By Toquerville Sentinel Staff
Smith Mesa falls after rain by Lori Cole
Here’s a recap of the Nov 4, 2026 City Council meeting.
The Trouble With Telling on Your Neighbors
I imagine there are plenty of legitimate reasons to report a neighbor for violating a city ordinance. But I imagine there are also complaints born from old grudges, the origins of which have long since been forgotten. Toquerville has been working on a code enforcement policy to determine how complaints are received, investigated, and handled. During Toquerville's November 4 City Council meeting, the council approved it, though not before debating the delicate business of anonymous complaining. City Manager Ben Billingsley explained that residents can file complaints without giving their names, provided they include enough information for staff to investigate.
Of course, if you don't leave your name, you can't expect anyone to call you with updates. There’s a price for remaining mysterious. The policy establishes four levels of priority. Public health and safety concerns come first, followed by quarterly enforcement activities directed by the council, complaints from residents willing to identify themselves, and finally anonymous complaints.
Councilman Olsen thought the policy was "a little weak." He questioned whether a legitimate concern should receive less attention simply because someone didn't want to attach their name to it. Billingsley assured him that anything involving public safety would go straight to the top, regardless of who reported it. He also pointed out that city staff have other responsibilities. Code enforcement currently takes about four hours a week, which doesn't leave much time to investigate every suspicious lawn ornament and longstanding property-line grievance.
The city attorney recommended that written notices of alleged violations be sent with proof of delivery. Because, leaving a notice on someone's door isn't much help if they later claim they never saw it. And anyone who's ever had a package marked “delivered” while standing on an empty porch knows how that argument goes. The council adopted the policy with the attorney's recommended changes.
I can see both sides of the anonymous complaint debate. In a town like Toquerville, where we recognize our neighbors' trucks and know whose dog has been making the rounds, reporting someone can make things uncomfortable. Especially when you might find yourself sitting beside them at church on Sunday, singing about loving one another. On the other hand, anonymity offers certain opportunities to people who have been nursing a grudge. I guess the trick is figuring out whether your neighbor is actually violating an ordinance or whether you've simply spent too many years looking at his ugly shed.
Beware of Those Bearing Gifts
The council also took up the matter of donations and sponsorships, which raised a concern. At what point does generosity become an obligation? Councilmember Olsen was uneasy about accepting large donations. His concern was that even when someone gives money without asking for anything in return, the recipient may still feel indebted. It's the same uncomfortable feeling you get when someone gives you an extravagant Christmas present and you hand them the scented candle you found on sale at Family Dollar. Except in this case, the gift might be $50,000, and the entire city is the recipient. You can't exactly thank the donor with a plate of sugar cookies and hope everyone forgets about it. Other council members were more than happy to entertain the possibility of a generous donation.
Toquerville has a limited budget, and private donations have helped pay for improvements the city might otherwise have struggled to afford. Mayor Catlin mentioned a resident of Ivins who reportedly donated $2.1 million toward a health clinic, which is considerably generous. The concern is what happens when a generous donor also happens to want something in return. The proposed policy addresses that possibility by allowing the city to reject or defer donations from anyone with pending bids, contracts, or other business before the city. This is a sensible precaution, since nobody wants to discover that the new community playground came with an unspoken agreement to approve somebody's subdivision.
The city attorney also recommended changes to the language concerning political and religious content in sponsorship recognition. You can see why they keep an attorney around. Someone has to remind everyone about the First Amendment. Then the council had to decide how much money city staff could accept without asking permission. The original proposal was $50,000. I don't know about you, but if someone handed me $50,000, I'd have a few questions. Possibly a background check. The council felt the same way and lowered the amount to $5,000. Any donation of that size or larger will require council approval and public acknowledgment, although donors can still remain anonymous.
Someone joked that a person could simply make several smaller donations to avoid the recognition — a wonderful small town problem to have. People trying to figure out how to give away money without anyone finding out. The council approved the policy. I love that people want to give something back to Toquerville. Westfield Park began with a family donating land nearly thirty years ago. Think about that. They owned a piece of the earth and decided the rest of us should get to enjoy it. That is deeply generous, especially considering what land is worth these days. But I understand Olsen’s hesitation.
Money does funny things to people. I’ve seen perfectly reasonable people become remarkably unreasonable over money, particularly when they insist the money has nothing to do with it. A generous gift can come with expectations nobody thought to mention at the time. And $50,000 is an expensive way to discover that someone has a different understanding of the word donation. I'd rather have an awkward conversation about the rules beforehand than an even more awkward one afterward, when the donor wants to know why his generous contribution hasn't earned him a little say in how things are run.
The Money That Couldn't Find Anywhere to Go
Next came impact fees. I realize these words do not exactly set the heart racing. But every growing town eventually has to figure out who's going to foot the bill for all that growth. When developers build new homes or businesses, cities may collect impact fees to help pay for infrastructure made necessary by that growth. Roads, water facilities, and other public improvements cost money, and the idea is that new development should help cover its share. Utah law generally requires those fees to be spent within six years. Toquerville has accumulated certain water and street impact fees that have exceeded, or are approaching that deadline. City Manager Billingsley explained that the delay with Toquerville Parkway contributed to the problem. The city's existing impact fee study is also aging, and many of the projects originally identified as eligible for funding have already been completed. So the city has money designated for infrastructure, but fewer approved projects on which to spend it. I wish I had this problem at home.
