Lynda Williams reports on the August 21 City Council meeting. A new city manager was approved: Ben Billingsley. Hostels were discussed under allowable use for the Business and Manufacturing Zones. Conflict of interest disclosures for city officials and employees was also on the agenda.

Brian McNary reports on the August 7 council meeting. He sums it up with one word: Housekeeping. Also, Jason Leavitt has been making progress on ordinance enforcement with only one or two residents digging their heels in. A few residents were upset about blasting on the bypass and getting dusted.

Brian McNary makes a case for why landowners should not be allowed to prevent public access to a right of way that is not theirs to close. This is happening in Toquerville.

Kathy Bence reported that water was the major focus of the July 17 City Council meeting. Toquerville officially came in line with the WCWCD Excess Water Use Surcharges. Forty-dollar chickens also made an appearance and, thankfully, it will be their last.

Brian McNary reports that the July 3 meeting included a resignation from the City Manager, Afton Moore, a bypass update, and talk of taxes from the fire district being passed onto tourists. Brian points out that politicians and emergency services love to tax out of towners. It keeps local residents happy while violating the 1700’s theme of “no taxation without representation.”

DC Young shares some history about the naming of Toquerville’s main street, Toquer Blvd, and the falls that aren’t really in Toquerville and often go by the wrong name. In addition to remembering Chief Toquer, we should also remember Twin Falls.

Kathy Bence covers this June 20 meeting included Planning Commission changes, public comments naming city problems, & a rebuttal to the public comments. The meeting covered fixing the bypass, and giving Firelight the go ahead in a small way despite the bypass not being complete.

A former Toquerville Mayor and current Business Manager for the Hurricane Valley Fire District, has been indicted by a Washington County Grand Jury.

Kathy Bence comments on a few council meetings including June 5. Based on a film showing a landslide at the bypass's entrance and the remaining boulder, it may take some time before the bypass is opened. While this particular landslide did not occur before the council meeting, the issue and potential solutions were mentioned.

Besides informing city officials, publicly sharing our concerns enables others to be informed and perhaps influenced. The YouTube views for these meetings range from 40 to more than 200. So while you may think you’re speaking to a near-empty room, you’re not.

Lynda Williams reports on the April 17 meeting. A developer requested zone changes for several lots from R-1-20 to R-1-12. In other words, from a 20,000 square foot lot to a 12,000 square foot lot. While the item was tabled, it seemed that most of the council was sympathetic to this change.

Brian McNary reports & rails, "Honestly, Attorney Snow should have probably been given an ultimatum long ago. Firelight or Toquerville, but not both…All of this was evident to me as the grading ordinance came into focus. There is a reason we ask attorneys for potential conflicts of interest- but that process is useless if city fathers choose to ignore declared conflicts or attempt some half-measure solution. Work for us, work for them, but not both. Fish or cut bait."

Brian McNary admits, "... my knowledge of water issues boils down to two things. We apparently have unlimited water supplies when it comes to new development. When it comes to our existing Toquerville homes, you’d think water was as rare as hen’s teeth

The Planning Commission reconsiders the $1,000 fee to break an acre lot into two half-acre lots. “Property rights” were invoked as a defense for zone changes. Yet, where does the Constitution convey powers to a city to zone property and become the arbiter of WHICH property owner will have WHICH property rights?

Brian McNary observes that hiring a city attorney is a big deal. City attorneys often act as “defacto” councils when offering advice which is heavily relied on by city staff, council members, and the Mayor. City attorneys are also very expensive.

“The Program” Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping is a three part, mini-series currently trending at the top position on Netflix

Lori Cole reports that questions flew about why the Firelight water infrastructure is only now coming up for discussion, why Firelight and the city have not already confirmed their water needs can be met, and why they have not already obtained their water rights. Developers are required to acquire water rights before the city signs a contract with them, but that was not the policy when the deal for the Firelight Development was signed in 2008.

Lori Cole covered the Feb 7 meeting (and provided the local post office photo). While the bulk of the meeting was spent discussing the General Plan, other important things were covered. She observed, “Most of us can agree that what Salt Lake City wants is not necessarily what citizens of rural Southern Utah want...”

Stefani Williams reports on the Utah State Flag Initiative. Volunteers, including many Toquerville residents, are scrambling to collect 5,000 more signatures in Washington County by February 15 for the initiative. This would give voters the chance to decide which flag will represent Utah.

Kathy Bence reports that the city attorney, Heath Snow, has formally resigned after more than 16 years. A nightly rental was approved despite some unhappy residents. The council passed a restatement of the city’s code relative to General Plan policies and a future land use map.