Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News

Among the regular business items of the Helper City Council on Thursday, May 1, one line stood out to participants in particular: the potential annexation of Blackhawk Ranch into the city. In a 4-1 decision, the council denied the move, citing worry about the impact on the energy grid and water supply a proposed development on the property could bring.

Randy Graham, representing Blackhawk Ranch, addressed the council,” This is something we’ve been discussing in various modes for a number of years now. And we’re hoping to get some traction … What we’ve discussed with the city is trying to annex that into the city so that it becomes part of the tax base for the city rather than the county and hopefully provides benefits to the city.”

The county previously rezoned the property and approved preliminary development plans. Blackhawk sought to develop this land into affordable housing for Helper.

Councilman Dave Dornan asked Graham why the development had taken an interest in Helper, and Graham replied,” We think Helper actually has a very positive future. We want to be a part of that. We understand that one of the challenges that Helper City faces is housing. I think you have people who come into the area. They look at the area they like to be part of the community and don’t really find what they’re looking for in terms of housing solutions. We think we can provide something along those lines, so we like to be a part of that.”

The council and Mayor Lenise Peterman voiced major concerns about the current state of the electrical grid and the ongoing water transmission line upgrade.

“My concern remains: we’re so premature in our transmission line update that I feel like it’s a big risk for us not to have that data,” said Peterman. “I would love to grow. It would broaden our property tax base and bring people into our area. Affordable housing is definitely a component. But I know we have to be smart about it, and I fear our ability to provide Services. That’s what I fear, not your capability to do it, our ability to deliver it.”

Following these remarks, Councilmember Ed Chavez made the motion to deny the annexation of the property. When put to a vote, Chavez and council members Bob Olson, Lori Barrett and Dave Palacios approved the denial. Dornan served as the only dissenting voice.

“I did vote no on that,” explained Dornan,” with the reason that it’s in the message that,’ hey, you wait for us, and we’re going to kind of kick back our feet.’ I think we’re not planning on that, but there’s still enthusiasm.”