Welcoming New Faces to the Team

The Council welcomed two new members of city staff and confirmed a Planning Commission appointment this week. Jamie Heiner has joined Tremonton as our new Finance Director and is already digging into our budget, audit, and capital planning work. Jeremy Lance has joined as the new City Planner, bringing experience from Morgan County and a fresh perspective on our city codes and long-term planning efforts.

The Council also approved the appointment of Ben Greener to fill the vacancy on the Planning Commission. Ben has served previously and brings valuable institutional knowledge back to the table. His term will run through January 2028.

These are good people who care about community, and we’re grateful to have them serving Tremonton.

An Honest Conversation About Utility Rates

Curtis Roberts CPA brought forward an important discussion regarding our water, sewer, and treatment plant funds. The reality is that current utility rates are no longer keeping pace with operating costs, and our water fund risks falling out of compliance with bond requirements if adjustments are not made. This isn’t the result of one sudden issue, but rather years of inflation and delayed rate adjustments catching up all at once.

The Council approached the conversation directly and transparently. Rather than waiting for a much larger correction later, the discussion focused on taking smaller, planned steps now to protect the long-term stability of our systems. Curtis will return at the next meeting with formal rate proposals. Early discussions indicated a possible water base rate adjustment of approximately $2 per month to help cover operations and maintain compliance obligations.

The Council also asked staff to review our utility tier structure and secondary water pricing to encourage greater use of secondary water for lawns and landscaping instead of treated culinary water. Following a dry winter and recent statewide water discussions, conservation continues to be an important part of planning for Tremonton’s future.

Budget and Public Safety

The Council adopted the tentative budget for fiscal year 2027, keeping the city on track procedurally. A major part of the discussion centered on public safety and how Tremonton continues to grow responsibly.

Chief Cordova shared that the department is experiencing increased call volume and more complex cases, placing significant demands on officers and investigators. He encouraged the Council to carefully consider future growth and the resources needed to support it.

Questions also came up regarding a police officer position from the previous budget year. At this time, the historical record is unclear, and the city attorney will help review the legislative history so the Council and public can have a clear and transparent answer moving forward.

The broader discussion highlighted an important point: Tremonton is not simply facing a spending issue, but also a revenue challenge. The focus moving forward will be on attracting responsible commercial and industrial growth, updating impact fees and capital plans, and ensuring city codes reflect the kind of community Tremonton wants to become.

Planning Department Direction

Jeremy presented information on temporary land use regulations, sometimes referred to as moratoriums, which cities can use while updating codes and infrastructure plans.

After discussion, the Council’s direction was clear: Tremonton wants to remain open to the right kind of growth. Rather than pausing development broadly, staff was asked to continue strengthening city codes, impact fees, and capital facilities planning through targeted updates and collaboration across departments.

That work is already underway, with planning, public works, finance, legal counsel, and department heads coordinating closely together. This kind of teamwork across departments is exactly how we solve difficult issues and move the city forward thoughtfully.

Garland Police Contract

The Council moved forward on the Garland police services contract after Garland approved it unanimously. Under the agreement, four Garland officers will join the department, and police services will operate under the Tremonton-Garland Police Department name. Keeping that name was important to Garland’s identity and reflects the partnership between neighboring communities. Revenue from the contract will support police department operations.

Other Items Moving Forward

The Council approved a resolution supporting Congressman Blake Moore’s effort to rename the Tremonton Post Office in honor of Officers Lee Sorensen and Eric Estrada. Their names will also be added to the state law enforcement memorial at the Capitol.

Economic Development is researching possible sales tax revenue leakage tied to outdated registry information. Recovering even part of those funds could positively impact the city budget.

Public Works shared several project updates:

• Secondary water turns on May 11
• Holmgren East secondary water expansion begins next week
• East Canal equalization basin remains on track for completion around June 15
• Tremont Street and 100 West culinary water line replacement is expected to wrap up by May 31

At Shuman Park, the stage roof damaged during a recent storm will be replaced and expanded to include additional library storage space. This project was already budgeted. A $30,000 tourism grant tied to the Stevens parking lot project is being returned for now due to unavailable matching funds, with future planning discussions still underway.

The Mugs and Bananas drag night event was approved for 2026, with this year’s concert moving to Midland Square.

Tremonton’s Main Street America application has officially been submitted. The sidewalk work currently happening along Main Street is focused on safety repairs and is separate from any future long-term streetscape planning. Trees and larger downtown improvements may still be part of future discussions.

The fire department is also finalizing an agreement for donated hazmat equipment from a local industrial partner to help ensure crews have the tools needed to respond safely.

A Note From the Meeting

What stood out most Tuesday night was the way conversations happened across the table. New staff were given time to learn and ask questions. Department heads spoke honestly and were heard. Council members challenged ideas, listened carefully, and worked through difficult topics together.

That’s the kind of culture we want to continue building in Tremonton: straightforward conversations, teamwork, and a willingness to keep moving forward together. We won’t always have every answer immediately, but we are committed to doing the work openly and thoughtfully for the community we serve.

We’ll continue sharing these updates so residents can stay informed in plain language. If you have questions about anything discussed here, please reach out. That connection and communication matter to us.