Council Meeting (03-06-2025)

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE VERNON TOWN COUCIL Public Regular Meeting on March 6,2025 at 7:00 PM at the Vernon Fire Station 325 South Main Street Vernon UT 84080.

Public Meeting

  1. Pledge of Allegiance- Lead by Tai Lauti
  2. Approval of Meeting Minutes February 6, 2025- Motion made by Scott Livingston Seconded by Tai Lauti. All in favor non opposed.
  3. Approval of Public Hearing Meeting Minutes February 6, 2025. Motion made by Mike Cheatham Seconded by Scott Livingston. All in favor non opposed.
  4. Swearing in Jamison Richey- Nicole read the Oath of office to Jamison Richey. Jamison Richey then signed the Oath of Office. Mayor John Olson welcomed him to the town Council and thanked him for his involvement.
  5. Public Comments- Rachel Mentioned that she has been watching the stop sign in front of her house and she has noticed that not everyone stops at the stop sign. John mentioned that is it always going to be a problem since they do not have law enforcement out here. John mentioned maybe one day we can get the Sheriff department to come out and sit there. No other public comments.
  6. Sheriff Report- 5 calls. 2 were agency assists (Traffic Collision and suspicious vehicle report, motorist assist). 1 child abuse case that has been referred over to investigation. 1 animal call (Sheriff stated if he had to guess it would be a deer that was hit). Nothing significate other then the child abuse case that is with the investigations team. The sheriff mentioned that he will take back the information about the stop sign. The problem with that is when the department is out here they know that we are here and they will obey the laws.
  7. Joe Mannino (Fire)- Mike spoke on behalf of Joe Mannino. Mike stated that the department received the invoice for the rope rescue equipment that the department needs to purchase. The amount is $3,542.36. Joe had mentioned to mike they are sitting somewhere around $20,000 in their account so there should be plenty in there and this is part of the safety budget. John asked Nicole did we approve this already? Nicole stated that the council had approved some of it. Mike stated that at the time they didn’t have the full amount of what it was going to cost. Shar stated that everything but the ropes had been approved already. John asked if there were any questions from the council. Scott asked what is the price difference for the ropes that has not been approved verse what has been approved? Mike stated that they didn’t have a price when they were approved. This invoice they have now is the full price for the items. Shar stated this is the last part of the rope rescue equipment that we need. The department didn’t have a price at that time because Joe was looking into it to find the best price possible. This is what he was able to find. This invoice is $3,000 less then everywhere else we have looked. Thye are giving the department a very good deal. Scott asked what is the total amount? Mike stated that it is $3,543.36. Scott asked is this for the full package and everything you need? Mike stated that it is. Shar stated that we had to bring everything up to standard. John asked shar have we ever had a insitance that we could have used something like this? Shar stated yes there has been a couple of times. Especially when we go into Stockton and Ophir where there are a couple of mines and do mine rescues. John asked are we qualified to go into a mine? Shar stated she isn’t sure maybe after this last training? Mike stated that if someone was dying we would be able to utilize the equipment. John stated that he remembers now because this was one of the courses that you all took at the training. Mike stated yes it was, the last accident we went on in Eureka if it would have happened on the opposite side of the road we would have been pulling him out of the wash. John asked does this have the back board and everything? Mike stated that they already have the back board in the hummer. John asked if there were anymore questions. No other questions. Motion made by Scott to approve the rope Rescue equipment for the price of $3,543.36. Seconded by Tai. All in favor non opposed. Motion Carries. Mike Mentioned that the Engine Academy will be out here again in May. It will be the same as what it has been for the last 2 years.
  8. Consideration of Update of CWPP along with Cooperative Wildfire system and joint cost for Wildfire protection with the State of Utah. Shar gave the presentation for this subject. Shar stated that the CWPP is something that we will need to start working on. Shar stated that the reason why we are having to have a meeting to get this taken care of right away is because everything has changed in the DNR for this program. They are updating it and with the upadtes its also costing us $2,000.00 nmore then what it used to cost us to have wildland coverage out here. Shar stated that that information is on the commitment page. Shar stated that they took 10 years and then averaged it and this is what the cost for all of the fires in our area would cost. Shar stated that it is not $5,770.00. Shar stated that this is what she has been doing over the last year. John asked so this is how much they have spend over the last 10 years? Shar stated no this is how much we owe the state for the DNR to cover us out here. Shar stated this is what she has been keeping track of for the last many years. It used to be a little over $3,000.00 but now it has changed to the $5,770.00. The whole process has changed as well. Shar stated that she can no longer track for every idivual that we used to be able to. When someone does a project they will have to get on and report that. Shar stated it make it harder for her to be able to go back in and figure out how much each person is worth and how much each piece of equipment is worth to be able to meet this amount of $5,770.00. Shar stated what we are going to need to do is we will have to have a town meeting and educate everyone in the community about what is necessary and that they can go online and they can get their tracking done. The DNR is going to keep track of all of that then send it to us so that we can break everything else down. John asked if we do not get enough hours does the town owe this? Shar stated the town would owe whatever balance is left. Shar stated that she is proposing that we put on the participation commitment that needs to be signed right away. These items have been discussed. Shar stated that we were not going to be able to count the mowing of the weeds but now we can. That will be $2,400.00 for the year. There will also be property owns removal of debris because of the dumpsters but they will have to track their information and get on and report that. Or they can give it to shar and they can get on and find a way to report it. Shar does not have the paperwork anymore to do that for them. John asked how do you put a cost on dumping stuff in the dumpster? Shar stated it will be the gathering up and how long it took them to gather it and how many people were involved also what equipment they used to do it. Shar stated that is another thing they are