Lots of Items at City Council Tonight

City council had a full agenda tonight.  We started with a presentation from the Utah National Guard thanking our city for its support.  They showed us this video about what it is like for a family to say goodbye when one of their own is deployed.



We invited them to be in our Winterfest parade and to take part in the program afterwards.  It remains to be seen if the details can be worked out in a month -- Winterfest is Saturday, December 4 -- but can you imagine a tank decorated with Christmas lights going down Main Street?

We went on to

• a public hearing on a community development block grant we are applying for
• pass a follow-up resolution again supporting the Hurricane to Zion Canyon Transit study.  (What we have out of it so far is studies showing a bus service would have high usage, which is quite encouraging for rural transit)
• approve a contract to purchase fireworks for Winterfest
• correct a resolution passed in the last meeting on putting in 400 more feet of sidewalk on the highway
• pass a resolution approving three related cooperative agreements for a geologic hazards study along state highway 9 between La Verkin and Zion Park (we wouldn't want those colorful rocks falling on the highway)
• discussed possible changes to the vacation policy for city employees (such as putting a limit on how much vacation you can carry forward, we are leaning towards preferring use in the year earned and requiring use within two years)
• supported a joint letter of commitment to the Hurricane Valley Fire District to be jointly signed by the mayors of La Verkin, Toquerville, and Virgin
• heard reports on ...

1. Economic development (it is official.  Maverik has bought the Chevron station and is taking over December 1.  The property that Maverik owns across the street and was going to build on will be sold and used for something besides a convenience store.  Sad part is Arbys has also been bought by Maverik and will be closed--Maverik wants you to buy their sandwiches.  Also, two new groups are in talks to resume work on building a hotel after two years of delays.)
2. Wood chips have been removed from Zion View Park, a new surface will now be installed by the play equipment.
3. Grass has been planted on the two acres where Kent's used to be.
4. Winterfest event schedule
5. An update from the committee that is studying what to do with "The Old White Church".  (Patty Bracken is doing good work on this committee).
6. Beautification Committee will be awarding prizes for best Christmas lights in four categories at the city Christmas Eve program.  Judging will be done shortly after December 13.
7. We had record turnout for the election yesterday -- 57.6% of registered voters.
8. Katie Wilson has been on the job 1 1/2 weeks and is a quick learner.  Kyle Gubler and Troylinn Benson both praised her good quick start.  Her first night taking minutes was one of the longer meetings we have had recently -- 3 hours.