Cache County, Utah

COSAC approved the April agenda and March minutes, then focused on several potential conservation easements but took no formal project votes. The main action items were to schedule site visits and move forward with formal applications for the Paulson family properties and Hagee Ranch, while staff also followed up on other promising open-space leads and discussed possible funding for smaller Cache County projects.

The Cache County Planning Commission approved the Cherry Hill Ranch Subdivision with 16 conditions, recommended the Riverside 2 rezone for approval, and advanced most of the Powder Mountain resort recreation zone code updates to County Council. Commissioners also restored public comment on consent items, discussed limiting geotechnical report requirements for small accessory structures, and noted an upcoming Saddle Ridge appeal hearing.

At the Cache County Council meeting, the council approved a wastewater/source water protection ordinance, passed a new online publication requirement for county legislation, and reopened several seasonal roads early because of the warm winter. They also denied the Wellsville Safe Storage rezone, corrected the North Gateway CRA tax increment error, and set multiple ordinances and a budget amendment for public hearings on April 30.

Cache County Council’s biggest decision was appointing Dane Murray as permanent County Attorney by a 4-2 vote after interviewing three finalists. The council also approved several land-use and administrative items, including the Shepherd and Greenfield Mill rezonings, a $175,000 bond-earnings return, and new appointments to the Library Board and Development Services Director, while continuing the Wellsville Safe Storage rezone and Hansen annexation for more review.

The Cache County Planning Commission approved several routine items, including the Wengren Ranch, Alpenglow Estate, and Saddle Ridge subdivisions, and recommended approval of a water/sewage ordinance change that would let existing septic systems in Source Water Protection Zone 2 be repaired or replaced under health department oversight. It also advanced a housekeeping code update and sent the disputed Dutson Two rezone and Malaga industrial rezone to the county council with divided or mixed recommendations, while hearing an informational update on Powder Mountain code cleanup.

At its March 5 meeting, the Logan-Cache Airport Authority Board elected John Kerr chair and Brett Hughey vice chair, welcomed new member Dave Galli, and approved a new governance framework discussion as the county takes over airport ownership. The board also advanced major infrastructure plans by backing a $550,000 aircraft-charging grant, discussing replacement of the aging avgas tank, and adopting a 4-1 fee system to fund a revolving account for new taxi lane construction.

At the Cache Open Space Advisory Committee meeting, members unanimously recommended waiving normal process rules and approving up to $175,000 in bond funds to buy 18.18 acres of former gravel pit land in Sardine Canyon, citing its value for open-space connectivity, scenic protection, and future trail access. The committee also reviewed a proposed 174-acre Polson family conservation easement, a new tracking spreadsheet for bond-funded projects, and upcoming outreach efforts including public mailers and a possible landowner workshop.

At the Cache County Council’s Feb. 17 meeting, members unanimously appointed George Deans, Joanne Bennett, and Matt Funk to the Cache County Foundation board, approved a renewal of the Cache County Fire District ambulance service license for 2026–2029, and set several public hearings for March 10. The council also delayed action on the subdivision code amendment, the Class B roads removal resolution, and the frontage/access ordinance while staff and cities work through drafting, legal, and maintenance issues, and it began rethinking how Board of Equalization hearings should be handled.

At its February 10 meeting, the Cache County Council recognized outgoing County Attorney Kay Taylor Sorensen, appointed Dane Stewart Murray as acting county attorney, confirmed several board appointments, and approved an ordinance removing the AICP requirement for the Development Services Director. The council also denied the Mountain Manor Springs rezone, advanced a controversial subdivision code amendment on water and infrastructure standards, and set Feb. 17 public hearings for an ambulance RFP and frontage/access ordinance change.

The Cache County Planning Commission recommended approval of the Shepherd rezone and Greenfield Milling rezone, recommended denial of the Wellsville Safe Storage industrial rezone, and approved a 103-foot telecommunications tower in Paradise with 13 conditions. The Saddle Ridge item was continued for more road-access work, and commissioners also discussed future code updates plus a possible floating solar ordinance for Cutler Reservoir.

