CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF RICHFIELD
SEVIER COUNTY, UTAH
City Council meeting held on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
- CALL TO ORDER
- OPENING REMARKS
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE by invitation
- ROLL CALL
- MINUTES APPROVED – Consider approving minutes of Aug. 5, 2025, and Aug. 12, 2025.
- BUSINESS
a. Corey Winkel to discuss the Transportation Master Plan.
b. 1800 South bike path project.
c. Airport. - OTHER BUSINESS
- ADJOURNMENT
- Call to Order
- OPENING REMARKS – Offered by Kip Hansen
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Led by Kendrick Thomas
- ROLL CALL Present: Bryan Burrows (Not voting), Brayden Gardner, Kip Hansen, Elaine Street, Kendrick Thomas, Tanner Thompson, Michele Jolley (Not voting), Rob Jenson (Not voting). Also, Keith Mogan, Adam Robinson, Trent Lloyd, David Anderson, Russ Brightwell, Jared Barton, Tyson Hansen, Deran Wilson, Corey Winkel, Josef Bostic, Mikayla Bahr. Tyler Olsen, Michelle Olsen, Carson DeMille and Mamn Jones.
- MINUTES APPROVED – Consider a motion to approve the minutes of the meeting held on August 5, 2025, and August 12, 2025.Motion: , Action: Approve, Moved by Kip Hansen, Seconded by Elaine Street. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5). Yes: Brayden Gardner, Elaine Street, Kendrick Thomas, Kip Hansen, Tanner Thompson.
- BUSINESS
a. Corey Winkel to discuss the Transportation Master Plan and a right-of-way through his property.
Winkel said he is concerned that so many residences are being built outside of Richfield City. He claimed that 51 new homes had been built in neighboring communities, with 13 build in Richfield. He said part of the problem is there are very few building lots available. He claimed that he has 70 or 80 lots in inventory, but that the word on the street is that Richfield is the most difficult among the local communities to work with when it comes to subdivisions and development.
He said Richfield City is in the business of providing water and sewer to people. There are 3,154 water meters in Richfield City, which average $21 a month [base rate] or $800,000 a year. There are a similar number of sewer hookups, $34.75 is charged per month, which is $1.315 million annually. Winkle said the City needs new homes. He said almost 20 percent of the property tax people pay in the City goes to the City. He said in a subdivision he built, two homes paid some $1,327 annually paid to Richfield City. He said if the average is half of that, it equates to $2 million in property tax revenue. He said more homes would increase that number. He also talked about the City’s impact fees, $14,666 for a single-family home in Richfield. He said if half of the homes that were built in other communities came to Richfield, that would be almost $500,000. Winkle said he isn’t ready to subdivide anything, but he would like to see the City help developers. He spoke about a subdivision he built 10 years ago, when the City used its gap policy to help him hook onto a sewer trunk line to the east of his Cove Acres subdivision with a cost of $48,000. He said in the time since then, the City has collected approximately $32,000 with water and sewer, and $65,000 over the past seven years.
Winkle acknowledged that the City can’t help every developer. However, he said thanks to efforts from Mike Langston, the sewer in his subdivision was connected to the City.
Mayor Burrows said one thing to take note is that the City’s water and sewer funds are not making money – they are covering costs and breaking even. He said the City is not in the business of making money, but of providing service to the community. He said rates have been kept low, in fact water rates are so low currently the City doesn’t qualify for certain grants. Burrows spurred the City’s effort to purchase some $2 million in water, which has to be paid for in order to provide water. The City didn’t have a golden horseshoe fall out of the sky, the water the City has is the result of planning. Water meters are not sold at a profit. Burrows said Winkle would have had to annex the subdivision in question. He also asked Winkle as a developer, why are there not more subdivisions going in.
Winkle said there are not affordable lots.
Mayor Burrows asked why.
Winkle said its due to the cost involved with developing lots and in areas like Elsinore, there is no curb, gutter or sidewalk requirement. The Mayor asked if Richfield City should no longer have curb, gutter and sidewalk. Winkle said he doesn’t think the City should abandon it.
It was decided years ago to have the curb and gutter in Richfield City, Mayor Burrows said. Years ago, it was so aggressively pursued to the point of special service districts being implemented to get it done. The City can’t give away water. There have been good points made, but no solutions presented.
Winkle said there is a long, skinny piece of property off of 400 West that isn’t wide enough for a traditional road and subdivision layout. He said the next generation of the people who own the property may be ready to start developing it. He said he’s offered to purchase it, or asked to just purchase the first six lots once it’s subdivided. If the City would help the Peterson family to do things with the property. He suggested possibly smaller setbacks.
It could be divided into three or four phases. It’s a great piece and the City needs some of these smaller lots. Winkle asked if there were a way to eliminate the mow strip to allow more room.
