THE STATE OF UTAH
COUNTY OF SEVIER
CITY OF RICHFIELD
At the City Council
In and For Said City
January 13, 2026
Minutes of the Richfield City Council meeting held on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Richfield City office building located at 75 East Center, Richfield, Utah. Mayor Bryan L. Burrows presiding.
- OPENING REMARKS
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- ROLL CALL
- SWEARING IN
- APPOINTMENTS
- MINUTES
- EXPENDITURES
- CONFLICT OF INTEREST
- YOUTH CITY COUNCIL
- PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT
- BUSINESS INCENTIVES
- UDOT PROPERTY SUBSTATION RESOLUTION
- HELIBASE HANGAR LEASE
- LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION GRANT APPLICATION
- OTHER BUSINESS
- MEETING ADJOURNED
- OPENING REMARKS were offered by Kevin Arrington.
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Kip Hansen.
- Roll Call. Present: Bryan Burrows (Not voting), Brayden Gardner, Kip Hansen, Kevin Arrington, Kendrick Thomas, Andrew Chappell, Michele Jolley (Not voting), Rob Jenson (Not voting).
Also, Ken Feeby, Russ Brightwell, Adam Robinson, J Glaekies, Tyson Barber, Keven Orton, Jenna Draper, John Draper, Mitch Dickinson, Michael Snow, Laurie Burrows, Javen Roach, Kenzie Draper, Elizabeth Steele, Emma Larsen, Gavin Larsen, Isaac Steele, Kianna Byers, Bostyn Winters, Micklane Farmer, Greg Jensen, Aleah Jorgensen, Carson DeMille, Scott Turner, Tyson Hansen, Richard Luekenga, Amy Myers, Maganda Telford, Lincoln Reed, Hanna Brake, Shelby Wright, Cullen Irvine, Chris Riet, Tom Denison, Trent Lloyd, Keith Mogan and David Anderson. - Deputy Clerk David Anderson administered the oath of office to council members Kevin Arrington and Andrew Chappell as well as Mayor Bryan Burrows.
- APPOINTMENTS – Mayor Bryan Burrows appointed the following people to positions:
Michele Jolley as City Manager, Trent Lloyd as Police Chief, Marlee Christiansen as the City Treasurer, Robert Jenson as the City Financial Director, Michele Jolley as the Recorder, Fire Chief Dustin Anderson as elected through his department, and Mayor Pro Temp Kip Hansen.
Motion: Approve the appointments, Action: Approve, Moved by Kevin Arrington, Seconded by Brayden Gardner. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5).
Yes: Brayden Gardner, Andrew Chappell, Kendrick Thomas, Kip Hansen, Kevin Arrington.
Mayor Burrows also asked Kip Hansen to serve as the representative to the Library Board, and Kevin Arrington as the representative on the Independence Day committee. - MINUTES APPROVED. The City Council reviewed the minutes of the meeting held on December 9, 2025. Motion: Approve the minutes of the December 9, 2025 meeting, Action: Approve, Moved by Kip Hansen, Seconded by Brayden Gardner.
Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5).
Yes: Brayden Gardner, Andrew Chappell, Kendrick Thomas, Kip Hansen, Kevin Arrington. - EXPENDITURES APPROVED. The Council reviewed the December 2025 Warrant Register. Motion: Approve the expenditures on the December 2025 warrant register, Action: Approve, Moved by Brayden Gardner, Seconded by Kendrick Thomas. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5).
Yes: Brayden Gardner, Andrew Chappell, Kendrick Thomas, Kip Hansen, Kevin Arrington. - CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATIONS – Hearing none, Mayor Burrows moved to the next item.
- Youth City Council to discuss the events they are planning for the upcoming year. Kiana Byers is the Mayor of the Richfield City Youth City Council. She said the council is working to help commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States, there is an effort to do service. Since the Youth City Council is already service focused, it presented a set of service projects for the City Council’s approval. As the Social Science Sterling Scholar candidate at Richfield High School, Byers is organizing a project to go through the cemetery and identify all of the veterans.