At the Logan-Cache Airport Authority meeting, the board approved additional engineering for the Lima hangar area, including up to $15,300 for survey/design work, and also approved expanding Lima to a fifth hangar while discussing a reimbursement model for future taxi lane buildout. The board likewise approved the Echo proposal subject to final agreement on infrastructure contributions, and spent significant time on the Hyde Park Irrigation canal crossing and bird-hazard mitigation, while staff updated members on the Logan City transfer and FAA grant signatory changes.

The available transcript for the Logan-Cache Airport Authority Board Meeting contains only a brief technical note about stopping and restarting the livestream. No board decisions, votes, policy discussions, public comments, or action items are included in the excerpt.

The provided transcript is too limited to identify any substantive Cache County Council business from the 01-27-2026 regular meeting. It only includes an incomplete remark from Courtney Bart about streaming, with no discernible decisions, votes, topics, or action items.

Cache County Council approved the process to relinquish county road segments in River Heights, Providence, and Millville, and also approved the Behavioral Health Integration Plan with a projected county cost of $172,250 annually starting in 2027. The council denied the Dutson rezone near Newton, advanced new RU-2/RU-5 zoning standards and a commercial lot coverage ordinance, scheduled Feb. 10 public hearings on three land-use ordinances, and appointed new fire district trustees while filling several cemetery district vacancies.

At the Cache County Council special meeting, the council unanimously appointed Joanne Bennett as the interim replacement for the Logan No. 2 seat, following the Cache County Republican Party’s nomination and under Utah State Code 20A-1-508. No other business was discussed before the meeting adjourned.

Cache County Council unanimously elected Sandy Goodlander chair and Catherine Buse vice chair, approved the agenda/minutes, and scheduled a Jan. 20 special meeting to ratify the Logan No. 2 council seat replacement. The council also advanced a Bear River behavioral health integration proposal but delayed final approval for financial details, while setting multiple Jan. 27 public hearings and reviewing committee assignments, council procedure, and the county attorney vacancy process.

At the Cache County Planning Commission meeting, members recommended denial of the Mountain Manor Springs 2 rezone, citing concerns about adding a rural residential subdivision too far from services, and approved the Blacksmith Fork Irrigation Company’s canal-piping CUP despite strong public opposition. They also advanced several code amendments, including a frontage/access rule and a revised subdivision code that allows either municipal water or an approved public water system for larger subdivisions and raises the wildland-urban interface lot limit from three to seven, while sending the FR-40 frontage language back for more work.

The Cache Open Space Advisory Committee unanimously recommended first-round approval of the Champion Land Company LLC project and will forward its full scoring report to the County Council, despite the project’s low score, because of its low cost, agricultural value, and conservation potential. Members also approved the landowner outreach letter, discussed expanding targeted outreach and a possible landowner workshop, and raised concerns about using Greenbelt reimbursement funds, pending NRCS funding, and a fake-invoice scam targeting COSAC materials.

At the Cache County Council special meeting, Brian Abbott was appointed interim director of development services to help reorganize planning and serve as the public-facing lead on inspections and permitting. The council also approved prior minutes and voted to uphold the county executive’s two line-item vetoes in the 2026 budget, after clarifying that overriding a veto requires a five-of-seven supermajority.

Cache County Council’s December 9 meeting honored outgoing member Barbara Yost Tidwell, approved the 2026 budget and schedules, and awarded the county’s five-year external audit contract to Joan Simpkins. The council also accepted a $19,160.27 PILT payment, advanced a 334-acre open space conservation project, adopted a state-required data privacy program, and addressed ARPA spending, tax relief requests, and a corrected Paradise zoning ordinance.

