DANIEL TOWN COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2022 AT 6:00 PM
WASATCH COUNTY SERVICES BUILDING
55 SOUTH 500 EAST, CONFERENCE ROOM B
HEBER CITY, UTAH 84032
Quorum Present: Mayor Scott Kohler, Council members Robyn Pearson, Merry Duggin. Planning Director Eric Bunker and Ryan Taylor of T-O Engineers (town engineer) were present. Clerk Lynne Shindurling to take the minutes.
Mayor Kohler called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM.
Members of the Public: Stefanie Grady, Jaq Shindurling, Gary Weight, Pam Skinner, Eric Bennett, T.J. McGeean, Byron Horner, Mark McAllister, Ryan and Amanda Simpson, Lisa Dinga, Joe Witt, Barry Dixon, Doug Crittenden, Kim Crittenden, Victor Hanson, Luke Kohler, Jeremy and Whitney Keele.
1) PUBLIC COMMENT (PLEASE LIMIT COMMENTS TO 2 MINUTES PER PERSON)
Ryan Simpson came forward and stated he has lived in Daniel for eight to nine years. He endorsed selection of Stefanie Grady to fill the Council seat. Council member Pearson responded by saying we have a democratic government and the choice belongs to the people.
2) INTERVIEWS OF APPLICANTS FOR TOWN COUNCIL SEAT AND FILLING OF THE VACANCY
Mayor Kohler stated applicant John Glodowski was unable to attend this evening, but the Mayor read his application letter. He noted Bridger Wilde was not able to attend. Next Mayor Kohler next read letters of interest sent in by Stefanie Grady, Barry Dixon, Joe Witt, and Bridger Wilde.
The Mayor invited Stefanie to the lectern where she stated she has lived in Daniel since 2014. She is the president of Grady Enterprises, a company in the mining industry selling custom ware products. She deals with budgets reaching $20 million annually.
Mayor Kohler asked Stefanie: What is your vision in Daniel for the next 2-5 years? Ms. Grady said she is a firm believer in the RA-5 zone. She would like to see nonconforming lots cleaned up, more education for those in Town government, more transparency in Town operations to regain the trust of the townspeople.
Council member Duggin asked Stefanie: What is, in your thinking, the biggest hurdle the Town needs to work on? Ms. Grady said zoning issues and reiterated gaining the trust of residents and remembering what Daniel Town is all about.
Next Mayor Kohler invited Barry Dixon to the lectern. Mr. Dixon stated his home has been in Daniel for the past 30 years, but a good deal of his work life has been spent out of town. He is currently retired. He said even if not selected to be on the Council, he wants to be involved and will serve in any way he can.
Mayor Kohler asked Barry: What is your vision in Daniel for the next 2-5 years?
He stated there are issues with codes and lots. He would like to prioritize those and go to work on them. He has worked in IT extensively and thinks sending out group emails or information by other electronic means to residents should be relatively easy.
Council member Duggin asked Barry: What is the biggest priority you think the Town needs to work on? Mr. Dixon said start with communication with residents. They have pent up feelings; let’s ask the public what they think needs to be dealt with and get them involved. Most people have cell phones and can receive communication.
Mayor Kohler then asked Joe Witt to speak before the public. Mr. Witt said his letter sums things up pretty well. He has made it a goal to be friends with his neighbors and loves being in this community.
The Mayor asked Joe: What is your vision for Daniel in the next 2-5 years? He said his dreams are quite large, but he would like to see better relationships with Daniel residents and Daniel Town have input into the things that happen around us, such as airport expansion, rules and regulations at the transfer station. He questions why the county drew property lines between the County land and some Daniel parcels the way that they did. He mentioned State funds earmarked for the Deer Creek Island Resort and his desire to have a say in how those funds are spent due to its proximity to Daniel. He would like to see Daniel build a Town Hall to house our government offices and have a meeting place.
Council member Duggin asked Mr. Witt: What is your top priority for Daniel Town to accomplish? Mr. Witt said his opinion is you can’t solve everything with code. As a general contractor, he deals with code on a daily basis. He thinks simple issues need simple solutions. Make code that makes sense and allows problems to be solved easily.
Mayor Kohler thanked everyone for their comments. He asked Council member Duggin to explain how they were going to conduct the vote. She said that she had looked at the State code and found no writing where the type of vote was specified as being in writing or oral. Because the Mayor preferred to hold the vote by written ballot from the three Council members present, she said that is how the vote would take place, if no one present had an objection.
No objection having been stated, the vote was taken by written ballot. The results were given to the clerk who read the ballots. A vote for Barry Dixon from Robyn Pearson, a second vote for Barry Dixon from Mayor Kohler, and one for Stefanie Grady from Merry Duggin. Mr. Dixon was the prevailing candidate.
3) SWEARING IN OF THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBER
Clerk Lynne Shindurling swore in Barry Dixon as the person to serve as the Council member filling the vacant seat until December 31, 2023. Mr. Dixon took his seat on the Council.
4) POSSIBLE DISCUSSION OF GRAMA (GOVERNMENT RECORDS ACCESS MANAGEMENT ACT)
Council member Duggin gave to the Council members copies of the State code 63G-2 dealing with access to government records. Records are organized into four categories: public, private, controlled, and protected. When an entity receives a records request, it does not need to assemble records in a format responsive to the request if they are not maintained as such, and fees may be charged for reproducing records or extensive time involved in compiling them. Because members of the Council and Planning Commission do create documents, they need to ensure that the language used does not violate the law and that minutes and emails, being public records, are accurate in stating events that have occurred. Mayor Kohler thanked Ms. Duggin for the information.
5) ADJOURN
Council member Pearson moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Council member Dixon. The vote was all “ayes,” and the meeting was adjourned at 6:45 PM.
Lynne Shindurling
Clerk/Recorder