not, then I'd open it up for discussion from the council. Any comments or additions? [snorts] Are we taking these one by one in discussion or are we uh what would you like to do council? Take it one by one or take them together? One by one thinks we should what? One by one. I assume you're not all going to vote in a block. So I would think it'd make more sense to do one by one. Okay. One by one. The first one is the event program coordinator from event coordinator for at the peak. Correct.

Okay. Uh chair to entertain a motion for the event coordinator at the peak. Mr. Chairman, maybe I can get a little more clarification or understanding. Are they requesting two positions? Yes. So, the first position that we're moving from part-time to full-time was approved by the council earlier in November. This was the second position that there was more discussion that you hadn't decided on yet. So, one was approved. This is a second one. I believe in the November meeting we had a split vote of two to two and so this was held over and then I was gone [clears throat] last week.

Okay. [snorts] And this is for one additional employee FD. This one correct. [snorts] Is there a motion? Yeah. Part from part-time to full-time. as yes, what we did in the last meeting is we just went one by one with each council member stating their preference or we can take a a okay roll call vote or a voice vote. Councilman Hoffman, no. Councilman Thomas,

you know, I'm willing to give one position between two of them, too, Corey. I mean, I'm kind of in the opinion, choose which one you want. I mean, I'll give you one, but I'm not going to give you two. So I I'd like to have an understanding if you got to have one and you're asking Santa Clauses which one that I mean to help me understand I'll I'll give you one of them but not and I did discuss this with Corey and he want the other position was the higher priority for the two and so the other one that you approved was his highest priority. So this one is not this is the second priority. The other one was the higher priority. Okay. So no on this. Councilman Stroberg,

I I'm going to I think I'm probably switching my vote from before. I think I'm I'm a no. I think this is one that we can hold off and see what happens when we're further along with the projects down there. So, right now I'm a no. Okay. Admirally no, Councilman Wardle. Nope. Okay. Next one. You have the internal auditor with accounting going from a 049 to a full-time position. So before you ask, so a point of clarification, the proposed budget you have has the position in it does not have that. Correct. Does not have it in. Yeah, we we'll do it. We'll have a I just want to make sure we know what we're voting on.

I I'm preparing an amendment to exhibit A that will add specifically what we're doing. Okay. Would add in the positions which we would have to amend. The proposed budget does not have correct. Correct. You got it. [clears throat] So, this is the internal auditor with accounting. Internal auditor. Any uh comments or Oh, we can go one by one. Okay. So, the question is because I can't do anything here down. So, what are we voting on again for this is uh internal in the auditor's office. They're wanting a moving it from a 0.9 FTE to a full-time

uh.949 to 49 to a full-time position. Okay. Do you have a comment on that? Do you want Thank you for clarification. Okay. Anybody want to comment? Do we keep it Do you want it a full time? Do you want to keep it at a 049? I'm going to move to keep it as a 49. Okay. [snorts] Part time. Councilman Hoffman. No, I'm not going to second that. Okay. Strong group. Um, so is it a motion to go keep it a port like or what? How are we doing this?

That's good question. The proposal is in the in [snorts] this that we move it to a point to a full time. So, you [snorts] can run a motion one of two ways. We could run it to keep it where it's currently at or we can say no to the additional full-time position. I believe Councilman Thomas made a motion to keep it at part-time 49. Okay. But we need a second. That's That's why Councilman Hoffman does not want to second it. Councilman Stroberg. No, I can't second that.

Okay. Uh to keep it at 049. I'll second that. I was going to second it. Okay. Councilman question. Calling question on it then. Calling question. Councilman uh Hoffman, how do you vote? I don't know. I don't think we should get I think it would just need three employees in that department. So I vote no for [snorts] any change. Councilman, make sure I know what could tell me again what I'm voting on. You're voting on your motion to keep it. Okay. Councilman Stroberg.

