Is Nephi’s Twist Within Toquerville City Limits?
By Brian McNary
Springtime in Southern Utah by Lori Cole
I am dedicating this council report to Lynn Williams for asking the right question. I will get back to that topic in just a bit after we take care of the mundane issues of the evening. Mercifully, this April 15 meeting lasted only a shade over an hour.
Presentation on the Budget
Ben Billingsly presented a few items regarding the city’s 2026-2027 administrative budget.
There was plenty of talk about increasing property taxes, increasing utility fees, and a 2.8% cola with an additional 4% merit increase for city employees.
Ben mentioned that they would need a building inspector in the near future, most likely the 2027-2028 budget.
Impact fees for new construction would also be increasing. Ben’s talk included capital project funds, impact fees, new studies, the Parkway project, fleet management and car leases, stormwater flows and capacity, and finished with cemetery fees and the perpetual care fund. I briefly toyed with the idea of mentioning that we should charge extra for view lots like the area developers do in subdivisions.
At any rate, Ben gave an excellent presentation and there was nothing earth shattering in it for me. It all made sense.
I would like to mention something here that distinguishes government from the efficiencies of privately owned businesses and corporations.
There is ZERO incentive for local government and various departments to ever save money and return it to a general fund. I noted in Ben’s talk that he mentioned spending “authority.” Implied in the term “authority” is the possibility that department heads were not required to spend all the money they were allocated each fiscal year. In practice, I found that concept to be false.
Is there any reason to save taxpayers money? No. Department heads routinely spent all the money they were allocated and waited for next year’s replenishment. That was my experience. However, if I really wanted to save the city money, I would incentivize employees to help through a sort of “shared sacrifice” in which they would ultimately benefit if they helped save money. Like a bonus. That type of incentive is often illegal in public service unless you install some floors or boundaries. It can be done but you get the general idea.
Public Comment
Lynn Williams stood up and asked the city if Nephi’s Twist is in the city? This was the highlight of my evening. I’ll tell you why.
A landowner adjacent to Trail Ridge subdivision has chained off public access to Nephi’s Twist. This has gone on for several years. It is illegal to obstruct a public highway. That is state law and it is pretty clear. But for some reason, this landowner who owns land adjacent to that public highway believes they are entitled to barricade the road. City fathers have ignored and dodged this issue. You’d think a mob boss owned the property.
This is my fantasy. One morning, I will go out and pound a couple of fence posts across the street that runs in front of my house. I will chain off both the north and south rights of way. I will then declare that my property sits within this chained boundary and that makes the road mine and off limits to anyone else. This is precisely what this landowner has been doing. They do not own the road or Nephi’s Twist.
Disclaimer. Lynn Williams is a friend of mine.
What’s the solution? Ask for an attorney general’s opinion. After that is returned, ask the county prosecutor to direct the Sheriff to inform the property owners that they are in violation of the law. Open the road or face a criminal charge. Not that difficult.
Business Items
Approved some prior re-zonings for inclusion in the official city zoning map.
A resolution supporting Washington County Water Conservancy’s Ultra High Efficiency Standards for new development.
Appointed Gary Welker as an alternate for the Planning Commission, 4 year term.
Work Items
More work on the nightly rental ordinance to allow smooth transfers to new owners.
Upcoming Events
Memorial Day Commemoration Program, Saturday, May 23 at the cemetery.
Movies in the Park, Friday, June 12 at Center Street Park