The Transcript-Bulletin sent the following five questions to all nine Grantsville candidates. Responses were limited to less than 200 words. In some cases, candidates were contacted and asked to clarify responses.
Mayoral Candidates
Byron Anderson
1. Explain how your education, professional background or previous public service make you qualified for this office.
I have served as Grantsville City mayor for the past eight years and on the city council four years before. I worked for 30 years for the U.S. government for the Department of Defense, supervising several program management and control operations. Grantsville has been my home for my entire life. As mayor, I have served on the Economic Development Corporation of Utah board of advisors; acted as chair of the County Council of Government (COG) for two years; represent COG on the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) board of advisors; represented Grantsville on the Rural Planning Organization, an arm of the WFRC that plans transportation needs for Tooele County; was responsible for negotiations that brought the Wal-Mart Distribution Center to Grantsville, which created 1000 new jobs, over $15 million in payroll, and a new sewer line serving the northern end of our city; obtained funding for a new fire station from the Community Impact Board at a low, 3.5 percent interest rate; led the work in obtaining a $1.5 million grant to upgrade our sewer plant. I was educated at the University of Utah and Weber State University, and I have an associate’s degree in electronics from Salt Lake Community College.
2. What are your top three priorities? Please explain each in detail.
First, city finances. In order to balance the current budget, the city council was forced to make deep cuts in the general fund operating expenses, which will cause many changes in how we do business and provide services. We have already made numerous changes in staff assignments, put off buying needed equipment and frozen any nonessential spending. The second half of financial management is trying to secure a revenue stream over time. Second, economic development. Up to now, we have worked very hard on bringing new industry and retail into our city and have been very successful, with the Wal-Mart Distribution Center, Bonnie Plants greenhouses and 44 new retail and service businesses in commercial zones within the last eight years. We also are in final consideration on a $1.5 billion paper manufacturing plant that would provide 1,200 new jobs. Third, keep our basic services maintained and upgraded to meet citizen expectations. Currently, our police and fire protection is second to none. We have been able to negotiate upgraded ambulance service for our city from basically none four years ago. In addition, construction on our sewer plant upgrade will begin soon and be complete this fall.
3. How would you balance Grantsville City’s budget during this time of declining revenues? Are you in favor of a tax increase?
Our city budget is currently balanced with over $1 million dollars less than last year’s budget. We knew last year that revenues from growth were severely declining and after property tax came in early this year, it became apparent that extreme steps had to be taken to continue operating. Purchase of replacement equipment was delayed, employee benefits cut by 13 percent, service programs cut, training cut, professional services cut and much more. When it became apparent that we still could not balance the budget, the council, with professional financial advice, decided to go to the public asking for a tax increase. After public input and further study, the council decided that, rather than a tax increase, we needed to cut further. As mayor, it is now my duty to execute that decision, and the city staff has really stepped up to work with me in adjusting duties and schedules to make this work. It’s going to continue to take an experienced, competent manager to lead us through these difficult times. I would agree with the city council that now is not the time for a tax increase. Nor is it the time for knee-jerk reaction to further cuts in services, or false promises that can’t be funded.
4. What are the city’s greatest public infrastructure needs and how would you go about building those facilities?
The greatest needs in infrastructure right now are roads and sidewalks or trails. Our water system, while having some needs in the older parts of town, is in good shape. We will need another water supply tank sometime in the near future for better fire suppression in the northwest section. The sewer system, as stated above, is currently undergoing a $2 million upgrade. Parks are stable, although, we could always use more of them as our city expands. Roads are funded with class “C” state funds, which is gasoline tax. On a state level, those funds have gone down about 60 percent over the last year. This year’s funding has been used where the most area can be repaired for the money available. Sidewalks are a different matter. We have long recognized the need all over town and the expense of putting them in limits us. For the past five years, we have applied to the State Enhancement Funds program to build a very good paved walking system along Durfee from Willow to the Junior High. Thus far, the state has sent those funds elsewhere. The project is fully engineered and will cost $300,000 to $400,000.
5. What would you do to increase economic development in the city?
I will continue to work with the EDCU, the Governors Office of Economic Development (GOED) and the County Economic Development office to bring in light industry. As a board member of EDCU, I receive state-generated requests for information from companies almost daily. When a request comes in that we could accommodate, I either send it to property owners that might be interested, or work with the county in submitting a proposal. And, as the state has recognized, there is starting to be quite a bit of interest in our valley. Enticing retail into our city is another matter. There are other cities in Utah about our size, and much smaller, who have a much more developed retail sector. Our problem is geography. We are too close to larger markets. When companies are looking to locate in our area, they do a market survey of the entire valley and if they think the market is adequate, they locate in the largest portion of that market. We do have a developer looking to locate on our eastern side who has agreed to develop a retail area with several tenants as soon as his financial backing becomes stable.