Um I thought this should have been a full time. That's how I voted last time, but rather than go no, I will vote yes to at least the 49. [snorts] So you're voting yes to it. I will. Am yes. Wardo I'm also yes okay that was four to one next one this is a meals on wheels from aging moving it from a 0.25 25 to a.5 employee. I think you received an email earlier today from the health department director on these next positions. Okay, Councilman Wardle,

first of all, thank you for the email. It clarified so much. I we I really appreciate it. I am a yes on both of these, the meals on wheels and the food preparation workers. But if we're only taking one meals on wheels, my answer is yes. Okay. I was also yes. Councilman. Yes. I'm okay with just one. Okay, next one. Food preparation worker. I'm a yes on. Okay, [snorts] I'll be a yes on that one. I'm a yes as well. Yes. No. Okay. Okay.

Next one. So, just so I'm clear, [snorts] when I make the motion on the amendment that we will be adopting uh amending to add the mills on wheels in and the food preparation worker in

Scott two there. Got it. Okay. Thank you. [snorts] The next two items that were still outstanding, one is the administration building landscaping. Um, as [clears throat] I think we mentioned last time, we we're working with the state on the on the courthouse property, and we will get some additional money. And so, this is some of this one-time money that we get sometimes. So, we had some money in to [clears throat] do the U landscaping out front. We did a study a few years ago. And just as so, just as a reminder, Britney can show um here in just a second here, the the the layout that we had prepared um for the front lawn, but it is would be some onetime money that that you could use. It's up to you.

If you want to explain a little bit of this off, y'all. That was funny. Ty. Um, hey, because I wasn't talking into my mic, right? [laughter] Good one.

Um, so council, I don't know if you remember when we did this. This actually was when Corey first came on board and he was helping with this. Um, we brought several different landscape designs to you and this was the landscape design you actually voted on that you guys wanted to do in front of the building. Um, it's not as elaborate as you think it is. I think that it just goes right along with the other improvements that we've done to this. Also, remember that the funding that we use towards this is one-time monies. It's not like it's regular monies that we have coming in. Um, so what it includes is this will make it so that we have ADA accessibility in the front of the building. Um, so this all this parking right here would be ADA. It completes a ramp that goes up to this part. And when we installed the doors, we did include the doors on this side of the building to have the ADA button. Um, has the flag poles. I know you guys would be really sad to get rid of our bent flag poles out front, but it moves the flag poles to the middle. Um these sections you see right here are actually planters that we would work with um the USU extension on doing landscape design that would be native to the area. And then we just have a small section of grass right here and then out on um the front place for the parade. So we still have seating for the Fourth of July parade. So, but this was the design that you guys actually voted on

and I think the price at that time was 370 or something like that if I'm not mistaken. Yeah. When we kind of priced it out then. So, okay. And and then we're doing stuff in the back.

Correct. If we if if we're able to once and we're working pretty fast now with the state actually on this project. They want us to get the lines drawn. Um, if we were to do that and we are working with an architect to look at the current building that we may keep for our facilities folks, we may look at tearing down the the structure that we have right next to the parking and make that parking. So, we'd be redoing good bit of that and the state would as well as they're coming in doing their demolition work and building their new Sally Port and the new parking area. I think I looked at my notes. Uh, we wanted to wait on this because we were doing this building, the exterior windows and doors, the boiler, things like that. Get that up to speed before we started doing that in the back.

Correct. And now that we're to that and and would this go back out to bid because when did how [clears throat] how old is this bid? We didn't get a bid, did we? We just got We we did we actually did have a bid. How long ago was that, Corey? Three years. Three years. Three years. So So we [clears throat] do have the design. So that's a good chunk that's out of the place to wait. Yeah. So that design's already been made. Correct. Okay. Any other questions or comments from the council? Okay. [snorts] Uh Hoffman, how much money is it? It's 400. We anticipated about being right on 400,000. That's too high for this, so I'm going to know. Okay. [snorts] Councilman Thomas, yes. Councilman Stungberg, yes.

Councilman Handers, yes. Councilman Wardle, yes. Okay. So, you'll add that. Yep. Absolutely. Then the last one we had to to discuss was the America 250 celebration. And I think I know Britney, you want to I think you've discussed it with some of them. We discussed this before. Um the committee's gotten together and they have a breakdown of the costs of the some of it would be um swag and merchandise. There's a scavenger hunt app and then there was a celebration out at Desert Peak. if you wanted to anything else you'd like to explain about that.