At the Cache County Planning Commission meeting, the commission recommended denial of the Dutson rezone and the Smithfield Safe Storage rezone, continued the water and sewage ordinance amendment for up to 90 days, and approved or recommended approval of several other items including the commercial lot coverage/canal setback amendment, the RU-2/RU-5 ordinance update, and the Powder Mountain master plan with 10 conditions. It also granted extensions for North and South Sage Ponds and Saddle Ridge, discussed tighter subdivision access and utility standards, and elected Kurt as chair and Brady Christiansen as vice chair for 2026.

The Logan-Cache Airport Authority Board approved the November minutes, reviewed ongoing airport operations and capital projects, and advanced several infrastructure items including the taxi lane kilo FAA review, taxi lane Charlie reconstruction, and summer taxiway bravo maintenance. The biggest action was moving away from the old hangar waiting list toward a new application-based hangar allocation system, while also approving the Taxi Lanes Delta and Hotel proposal subject to priority-list access and financial feasibility.

At its Dec. 2 meeting, the Cache County Council unanimously decided to keep the current council-executive form of government after a months-long study, and it also approved a corrected treasurer compensation ordinance, fourth-quarter budget amendments, and premium pay for special victims prosecutors. The council advanced major fire district governance changes, heard an indoor recreation center feasibility study, and postponed final adoption of the 2026 budget amid strong public pressure to protect library funding and senior services.

Cache County’s workshop centered on Utah’s House Bill 48, which will create a new state high-risk wildland-urban interface map, a structure-based mitigation fee, and a path for homeowners to lower risk through assessments and mitigation. Council members raised concerns about remote cabins, mapping boundaries, and fee collection, but state officials said the county does not need to approve the map and that the fee will start low while the state works out implementation details.

COSAC approved the 2026 meeting schedule, advanced the Vivian Christiansen conservation application with a unanimous recommendation to county council for phase-one approval, and discussed a possible December 15 site visit for the UALT Champion Land Company parcel. Members also focused on building river trail/conservation corridors, setting flexible county match levels for small parcels, and launching the approved outreach mailer in January.

Cache County Council held its Truth in Taxation hearing and unanimously approved an 18% increase in combined health and general fund ad valorem property tax revenue for FY2026, amounting to $3,721,500. Officials said the increase is needed to help close a budget gap caused by personnel costs, inflation, and state-mandated services, while residents voiced concerns about affordability, transparency, and whether some services are being funded twice.

Cache County Council approved meeting minutes, appointed Jay Richard Catton as the county’s outside administrative law judge for personnel grievances, and advanced several 2026 budget-related items, including setting public hearings for December 2. The council also reviewed CDBG project priorities, approved $350 for an open-space conservation mailer, accepted a $1 million grant for the Bonneville Shoreline Trail buildout, and held a detailed preview of the Truth in Taxation hearing and the county’s property tax situation.

At the Cache County special meeting, the council approved the agenda and then focused on two big policy areas: large-scale solar siting and subdivision water/septic rules. On solar, members leaned toward a stricter code using a solar overlay zone and/or rezone process rather than treating industrial solar as a simple conditional use, with major concerns about losing farmland, damaging viewsheds, and creating permanent industrial impacts. On subdivisions, the council discussed limiting large rural developments until a groundwater study is complete, requiring municipal or community water systems where possible, and strengthening fire-safety water standards. Staff will return with revised RU-2/RU-5 language, updated solar draft provisions, and clearer guidance on annexation and water-system requirements before the moratorium expires.

The Planning Commission approved the Paradise Rezone, the WMCD Upper Canal Pipeline CUP, the Lauer Foods South Road Extension CUP, and Edge Estates Parcel 2/3 CUP, while forwarding Powder Mountain’s master plan conditions for further revision before a December hearing. It also advanced several code amendment discussions, including advanced wastewater systems in Source Water Zone 2, a 70% commercial lot coverage cap, irrigation canal setbacks, and clearer frontage/access rules, but those items were not finalized.