Mayor Burrows said the mow strip was eliminated from the City standards, but a straight back curb would still be required.
Winkle said without the mow strip, with a 60-foot road, that would allow for approximately 90 feet of lot depth on each side.
Mayor Burrows said the City would be open to that. He said personally, he’d like to see it happen as would those who live in the area.
Winkle asked about the setback and changing it to 20 feet. Deputy Clerk Anderson said that has already been changed and adopted as part of the City standards.
Winkle then shifted the conversation to property located along 500 East and approximately 1300 North. He provided some background on the ownership of the property. There is a road on the City’s master transportation plan, 1300 North, which is planned to go along the property line between Winkle’s personal residence property and some property to the south of him that he’d like to develop at some point. The problem is he would like to know what the City’s long-term plan is for the road. He said in its current orientation, it doesn’t help his development at all, because the road would be along the backside of the residences he would like to eventually develop.
Councilmember Street said this is why the City doesn’t want islands out there because it creates these types of issues.
Winkle proposed that the City should secure the right-of-way now, and then he would have to plan around it.
Councilmember Thompson asked if there was a price Winkle had in mind for the right-of-way. Winkle said $45,000 per acre. The council asked Carson DeMille to come up with an estimate of how many acres it would be. He said it would be approximately 1.88 acres.
Mayor Burrows asked if Winkle would consider subdividing the property his residence is on. He said he there is a possibility of one of his children building on it, but not as a full subdivision at this point. Winkle explained his plan for the lots in the future.
Councilmember Gardner offered an alternative, where the 1170 North road would be extended to the east, and another road to the north, which would square everything up.
Councilmember Hansen said one concern he has with the idea of putting in cul-de-sacs in the property proposed for development is the accessibility for emergency services.
Councilmember Thompson asked if this wasn’t done with Winkle, the City would still like to see road in that area that connects 500 East to the county road.
Winkle said he would do everything he could concerning the Peterson property on the south end of 400 West as he wants the lots as badly as the City.
b. Jared Barton and Devan Wilson to discuss funding for the 1800 South bike path project.
Barton said the project is short on funding. The design is approximately 85 percent complete, with approximately $76,000 expended at this point, which includes UDOT funds as well. The environmental document was approved in June. The project is currently on hold due to some additional right-of-way costs. Currently the project is on hold. Barton said he has drafted a letter that UDOT has requested that the City commit to covering the additional costs. The advertising of the project is being planned for spring of 2026. The UDOT right-of-way is a 6-8 months process, so if the letter is sent, that will begin the time, which would put the project into May by the time the right-of-way is resolved.
Due to the nature of the TAP [Transportation Alternatives Program] federal funding being used, they will not contribute more to it than they already have committed. Richfield City’s funding was a 60-40 match. Back in November, Barton visited with the council to get more City money committed to the project. At this point the project is $47,600 short of being able to meet the budget needs for the project. The original right-of-way costs was $56,000. After a shotgun estimate with UDOT, it went up to $81,000. There is a parcel of one driveway that was missed, essentially a driveway frontage for a flag lot. This pushed it from five parcels to six. As the City has worked with appraisers, the cost has increase. The golf course frontage tends to raise the value to the property. Michele Jolley, Devin Wilson and the City Attorney met to determine how to set the values of the strip takes, and followed the attorney’s advices on how to do it. That also resulted in an increase as well. Essentially, UDOT just wants a commitment from the City to cover the extra costs. However, these are just estimates and could go down in price, and some $17,000 is included in the $47,600 just to make sure the City is covered.
Councilmember Thompson asked Barton and Wilson to go through the price increase and explain it.
Wilson said the main conversation was prescriptive use. UDOT considers places where public utilities are or places that are necessary for the maintenance of the roadway as prescriptive use, and would not compensate property owners for it. Anything beyond that would be something UDOT would compensate the property owners for. The attorney was not comfortable with that. In the original estimate, about half the property was prescriptive due to public gas lines, utilities and ditches. After discussing with the attorney, it was determined to compensate the property owners for that area at a reduced rate. This added a $15,000 to $20,000 more.
The council viewed a map of the proposed route of the path. It runs along the north side of 1800 South, crossing at a point west of the golf course club house.
Barton said it was also decided to that the City would replace the asphalt improvements property owners has installed along the route of the path. It is not in the project files, it’s something the City will do on its own. UDOT is typically over-conservative. The hope is that the $80,000 is more than what will actually be needed. They tried to over estimate in order to make sure the project is covered.
The other thing that hurts the City is that the properties in question are valued as commercial, not residential, said City Administrator Jolley.
Councilmember Thompson said he feels like the project would enhance the value of the properties.
Barton said most of the property owners seemed in favor of the project. It’s designed to accept future curb and gutter. Wilson said the attorney said it’s not indefensible to not pay for the areas where there are prescriptive easements, but he advised against it.
