EVANSTON — Following council comments, which included lots of praise for successful 4th of July events and fireworks, Mayor Kent Williams performed the swearing-in of EPD’s new police officer Ramon Medina-Olan at the regular city council meeting on Wednesday, July 5. 

EPD Chief Mike Vranish introduced Medina-Olan and said the officer had completed training and the department is excited to have him join the force.

“This ceremony is something I take pretty seriously,” Williams said. “I appreciate the dedication of our officers to accept this responsibility and the work they do.”

Following the swearing-in, Evanston City Attorney Amanda Kirby opened a public hearing on the application for a transfer of ownership of a retail liquor license from Lynch Consulting & Investments dba Knights Inn to Affordable Inns & Restaurant.

John Hazen, owner of Affordable Inns & Restaurant, spoke first and stated that he had purchased the Knights Inn from Dennis Lynch and needed to have the liquor license. He said that he’s had liquor licenses in several states for 40 years and has never had a violation. In response to questions from Mayor Williams, Hazen said they are having difficulty finding help and are not fully staffed yet. He said once they get a full crew together, they will be in operation.

Donna Tolson asked to speak to the council.

“I am still the owner of Knights Inn,” she said. “I am asking that you deny the application for transfer as Dennis Lynch still owes me for the sale of the Knights Inn … so it still belongs to me. There will be a court hearing in district court on July 26 at 1:30 p.m. to determine who is the rightful owner of the Knights Inn. I am asking the city council to postpone a decision on the transfer of the liquor license until after the court hearing.”

Hazen showed the council a deed to the Knights Inn that he said proves he owns it and called Tolson a liar.

Tolson responded, “The promissory note I have from Lynch is still outstanding, so that deed is not legal.”

Clerk Diane Harris told the council that a liquor license is not attached to the property but to a person; it is a separate issue, so the council could legally transfer it.

Since no one else wished to speak, Kirby closed the public hearing.

After much discussion, a motion was made to table the liquor license transfer until after the July hearing. The motion passed with a four to three vote. Williams, along with Councilmembers Evan Perkes and David Welling voted against tabling it, and Councilmembers Jen Hegeman, Tim Lynch, Jesse Lind and Mike Sellers voted to approve the motion to table the item. The liquor license transfer will be heard again at the Aug. 15 regular meeting of the council.

Under the consent agenda, a parade route was approved for the Zone Five Racing bike race to be held on Saturday, July 29, as requested by Troy Huebner. The bicycles will arrive at approximately 10:30 a.m. from Hwy. 150, headed for Park City, Utah, via the Chalk Creek Road.

A limited malt beverage permit was approved for the Evanston Urban Renewal Agency for the annual Brewfest fundraiser event to be held in Depot Square and Front Street on Saturday, July 15, from 1-5 p.m.

The council approved two motions requested by EPD Chief Vranish, one for the sale of a handgun for $667 to retiring police officer Brandon Nelson, and one to transfer surplus equipment from EPD to the Uinta County Sheriff’s Office.

Vranish provided the council with a list of the equipment to be transferred: a 2008 Dodge Durango equipped with radios, lights, radar and cage; 28 ballistic helmets; 24 gas masks; 21 black body armor plate carriers; and two 37mm Penn Arms SL1 launchers. 

Evanston Public Works Director Gordon Robinson asked the council to approve a resolution authorizing the request of additional funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for the Bear River and Yellow Creek watershed project.

“This location is where the water comes out of the river into the canal,” Robinson said. “Mitigation is required by the Navigable Waters Rule, and we need extra funds to perform that mitigation.”

The council approved the application for funds from the NRCS for the watershed project.

The council approved a mutual aid agreement between the EPD and the Summit County Sheriff’s Office as requested by EPD Chief Vranish.

“Sometimes it is necessary that we respond with mutual aid services, and this agreement protects the EPD from any potential lawsuit,” Vranish said. “There is no particular milepost that we respond to —  it all depends on the situation and the weather. It is a benefit to the public for us to do this. The Uinta County Sheriff’s Office has a similar agreement with Summit County.”

The council next approved the contract with Kilgore Companies dba Lewis and Lewis Inc., for the completion of all work required for the 2023 street overlay project. Robinson said the council had already approved the bid from the company.

DuWayne Jacobsen, city senior planner, requested that the city pass a resolution declaring their intention to annex an unincorporated island of land (1.62 acres) located within a residential area and hold a public hearing on it. The council approved the resolution.

The last item the council unanimously approved was to accept the proposal from Porter, Muirhead, Cornia & Howard to perform the annual financial audit for the year ending June 30, 2023, as requested by treasurer Trudy Lym.