Chris Fields
1. Explain how your education, professional background or previous public service make you qualified for this office.
Though I have never worked in a political position or attended any classes/courses that were directed at politics, I have held management positions and overseen projects throughout my career. I have lived in Grantsville from the age of 4 years old (1979) until I joined the Air Force in 1993, which moved me to the Midwest. I moved back home in November 2002 from Lawrence, Kan. I moved here with my wife and new baby girl at the time. I missed this place and wanted to raise my family here. I have worked in the field of technology for over 10 years. I have helped companies grow with the use of technology. I started Com-Tek Services, a computer sales and service company, in 2001, and I also started XT VR Pro Simulations, a computer racing simulation company, this year. I would say that the reason I feel I am qualified for this position is that I care for this community I was raised in. I love the people and I feel comfortable raising my family here as my parents did. In my opinion, that caring and leadership is what Grantsville has been lacking for quite some time now.
2. What are your top three priorities? Please explain each in detail.
First, fairness. I hear the public saying that the system here has not been carried out fairly. I have seen this myself — such as when a developer who was also a city council member built a subdivision. That developer’s cul-de-sac was over 20 feet short of what the city ordinance states. The developer asked the city council members to excuse him from spending an additional $30,000 to fix the cul-de-sac. It was approved. Another person, who is not on city council went through a similar issue — she wanted to take a piece of her land and split it up within the family to her children — and she wanted to have the same size of cul-de-sac that the first developer had. She was denied. Second, industrial growth. I plan on going out and inviting companies to move to Grantsville. We recently have had a lot of layoffs and are expecting more in 2012 with the closure of EG&G. Third, sustaining a budget we can live on with current tax revenues. Grantsville City officials have been living off economic growth for the last eight years. That is irresponsible and can cause a lot of damage, like it has now.
3. How would you balance Grantsville City’s budget during this time of declining revenues? Are you in favor of a tax increase?
A responsible tax increase should be talked about only when leaders have exhausted every other possibility to make cutbacks and find no other option. In the event that there is a tax increase, it should be done in a responsible manner and not trying to collect for the past 17 years that there has not been an increase all at once. I know that our police station and fire department get noticed for spending a lot of money, but the fact of the matter is that when I compare the numbers to other cities that fall in the same category as Grantsville, we seem to either be right in line or way below what others are spending. I think that maybe we need to see if we can cut back in other areas. I know that from the day I start I will be able to cut $25,000 from off the information technologies budget. I am a professional in this field and feel that the cost would not be necessary to the tax payers.
4. What are the city’s greatest public infrastructure needs and how would you go about building those facilities?
Right now it seems that the parks, sidewalks and tattered roads are the main concern from a large majority of people I have talked with during my campaign. I also feel, along with others, our senior citizens center is not adequate. The senior citizens center requires the city’s attention right now even though it is ran by the county. Our senior citizens need a bigger building attached to their current structure. As the city’s mayor I would go to the county commissioners and work out a simple solution to help these folks. I would make sure I did everything within my power to request grants on these issues. I know that our budget will not allow us to fix all of these things right away. I am currently putting together an active community group to collect ideas that may help in finding ways to fix the issues listed above. I also believe that by annexing the Miller Motorsports Park into Grantsville City limits we can increase our tax base for the city.
5. What would you do to increase economic development in the city?
First, I would want to meet with city and county elected officials to develop a plan that gets everyone into the same mindset. This plan would include creating a tax structure that is standard and does not make us compete with one another. We are constantly paying out in taxes and I feel like the county is out to make sure that they get more than the cities do — and it does not stop there. I feel the state is also in competition with the counties and the cities. It seems the county is always getting their increases so when it’s time for the city to make an increase there is a bloodbath feud at the local high school auditorium. Second, I would want to meet with local developers and ask them what they like and what we can do better when it comes to encouraging development. If we can’t get the local developers to invest in our community, we probably won’t be successful with outside developers either.
