Logan council adopts mask requirement 4-1 and votes 4-1 to withdraw from Carbon Free Power Project
August 18, 2020, 5:30 p.m. · Council Chambers
After a public hearing with about 23 speakers, 18 of them opposed and 4 in favor, the Logan Municipal Council adopted a face-covering resolution 4-1 with Council Member Tom Jensen opposed; it runs August 31 to October 15, 2020. The council also voted 4-1 to withdraw from the Carbon Free Power Project, with Council Member Jess Bradfield opposed. A workshop previewed a roughly $15.9 million plan to rebuild the library at Main Street and 300 North.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Public safety
Request to extend the mask requirement through December 31, 2020
Discussed
Mayor Daines asked the council to extend the mask requirement through December 31, 2020, or consider another option, noting it could be rescinded sooner and citing returning students and K-12 reopening. Council Member Simmonds confirmed that under state rules a mayoral mask order requires a state of emergency, and the mayor said cities can now act without asking the governor's office. The council took up the question as Resolution 20-37.
Public safety
Face-covering requirement (Resolution 20-37)
Approved · 4-1
After a public hearing with about 23 speakers (4 in favor, 18 opposed, one neutral), the council adopted the resolution, effective August 31 and expiring at 11:59 p.m. on October 15, 2020. Opponents cited personal freedom, mental health, business impacts and fear; supporters included Jennifer Peeples, Gail Yost, Christian Chavez and Dr. Alan Anderson of Logan Regional Hospital. Keegan Garrity asked for case-count thresholds instead of a fixed date. Council Member Jensen opposed it, noting it has no penalties and suggesting 'requested' instead of 'required' (no motion was made). Council Member Mark Anderson read every email and said he supports masks as a low-cost way to reduce risk; police Chief Gary Jensen reported no citations. Council Member Simmonds said the council does not control schools or businesses with their own rules and cited 95 emails in favor and 55 opposed. Council Member Bradfield said he is not an anti-masker, wanted the community's voice included and asked for an education campaign, which the finance director said a $20,000 CARES-funded campaign could cover. Chair Amy Anderson said 'required' wording helps businesses with mask signs. The minutes list only the dissent; the four yes votes are the other members present.
- Budget$20,000
Budget
Budget adjustments for Cruise-In and Cache DUP Museum (Resolution 20-32)
Approved · 5-0
The council appropriated $4,500 in donated funds for the Cruise-In and a $9,100 state grant for historic preservation of the Cache DUP Museum building. No public comment.
- Grant$4,500
- Grant$9,100
Other
Withdrawal from the Carbon Free Power Project (Resolution 20-33)
Approved · 4-1
Light & Power Director Mark Montgomery recommended withdrawal. Project cost estimates rose from $3.64 billion (2017) to $6.124 billion (July 2020), with 213 of 720 MW subscribed; the withdrawal window closed September 15. Leaving now would cost $157,000, while staying to the next exit in three years would total $657,000 ($220,000 a year); Logan had spent $420,000. Council Member Simmonds, long hesitant, noted water for the plant is unsecured; she moved to withdraw and then withdrew her motion. A motion by Bradfield to deny failed for lack of a second. Bradfield said the roughly $200,000 cost was small relative to the benefit and he accepts the risk. Council Member Mark Anderson struggled with the decision and said he does not like going against staff recommendations, but voted to withdraw. Finance Director Richard Anderson said he had opposed the project since the beginning. Bradfield was excused at 7:55 p.m., after the vote.
- Payment$157,000
Parks
Workshop: rebuilding the library at Main Street and 300 North
Discussed
Mayor Daines and Library Director Karen Clark proposed tearing down the library and rebuilding on the same site near City Hall, citing the building's condition, avoiding about $1 million in extra land costs and downtown revitalization. Option 3 was preferred, with a target of 130 parking spaces; moving the 911 tower would cost about $1 million, so it stays. Estimated total cost is $15,907,368 (about $325 a square foot) for a 35,000 to 40,000 square foot building, funded by $2,642,423 in library reserves, $2,264,945 in capital funds, $3 million in RDA funds and an $8 million loan repaid through property tax, about $16.94 a year on an average $281,100 home, to be requested in August 2021 through Truth in Taxation. Library Board Chair JaDene Denniston supported the site and pledged $1,000. The mayor proposed nine months of design work and a later funding request. No vote.
- Budget$15.9 million
Budget
Workshop: budget adjustments and carry-forwards (Resolutions 20-34, 20-35)
Discussed
Finance Director Richard Anderson previewed $4,568,640 for two electric substations, $85,000 in a State Task Force grant for police drug enforcement and a $295,572 RAPZ carry-forward, with carry-forwards including $66,623,001 for the wastewater treatment plant. Action was set for September 1.
- Budget$4.57 million
- Grant$85,000
Item RDA · Development
Workshop: purchase of four parcels near 300 North Main
Discussed
Economic Development Director Kirk Jensen described four parcels of about one acre in Town Center 1 zoning from the Needham Family Partnership, at $1,165,000 plus up to $51,850 in environmental costs, with the option expiring October 31, 2020. Council Member Simmonds worried about cleanup costs; the city attorney said the underground tank was removed and a Phase II report indicated no further issues, though he had not reviewed it. The mayor wants demolition soon. Bradfield was excused. Action was set for September 1; no motion was made.
- Land deal$1.17 million to Needham Family Partnership
What residents said
Mask requirementPersonal freedomBusiness impactsCarbon Free Power Project costsLibrary cost
About 23 people spoke on the face-covering resolution: 18 opposed, including business owners, citing personal freedom, mental health and business impacts; 4 in favor, including Gail Yost and Dr. Alan Anderson of Logan Regional Hospital; Keegan Garrity asked for case-count thresholds.