Uh I think as I talked to some of the council about it, I think we can see some places where we could cut. Again, this would be something that would be one-time funding and or we could use some tourism funds for this as well. Um I would be happy to reduce my quest request to 150,000 for this. Um but it's whatever the council would like to do. Okay. Councilman Wortle, I like decreasing it to 150. So, okay. I I mean, how many times do we get to celebrate one of the greatest nations on earth and its anniversary? I think we [snorts] should do this, right? Okay. I'm a yes. Also, Councilman Strongberg, I'm good with the 150. Councilman, yes. Councilman Hoffman,

that depends. We're So, are we going to take some of it from tourism? Because I'm okay. We I'm okay with 150. We take some of it with entirely up to you if you'd like to split the cost between. I think that's what we had talked about. [snorts] So, what would be the breakdown then? I don't you can split it in half. We can just split it in half if you'd like. I think we need to nail down those details. I would have if you'd like just to recommend 75 come from parks and recck special events department and then 75 come from tourism. I'm I'm good with that. Okay, I've got it. Okay. Okay. So, we have five. Is that good? Go ahead.

Okay. Then just a couple of cleanup item. Well, one cleanup and one I just like to to ask your permission on. So, one of the things that we've looked at the last couple of years is being self-insured on our health insurance. We haven't made that decision yet to do it yet. We we had set aside some money in the past to get a fund balance prepared when we're ready to do that. We're not going to do it this next year, but I one recommendation would be to put a little extra into that fund so that we're ready. When we talked to our consultant about a month or so ago, they said, "You're in really good shape. You may want to add a little bit more." And so my recommendation would be add another $300,000. We currently have 900 there. And then when the time is right, that would be something that we could do. If not, we can wait until we get to that point and make that decision. But that's just just an

Thank you. I sat in on those meetings and they were very complimentary of the uh the county and they did suggest they said if you want to be um you're healthy to do it now um but if you really want to be over the top and make sure that you're in really good shape um wait one more year and put in some money there so that we can uh look at that following year. We'll have the discussion with them again to see if the timing is right. We're not in a huge hurry but just getting prepared. Okay, I'm okay. I'm okay with it. Councilman Strumberg. Yeah, I'm good with that. Councilman Thomas. Yes. Councilman Hoffman. Councilman Wardle. Yes.

Okay. And then just one cleanup item. One thing that I missed on the budget. This is in the airport fund. I transposed a number. And so for pavement maintenance, the revenue should have been 360. I had 965, which was another number that was there. So that should be 360. And then one on the expense side for the pavement maintenance that should have been 400,000. Just one second. So revenue should be 360. Yeah. And [snorts] maintenance should be how much? The payment maintenance should be 400,000. Okay, that's I just confirmed that with Lisa this afternoon. So, and those are the only changes that I have. Okay. Is there anything new on this one? I'm ready. I can I can do an amendment right now. Okay.

Well, do we need Well, we have to say yes to what he just said. So, I'm good. I'm good. Yeah. Okay. Okay, Mr. Chairman, uh I'm requesting a point of order. Chair [snorts] recognizes Councilman Wardle

for two amendments tonight. The first one is under the be it resolve clause that exhibit A be amended to include the following that mills on wheels aging move from 0.25 25 to 0.5 FTE. Food preparation workers and aging move from 0.25 25 to.5 FTE under the projects line of the administration building landscaping uh be adopted at 400,000 the American 250 celebration be adopted at at 150,000 75,000 coming from tourism 75,000 coming from the parks and recreation special events line [snorts] that and then in other adjustments that we add in 300 $100,000 for the self- insurance fund that we change the pavement maintenance numbers to reflect the following. That in the revenue fund it should be $360,000 and in the maintenance fund it should be $400,000.