Brent Marshall
1. Explain how your education, professional background or previous public service make you qualified for this office.
I believe my public service has played the most important role in my qualifications for mayor. I have a broad knowledge of how the city functions as a government entity while serving in the capacity of city councilman for almost four years. I have gained valuable experience as a city council member in dealing with the public, various developers, needs of my constituents, and the budget. In addition, I have a greater knowledge and understanding of how our city operates and functions through the different departments. My experience as a previous president of the Utah State Firemen’s Association provided an opportunity for me to lead a large organization through legislative and political processes at the state and national level. The combination of these experiences has prepared me for the prospect of serving as the mayor for Grantsville. I attended Utah Technical College and have been employed as a millwright at US Magnesium for 35 years. I am a lifetime resident of Grantsville.
2. What are your top three priorities? Please explain in detail.
First, long-term planning. It is critical that we develop a long-term plan for infrastructure, development and improvements. A long-term plan is an integral part of developing a budget that is realistic and attainable. In addition, it is imperative to have community involvement so the long-term plan addresses the concerns, interests and needs of all citizens of the city. Second, create a business park. A business park for economic development will create a positive tax base for successfully addressing improvements that are needed. It will reduce the tax burden on homeowners, provide more work opportunities, retail options, and consolidate businesses in a centrally located area. Third, improvements for parks and road repairs. There are necessary improvements that need to be addressed to ensure the safety of our children and create an environment for everyone to enjoy the amenities that are available. Our roads are in need of repair. Our citizens are entitled to drive on roads that have proper maintenance.
3. How would you balance Grantsville City’s budget during this time of declining revenue? Are you in favor of a tax increase?
Balancing the budget is an important responsibility that rests on the shoulders of the mayor. It is my proposal that if we can be proactive with controlled commercial development and create an area where businesses are consolidated into a business park with easy access for citizens, the increased revenue will ease the burden of the homeowners and a tax increase won’t be necessary. As mayor, I will carefully review the revenues and expenses with each department on a regular basis to ensure the expenses do not exceed expected revenues, making appropriate adjustments as necessary. I will analyze each budget line item and determine if there are expenses that don’t meet the needs of our citizens and I will address any of those issues to determine if the line item warrants an elimination of the expenses or a realignment to address areas that are more important. In addition, with a long-term plan in place, I will lead city officials to focus on keeping expenses to a minimum while maintaining appropriate levels of revenue. I am not in favor of a tax increase.
4. What are the city’s greatest public infrastructure needs and how would you go about building those facilities?
There are many public infrastructure needs for the city of Grantsville. Which one is the greatest need would be dependent upon who you ask. The things that I might think are important may not be the greatest or most important to others. I would reserve my opinion of what I think is the city’s greatest public infrastructure needs are and refer that question to the citizens and a majority consensus. As I have stated, I believe that we need to listen to the citizens of the community and involve them in the planning process. Once that is done, then we can determine what the city’s greatest public infrastructure need is and incorporate that need in the long-term plan to ensure the funding is available to build the necessary facilities.
5. What would you do to increase economic development in the city?
As stated above, I would focus on being proactive in developing a business park under controlled commercial development. This plan will ensure citizens’ neighborhoods are protected from commercial industry and create an area that is easily accessible to everyone. In addition, as I have stated, a business park with commercial development will potentially generate a positive tax revenue base to assist in meeting the needs of the citizens.
Jill Thomas
1. Explain how your education, professional background or previous public service make you qualified for this office.
My education and business experiences specifically qualify me for the office of mayor. I have earned my associate’s degree from Salt Lake Community College and bachelor’s degree in environmental management from Utah Valley State College and a master’s degree in business administration from University of Phoenix. My education along with practical experience from 20 years of working in the environmental industry qualifies me to help lead the city. As an environmental engineer I worked with various groups to find solutions to equipment, personnel and work flow problems. As a manager with one company I managed 20 industrial employees at a hazardous waste incinerator. My six-plus years as owner of several small businesses have given me additional personnel and financial management experience. I am an ambassador for the Tooele County Chamber of Commerce and coordinator for the Grantsville Business Alliance; both groups champion businesses in the community. I am currently a member of the Tooele County Planning and Zoning Commission which has given me insight into growth issues facing Utah, our county and this city. I am familiar with senior issues through aiding my elderly friends and neighbors navigate Medicare, rest home, medical, transportation and other senior issues.