Youth city council member Bostyn Winters stated that on Martin Luther King Day they are going to gather a group to clean-up trash around the community. The National Flag Foundation is organizing the Night to Unite effort, where in citizens are being asked to light up buildings in red, white and blue on July 4. The RYCC is helping to promote that effort locally and find a way to light up the water tank if possible.
The Richfield Youth City Council will also put in a float based on the symbols and iconic figures from United States history. There will also be an effort to promote the Wreaths Across America locally for veterans graves in Richfield. In an effort to bring Americans back together, the RYCC will also be promoting America’s Potluck, and effort to get neighbors to engage with each other with dialog and a shared meal. - Planning Commission Report. Deputy Clerk Anderson provided the report. There was a public hearing on a proposed zoning change. No comments were received, but the property owner later rescinded the request. The Commission approved a conditional use for the construction of an accessory building in an RR-1 Zone, which is an allowed conditional use in that area. The commission also approved the Pioneer Lane project, an eventual 14-unit development off of 800 South. This is the same project the council approved the use for last month. The Commission also discussed some revisions to the RM-11 development standards. Kendall Welch, the city’s contracted planner, helped in that discussion. The goal is to address the things the City has run into with plan reviews. One of those items is the city code doesn’t currently allow a zero setback for townhomes, so they have to be completed via a development agreement. Part of this effort is to create a standard so shared wall developments don’t always have to be subject to a development agreement.
- Malcolm Nash to discuss options the City has for incentivizing businesses. Nash, Sevier County’s Economic Development Director, said he had been approached by the owner of the Holiday Inn Express, Gary Patel, who asked if there were any incentives available. Nash reached out to some colleagues. The first option is tax increment financing, where a development takes place and the resulting growth in property tax is captured and used as an incentive to offset the development costs. That money is returned to the development. Using a financial model, Nash determined that the increase in property tax would be approximately $1.569 million based on a value of $11 million over a 15-year period of time. A portion of the captured revenue would have to go to the state for housing projects as required by state code. The total value of the incentive would be $1.1 million over the 15 years. There would still be some revenue that would go to the school district, county and City. It can happen, but it depends on the City. There are policy issues in play. If a City wants certain types of developments to come in, this is a way to do it.
Community Reinvestment Areas are a way to do it. The other way to do it is through the Inland Port Authority, which utilizes a more streamlined process. One advantage is that the Inland Port doesn’t require approval from the county and the school district. It’s the same tool used by Industrial Injection in Richfield. The project would have to fall into the inland port project area.
Jenna Draper, representing the Utah Inland Port Authority, said even if the proposal is not within the project area, it can be amended in as little as one meeting cycle – 30 days. It would be a 75/25 split, with 75 percent going to the developer, while 25 percent would go to the taxing entities. The City would also have the ability to set benchmarks, such as employment, that could be met in order to qualify for the incentive. The biggest help to this project would likely be putting in the public infrastructure, which the incentive could be used to offset. Just because the differential (property tax increment) is generated on a parcel, it doesn’t have to be spent on that parcel. It just has to benefit the project area.
Nash said the mechanism is the same, but it just depends on the avenue the City is interested in using. Nash said even running the model with some generous assumptions, it would not reach the number Mr. Patel has asked for, which is approximately $1.5 million. He is just trying to see what is possible, and what could be negotiated. It comes down to the City’s interest in incentivizing certain developments, and if it has an interest in incentivizing a hotel.
The difference between the two is the tax increment financing would require both the county and the school board to sign off on it, while the inland port would automatically draw those two entities in.
Councilmember Chappell asked for clarification for what the incentive would be.
Nash explained 75 percent of the property tax increment would go back to the developer over 15 years, with 10 percent going to the state for housing and an administrative fee. There is also a negligible amount that goes back to the city, county and school district. The solar farm in the county used the incentive and those funds were set aside for student housing for Snow College Richfield’s campus. It’s a negotiation point between the developer and the City. It’s important to understand that Nash’s model assumes that all taxing entities agree to the percentage of the incremental increase is stripped off for the project. Depreciation schedules also have to be included in the calculations.
Mayor Burrows said the school board may come back and say they only want 10 percent of its share included in the incentive. He also asked how those funds are accounted for.