Councilmember Thompson said some of the compensation could be in the form of the City improving the frontage of the properties. He asked who would be doing the actual negotiations.
Wilson said UDOT would hire a third party to do the actual negotiations.
Councilmember Gardner asked Financial Director Jenson if there are any concerns. Jenson said the budget is tight, and the expenses are increasing.
Mayor Burrows said it’s a difference of $15,000.
Councilmember Thompson asked how much the City will be paying for land acquisition.
Wilson said the total amount with the prescriptive easements will be approximately $43,000.
Barton said the reason the attorney advised to pay for the areas where easements are is due to a ruling in Kane County.
Councilmember Thompson said whoever does the negotiation could present it as the project would be a big enough benefit to the property owner, that the could offer the amount without the prescriptive easements. Tell them that with the extra amount with the prescriptive easements, the project may not happen.
Councilmember Gardner asked if a round table discussion with the property owners would be possible.
Councilmember Hansen said there is always one outlier who will determine what everyone else gets.
Councilmember Gardner said the decision is between scrapping the $75,000 already invested in the project, or putting another $50,000 into it. He asked if there would be a chance to back out later if costs increase.
Wilson said if costs went up by more than $10,000, it would have to come back to the council for approval.
Mayor Burrows said the City will be into the project $125,000 after tonight. He asked if it could be moved forward faster.
Councilmember Gardner said he is in favor of what has been presented. Councilmember Thompson stated that there are a lot of children that traverse the area in question.
Barton said the property owners are in favor of it, which should help the process. Wilson added the problem is when you go through the UDOT process, there are 30-day waiting periods that have to be observed. However, everything for the project can be approved to move forward and as soon as the right-of-way documents are signed, they would be able advertise it.
Mayor Burrows asked about bidding it in early in 2026. Barton said it’s not the optimal bidding window, but it can work. However, if the project were moved into the summer, it gives the option to build it this year or next.
Councilmember Hansen said this reminds him of a time he won a trip to Hawaii that he couldn’t afford.
Motion: Approve the additional funding for the bike path on 1800 South as proposed. Moved by Brayden Gardner, None seconded.
Motion: Approve the funding for the 1800 South bike path on the condition that the City tries to save the $15,000 by not offering the prescriptive use value Moved by Tanner Thompson, None seconded.
Motion: Table any discussion or action on this issue until the next meeting, Action: Tabled, Moved by Kip Hansen, Seconded by Elaine Street. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5). Yes: Brayden Gardner, Elaine Street, Kendrick Thomas, Kip Hansen, Tanner Thompson.
c. Joseph Bostik to discuss the airport.
Bostik explained some of his background and his interest in the airport. He is a former resident of Czechoslovakia, who fled the communist regime and came the United States in 1984, where he eventually became a pilot, hand-gliding champion and flight instructor. He was also able to start businesses.
He now builds his own aircraft that he flies, and helps mentor young pilots. He said his is passionate about aviation. He has over 30,000 hours of flight. He said Richfield has a gem of an airport, where the conditions for soaring are second to none. He is second in the world for glider flights in the world, with those flights leaving from the Richfield Airport. His flights are 850 miles and 10 hours long without using power. He said people across the world want to participate in the online glider contest, and come to Richfield in order to do it. He has hangers in Richfield and Wayne County, and wants to expand the glider community in the region.
Monroe is the largest gathering of paraglider pilots in the nation, and the same could be had in Richfield with fixed-wing gliders in the summers. He said he wants to promote the concept of soaring out of the Richfield Airport, and to that end he would like to build a large hanger to base this out of. He would like to be able to do that, but he can’t proceed until there is a commitment.
He claimed there were no policies or procedures for hanger construction or leases. He said he feels that pilots don’t have a voice. He would like transparent leases and a pilot advisory board to help provide insight. He would like to help invest in the airport to expand it.
Airport Manager Adam Robinson said the paragliders are not all positive. There is a lot of negative that comes with them due to Search and Rescue issues. He said there are six airplanes owned by Bostik.
Robinson said he previously worked at the Parowan airport, where it was the glider capital of the world, but it had zero general aviation. If the gliders come here, the airport’s GA has to be shut down. There is an instrument approach and a 400-foot obstacle free area. You have to tow most gliders. The is a $33 million investment from the federal government. This creates a whole level of oversight from the FAA that the airport is beholden to. You cannot operate them without shutting the airport down. If you don’t shut your airport down, who is liable for any damage caused? The paragliders will not file a NOTAM [Notice to Airman] – the organizers refuse to do so for the paragliding event. When fixed wing aircraft fly in the same space, who is liable? The motor-powered aircraft is always liable as gliders always have the right of way. He said he is not against the gliders, but every time they launch, you have to shut down because they are all over the required 400-foot obstacle free zone. This is dangerous for other aircraft. Also, gliders will come to the area and won’t buy fuel, and often stay in their trailers and vans, for which they will want a place to park, which the airport currently doesn’t have. Every year that are four or five of them, with extension cords being run. Richfield is not set up for it.