That's my amendment. That's correct. Hear a motion or amendment from Councilman Orto. Is there a second? Second. Hear a second from Councilman Stroberg. All those in fa is there any discussion or comments? Seeing hearing none, call for a vote. All those in favor say I. I. I. All those may oppose say nay.

Okay. The second amendment is to at the end if fixed as so stated, we add in be it further resolved that the county manager's office be directed to complete all paperwork necessary for the government finance officers association distinguished budget award and submit it prior to the deadline. Okay, hearing a motion Councilman Wardle. Is there a second to that? Second. Second from Councilman Thomas. All those in favor say I. I I All those may oppose say nay. Now, Mr. Chairman, I make a motion that we adopt the 2025 resolution 2025-32 as amended.

Here a motion, Councilman Wardle to adopt resolution 2025-32 as amended. Is there a second? Second. Hear a second from Councilman Strongberg. All those in favor say I. I. All those may oppose say nay. is adopted. It brings us down to resolution 2025-33 authorizing the appointment of a temporary justice court judges Nathan.

Thank you, chairman. Um, as you know, Judge Dao is retiring. uh he's retiring at the end of this month and we need to have a justice court judge in place to continue that uh service that we provide. And so this resolution allows um really we're going to appoint any temporary justice court judge who would be qualified in that position to come out from the third district uh to serve as our temporary [clears throat] justice court judge until we find that replacement. Go through that whole process of hiring a new judge. Okay. Any questions or comments for Nathan? If not, chair and entertain a motion. So move.

Motion Councilman Thomas. Is there a second? Second. There a second from Councilman Hoffman. All those in favor say I. I. All those may oppose say nay. That is adopted. Can I just piggy back on that one just quickly,

please? Just so that you're aware, Nate and I did meet with uh the court on this position and they'll be closing this position I think on Friday if I'm not mistaken. I think it's on the 12th and so there's a nominating commission that needs to be appointed and I think I've discussed that with you. So we have a few names that we need to appoint and that nominating committee commission will um look at all the applications that come in and then they'll recommend three to five to the to the county executive to myself to to select and then it'll be ratified by the council. So, I'll be working with you one first. We need some names, I think two names at least for that nominating commission and then we'll be working as we do the interviews. But this typically takes six months. We're doing this as fast as we can so that we have coverage here. And so, as soon as you can get me those names, we'll get that committee commission up and running and they'll be receiving um those applications. I think it went out to the bar. It went out to every sitting judge in in the state and it was I mean I think it they have quite a few applicants for this. So, we're looking forward to moving forward with this position.

Okay. Thank you. And and so I've talked to each of you about it. Uh different names and things like that. So, we'll get those and give it over. Andy, are you the one that you want the names then? Please. Yes. [snorts] That'll bring us down to action items number nine. Elect the 2026 uh chairman and vice chair. Um, any nominations or comments on that council? I would make a motion we keep it the way it is.

Hear a motion from I don't want to hear that motion, but hearing the motion from Councilman. Hey, I can second that. My friends, I hear a motion from Councilman Hoffman, second from Councilman Thomas. Any fe further discussions? We can vote no. I know we're out [laughter] voted. All those in favor say I. I. All those may oppose say nay. Wait, did you guys vote for yourselves? I They did. Might as well. [laughter]

I voted for I voted for Jared. [laughter] Okay, that'll bring us down to the adoption of the 2026 council meeting schedule. What you have, Andy, you have before you. Go ahead, Andy.

Yeah, I forward a copy of that to you last week and then you have a copy in front of you as well. You can see there just a couple of little some of the meetings that the months that we need to adjust or to look at. So, a couple of months in April and July, we have a lot of um conferences between the council and between the manager's office. And so, those months, it look like we may just have the one meeting if that's okay, in April and July. The one that we need to know from you is in May. Niko WIR is during one of our meetings, but we're not sure how many of you will go. So, if you can let us know, we we'll know whether or not that meeting needs to be rescheduled. So, I I will be at a different meeting, not not the WR. Okay. If we have a still have a quorum, we're good to go. So, just let us know. That one we can

