Bluff council issues letters of support for Bears Ears Partnership grants; two councilmembers abstain

The Bluff Town Council approved letters of support on March 17 endorsing Bears Ears Partnership grant applications for trail work and for an extension and beautification project at the Bears Ears Education Center.

At the meeting, Council discussed a Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation grant request for trail work. Mayor Josh Ewing said he signed a support letter earlier while out of town to avoid a conflict; councilmembers Britt Hornsby and Spencer Wade, who work for Bears Ears Partnership, announced they would abstain from the vote on the UDOR grant. The minutes record that the Council approved the letter of support; Hornsby and Wade’s abstentions were noted.

Council also approved two letters of support for a T-Mobile Hometown Grant to benefit the Bears Ears Education Center. The minutes state there was no opposition and that the town will provide both a Mayor and Council letter.

Councilmembers did not indicate any further conditions or funding commitments tied to the letters; the minutes show the approvals are letters of support only and not a budgetary pledge.