Hildale council agrees to vacate street for cul-de-sac, but not everyone agrees with the move

Written by Nick Yamashita
July 29, 2023

HILDALE — Despite some public opposition, City Council has voted to vacate a street  for “the best and safety of the community.”

Petitioners representative Jeff Barlow speaks to the city council about the street vacate petition, Hildale, Utah, July 12, 2023 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St. George News

For several months, city government officials have been listening to public input and studying the land proposal to vacate a section of North Juniper Street to create a cul-de-sac.

The area in question is located at 980 N. Juniper St., near the intersection with Jessop Avenue.

Deputy City Manager for Special Projects Harrison Johnson said street vacation involves “a legal process by which a public right of way, such as a road or pathway is permanently closed or abandoned.”

All public input on the street vacation petition was heard during the public comments period at the beginning of the meeting July 12.

Johnson said the land where the public right of way is located was gifted to the community by the original owner and as a gift, the city cannot sell the property.

The process of the petition was first filed after which a public notice was sent to the property managers that the vacate order would affect. Then it was open for public input and finally approved or disapproved by the city council. If approved the property of the public right of way would be abandoned and turned over to the original owner or adjacent owners.

The petitioners who have properties along that right of way all support the vacation. These include Williams Daniel, Richard Lee Barlow, Kevin Bateman, Zane Barlow, Darlene Dockstader, Brigham Holm and Megan Cooke, Uzona Holdings (Lee Barlow), Gary Mills Tooke, Ray Chatwin, South Zion Estates (Travis Jessop) and Paul Barlow.

All are represented by John Barlow.

Hildale City Council Member JVar Dutson voted against the street vacate petition, Hildale, Utah, July 12, 2023 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St. George News

The vacation would shut down Jessop Avenue to public use from Elm Street to Oak Street and a small section of the intersection areas of Juniper Street and Jessop Avenue, as well as Oak Street and Jessop Avenue.

The major argument against the petition involved the potential blockage of access to public lands. Former city councilman Jared Nicol was especially vocal.

“I want to point out that our current general plan for this city is very clear to not have cul-de-sacs,” Nicol said.

Added Mary Lou Barlow, who owns property where the cul-de-sac would be: “I am opposed to the petition. A portion is my property. That directly affects my property.”

She said the notice she received said “that consideration of the vacation includes criteria to show good cause exists for the vacation and neither a public interest nor person” will be “materially injured.”

She said her driveway would be affected by the vacation.

In follow-up, applicant representative Jeff Barlow provided a new map with an amendment that would ensure her property would not be affected by the vacation.

The majority of those opposed to the petition were not in favor as it would close off access to Burea of Land Management public recreational lands. However, in a letter to the city of Hildale, the BLM gave approval for the vacation.

Part of the support for the vacation concerns the safety of residents, especially within the area. Several of the property owners, including councilman Brigham Holm, said they have seen people wreck or speed through the area on all-terrain vehicles for the trails that were “fenced off” by BLM, but someone keeps breaking that barrier.

There were four public attendees who opposed the petition while one thanked the council for doing the work involved.

After much discussion, the street vacate petition was approved by the council with every board member in favor except JVar Dutson.

Five Water Canyon High School students were recognized for being excellent ambassadors of Hildale, Utah, July 12, 2023 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St. George News

Other meeting agenda items included a community award for five local teenagers and a 5% increase for all Hildale City employees except for the city manager who is excluded as he is on a contract.

Mayor Donia Jessop received an email from Sen. Mitt Romney’s office Southern Utah Director Kyle Wilson. Recently five students from Water Canyon High School attended the natural resources camp under the advisement of Romney. Wilson said he was very impressed with the five students and how driven they were.

Water Canyon High School students Jenica Barlow, Dasia Cooke, Samantha Seay, Katrina Millett and Alexander Barlow were given a community award for “being excellent ambassadors of Hildale.”

“I am proud of all of our kids. All of our schools. I am proud of all of our kids who step up and participate,” Jessop said.

The annual budget was up for approval from the city council, but it would not be approved by Dutson unless the employees received a 5% increase due to the recent rising costs of living as put on record by him.

City Manager Eric Duthie said the raises in paychecks were approved but will not cost the city more. The city had recently lost two employees, and the pay bump will come from one of those positions not being filled.

The next city council meeting is set for Aug. 9 at 6 p.m.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nick Yamashita has extensive experience reporting for small town media, covering a variety of subjects and events for The Virgin River Times and The Progress in Southern Nevada. Before a career in journalism, he worked a variety of jobs in criminal justice systems. Yamashita holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's degree in interdisciplinary studies from Southern Utah University. He is an award-winning photographer and writer. He has been published in scholarly articles and poetry compilations. In his spare time, he practices and teaches martial arts.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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