2. What are your top three priorities? Please explain each in detail.
First, evaluate and streamline all city operations. The loud and clear “no” vote on the tax increase and economic realities will require further belt-tightening. Grantsville, unlike the federal government cannot print money, therefore we need to re-evaluate each line item in our budget and manage spending diligently. Second, build a city tax base. I am committed to working with the city council to find new business enterprises. Grantsville has a lot to offer new business; available land, young work force, and a wonderful rural lifestyle. Grantsville also has one thing that no one else in the Tooele Valley has — two freeway exits less than 45 minutes from the Salt Lake City Airport and downtown. Third, manage inevitable change. Grantsville is not the same as it was eight years ago, it won’t be the same four years from now. To maintain our “home town” rural lifestyle as well as how our city looks and feels, we need to plan now. In today’s city planning we hear the words like “walkable-communities”; I call it convenience. We want to provide the citizens of our town with a community that provides for their needs.
3. How would you balance Grantsville City’s budget during this time of declining revenues? Are you in favor of a tax increase?
I would ask the tough questions and along with the city council and with public input through town hall meetings, make the tough decisions. I would remove the portable offices behind city hall and make do with the current city offices. I will volunteer my salary for a sidewalk at Willow Elementary and then wherever it can be used to enhance the city. I would find and apply for every grant or monies available to the city, fire, police or civic project. I would start a community civic volunteer service group to work with the Grantsville Business Alliance to allow volunteers to have an active role in city improvements. No one is in favor of a tax increase, including me. Citizens are being taxed from all directions beyond their capacity and desire to give. If a tax increase is necessary it should be after the city removes all non-essentials from the budget and becomes highly efficient. Grantsville is not there yet. Additional taxes should only be requested to provide an additional service such as full time fire fighters or infrastructure such as a community pool or public transportation.
4. What are the city’s greatest public infrastructure needs and how would you go about building those facilities?
First we need to upgrade the sidewalks, roads and parks. Fix the sidewalks on Main and Willow streets, place more street lights where requested for seniors or others, add equipment to city parks. Fully utilize our parks for community functions; music in the park, swap meets, farmers market, and art shows. I would like to see a veteran’s park honoring our city veterans, paid for by volunteers and the purchase of bricks with veteran’s names, service and dates. Grantsville also needs a community center. The center would be funded by grants, gifts and savings. It would not be built until the city could afford it. Through the community center we could develop programs for the benefit of children and young adults in Grantsville. One possible feature is a swimming pool; possibly a wave pool, just different enough to draw interest from surrounding communities. Additionally, we will work with UTA to expand existing public transportation options for Grantsville citizens — we need more routes and more frequent service of those routes.
5. What would you do to increase economic development in the city?
As mayor, I would personally court business entities that would compliment current business in Grantsville, such as Target, Olive Garden, Michaels, or Golden Corral. I will continue to promote small business, they made Grantsville what it is today. I would insist on entities that use Grantsville water or sewer facilities be annexed into our sales tax base. Encourage city officials to redefine our commercial zones; creating value for property in those zones and open space between commercial and residential. Open space for parks, trails and to enhance our rural home town atmosphere.
City Council Candidates
Shawn Bennett
1. Explain how your education, professional background or previous public service makes you qualified for this office.
I have always been involved in my community. At the age of 19, I became self employed doing child entertainment for nearly six years. I regularly volunteered at hospitals and for “Candle lighters”, a group dedicated to cancer treatment. During this same time I also had a full time job in which I had security clearance and was trusted in areas of casinos that stored millions of dollars in coins and cash. By 21, I was offered a job with a storage container company and quickly excelled into management due to my people skills, my creative ideas and my reliability. In 2002 my wife and I joined volunteer fire department in southern Utah. During my almost two years as a volunteer firefighter I was pro-active in fundraisers for the fire department and many other fundraisers that were being held in our community. I launched a temporary park committee in which I was named chairman. This committee was established to acquire land and organize the future plans of the park. I headed the re-establishment of the Big Plains Foundation who donated the land for Future Park in Apple Valley. Since November 2006 I have owned and operated a real estate investing and consulting company, Cobblecreek Properties and Investments that offers complex services to real estate investors. Currently, I am a volunteer coordinator for the Taste of Grantsville.
2. What are your top three priorities? Please explain each in detail.
Transparency, managing growth, and helping seniors and youth. I will work my hardest to re-establish a level of trust and respect between our local government and our community. Together we can all make the best choice for Grantsville. It is also the personal responsibility of our city officials to be 100 percent supportive and proactive in all community events and to offer transparency on important issues that affect our community. The inevitable growth of Grantsville needs to be better managed than it has been in the past several years. We have developments that are not finished and some of the developers owe our city money either for water or taxes. Once a project receives careful consideration and is approved by our city council, I will see to it that the approved project is complete in a timely manner and that it will not be an inconvenience or an eyesore to Grantsville’s residents. While managing Grantsville’s inevitable growth we need to be restoring and maintaining Grantsville’s heritage. Grantsville has several old buildings so instead of building something new, lets first try to restore something old. The senior citizens of Grantsville have been neglected compared to other communities. I will search for options to help provide a level of independence and to improve the quality of life for our seniors here in Grantsville. By being more involved in our senior center and other community projects our youth will learn the true benefits of serving their community.
