KINGSTON (UTAH)

Agency History #569

CREATION

Kingston is named for Thomas R. King, who moved from Fillmore to Piute County with his five sons and their families specifically to find a place where they could establish a United Order. In the 1870s Brigham Young was encouraging communal living in United Order communities. The King families' United Order functioned from 1876 to 1883. Kingston town was incorporated 21 September 1926 in order to facilitate the public services and leadership which municipal governments provide.

FUNCTIONS

Utah municipal governments perform numerous functions, including the maintaining of law and order, guarding public health and sanitation, managing public services and promoting community development. Kingston town council has focused much energy on maintaining a municipal water system. The council has managed the upkeep of the town cemetery and a land fill site. They have organized community beautification and clean up projects, maintained a park, and contracted for public utilities and services. The town council has supported or sponsored holiday celebrations for July 4th and Christmas.

ADMINISTRATION

A town board president (or mayor) and four trustees provide leadership for Kingston. The board president, who is elected by general municipal election, is the chief executive officer. He presides over council meetings and supervises all other city officers. He signs all city ordinances and official contracts on behalf of the city. The town council functions as a legislative governing body for the community, and is responsible for all aspects of community management, such as appointing officials, levying taxes, establishing a budget, maintaining public services and utilities, and regulating activity within the community.

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY

During the 1960s and 1970s the Kingston town council hired a town clerk. Whether or not the council appointed any other municipal offices or continued to maintain the clerk is not apparent from the minutes and ordinances available.

TOWN COUNCIL PRESIDENTS (or MAYORS)
Eldon L. Coats	(1961)-1964
Alton Sudweeks	1964-1965
Cyrus Coats	1966-1969
Dwain Luke	1969
Melvin Allen	1970-1973
Leslie G. Neilson	1974-1981
Andre Millett	1982-1985
Dee Anderson	1986-1989
Len Mills	1990-1997
Carlos Jensen	1998-

COMPILED BY: Rosemary Cundiff , February 2002

SOURCES

Bennett, Cindy Larson. Dots on the Map: A Traveler’s History of All the Towns in Utah, (unpublished) Cindy Larson, 1163 Lake Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84105.

Kingston (Utah). Council minutes, Utah State Archives, (Series 23958).

Newell, Linda King, A History of Piute County. Utah State Historical Society; Piute County Commission (Salt Lake City: 1999)