not sure how much all of that will come out to. Shar stated that she can give an idea because of what they have had previously. She does not have that information available tonight at the meeting. She stated that they did the emergency preparedness program at the school that is about $400.00 that is off there now. As of right now we are up to $2,800.00 with the weeds and the program. The department is going to have a chipper day where we will have the wood chipper here at the station the department will be in charge of that and they can bring their limbs and items from their yard and put it through the chipper. Shar stated that they are hoping to coincide that with the dumpster as well. The control burns will also help with that. In the past those have helped us with the amount. That should bring us up pretty close to the amount with the men and the equipment that was used. It should be about $2,000.00 worth. Next we will have to do a town meeting and get everyone up to date on what needs to be done. The time that we put in and getting this town meeting together would count. Shar stated that she would like to coordinate it more with the town emergency preparness stuff so maybe it will draw a little more of a crowd. John asked will this be put on by the fire department? Shar stated the department and the town. This agreement belongs to the town not the fire department. In order to do the CWPP we need to pull the committee together that is going to write and add more information for the CWPP. Shar stated that Tai and Darci helped write it the last time. Shar stated that most everything that was in the old one was put into the new one but it still is needing to be finished up. Shar stated that it would be a really good idea to have that done by the end of June. John asked so in hosting this fire thing in may would that count towards this? Shar stated No. John stated that it says in there that wildland training beyond the minnimun could be counter. Shar stated that right now at this time they only get the minimum required. Shar stated that the academy is being counted by the state and you have to be really careful not to double up on things. Shar stated if anyone else is interested in the CWPP that the town already has she can email them over to Nicole so she can send them out to you all if that is something you would like. John asked so when we first sgot word that we needed to do this why didn’t Joe know anything about this? Shar stated that its because Joe doesn’t handle this. Shar stated that she has handled this for all these years. She stated that she has been the first one in the county to get Vernons done every year until they stopped giving us the paperwork that we needed last year to complete it. They have pulled it all together now and sent it all to us. Shar stated that what she is proposing is a town event one evening be put together. The hours count for organizing this and how many people who are there counts as well. John stated that he would like to explain why we are paying the DNR to do this. He stated that its his understanding that if a fire breaks out and we are not a part of this we will have to foot the entire bill. Shar stated that is correct. If we belong to this its kind of like we are buying insurance for $5,000.00 a year. John asked for his understanding have we ever had a incident that they have had to come in and fight a fire here for us? Shar stated out west yes. John asked out west were? Scott replied Faust Canyon. John stated but that is not Vernon. Shar stated that doesn’t matter if it comes this way we are over this area. John stated so we are not talking the boundaries of this town. Shar stated that they are talking about the boundaries of Vernon but where we are with the fire department we are responsible for the outlining areas as well. It is our best interest to include people around us as well. John stated so this isn’t BLM this isn’t forest Service this is the state? And that falls under the department of natural resources? Shar stated Yes. Shar asked for dates that would work for the council for this event. John mentioned that later on in the meeting we will be making assignments and will have an induvial who is over the fire department and that will be part of their job is to sphere head that for the town. Shar stated that she needs John to sign the copy of the agreement and she will fill out the rest. John then Signed the agreement. John mentioned that once he asked Joe what this was about he spoke to Bucky and Bucky mentioned that Shar had done these reports in the past. Shar stated that she had 3 gentleman come out to try and help her understand it. She stated it’s a headache already.
  9. Consideration of Collecting Core samples of Larson Lane. John stated that we have been approved with COGG money for $200,000 to do the hill on Larson Lane and how ever far west we can go. We also have money approved $57,235.00 to Seal Sharp Road. That is $257,235.00 and then we still have $121,000 that was set aside to help us do projects to complete them. John would recommend that we would use a match of about $50,000. That would give us about $250,000 to put on Larson Road and whatever it is going to cost us to seal Sharp RD. John mentioned its like all of our other roads we have had to take core samples of them in order to get started. John mentioned that he called Jake with Ensign. Jake mentioned that is the first thing that we have to do is approve that so we can go ahead and get started with that. John asked if there were any questions or comments from the Council. Mike asked is that included in the prices that john mentioned. John mentioned we will have to take it out of that. John mentioned we can also take it out of the Roads budget. John mentioned that most of our roads budget will have to go towards the sealing of sharp road. John mentioned that we put in for COGG in the amount of $60,000 or $57,500. The way that Stephaine figured it out the town would be responsible for around $12,500 to get us close to the $70,000. Jake estimated that is what it would cost to seal it. Scott asked do they have a price to do all of the core samples? Or do we just pay for whatever they come out and do? John mentioned that he was not given a price. John stated that what we have done in the past was authorized Jake to go and find the lowest cost. The trouble with that is he was not happy with the lowest cost one last time on Harker RD. They ended up doing a core sample and Kilgore went to place it they ended up taking a lot more stuff out then they thought. John stated that he wasn’t sure if they would use that company or not. John mentioned what the motion tonight would be is to approve Jake and our engineering team to obtain a contract to do the core samples of west Larson Lane. John asked for any other questions or comments? Mike Made Motion. Seconded by Scott Livingston. All in Favor non opposed. Motion Carries.
  10. Consideration of Letters of interest for Town Clerk Position. At this time Mayor Olson closed this section of the public meeting to discuss personnel matters. Motion was made by Scott Livingston Seconded By Mike Cheatham All in favor Non-Opposed.