3. How would you balance Grantsville City’s budget during this time of declining revenues? Are you in favor for a tax increase?
After looking at the currently approved budget there are more areas in which we could trim the budget by nearly $20,000. In addition to trimming the budget, it is the responsibility of our city official’s to educate our citizens on the importance of shopping, eating out and buying their gas in our own community as much as possible. By doing so, this stimulates our local economy and reduces a chance of a tax increase in our community. The extreme 50 percent tax hike that our current city officials proposed would have been detrimental to our community in these tough times, however if there was a much needed tax increase it should be very minimal and only enough to cover the necessities in our current and future budgets.
4. What are the city’s greatest infrastructure needs and how would you go about building those facilities?
I will focus on what we currently have and make them better until the economy turns around. With the exclusion of Grantsville Elementary, building new things is not an option at this time. Some of the things we should focus on are: expansion of playground equipment for our park, and do basic improvements on our rodeo grounds so that it can be fully utilized. We can do these improvements through a community volunteer program sponsored by our local businesses. The businesses could donate supplies and/or services to the projects and act as mentors to our youth volunteers. By doing things in this manner would bring our community together. Once we create a better tax base, I will be in full support for an interactive Community recreation center for Grantsville.
5. What would you do to increase economic development in the city?
I will focus on bringing a little more industry into the west side of Grantsville, maybe another distribution center of some type, or a manufacturing facility that would create a few hundred more jobs not only for those in our community but to bring people from other areas into our community to work. With this new job creation it would provide a much needed tax base to our community. Also, with the increase of semi-truck traffic on the northwest end of town and off I-80, it would open up opportunity for a future gas station/truck stop, a possible restaurant and/or motel. This type of development would keep heavy truck traffic off of Main Street and create new tax revenue for Grantsville. Grantsville would also benefit from a small to medium hotel or motel on the southeast side of town. This would give people visiting Grantsville residents an option to stay in Grantsville for their visit rather than having to stay in Tooele or having to go to Salt Lake. This would also benefit those visiting the Miller Sports Park in addition giving them options of places to stay in our county while stimulating our tax revenues.
Colleen Brunson
1. Explain how your education, professional background or previous public service make you qualified for this office.
I have a high school degree and have lived in Grantsville for 14 years. I have attended numerous city council meetings as well as planning and zoning meetings over the last two years. I have gained the knowledge and have a better perspective than most when it comes to what has taken place within the city and a sense of what direction the city should be going.
2. What are your top three priorities? Please explain each in detail.
Working together with other elected officials to ensure that government maintains accountability and is sustainable, pursuing opportunities to increase the city’s revenue by encouraging commercial and industrial development. Ensure that we have quality growth through consistent application of the city’s general plan, promote open spaces while keeping a rural setting, hold developers accountable for fulfilling their obligations. Upgrades, improvements or a new facility are needed for our growing senior population.
3. How would you balance Grantsville City’s budget during this time of declining revenues? Are you in favor of a tax increase?
The budget is currently balanced, but given the state of the economy it would be in our best interests to monitor the budget on a monthly basis to see where we are, tighten our belts, and cut back on spending funds on anything that is unnecessary. It is not realistic to think that Grantsville will not need a small tax hike in the future. I don’t know of anyone who favors an increase in taxes right now. I am no different
4. What are the city’s greatest public infrastructure needs and how would you go about building those facilities?
Grantsville is currently upgrading the sewer treatment facility, road issues are being addressed and water resources are in the process of being acquired — which leaves sidewalks. There is a need for a sidewalk from Durfee Street to Willow Elementary. I have been inquiring as to how we could get this done, what the options are, and will actively encourage our current officials to get this accomplished. I would also like to see improvements to the parks and existing sidewalks.
5. What would you do to increase economic development in the city?
Grantsville needs to actively pursue commercial and industrial business. We encourage this kind of development by promoting our citizens and the community, and staying competitive with other municipalities by offering incentives. Working together with elected officials is the best way to accomplish this goal.
