By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News

The Helper City Council was called into session for its monthly meeting on Thursday, Dec. 4. On the docket for the body was the approval of an Eagle Scout project by Archer Anderson, the declaration of the city becoming a Bolder Way Forward city and a farewell from the city’s two departing council members.

Up first was Anderson, who presented his Eagle Scout Project proposal to the council. “My proposal is to be able to put up a fence at the Castlegate subdivision Park,” explained the scout. He added he would also like to “put up a few benches” and perform “maintenance on the park itself.”

Anderson explained that he would aim to start the project in the spring or summer of 2026, pending approval from the Eagle Scout Council. He also shared that the city could help by donating to the project, either in cash or in-kind.

With overwhelming council support, the body approved the project unanimously.

Next on the docket was a declaration from the A Bolder Way Forward organization, designating Helper as a Bolder Way Forward city.

StacyAnn Maxwell, Brenda Addley, Shara Sumnall and Christina Pay presented to the council, stating,” Utah women and girls fall behind in 18 important areas in Utah, as compared to the rest of the nation. And so this initiative is to bridge that gap and help to lift women and girls to thrive.”

Helper marks the second city to earn the designation as a Bolder Way Forward city, following in the steps of Wellington, which became affiliated in November. 

Reading from the proclamation, Pay, alongside the other women present, asked the council to “recognize the importance of supporting a bolder way forward to strengthen opportunities for women and girls in Utah” and “Utilize the research and policy guidance provided by a Bolder Way Forward to inform decisions that elevate women in Utah.”

Again unanimously, the council approved the measure.

Following this, the council approved a pair of items related to the Community Block Development Grant, a Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan and Certification and a civil rights resolution.

Speaking on the anti-displacement plan, Councilmember Bob Olson shared that he had seen some concern from citizens online. Mayor Lenise Peterman explained that this plan would be to “truly protect our most vulnerable populations.”

“We’re not displacing lower and moderate-income people out of the city, right? It’s a protection for them,” she shared.

Hearing this, the council put the items to a vote, where both passed.

Next, the council eyed approval to apply for Joint Highway Committee-STP Small Urban funding. 

“We would be pursuing nonurban funds for populations less than five thousand. To do this, your roads have to be classified as a major collector or higher,” explained Peterman. “We have three of those. Bryner Street, Main Street and Hill Street are major collector roads, so those are the three roads eligible for this program.”

Given the city’s current needs, Peterman proposed using these funds for Hill Street. The program would require a match from the city of approximately $101,000 for the $1.6 million project total. 

Again, with no controversy, the council approved the application.

After this, the council approved the continuation of Smith Hartvigresen as Helper City’s legal representation for the Goosebury Narrows Project. The Goosebury Narrows project is an ongoing legal struggle between Carbon County and Sanpete County, who want to build a reservoir that could pull water away from Carbon County.

“This litigation started in the 1980s … like every 20 or so years, and so they recently revived it again. Which is why we’re taking this step to join the other parties in Carbon County to restrict their ability to take the water out of the Price River,” shared Councilmember Ed Chavez.

Again, the council passed the measure. 

The two final agenda items saw the council update a pair of administrative items: the city’s online privacy policy and its master recreation plan.

During councilmember reports, outgoing members Dave Dornan and Lori Barrett shared their goodbyes to the council.

“I trust that this city council is going to be just great. It’ll go forward. We have a great mayor. I’ll find something to do on Thursdays. Might be Thursday Night Football,” said Dornan, before jokingly adding,” What is the next council going to be up to? Have they been introduced to the secret society yet?”

Barrett shared,” It’s been a pleasure to be on this council for the last eight months. I really enjoyed it. I’ve learned a lot, and I’m just so thankful for all of your support, and I wish the newcomers all the luck.”

Following this, the meeting was adjourned.