The redevelopment agency would have its own fund set aside, according to Nash. It’s a restricted fund that would have to be tracked by Richfield City.
Mayor Burrows asked what would be better for the developer?
Nash said it depends on how fast he wants to move on it and how much work the City is willing to do.
Sevier County Commissioner Greg Jensen said these incentives are a good thing that the state Legislature nearly took away. It’s a wonderful asset for local governments. It’s really up to the City to decide if this development will provide benefits that justify the incentive.
City Administrator Jolley said the state is looking at placing some additional limits on property tax. If those were to be put in place, how would that affect the incentive?
Nash said it would likely just be grandfathered in. He said the baseload property tax would remain the same, and the limits would just be on future incremental growth.
Councilmember Arrington asked what the advantages are to each. Nash said they offer essentially the same benefits, but the Inland Port is more streamlined. It comes down to deciding if the amount of economic impact justifies the incentive.
Councilmember Chappell asked who would negotiate the incentive. Nash explained if it is a traditional incremental tax financing, the City itself would negotiate the outcome. With the Inland Port, Jenna Draper would assist the City, but the City would ultimately decide what level of incentive it wants to offer.
Councilmember Thomas asked if what was shown is typical of what other communities have done with incentives. Draper explained that she wouldn’t recommend giving the entire 75 percent, and withholding some for other projects.
Mayor Burrows said the advantage to this type of project is that it wouldn’t have much of an effect on school populations, so the school district may be more apt to sign off on it.
Nash said the school district would have to make the decision as to whether they want to give up revenue that could help in running the schools. Councilmember Hansen explained the school district would also look at the positive effects it could have for drawing events to the community, reducing travel obligations for team and expanding the ability to host events.
No action was taken. - Consider adopting Resolution 2026-1 supporting UDOT’s sale of property to Rocky Mountain Power for the construction and operation of a new electrical substation.
Mayor Burrows declared a conflict of interest, noting that while he is a non-voting member, he works for Rocky Mountain Power. He said Richfield City needs three things to grow, power, water and sewer. The substation would also result in a substantial amount of property tax in Richfield City.
Tyson Barber from Rocky Mountain Power addressed the council and explained why the new substation is needed in Richfield City. One item discussed was adding a hotel to the south end of town as discussed earlier in the meeting. Running the lines to do that would constitute a considerable expense. Having a substation in the area would cut down on that expense. The substation would make it more economical for more businesses to move the area. The Industrial Injection building had to build a line at considerable distance to address its electricity needs.
Richard Luekenga, a resident, asked why not put it on the north side of the freeway. According to the Rocky Mountain Power representatives, it would be in the wrong place to achieve what is needed on the south end of town.
Mayor Burrows said that the Utah Department of Transportation has remnant properties, and this is one of those. As such, UDOT is required to offer these properties to the municipality in which they are located prior to putting them up for auction. What is being asked is if Richfield City has a use it would like to acquire the property for – that is the foundational question.
Councilmember Hansen said where it is a public entity, they can’t enter into a private contract with a person to purchase it individually. Richfield doesn’t have a say whether it is sold or not, but it does have the right of first refusal if it has an anticipated public purpose for the property.
Mayor Burrows said the City should consider if it would be in the overall benefit to the community. It can be a low-profile station with a block wall around it.
Councilmember Gardner asked why this location is better than others. The Rocky Mountain Power representatives explained it has to be within a mile of the lines to the west of the freeway. If not, they have to build more transmission lines to back it up. If the line between Sigurd and Richfield goes down, this would allow for repairs without shutting down power for significant portions of the City. It would act as a backup that allows more flexibility for repairs to be done without shutting power off for the entire town.
Councilmember Gardner stated that he did some research, and asked what the benefits are at this location besides right-of-way. He asked why not move it south of the golf course. The Rocky Mountain Power representatives explained that it is an ideal location where proposed. For every mile it is moved, it will cost $1.3 million extra or a $7.2 million difference. This is currently planned to be an approximately $14 million project.