I usually go to the W meeting, so I'm planning on going to that one. [snorts] I think probably need to plan on moving it. We need to move that meeting then. Okay. I'll be here. [clears throat] I'll be here. Sorry. I have a chamber of things. So, we can move. We could up to you if you want us to have the one meeting in May or we want to have just move it to the 12th. Any uh comments on that? Move it to the 12th or have one. It is hard to have them back to back. But

um just one thing on on the date of the 12th. I speaking with Ian from 47G today and they are working on putting together a fly into Washington DC for some of the projects for energy and other things that we're interested in military things like that um that week of May 12th just so you guys are aware they've invited us to go so that is [snorts] something that we um just one we can just see department of energy and other things like that Good, good, good opportunity. Just have one meeting then. Is that the 19th? Okay, we'll scratch the that one then in the April meeting. I propose I think we just have one meeting.

Yeah, we we have too many conflicts later in that month. So, I think the one if that's okay with you, one would would be what we would recommend. Same with July. If we need a meeting, an additional meeting, we can always add. Absolutely. Other than that, and you you see the the schedule going on from there as well. So, so recommending one in July. Y just making sure we're getting that onto the record. One one in April, May, and July then. Okay. Yeah. But keeping the rest of like I said, we can all is fluid so we can always add to Yep. need to be. Okay. Yeah. Do we Andy need to vote on that. One question I do have.

Sure. And looking at the the budget schedule, are we looking at doing the re revenues projected revenues on September 1st or doing that on August 18th? That one is up to you. I didn't I didn't put that one in there. I'm sorry. Like to do that on August 18th. If we're going to talk about capital improvement plans and everything else, should at least have projected revenue. Would you like to have that at a 5:00 work meeting then? I think that we just I don't know if Yeah. Yeah. Turn it to five. Okay. So, we'd have three meetings in August. Two. No, it's a two. So, would it change from 7:00 p.m. to 5? Oh, okay.

On the 18th. Okay. So, now I have a September.

Any other questions? Then of course the last one in December we typically don't have if we're prepared to adopt a budget, but we have it in there just in case. Okay, [clears throat] Mr. Chairman, I make a motion that we adopt the 2026 tenative meeting schedule as we have talked about in this meeting tonight. A motion Councilman Wardo. Is there a second? Second. A second Councilman Hoffman. All those in favor say I.

I. All those may oppose say nay. Thank you. That will bring us down to boards and committees. Um, thank you for coming. We have one uh on the audit committee, one vacancy, and Councilman Hoffman, you have uh an application to read in. No, I think it's not here. Yeah, it is. Well, didn't m I've got it. Okay, let me find it. Do you want me to pull it up for you, Ty?

There you go. [snorts] All right. So, Mike Rapage, who is here, has applied to be on the um audit committee, and I think we ought to approve him. All you do if you guys know who Mike Rapage is, he used to be the colonel for the highway patrol. He's sitting back there. I think I said that. Oh, did you? I wasn't listening. [laughter] Good. who's online.

I watched this last week online. So, um yeah, I would recommend that we make approval to um accept Mike Rapid onto the audit committee and then you guys can't give me any more crap about it either. I'll second that Ty Hoffman has recommended a name to place on the audit committee after five months. Mike, I think you'll do awesome there. Yeah. Is hearing a motion from Councilman Hoffman, Mike uh Rapage, and second from Councilman Wardle. Is there any further discussions or comments? All those in favor say I. I. I. All those may oppose say nay.

Now, Mr. Chairman, as we talked about this back in June or May, you talked about that you would work with the attorney's office and the manager's office to set up a training so everyone's aware of what is going to be happening. Is that correct? Correct. And I think if any of us need to help out with that, please call upon us.