(Recording of this Closed meeting is recorded and filed in the archives)

Decision was to hire Cara Lyons as New Vernon Town Clerk. Mayor John Olson thanked all candidates for applying for the position. John stated that we have gone from a situation of where we have very few applicates to having 3 very qualified applicates. Council wanted to ask the candidates that were present a couple of questions. John addressed Haylie Richens “ Are you plans to be in Vernon long term”? Haylie responded we are permanent as long as we are able to stay. John addressed Cara Lyons- “Asked if her employment is a work from home position? Or do you commute?” Cara Mentioned that she works from home. She must go into the office once a month for mandatory meetings. John then asked Cara “do you feel like you would have the time to give to the town?” Cara mentioned that she worked for Cedar Fort and worked full time out side of the home with 2 kids. John stated that they had a very good dissucion. John stated that he hopes if you are not selected that there will probably be a chance later on that you will be able to help us in the community and we want you to be a part of the community. Rob mentioned that any council member can make a motion for any candidate. Motion was made by Scott Livingston to hire Cara Lyons as the Town Clerk. Tai Seconded. All in favor non opposed. Motion Carries.

  1. Consideration of New Council Assignments-

Mike Cheatham- Fire Department and Community Relations.

Scott Livingston- Roads and Treasurer.

Tai Lauti- Animal Control and Water

Jamison Richey- Planning and Zoning and Grants.

  1. Clerk Report- Insurance Renewal is due by the 31st of March. Nicole took three trainings this month one with the state for record keeping and information archives, one for Gramma Requests and then the annual training. We received the cyber report for the town of Vernon and we past with flying colors. John asked if we got our money released from the county? Nicole stated yes we have received those checks from the county. John stated that he wanted to publicly thank Nicole for what she has done for this community and serving as our town clerk.
  2. Department Reports/Commissions/Committees

(A) Mayor John Olson:

