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November 16, 2021
MOAB CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
November 16, 2021
Moab City Council held a Special Meeting on the above date. Consistent with provisions of
the Utah Open and Public Meetings Act, Utah Code Ann. § UCA52-4-207(5)(a), the Council
Chair has issued written determinations supporting the decision to convene electronic meetings
of the Council due to health and safety risks. Moab City Council Chambers served as the
meeting’s anchor location. An audio recording is archived at www.utah.gov/pmn; a video
recording is archived at www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsnZREo34LM&t=7s.
Attendance:
Mayor Emily Niehaus called the Special Meeting to order at 12:05 p.m. Participating remotely
were Councilmembers Rani Derasary, Tawny Knuteson-Boyd, Mike Duncan and Kalen Jones.
Councilmember Karen Guzman-Newton was not in attendance. Staff participating remotely
were Recorder Sommar Johnson, Acting City Manager Carly Castle and Finance Director/Acting
Deputy Manager Ben Billingsley. Representatives from the Utah County Elections office who
participated remotely included Rozan Mitchell, Nicole Stevens and Mark Davey.
Canvass of the General Election:
Recorder Johnson presented the canvass of the City of Moab General Election held on
November 2, 2021. She shared the results, showing Joette Langianese attaining the Mayor’s
seat and Jason Taylor and Luke Wojciechowski gaining Council seats. She provided information
regarding over counts and undercounts in both the Mayoral contest and the City Council race.
Councilmembers asked about the counting methodologies. Johnson indicated the Lieutenant
Governor’s office advised the Council to accept the canvass as presented today.
Due to a tally of votes that separated Council candidates Wojciechowski and Josie Kovash by
one vote, Utah County spokesperson Mitchell indicated a recount of the Council race would
occur on December 7 at City Council Chambers. She said it would include a small number of
provisional ballots as well as some ballots with signature-matching issues. Discussion ensued
regarding whether the recount would entail extra fees for Utah County to administer.
Councilmember Duncan asked if poll watchers would be welcome at the recount and Johnson
confirmed that would be the case.
Councilmember Knuteson-Boyd moved to accept the election results as presented.
Councilmember Jones seconded the motion. The motion passed 4-0 aye, with Councilmembers
Knuteson-Boyd, Derasary, Duncan and Jones voting in favor.
Adjournment: Mayor Niehaus adjourned the meeting at 12:26 p.m.
APPROVED: __________________ ATTEST: ___________________
Emily S. Niehaus, Mayor Sommar Johnson, City Recorder