Thank you. Okay, that will bring us uh I have um several let's see board applications here. Um here they are here, Mr. Chairman. Okay, thank you. on aging. Pat Hartley um is to be reappointed for the second term. Um and that would be expiring on nove or December 31st, 2029. Um is there any and also Mr. Burgerer and Amber Een is there any uh reappointment to the aging committee? Is there any comments or

Mr. Chairman, I serve on this committee uh representing the And you should be presenting these names, but go ahead. And so they're all they're all active. They're they we make the motion we reappoint them because they've been very active and still want to do it. So I make that motion. Okay. Hearing a motion from Councilman uh Thomas. Is there a second? Second. A second from Councilman Strongberg. All those in favor say I. I. All those that may oppose say nay. Who's over Lake Point Cemetery and Park? Nobody. Nobody. Mr. Chairman, you are [laughter]

great. Melissa Wright uh to be appointed for a four-year term expiring the uh December 31st, 2029. uh Mark Boss um four-year term expiring the same uh December 30 uh 31, 2029, and William Harris uh for Lake Point Cemetery and Park. Um is there any discussions or comments? If not, um entertain a motion. I believe there's only one opening though as I see on the notes. Is that correct? We have two. They have two that are expiring. Yeah. Okay. [snorts]

How about if I make that motion? Is there a second? I'll second. Hear a sec. Hamner makes the motion. Second from Councilman Stroberg. All those in favor say I. I. I. All those that may oppose say nay. Then down here on weeds, we have Marlin uh excuse me. So uh we have Marlon Yates. He's already served a full term. board recommends reappointing him to a second term that will expire on 1231 2029. Thank you, Councilman Wardle. I'll make that motion also. Council hearing motion from Councilman Hamner, second from Councilman Hoffman. All those in favor say I. I.

I. All those may oppose say nay. Thank you. And [snorts] do you want to go ahead? Uh chair entertain I mean chair recognizes councilman Thomas. Uh there's an opening on the tourism tax advisory board and Tyler Guy who is uh been active in tourism and with the western music songwriters association um has applied for this position and I'll make that motion to uh appoint Tyler Guy to the tourism tax advisory board. Here a motion from Councilman Thomas, second from Councilman Hoffman. All those in favor say I.

I. All those may oppose say nay. That is appointed. Do you do you need these back, Nikki? You have all that. Okay. And then we do have other opportunities. So, anybody that's listening to this or uh that you may know, they're welcome to apply for those boards. Uh council updates. Councilman Hoffman. The only I was going to mention was [snorts] the 47G and then the Kar. Get your money in. We got to get it. I thought you guys earlier. Family. Oh, hey. I'm going to encourage you to swear as much as you can the next day or two and put your money in there. Okay,

sounds good. Thank you. My wife, you told me to. I don't care. Tell her for a good cause. Councilman Thomas, any updates? No. Councilman Stroberg? Uh, nothing. Councilman Handner will pass. Councilman Wardle,

I actually do have an update. Uh, last week I was gone to the American City Council Exchange where we looked at a couple of different very important issues that will that could be affecting our county. The first one is that uh they they asked us to have a discussion and led the discussion on a model bit a model policy on homebased business and the ability to create entrepreneurialship within the community. If you're not aware, this is how Ryan Smith started. Um when you look at Apple, it started in a garage and that there are many jurisdictions now that are making it almost impossible to do this in a cost-effective way for families or for individuals to provide that entrepreneurship. That resolute or that model policy will be going forward to the entire group in the July conference to be adopted by legislators and city and coun city councils, county councils and commissions. The second one is one that we need to watch during this session at the legislature. There is a movement and it is a very strong movement to abolish the property tax to increase the rates of income tax or sales tax to replace the property tax. It is a deeply concerning trend and in the discussion I think we need to be aware with our state legislators. We've seen some of these movements already that push when the state takes the control of that money. It takes it out of the ability for the locals to local jurisdictions to do their job effectively. The second thing uh that they brought up is there should be a series of questions that we ask when we increase property taxes. Number one, are you getting better government