The Logan-Cache Airport Authority Board approved the October minutes, reviewed completed maintenance work, and advanced several hangar requests on Taxiway Kilo and Taxiway Lima, but only subject to a future taxi-lane cost-recovery framework and remaining FAA/airspace approvals. A major focus was how to replace FAA-funded taxi-lane construction with a transparent cost-recovery system, while also discussing an FAA grant for electric aircraft charging tied to Beta’s proposed air-taxi service and the possible funding implications if that service becomes commercial.

At the Cache County Council meeting, members approved the October 28 minutes, reappointed Randy Williams to the Bear River Health Department Board of Health, funded up to $125,000 annually for the health department’s vehicle repair/replacement assistance program, and ratified major transportation funding recommendations. The council also approved the new Water Use and Preservation general plan element, denied the Mountain Manor Springs rezone in Petersboro, and heard extensive public testimony opposing proposed Cache County Library cuts amid a budget deficit discussion.

Cache County held a public hearing on potential CDBG applications, but made no project decisions and instead gathered ideas for a December 1 deadline. Proposed projects included fire station and apparatus upgrades, senior center Meals on Wheels vehicles and backup power, food pantry cooling and generator needs, and possible accessibility/generator improvements at the Election Center, with nonprofits required to go through the county to sponsor any application.

The committee approved the agenda and minutes, then spent most of the meeting reviewing agricultural conservation easement pre-applications in the Hyde Park/Smithfield area, emphasizing that larger contiguous parcels and partnerships with neighboring landowners would improve funding chances with COSAC, NRCS, and LeRay McAllister. They also got an update on the Vivian Christiansen application, which has secured $525,000 from the LeRay McAllister fund and is awaiting NRCS funding, and agreed to schedule a November site visit before a first-round vote and recommendation to the County Council.

Cache County Council focused on how to rewrite subdivision rules for fast-growing rural developments, with major concern that the current “shall approve” standard forces approval even when projects strain water, sewer, fire access, and roads. The council discussed tighter size- and location-based standards, stronger water and septic requirements, secondary access and fire protection, and possible interim limits while staff drafts RU-2/RU-5 ordinance language and the moratorium remains in place.

At the Land Use Hearing Officer Meeting on 10-29-2025, the main issue was John Berryhill’s appeal of Cache County’s approval of a reasonable accommodation and zoning clearance for Finding Hope’s residential living facility, especially whether the record justified allowing 16 residents. The parties also fought over whether the county properly handled “necessity” and “reasonableness,” whether the clearance was issued too early before licensing and other approvals, and concerns about parking, traffic, septic, and fire code compliance. The hearing officer took no bench ruling and said a written decision would follow within 15 days, with further appeal available to district court.

At its October 28 meeting, the Cache County Council unanimously accepted a tentative budget, set a November 18 Truth in Taxation hearing, and approved several fee and administrative items, including Angie Zutterquist’s temporary appointment as Development Services Director and Wellsville City’s annexation request. The council also set multiple public hearings for November 4 and took up a solar ordinance amendment, but decided it needs more study before any final action.

At the Cache County Council special meeting, the council unanimously rescinded the previously scheduled October 28 public hearing for the Community Development Block Grant program and rescheduled it for November 4, 2025 at 4:30 PM. The mayor said the change was needed to meet public notice requirements and avoid procedural issues, and the council also confirmed the new date would not conflict with the county’s truth-in-taxation meeting.

The Cache Open Space Advisory Committee approved a revised outreach letter and Eric’s council presentation unanimously, with the letter reframed to emphasize land preservation, flexible funding, and a competitive phased application process. They also backed a broad, map-based outreach strategy targeting underrepresented scenic and agricultural areas, while leaving project prioritization for later after applications come in.

Cache County Council approved several routine items, including RAPZ grant extensions, a limited-service alcohol license for Beaver Mountain Resort, a new parental leave policy, and appointments to the Behavioral Health Advisory Council. The biggest issues were election reforms—county officials said all 31 prior review recommendations have been implemented—and budget pressure, as the council advanced the 2026 tentative budget and tax increase process while discussing inflation, growth, and rising personnel and health care costs.

