Logan council denies Power County power contract 4-1 and approves water and sewer bond parameters of up to $60 million

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. Item 2 · Appointment

   Board appointments

   Approved · 5-0

   The council ratified Melissa Dahle and Bill Peterson (Parks and Recreation Advisory Board), Chelsea Bitner, Frank Stewart and Christopher Scheer (Library Board) and Troy Hatch (Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Advisory Board).

   Moved by Council Member Amy Anderson, seconded by Council Member Mike Johnson. Vote: 5-0 on roll call

2. Item 3 · Other

   2025 council board and committee assignments

   Approved

   Chair Simmonds presented proposed assignments, which the council approved by consensus without a recorded vote.

3. Item 4 · Contract

   Power County baseload power contract, Resolution 24-47 (public hearing, continued from December 3)

   Denied · 4-1

   Light & Power Director Mark Montgomery and Electric Resource Manager Yuqi Zhao said Logan needs about 30 megawatts of baseload, the UAMPS project is a 360-megawatt combined-cycle plant, and Logan sought at least 26 megawatts (recommending 26 to 30), at a cost of about $5 to $7 a month for the average residential customer. UAMPS CEO Easton Baker also addressed the council. Speakers including resource advisory board members Patrick Belmont and Paul Rogers, who said he was resigning from the board over the timing of the vote, raised concerns about methane emissions, financial risk and the 30-year commitment, favored renewables, nuclear, geothermal or hydro, and urged a delay; resource advisory board chair Nathaniel Whiteler supported staff's work and said carbon-free power is not yet technically available. A speaker noted UAMPS may not wait for the council. Council Members López and Johnson moved to deny, and it passed 4-1, with Council Member Mark Anderson voting no.

   • ContractAmount not given to UAMPS 31.35 MW subscription, about $5 to $7 a month for an average residential customer

   Moved by Council Member Ernesto López, seconded by Council Member Mike Johnson. Vote: 4-1 on the motion to deny; Council Member Mark Anderson voted no. Voting no: Council Member Mark Anderson

   Follow UAMPS Power County baseload power contract in the development tracker →

4. Item 5 · Budget

   Budget adjustments, Resolution 24-48 (public hearing)

   Approved · 5-0

   The council appropriated $90,000 from the state for Trapper Park riverbank stabilization, $15,000 for historic preservation, $12,514 for a police K9 seminar and $20,000 from UCAIR for electric rebates.

   • Grant$90,000 to State of Utah Trapper Park riverbank stabilization
   • Budget$15,000 Historic preservation
   • Budget$12,514 Police K9 seminar
   • Grant$20,000 to UCAIR Electric rebates

   Moved by Council Member Amy Anderson, seconded by Council Member Ernesto López. Vote: 5-0 on roll call

5. Item 6 · Budget

   Water and sewer revenue bonds, Series 2025, Resolution 25-01

   Approved · 5-0

   The council approved parameters and a reimbursement resolution for bonds of up to $60,000,000, with a maximum interest rate of 6 percent and a maximum term of 31 years; the estimate is $35 million to $51 million and possibly as low as $31 million. $20 million has already been appropriated from Water Fund reserves and $776,000 in land and right-of-way costs incurred in December are reimbursable. Financial advisor Matthew Dugdale of Stifel cited a recent comparable at 3.3 percent. A public hearing on the bond parameters was set for February 4.

   • Bond$60.0 million Water and sewer revenue bonds, Series 2025 (maximum). Paid from Water and sewer revenue
   • Budget$20.0 million Already appropriated for the project. Paid from Water Fund reserves
   • Payment$776,000 Land and right-of-way costs incurred in December (reimbursable)

   Moved by Council Member Mike Johnson, seconded by Council Member Mark Anderson. Vote: 5-0 on roll call

   Follow First Dam tank pipeline (Canyon Road waterline) and water and sewer bonds in the development tracker →

6. Item 7 · Budget

   Workshop: budget adjustments, Resolution 25-02

   Discussed

   Previewed $11,961 in a JAG grant, $2,892,660 from the EPA for the green waste facility, $48,417 from EMS reserves, $117,590 for EV charging, $108,893 for 911 dispatch and $12,900 from golf course reserves. Action was set for January 21.

   • Grant$2.89 million to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Green waste facility
   • Grant$11,961 Justice Assistance Grant
   • Budget$48,417 EMS equipment. Paid from EMS reserves
   • Budget$117,590 EV charging equipment
   • Budget$108,893 911 dispatch
   • Budget$12,900 Golf course netting. Paid from Golf course reserves

What residents said

Gas-fired power contractClimate and emissionsDevelopment and farmland

Joshua Molitor, Matthew Fatuesi, Dax Gove and others spoke in non-agenda comment on development, the Cache County Council and fossil fuels. More than 30 speakers addressed the Power County contract, nearly all opposed or asking for delay, citing methane, cost, risk and renewables, with two resource advisory board members and one other supporter.