Unfortunately, city funds come with rules. If the city cannot justify extending the deadline, the unspent fees may have to be returned to the developers or others who paid them. Billingsley explained that state law permits extensions when extraordinary and compelling reasons exist. The council approved a resolution extending the spending period through June 30, 2028. A new impact fee facilities plan is expected to come before the council in the spring, potentially identifying additional projects where the funds can be used. Toquerville certainly doesn’t seem to have trouble finding places to build houses, but finding the money, the roads, and the water to accommodate them is proving to be a longer conversation.
A County Agreement Heads for the Exit
The council also revisited its July decision to withdraw from an interlocal revenue pledge agreement with Washington County involving the sheriff's office. If that sentence made your eyes glaze over, you're in good company. It has to do with withdrawing Toquerville from it’s $10,000 annual contribution to the Washington County Drug Task Force.
At the time, a resident questioned why the city was paying extra for services already provided by our sheriff's office. After meeting with the sheriff, Mayor Caitlin was reassured that withdrawing the money wouldn't affect those services. So the city’s task was simply to make the breakup official.
Councilman Sands still opposed the original decision, while Councilman Campbell reminded everyone that the council had already voted on it. The council approved the termination paperwork, leaving the city one step closer to keeping its $10,000. Whether everyone has made peace with July’s decision is another matter.
682,560 Gallons of Water Have Gone Missing Somewhere
During council reports, Councilman Wayne Olson brought up a water leak on Westfield Road that has been running for months. He said he had taken matters into his own hands and measured the flow using a low-flow meter. He measured approximately 7.9 gallons per minute, which sounds harmless until you do the math. That's about 475 gallons an hour, more than 11,000 gallons a day, and, by Olson's calculations, 682,560 gallons over the period he'd been tracking. An olympic-sized swimming pool holds roughly 660,000 gallons.
So, if Olson's numbers are correct, Westfield Road has managed to produce an olympic swimming pool's worth of water without the inconvenience of building an actual pool. Unfortunately, no swimming. May I remind us that this is Southern Utah, where we treat water with the same reverence others reserve for family heirlooms. We pull out perfectly good lawns, plant things that look half-dead even when they're thriving, and feel proud when we take shorter showers. Meanwhile, Olson has been watching water run down a storm drain for months. He wanted to know what was being done about it. City Manager Billingsley said he'd been briefed on the situation but didn't have enough information to give an accurate answer. He promised to investigate and report back to the council via email.
To be fair, the meeting didn't establish where the water was coming from, whether it was treated city water, or whether Olson's estimated total was accurate. Those are rather important details. Still, I think residents deserve an explanation. We spend a great deal of time being reminded to conserve water, and most of us are doing our best, even if some of our yards resemble the surface of Mars. It seems reasonable to ask why thousands of gallons may be flowing down Westfield Road without anyone at the meeting being able to explain it. I hope Billingsley gets to the bottom of it soon. And if the water can't be stopped, perhaps someone could at least look into installing a diving board.
Of Mosquitos and Men
If you've felt personally targeted by mosquitoes this year, the numbers suggest you may feel justified. Officials shared that 52 mosquito pools tested positive for West Nile virus this year, compared with just three last year. A mosquito pool, for the record, is a group of mosquitoes collected and tested together. I mention this because when I first heard the term, I pictured some dreadful little recreational facility built exclusively for mosquitoes. Service calls to the mosquito abatement district also increased from 210 last year to 886 this year. Two human cases of West Nile virus were reported in Washington County. Recent moisture has created additional standing water, which provides breeding habitat for mosquitoes.
Fire Chief Robert Hooper also addressed the unusually wet conditions. Apparently, residents are having trouble finding anything dry enough to burn this season, a problem Southern Utah has rarely had the luxury of complaining about. But Hooper warned that all this extra vegetation will eventually dry out, providing plenty of fuel for next year's wildfires. So there you have it. We pray for rain, rejoice when it arrives, admire the desert turning green, and discover we've inadvertently opened a mosquito maternity ward and stocked next year's wildfire supply. The mosquitoes, who have contributed absolutely nothing to our community, are having the time of their lives.
The Trees Have Entered the Chat
The council spent several minutes discussing one of the more unexpected problems facing Toquerville… trees that have lived long enough to acquire rights. It began with branches blocking stop signs. Public works crews were asked to trim them, which seems like a reasonable thing to do if we'd like motorists to continue stopping at stop signs. But city staff discovered an ordinance protecting certain older trees from trimming requirements. The ordinance dates back to around 2012, when the city was establishing rules for newly planted trees. Those trees have since grown up, as trees are inclined to do, and now nobody is entirely sure which ones qualify for protection. The city doesn't keep a comprehensive tree inventory, so determining whether a tree is fifteen years old may involve a city employee standing beneath it, squinting at the branches, and making an educated guess about its birthday.