services by increasing the property tax? That should be measurable. And so the the idea that we raise the property tax and then figure out how to spend it is something that is really backwards and something that we should be very aware of right now. The second thing is that if there are going to be levies, so for instance, if we are going to impose a levy or a voted upon tax, it should always be done in a November election. It should not be done in a primary election. Um they recommend that if you can a and we had great council and discussion about getting rid of special service districts or RDA districts that you try and keep it in the decision makers and those who are voted in to be the decision makers hands so that they are the one accountable instead of appointed people. Um, one of the thing is very interesting was there was a discussion about how we budget and what is the common practice and the common practice is something we've discussed for four years now and that is incremental budgeting and that it really needs to be changed by most governments. Uh, the National League of Cities president uh past president this last year was in the meeting and we had a incredible discussion. I don't agree with the entire principle, but his city adopted zerobased budgeting across the board that netted a significant savings that and we saw this tonight work um in the priority base side. And so over the course of the next six months, we will be developing I've been appointed to a subcommittee to develop statements of principle when it comes to budgeting and budget allocations made by councils, legislators so that we have accountability and you have measurements of effectiveness. And so that is the result of last week's meeting. Uh there are several resources that we can give

on property tax reform and when we look at how do we uh how do we view property tax? How do we measure it? So I just wanted to report to the council that. Thank you Councilman Ble. Appreciate it. That'll bring us down to the managers update. Yeah, if I can just mention a couple of things. First we'd like to introduce our new purchasing manager. Daniel folks, you want to raise your hand? Stand up. Britney will do a dance with you if you want to. He comes from the east coast. He lived in Virginia DC area and he went to University of Miami. Correct me if I'm wrong about any of this. And then most recently he worked for for the IRS doing purchasing and he just moved out to Utah how many months ago?

Yeah. So we're very glad to have him. He has experience working on the federal side and so he's already getting to work on that. So please welcome Daniel Folks as our new purchasing manager. The second thing, just a quick update, and it was mentioned in the public comments. One of the things that we approved in the budget, which we were waiting for the approval tonight, was to do the paying comp study. Um Matt from HR and I met with Victoria, who did our study before, we met with her on Friday. She's given us a contract. I'll sign that contract tomorrow. We'll get started on that as soon as we can. Um and we once we get the results back, we we if if depending on what the recommendations are, we'll implement some of those as soon as we can. and assuming we have the budget for that, but we'll bring that back to you. But we're starting kind of immediately on that just so that you're aware of that. And Britney has a couple of things. One I'll I'll mention for her, she wants to mention we had Smith's open house and tell them how that went, the groundbreaking.

All [snorts] right, guys. We have some really exciting things to talk about today. So, Smith's open this last week. Um Andy and I attended the VIP event. It was like a high school reunion for me. It was kind of fun. Uh but anyhow uh we we have had reports back from So first off I want to congratulate the city. It's the biggest grand opening that Smith has had in the history of Smith and their first two days of sales were record-breaking sales. So pretty exciting. Um I don't know if you guys have ever been to a Murray's cheese island but it's to die for. The parmesan ever is fantastic. Go try it out. Okay. But anyhow um so that was that's amazing exciting news for our community. Um, I just wanted to give a few updates on uh parks and rec specifically. A few weeks ago, there was a cancellation of all equestrian events uh due to a virus outbreak of horses and now that's been lifted by the state veterinarian and so we are open for open ride and equestrian events. Again, um I wanted to make you all aware that we still although it's winter, we're still working on the pool. Um currently they're working um on the mechanical room, the pump systems. Um, and we have the plumber looking through all of the plumbing and um the and also electrician looking at all the power that we have to that buildings to make sure that it's adequate for the needs and um with the budget approval of having the snack shack upgraded. We'll start working on that right away. Um yesterday was the RPO meeting and uh something was exciting is Lake Point has adopted their transportation plan and so we'll be kind of working on integrating that with ours as well. Um and then from our office to the entire county team. This is our last meeting of the year. So wanted to say thanks to the county team, that's all of our departments, elected officials, everyone for a great year. Um I think we've had a pretty successful year. a lot of great things and to the council for um supporting the projects and purchases and things that we've been

able to do. So, thanks for keeping me in this job, too. I kind of like it. Thank you. Appreciate it. With that, I'll bring us down to adjournment. So, moved. And a motion to adjourn. All those in favor say I. I. We are adjourned at 6:12.