The Ballard City Council approved several measures during a meeting held on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, including a conditional use permit for a new drilling pad and a residential zone change. The meeting, led by Mayor Nile Mathisen, also addressed discussions regarding water scarcity and city staffing needs.
During the meeting, the council approved a conditional use permit for the Miller West pad for Uintah Wax. Andrea Gurr, representing Uintah Wax, proposed a new eight-well horizontal pad with plans to permit all wells this year and begin drilling half by year-end. Although the proposed site is approximately 834 feet from a dwelling, a written waiver has been signed by the property owner to comply with regulations requiring wellheads to be at least 1,000 feet from dwellings. The council also approved the installation of directional signage to manage traffic flow as agreed upon during previous planning discussions.
Regarding land use, the council approved Ordinance No. 2026-07-002, which implements a zone change from Agricultural 5-Acre (A-5) to Residential-Agricultural 1-Acre (RA-1) for a property located at 1920 N 2500 E in Ballard. This change followed a recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission following a public hearing on June 2, 2026.
The council discussed the potential hiring of a new building and zoning staff member. While Ben Allred noted that a dedicated professional could support business growth and tax revenue, the council voted to table the hiring decision until the current water moratorium issue is settled. Additionally, Mayor Nile Mathisen noted upcoming vacancies for the City Attorney and Building Inspector positions due to pending retirements.
In a report regarding infrastructure, Jeff Baker of Jones & DeMille stated that a pre-construction meeting for the 1000 South project was scheduled for Monday, July 13, with construction expected to begin soon. Baker noted that his team is working to update the city’s design and construction standards to align with requirements used on projects like 1500 East.
Other business included comments from Joe Hadlock of Tri County Health regarding water and wastewater issues and the necessity of proper septic systems. Additionally, Steve Secrest reported that the city will post ordinances on social media to ensure residents are aware of active enforcement of the city code. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