Councilmember Thompson said he doesn’t believe the airport should be shut down. He said all he knows is Bostick requested to address the council.
Robinson said as soon as Bostik emails him, he has to be on it immediately. He emails him back as soon as he can, even on weekends. He said when Bostik asked about the hanger space, he was told he could have it. However, there is a form called a 7460 that the FAA requires. It has to be filled out and returned to the FAA, which is a federal agency that is slow. There is no vertical development allowed until the FAA approves it. Robinson filled out the 7460 for Bostik, which was a favor to him. Bostik could have been required to do it himself. The City airport cannot allow the hangers to be built until the FAA approves it. There are other places, like Brigham City, where they told lessees to go ahead and pour footings prior to the 7460 coming back. It created financial liability for those communities. When the 7460 is done, Bostik will have his spot.
Robinson said he felt like he wasn’t being trusted because he wasn’t approached prior to the council meeting about this issue.
Councilmember Thompson said he feels an enemy is being made of him for no reason. He just didn’t see the harm in letting Bostik address the council.
Robinson said he doesn’t care if Bostik speaks to the council, but that he has been working to accommodate Bostik. He is not against gliders, but he can put the council in contact with airports that have dried up due to gliders leaving after driving off the GA clients.
Councilmember Hansen said he is satisfied with the hanger issue at this point. But one issue that came to his mind is that wildfires have been the key issue at the airport the past couple of months – summer is wildfire season and it’s also the season for the ideal thermals for the gliders. It could be a conflict. He said the City has invested in new equipment for fueling, and is getting a good return on it.
Mayor Burrows said can they not coexist – gliders and GA.
Robinson said they can exist together, but it takes a lot of communication and coordination. If the airport had to cater to gliders during the recent wildfire season, it would have complicated the air support operations for the fire – and the airport would lose the fuel sales.
Mayor Burrows closed the conversation.
- OTHER BUSINESS Police Chief Lloyd explained that the drop off at Red Hills Middle School has been a nightmare for years. People do not use it as it was intended, with cars dropping children off, continuing south along the perimeter of the parking lot and then exiting the parking lot’s east exit point onto 400 South. Instead people tend to drop their children off and try to turn directly onto 400 South. This year the police department tried something new by putting cones out that angle the traffic back onto 600 West and into the left turn lane to go back onto 400 South. He said he has tried some different tactics. At some point a road will be built alongside the west side of the campus.
In the meantime, he would like to restripe the road so that the lane not two competing lanes trying to turn east at the same time.
Mayor Burrows asked if the road eventually built to the west will be a Snow College campus road, or a Richfield City road because it is owned by the college. Lloyd said the long-term plan is for it to be a City street. He said he is trying to solve a short-term problem.
Councilmember Gardner said he is ok with the chief trying whatever he can to help.
Mayor Burrows said it is a dangerous situation, so it would be good to help try and address it.
Councilmember Thomas said in other communities, schools took the position that city streets are not for pickup and drop off.
Chief Lloyd said that was the original plan with the south parking lot – have people drop off their children there. However, it was perceived as being too far to walk, so they don’t do it. It took six or seven years, but an off-street drop off was created at Pahvant Elementary. The next one is the middle school, but it will take a long time. The goal is to try to fix the drop off at the middle school
The Utah Highway Patrol also awarded Richfield’s police department a Community Partner Award for its partnership. They help us a lot, we help them a lot.
Councilmember Hansen said the UHP representatives had a nice prepared presentation.
Chief Lloyd said a lot of it is due to the chase where an individual died in the past year. It was a UHP chase Richfield’s Police Department helped with.
Councilmember Gardner said he has noticed quite a few people cut lanes on 1300 South after turning at the stop light, which can be a dangerous situation. Lloyd said it can be, as well as those who run the red light turning right.
Mayor Burrows said some of the worst extrications he’s been involved with were at 1300 South. Lloyd said the incidence of accidents there has been reduced. Michele and the Chief worked with UDOT to change the type of signal at the intersection, which as reduced the incidents of accidents at the intersection considerably. Accidents went from between nine and 15 a year to three since the change of the signals.
Also, trucks will be using College Avenue during the construction of the pool, but Chief Lloyd said it shouldn’t be a problem.
- ADJOURNMENT. Motion: Adjourn the meeting, Action: Adjourn, Moved by Tanner Thompson, Seconded by Brayden Gardner. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5).
Yes: Brayden Gardner, Elaine Street, Kendrick Thomas, Kip Hansen, Tanner Thompson.
Passed and approved this 9th day of September 2025.