Trail Ridge Park status & abatement of dangerous structures
By Lynda Williams
Pine Valley by Brad Langston
This February 4 City Council meeting only had two business items. You would think that would be simple. There was still plenty of discussion.
Consent Agenda
The Council reviewed and approved City expenditures from December 2025.
City Departments
Ash Creek Special Services District
Ash Creek Special Services District Representative Mike Chandler reported on the recent ribbon cutting, ongoing clean water testing, and the upcoming treatment of wastewater. He also discussed a new trunk line across the bridge at LaVerkin Creek.
Assistant City Manager
Assistant City Manager Darrin LeFevre presented updates on various construction projects including Boulder Ridge phases 1 and 2: The Maverick Store and Fuel Stop , the new reservoir, and the dam. Darrin covered a lot of very technical stuff that was very interesting but over my head. He had a slide presentation that showed the progress being made on the reservoir and the dam. The project is on schedule and should be completed by January 2027.
Traffic control was also addressed. A plan is being developed with Sunrise Engineering. A grant was received some time ago for future collector roads. Traffic studies are used to determine where these roads might go. Some of the money might possibly be used for trails. The discussion included the possibility of a sign to better identify the entrance to Toquerville Blvd. on the north end, a guard rail, and much needed lighting at that intersection which is very expensive. Someone suggested maybe using solar lighting.
I agree that the turn to Toquerville Blvd. is very easy to miss if you are not familiar with the area and especially at night. A guard rail seems like a safety must. It’s only a matter of time before someone goes over that steep bank.
City Manager
City Manager Ben Billingsley reported on the successful Strategic Planning Session and the upcoming public open house. He also said they were keeping an eye on the current Legislative Session for any bills that could have a disproportionate impact on Toquerville. They will let us know if they see something concerning.
Presentations
Washington County Fair
You can listen to their presentation here. Did you know the Washington County Fair is in its 165th year?
Hurricane High School Robotics Team
You can catch their impressive presentation here.
Public Forum
Art Smith, a resident of Trail Ridge Estates and Common Area Representative for Trail Ridge HOA, presented a need for community and city help as they contemplate what needs to be done to repair the flood damage that happened with the October flood. You can hear his comments here.
Business
Discussion on Trail Ridge Park Reconstruction status
The discussion on the park continued. Mayor Catlin reminded us that when the flood happened Cholla Creek put out a call for help and many volunteers stepped up.
It was noted that after the flood on October 10th, 2025, city staff spent about 2 weeks picking up debris. Approximately 3 feet of sediment covered the grass and common areas of the trail. The city leveled out most of the silt, bringing in mulch from the dump to help the grass grow. Heavy equipment was used to fill dumpsters and haul off debris.
A “dumpster day” is planned for the first week of March where a dumpster will be available at the city parking lot.
The Mayor hopes that Trail Ridge, Mesa View, and Cholla volunteers can work together to restore the park and make it a nice place for everyone to enjoy.
Discussion and possible action on Abatement of Dangerous Structures
Council discussed a proposed ordinance to address dangerous structures, aiming to protect community health and safety. The discussion begins here. The ordinance outlines a process to notify property owners that they need to remediate hazardous conditions.
The ordinance needs to ensure alignment with state statute, which defines “illegal structures” but does not define “dangerous building.” The attorney noted that the city’s authority to abate is tied to “illegal object or structure” not “dangerous building.” The ordinance must clearly define how a dangerous structure is deemed “illegal” to be enforceable under state law.
Concerns were raised that the ordinance’s language about “old and dilapidated” structures might inadvertently lead to removal of historic buildings, which the community would not want to see happen. It was suggested that registering historic buildings might need to follow a different path.
The ordinance mentions positions like “fines hearing officer” and “health officer” which are currently undefined.
This ordinance was tabled for further revisions to simplify the language, align with state statutes, and ensure clarity regarding “illegal structures” and “attractive nuisance”.
There was a lengthy discussion on this proposed ordinance if you want to know more.
While I appreciate our city leader’s hard work and efforts to plan ahead and manage growth responsibly, I can’t help but wonder if we need two more city employees and additional rules and regulations. I suppose it is inevitable, but it feels like our small town charm is fading quickly. Let me be sad for just a moment.
Calendar of Events
Spring Community Clean-Up – Saturday, March 7th to Sunday, March 8th, 2026 – Center Street Park, Westfield Park, TRE Park and Toquerville Heights.