Councilmember Chappell asked if it isn’t built at the proposed location, would Richfield City just have to go without a substation. The RMP representatives explained that time is of the essence, as they have spent a year looking for an identifying a prime location. Richfield is also nearing the limit of its capacity. RMP is not going to leave Richfield without power, but if the capacity is reached, we don’t want to tell people they can’t connect their new construction projects until such a time as capacity has been increased. It would also take approximately a year to build the substation.
Councilmember Thomas asked what the process is if the City approves it tonight. The property would have to be purchased.
Councilmember Hansen said at the essence of it, the City is only saying it does or doesn’t have an interest in owning the property.
Councilmember Thomas asked what if the City denied it tonight.
Mayor Burrows said the City would need to find a use for the property. Also, Richfield City would not be able to resell it to another user. Also, the improvements would be subject to property tax.
Councilmember Chappell said the resolution states that Richfield City supports the building of a substation, so if the only question is if Richfield wants it or not, the resolution should reflect that.
Motion: Adopt the resolution Action: Approve, Moved by Kip Hansen, for lack of a second, motion failed.
Mayor Burrows asked if the item is tabled what would be done in the next two weeks before it is taken off the table. It would likely have to come up for a public bid if the City passes on it. Should the resolution be rewritten in that time?
Councilmember Gardner said he would like to have the extra time to look at the issue. Councilmember Chappell said he would like to make sure the resolution is saying what it’s saying. He said he’s not against it, and that the spot does make sense.
Councilmember Thomas wanted to make sure that the issues that need addressing prior to the item coming back to the council are addressed, starting with the statement of support of a substation. Councilmember Gardner said he started out with a hard no on the issue, but would like to research it more before he votes on it. He said he’s just not ready at this point to act.
Motion: Table the resolution until the next meeting, Action: Table, Moved by Brayden Gardner, Seconded by Andrew Chappell.
Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5). Yes: Brayden Gardner, Andrew Chappell, Kendrick Thomas, Kip Hansen, Kevin Arrington. - John Draper and Mitch Dickinson to discuss the construction of a hangar at the Airport to be used by the State Wildland Fire for a helibase.
Mayor Burrows said the location of a helibase at Richfield’s Airport could be a benefit to the City. Airport Manager Adam Robinson is also in attendance to help discuss the issue. Mike Melton from State Wildland Fire attended via Zoom.
Draper said they have been in talks with Mike for a while. The idea is to build a hangar they can operate out of that is a 120 by 120 feet. They would like a separate access for employees that will be working at the hangar.
Mayor Burrows asked about facilities for the people who stay there?
Draper said he anticipates people working shifts in the building, but not staying there overnight. Staff will be located at the facility full-time. Richfield is a good central location for this type of facility.
City Administrator Jolley shared a copy of a layout that is part of the Airport Master Plan, which is in the process of being written. In talking with the engineer, a couple of options were created for the hangar location – one to the north and one located closer to the midpoint of the runway. There is a lot of interest in the airport right now, and these are the two locations that would make the most sense for this type of use. There would have to be some infrastructure built out, including access. One issue is that the Federal Aviation Administration would have to approve any outside access, as that is something it controls.
Mayor Burrows said going to the north creates a separate apron that prevents them from having to go through the other hangars. Draper said they haven’t decided which location they would prefer at this point.
City Administrator Jolley said most of the activity when there were fire suppression activities during the past summer, most of the activity was to the south, which could provide some better access for aircraft.
Councilmember Arrington asked if water and sewer would be needed. It would have to be installed in either location. It looks like the southern option would be better for connecting services, plus it may be tighter having all the activity on the north.
Airport Manager Robinson said he is amenable to either location. There is sewer and water along the Industrial Park Road.
Councilmember Hansen said he is favor of pursuing this and an action item should be put on the agenda for the next meeting. - Consider adopting Resolution 2026-2 submittal of the 2025 Land and Water Conservation Grant Application to secure grant funding to assist with irrigation improvements for the golf course.
City Administrator Jolley explained the grant program and the need for the golf course project. Previously, the City received a grant for $50,000 to do a water study and see what needs to be done to improve the irrigation system at the golf course. That study showed a new filter system and a new pump are needed. The excess of the $50,000 grand will be used to purchase a filter. The City is applying for a grant from the LWCF for $250,000, with a match of $250,000. This project could be completed for less than that, so essentially LWCF would pay half and the City would pay half. This would secure a new pump station and building. The pump station itself would cost approximately $321,508.