Council of Government- Meeting on March 20th. . The Third quarter sales tax has a committee meeting before the COGG meeting and that committee meeting will determine the final application for the COGG Money. Each of you may qualifiy to receive money in each of your departments if you want to look at it. John mentioned there is a chance that COGG will give each of the smaller Communities money with out applying. We will have more information after that meeting on if we will have to apply. Applications for that may be due in June or July. Once John has more information he will relay that to the council. Committee meeting with the Wasatch front  regional Council place in Salt Lake. The Chief item of discussion was why didn’t Vernon get a application in? John stated that they were really ready to hand us the money. John mentioned that they had a great discussion about the application process and how it has to be easier. Here is a list of items they are taking to the state. John will find out in his meeting in may on if these items were approved. First thing they are going to change is the time line from January 31st to February 28th. They felt like a lot of people would go to the meeting in October on how to apply and then you get Thanksgiving and Christmas and most kind of just drop the ball on it. They are working on the state providing an engineer for the small towns that don’t have an engineer on staff. Another Idea that was brought up was that the CDBG staff would have a workshop day in January where they would be avalible and we could go in and they would help with the application process. If you remember one number got us kicked out of the system last year. They want for small towns to be able to stream line the first application. Then if we are appoved with the first application then we can put more details in the second application. Once you get approved on the first application it means you are going to get the money. The second application is you are going to get the money but what are you going to do with it. Another thing is to get rid of the newpaper public hearing requirement and only have to publish it on the website. John mentioned this is the sad part. Out of the 1.1 million dollars that was avalibe only 495,000 was granted. John feels we would have gotten it if the application would have been in.

Cemetery- Nothing to report.

(B) Scott Livingston:

Water- Mandy Erickson was sworn in as the treasurer. March 13th they will be having a shipment of Clorine that will be delivered here to the fire station. Terri Pherson will be here to take care of it once it get here but Scott did want to mention it to the council just in case we see someone pull up. John asked why is it coming here? Scott mentioned that they will not ship it to a personal address it needs to go to a public entitiy. John mentioned that it is a chemical so they need to be here for that. Scott mentioned that they will need to be here to sign for it since it is a chemical.

Treasurer- Scott also wanted to thank Nicole for her hard work. Things are going well.

(C) ?

Planning and Zoning- As of Right now we do not have a quram. John mentioned that he is working on that right now. He has 2 people who have shown interest in that but they were going to get back to him on that. John stated that the planning and zoning committee is a very new committee. Jessica and Eli are the only members on there right now and they have not been on the committee for more then a year. John mentioned to Jay that your role will be to go to the meeting and participate in everything you will have to have some traning that is all online. John mentioned it was one of his responsibilities before he became mayor. Then you will bring back to the council what happened in the meeting.

Grants- For Grants we had 2 people in town that were qualified as grant writers. That we paid one was Stephaine Loder and the other was Melinda Johnson. Melinda right now is with her dad and isn’t able to help much. We had one grant that did our main street out here they gave us 90% of the funding but we do not get the last 10% of those funds until we get this report done. Stephaine was working on that and then she sent a message yesterday stating that she is locked out of the portal and that she had to much stuff to do. She was not going to complete the report. John mentioned to Jay that he can contact Madison and she should be able to help him with the reporting.

(D) Tai Lauti:

Ambulance/Emergency Management- Responded to call last Tuesday. John asked what was the call. Tai stated it was a juvenile who went off the road. Nothing else to report.

Fire Report- Nothing to report.

Animal Control- Tai mentioned that he is getting the dogs registered as they come in. John asked if he has a list of the people who have not registered? Tai stated that he didn’t. John mentioned that now the fees have doubled. Tai stated that there are quite a few that still have yet to register. John mentioned that it may be time for personal phone calls to those people. John mentioned they he would give them until the end of the month and then if they do not respond move forward with a citation. John asked Tai to please take the Kennel and the Snare to your house so that you have it.

(E) Mike Cheatham:

Roads- Nothing to report.

Community Relations- Mike asked Rosalie if we have a new committee? Rosile mentioned that she doesn’t know of anybody. Mike will have to make a new Committtee for that. John asked rosile if she has met for the 4th of July yet? Rosile mentioned that she didn’t plan on being in charge of the 4th of July this year. John asked if there were any applicates for the mayor awards? Mike stated no. John mentioned that he wants to keep that going and the next awards would be in April which is the next meeting so we need to get that going.

  1. Other Business- Nicole stated the town will need to add Tai, Jay and Cara to the bank account, I will be taken off after the next meeting that will be through DocuSign. Nicole mentioned to John that he will have to sign to get Stephaine and myself off of the account. Nicole mentioned that they need new email address for the council. They are all messed up and will need to be addressed.
  2. Review and Pay Town Bills- Motion made by Scott Livingston. Seconded by Tai Lauti. All in favor non opposed. Motion carried
  3. Adjourn- Motion made by Tai Lauti Seconded by Scott Livingston. All in favor non opposed. Motion Carried.

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