City Manager Billingsley suggested removing the troublesome section of the ordinance so crews could trim trees that interfere with public safety or public rights-of-way. Councilwoman Chamberlain recalled previous tree-trimming controversies and warned against reopening the issue. We must have a history of getting worked up over our trees, which makes me more fond of this place. There was discussion about whether state or federal safety regulations already require clear visibility of stop signs, regardless of local tree protections. Councilman Campbell suggested simply removing the stop sign. There. Problem solved.
Councilwoman Chamberlain declared, “Don't cut down any Bradford pears on the main drag.” Someone even requested that her position be entered into the official minutes. I hope future historians appreciate this. Empires rise and fall, civilizations crumble, and in the Toquerville archives is a woman making absolutely certain nobody gets ambitious with a chainsaw. Southern Utah isn’t exactly overflowing with shade. A mature tree is no small accomplishment here. If it's been around long enough, it has probably watched the town change considerably. Trim the branches blocking the stop signs. Surely we can accomplish that without declaring war on every tree old enough to remember when our town was smaller. The council did not change the ordinance that evening. Instead, staff will research the applicable safety requirements and determine whether revisions are necessary.
The Road to Somewhere, Eventually
The council also received updates on several transportation and development projects, including the proposed road through Bureau of Land Management property near Anderson Junction. This is the same project discussed in October, involving Steve Gilbert's gravel extraction operation and a proposed route that could eventually move gravel trucks away from residential areas. The city has started the process of securing a right-of-way from the BLM, although it may take considerable time. The quickest comparable approval took about a year. Another recently completed process took approximately two and a half years. There are environmental studies to complete and other federal requirements that can add to the timeline. So if you're hoping to see fewer gravel trucks passing nearby homes, the idea is moving forward, but you may have to endure a few more years of rattling windows. The city's transportation master plan is also still being finalized. Staff expressed frustration with delays from the engineering firm and hoped to bring the revised plan before the council soon.
The proposed Maverik is getting closer to becoming a reality. Civil plans have been approved, and the building permit is nearly finished. Over near Westfield Road, development continues with grading and blasting for utilities. A recent blast raised some questions among residents, prompting discussion about giving people better notice before the next one. Contractors are using seismic monitors and documenting nearby homes in case concerns about damage arise. I think most people can tolerate a certain amount of inconvenience in the name of progress, but they'd just prefer to know when the ground beneath their feet is scheduled to shake.
Would You Like Some Purified Wastewater With That?
City Manager Billingsley also shared an update on a planned $7 million advanced water purification demonstration facility near La Verkin. The project will take treated wastewater from the Confluence Park Water Reclamation Facility and purify it to drinking water standards. I realize this may not be the most appetizing sentence you've read today. But remember, we live in a desert and keep inviting more people to move here. The demonstration facility is intended to show how the process works and help educate residents and students about potential future water supplies. Funding has been authorized, and construction preparations are moving forward.
Water that has already passed through homes and businesses can undergo additional purification and become suitable for drinking. I suspect public education will be an important part of this project. People are generally enthusiastic about water recycling until someone explains exactly which water is being recycled. Still, if we intend to keep building homes in the desert, we're going to have to get comfortable with the idea that water can have a previous life.
Cinnamon Rolls & Christmas Lights
The meeting ended with announcements about upcoming community events.
Toquerville will honor veterans with cinnamon rolls at City Hall on Wednesday, November 11, from 8 to 10:30 a.m.
Councilman Campbell asked whether arrangements had been made to deliver cinnamon rolls to disabled veterans who might not be able to attend, and offered to deliver the cinnamon roll himself.
The Christmas tree lighting will take place Monday, November 30, at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
Winter community cleanup is scheduled for December 5 and 6, with dumpsters available at T.R. Park, Center Street Park, Westfield Park, and Toquerville Heights near the mailboxes on Rimview Drive.
The city also announced an open house and tours at IME in Anderson Junction on Friday, November 6.
Fireboard Meeting Nov 12. Open forum for fire budget.
And so another Toquerville City Council meeting came to an end. The trees survived, the anonymous complainers retained their anonymity, and the city remains open to accepting generous gifts, provided nobody expects to run the place afterward. As for the 682,560 gallons of water, we'll have to wait and see where that story goes.
Solara Annexation Public Hearing — November 18
The next Toquerville City Council meeting, Wednesday, November 18, at 6:00 p.m., will include a public hearing on the proposed Solara Annexation.
If you haven’t been following this issue, now is a good time to catch up. Start with a brief overview by Gary Chaves, followed by Brian McNary’s colorful reference to the “gawd awful development.” Then read Michelle Peot’s article on Solara and Water, followed by her in-depth research into the proposed annexation.
Together, these articles provide valuable background on an issue that could have lasting consequences for Toquerville.
Come informed, ask questions, and make your voice heard!