Mayor Burrows said currently the system isn’t very efficient, so this is designed to make it more efficient. There is some funds available in the golf course capital improvements fund as well as in the PAR tax. The City would have to match the grant dollar for dollar.
Councilmember Gardner asked if there is a possibility of applying for more and adding more to the project.
Administrator Jolley said the project has been scaled to fit what the City can afford right now. The $250,000 number is what the City can fund currently, so that is why the application is for that amount. Motion: Adopt Resolution 2026-2 submittal of the 2025 Land and Water Conservation Grant Application to secure grant funding to assist with irrigation improvements for the golf course, Action: Approve, Moved by Kevin Arrington Seconded by Kip Hansen.
Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5).
Yes: Brayden Gardner, Andrew Chappell, Kendrick Thomas, Kip Hansen, Kevin Arrington. - OTHER BUSINESS.
Police Chief Lloyd said he is working on stats for 2025 and will present them at a future meeting. Also, there is now a School Resource Officer at each school in Richfield. Richfield City officers are at the high school and Pahvant Elementary, while the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office has officers at Ashman Elementary and the middle school. Cedar Ridge High School doesn’t have an SRO, but it’s on the campus of Richfield High School, so it’s not legally required.
There has also been a huge problem at Center and Main with people driving through the crosswalk while crossing guards and children are still in it. Lloyd is working with UDOT to extend the length of red lights to give more time for pedestrians to cross. UDOT is also building a single direction light at 500 North to turn red and stop cars for pedestrians.
Councilmember Hansen said he likes the new electronic marquee on the City park.
Councilmember Thomas said the private citizens who are helping the raise money for the R on the hill are starting to get more active. He would like to have some help with the effort so he isn’t the only City representative. They are looking to raise some $50,000 and have it completed by the first home football game of 2026. There may be a need for the City to help with the costs.
City Administrator Jolley presented the sales tax numbers for November. The results were mixed overall.
Deputy Clerk Anderson explained that the Pioneer Lane 14-plex project got a little out of order. While the project has been approved, it does require a development agreement because under the current City code there isn’t a place for townhomes. This is because of the zero setback required for shared wall townhomes. When staff realized the development agreement wasn’t in place, the city attorney was contacted. The city attorney advised if the developers would sign the agreement, they would be bound to it. However, it still needs to be approved by the City Council and has to have a public hearing with the planning commission. Anderson gave the council copies of the agreement to look over. The attorney advised to have the council look at the agreement and see if there are items that they disagree with in the agreement or any that should be added. That way the developers would be able to sign it and know that it likely will be adopted by the City Council. However, they would proceed at their own risk knowing that the development agreement hasn’t yet been signed by the City Council.
Mayor Burrows asked about requirements like curb and gutter and fencing. Deputy Clerk Anderson said this is for things that are above the code, while those items are still required.
Mayor Burrows asked if a development agreement would be needed with every townhome. Currently yes, but with some of the proposed changes to RM-11, the hope is to reduce the number of times a development agreement is needed.
City Engineer Micklane Farmer explained the setbacks are being reduced due to the fact that there are shared walls between units that are subdivided, but the other setbacks would remain in place. On the planning commission side, it was approved with a 3-2 vote.
Councilmember Gardner asked if Anderson and Micklane were OK with the agreement. They were.
Councilmember Hansen asked what the concerns were of the two planning commission members who voted against it. Deputy Clerk Anderson said they were philosophical concerns about putting more of this type of development in the city and what will be the effects of adding more multi-family housing in the area, and if it is really needed.
- MEETING ADJOURNED. Motion: Adjourn the meeting, Action: Adjourn, Moved by Brayden Gardner, Seconded by Kevin Arrington.
Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5).
Yes: Brayden Gardner, Andrew Chappell, Kendrick Thomas, Kip Hansen, Kevin Arrington.
PASSED and APPROVED this 27 day of January 2026.
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Recorder