Council approves Rocky Mountain Power franchise, public‑comment change and road access for Creekside Estates; other routine items passed

At its meeting, the Cash County Council approved multiple formal actions spanning utility franchising, meeting procedure, and a development access request.

Key votes and outcomes

• Fraud risk assessment: Staff presented the annual fraud risk assessment required by the Utah state auditor and said the county scored the highest possible level for internal controls. The council voted to accept the assessment by voice vote.

• Holiday schedule (HB309, Juneteenth observation): A staff member recommended aligning the county schedule with HB309 so that Juneteenth is observed on June 19 in 2026. The council approved the amended holiday schedule for 2026.

• Franchise agreement with Rocky Mountain Power (Ordinance 2026‑22): Public Works Director Matt Phillips recommended renewing the county’s 10‑year franchise agreement with Rocky Mountain Power, which sets standards for utility work within county rights‑of‑way. The council waived rules and adopted ordinance 2026‑22 by voice vote.

• Council public‑comment procedure (Ordinance 2026‑24): Joan (staff) presented an amendment to the council procedure code to add a general public comment portion after minutes approval, with chair authority for reasonable conduct rules and time limits. The council suspended rules, approved the amendment for a six‑month trial and agreed to re‑evaluate it.

• Set public hearings: The council set public hearings for May 12, 2026 on three ordinances (Riverside 2 reszone, an amendment to chapter 17.14 on the resort recreation zone, and a county code chapter on levies).

• Creekside Estates roadway access (Resolution 2026‑13): After an extensive discussion about ingress/egress, maintenance responsibilities and coordination with River Heights City, the council approved a resolution granting county roadway access for Creekside Estates on 600 East in River Heights; the motion passed 5–2. Staff and the executive said the access is subject to completion and approval of required engineering details and coordination with River Heights standards.

What the votes mean

The franchise renewal with Rocky Mountain Power maintains established terms for utilities in county right‑of‑way and does not create exclusivity for other utility providers. The public‑comment amendment establishes a recurring, short opportunity for residents to speak during regular meetings but preserves the chair’s ability to set reasonable time limits and procedural requirements. The Creekside Estates resolution authorizes the city development to use the county road as an access, with staff directed to verify engineering and maintenance conditions before final turnover.

Next procedural steps

The council asked staff to bring forward detailed bond or ballot language if recreation or senior center bond proposals are placed on the November ballot. On the Creekside access, staff said some road improvements (chip‑and‑seal and related repairs) will need scheduling and that final ownership transfer will follow agreement on acceptable condition.