Rob Terry outlines ombudsman services, training and advisory opinions for Spring City officials

Rob Terry, training director with the Utah Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman, told Spring City officials that his office focuses on information, education and mediation to help local agencies and property owners navigate land‑use law. "My name is Rob Terry. I have the opportunity to service the state ... as the training director, Office of the Property Rights Ombudsman," he said in opening remarks.

Terry described advisory opinions as a common tool his office provides to avoid costly litigation: "The cost of that is only $250, and they can be turned around in usually several weeks," he said. He also directed officials to the Land Use Academy of Utah for templates, example documents and a contact database for technical assistance and noted upcoming regional conferences that count toward required planning‑commission training hours. Attendees were encouraged to request copies of Terry's slides and to adopt administrative checklists to reduce staff errors and unclear applications.

Terry said the ombudsman attorneys handle negotiation and legal liaison work while his role centers on education and practical resources for local governments. He recommended that agencies adopt clear checklists and timelines so applicants and staff understand what constitutes a "complete" application and how to proceed if deficiencies are found. The presentation closed with an offer to share the full slide deck and links to the build initiative GIS tools developed by the governor's office of planning and budgeting.