The Cache Open Space Advisory Committee reviewed and approved the agenda and minutes, then heard positive pre-application presentations for conservation easements on two working farms: Christiansen Farm in Cove and Champion Farms in Clarkston, and encouraged both applicants to submit formal applications. Members also advanced a draft gateway-landowner outreach letter, received updates on the Elkhorn Ranch easement review, and discussed holding an interim workshop around October 20 to keep the outreach and funding process moving.

The Cache County Planning Commission recommended denial of the Mountain Manor Springs rezone after heavy opposition over water supply, traffic, road capacity, and consistency with the general plan. It also recommended approval of the county’s water use and preservation element, while advancing several code and policy discussions including the Powder Mountain master plan, pioneering agreement ordinance revisions, higher commercial lot coverage, and canal setback exemptions.

At the Logan-Cache Airport Authority meeting, the board approved the September minutes, updated airport project and winter prep plans, and confirmed the FAA has signed off on the airport master plan and layout plan. The biggest issue was three private hangar/taxiway development proposals: the board did not approve them and instead tabled the package for legal review by Cache County and Logan City, citing concerns about master plan alignment, fairness, and long-term maintenance.

Cache County’s special workshop focused on tightening subdivision rules in unincorporated areas, especially for 20-lot developments, to better address water supply, septic, fire access, and road safety before approvals. Council members and staff agreed to pursue a coordinated code update with planning, legal, health, fire, and public works input, and set another workshop for October 22 at 6:00 p.m. before the moratorium expires.

Cache County Council unanimously approved several key items, including a bankruptcy-related tax cancellation, the Greenfield Milling and Lauer Foods rezones, a small telecom overlay in Paradise, third-quarter budget amendments, and a new sales-tax split of 60% public safety / 40% transportation starting January 1, 2026. The council also confirmed Kurt Webb as deputy county executive, denied the Sparks Venture rezone near Smithfield, and postponed final action on elected-official pay after approving raises for full-time offices but removing council compensation for separate review.

The committee met with Utah Agricultural Land Trust to discuss conservation easements, including a major 20-acre West Provo project and possible future support for smaller Cache Valley parcels, and reviewed how UALT could help refer landowners into the county’s open space process. Members also focused on Hyde Park-area trail/open-space opportunities, asked staff to compile a countywide easement map and spreadsheet, and advanced plans for website improvements and gateway-area direct-mail outreach.

Cache County Council unanimously appointed George Daines as interim County Executive, accepted a clean annual audit, and approved retaining outside counsel for a Pacificorp tax appeal cross-appeal that could affect county revenue by about $2.26 million. The council also advanced the process for a property tax increase and scheduled a corrected public hearing for the Flower Foods rezone, while continuing work on the county’s Optional Plan and an agricultural protection area removal.

At the Cache County Council’s September 16 meeting, the council appointed George Daines as interim county executive and swore him in immediately, after approving the agenda and minutes with minor changes. The council also received the annual audit, which found the county’s finances were materially correct with no federal or state compliance findings, but did report a material weakness and significant deficiency in internal controls tied to staff turnover.

Cache County Planning Commission approved the Cub River Estates Phase 2 subdivision, the Paradise rezone, the Greenfield Industrial Warehouse rezone, and two CUP actions for Questar/Enbridge Gas Utah and Suncor Edge, while denying the Sparks Ventures rezone. It also continued Saddle Ridge, Nixon and Nixon, and Powder Mountain for further work, and advanced a Honey Solar Stone ordinance amendment plus discussion of a future pioneering agreement ordinance for road-cost sharing.

The Logan-Cache Airport Authority Board unanimously approved the July minutes, then focused on airport operations and capital issues: AeroSimple software rollout, a successful Part 139 inspection, and a major unbudgeted ARFF truck cost shortfall that will require a budget amendment and likely long-term replacement planning. The board also advanced airport projects and private hangar development discussions, ordered stricter enforcement of hangar-use rules, and elected John Kerr as chair and Brett as vice chair after David’s resignation from the chair role.