Richfield council adopts outside-city water ordinance, amends budget after tax denial

The Richfield City Council voted 4-0 on Oct. 13 to adopt Ordinance 2026-8, which sets rules for connections and use of surplus culinary water outside city limits for agriculture, stock and other uses other than homes, as presented except for moving the effective date to Dec. 1, 2026, and a requirement that notice of the adoption be sent out, according to the council minutes ^[1].

Lloyd Rickenbach, an attorney for Greg and Katie Torgerson, who own property outside city limits on Annabella Road and receive stock water from the city's Annabella Road line, asked in a letter that Mayor Burrows read into the record for amendments or a one-month delay. The letter said the ordinance affects about 13 identifiable users outside the city and asked for written notice of overages, a 30-day period to cure them, an appeal before any disconnection and clearer definitions. City Administrator Michele Jolley said the city attorney advised passing the ordinance that night and making changes later if needed. Mayor Bryan Burrows said the city's policies already allow people to repair leaks and that individual notice of the ordinance is not required, though he said the city would provide written notice to a resident who asked. Councilmember Kip Hansen said the city is not obligated to provide municipal water outside its limits and that residents can annex into the city. Mayor Burrows said the ordinance is the beginning of a process in which the city will raise water rates for all users in the future ^[1].

The council approved, on a tie broken by Mayor Burrows, an agreement with developer Brad Garfield to postpone collecting impact fees on finished units until the first unit sells, a unit is occupied, or 180 days pass, whichever comes first. Zoning Administrator David Anderson said the city issued a zoning permit before collecting the fees and that the agreement corrects that mistake rather than setting a precedent. Councilmembers Andrew Chappell and Brayden Gardner voted yes, and Councilmembers Kendrick Thomas and Hansen voted no, with Hansen saying impact fees are set by statute and that developers should know them. The mayor cast the deciding vote, saying Garfield should have some grace because there was no documentation that he knew of the fees. Anderson had told the council he had documentation that Garfield was aware of impact fees on a different project ^[1].

Financial Director Rob Jenson told the council the Utah State Tax Commission denied the city's proposed tax increase after multiple appeals, because the city held more than one meeting the night of the tax increase public hearing. The council voted 4-0 to amend the fiscal 2026-27 budget to remove that amount ^[1].

In separate 4-0 votes, the council also approved a development agreement addendum for the Pioneer Lane project that changes ownership names and corrects a plat number. It approved a drive-through drop-off window for My Package Guy at 310 South 100 East, on conditions recommended by the planning commission. It tabled, 4-0, a proposal to install piers under the library building and replace the front steps until more bids arrive. The two estimates discussed were $67,640 and $82,800, and Jolley said the city would have to wait until next year to qualify for Community Development Block Grant funding ^[1].