Michael Colson
1. Explain how your education, professional background or previous public service make you qualified for this office.
I don’t know if my education qualifies me for city council, but I did complete four years of college and graduated with a bachelors degree in engineering from Weber State University. I believe any education helps a person to be more prepared in understanding difficult concepts and problems. I worked as an engineer for eight years and as a general contractor for the past 12 years. This background makes it easier for me to understand the city’s needs in sewer, water and street infrastructure. I have owned two companies, SC Builders and Quick Paint, in the past 18 years and I understand what it takes to run a successful business. I believe these qualities are the same qualities that are needed to run a successful city. I believe our city government needs to be run more like a business. I am also the current vice chairman for Grantsville’s Planning and Zoning Commission. Being part of this commission has given me valuable experience with development issues and future land use plans. I believe these areas are critical as Grantsville continues to grow and expand its borders. I have lived in Grantsville for five years, moving here after living in Tooele for eight years.
2. What are your top three priorities? Please explain each in detail.
First, take a hard look at our city’s current budget. We need to continually review and adjust as necessary to avoid raising taxes. (To avoid repetition, I explain more on the budget in the following question.) Second, I believe Grantsville is ready for a full-time mayor. We need a mayor who is willing to put in 8 to 5 for the citizens of Grantsville; a mayor who will be available and readily accessible to Grantsville’s citizens; a mayor who will demand accountability and efficiency in all areas of city government. If I am elected to office, it will be my priority to also demand accountability and efficiency throughout our city government. Third, we need to manage growth and ensure it is in harmony with Grantsville’s general plan. We need to make sure developers are paying their fair share and that we try to attract the much-needed industrial and commercial businesses. We need to make decisions based on what is best for our community now and in the future.
3. How would you balance Grantsville City’s budget during this time of declining revenues? Are you in favor of a tax increase?
First, I would first like to commend the city and department leaders for balancing the budget without increasing taxes. Second, I would like to express my disappointment with Grantsville’s elected officials to allow our city to get in the position of having to cut $1 million out of a $4 million general fund. Our current economic downturn didn’t happen overnight. As a matter of fact, we saw indicators almost four years ago that this was coming. I would also say that we must have had excess in our budget in order to eliminate $1 million and still function. I believe our city budget and individual department budgets need to be scrutinized on a quarterly basis, at minimum. I believe Grantsville City can get through this downturn without raising taxes if it gets organized, efficient, and accountable to the citizens of Grantsville City.
4. What are the city’s greatest public infrastructure needs and how would you go about building those facilities?
We need to continue the work on our new sewer treatment facility and actively manage our current and new water sources. We may need to increase our impact fees on new homes and developments to help fund sewer and water infrastructure. We need to ensure that our existing streets are being maintained and that sidewalks are being installed in high pedestrian areas. We need to be actively seeking federal grants to assist in adding sidewalks and maintaining our streets. We are currently renting portables for offices at City Hall. Is this the best long term solution? The city owns other facilities that could be used for offices. We need to make a plan to quit wasting money on portables.
5. What would you do to increase economic development in the city?
Grantsville City needs to attract industry and commercial business. Grantsville citizens benefit directly from tax revenues and employment opportunities that businesses provide. A major struggle we have in the Planning and Zoning Commission is getting direction from current city leaders as to where Grantsville’s future industrial/commercial growth should take place. We need to maintain our industrial and business land use areas and not allow residential growth to encroach on these areas. I believe we need to focus growth near routes in and out of town and in existing commercial areas such as the Wal-Mart Distribution Center and heading toward Miller Motorsports Park. We need to provide commercial areas that will attract businesses and benefit Grantsville City.
Erik Stromberg
1. Explain how your education, professional background or previous public service make you qualified for this office.
I have a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Utah State University. During my time at Utah State, I served as the student body president for the Tooele Campus and sat on the advisory board as the student representative. My education and experience on the advisory board have given me the skills necessary to work with the other members of the city council, the mayor and employees of the city to make sure that the city is run correctly. I have held various managerial positions during my career that have given me the experience to project for future needs and budget for those needs and then stay within the budgeted amount. In addition to these experiences and education, I have lived my entire life in Grantsville. I understand the people of Grantsville, the heritage we have, and the pride we have in our town.
2. What are your top three priorities? Please explain each in detail.
First, correctly manage residential growth. New housing developments need to be carefully looked at to ensure that the developer’s plan fits for Grantsville and the citizens that live here. We have too many developments that were approved that do not fit into the community we are. This has caused them to go unfinished with vacant lots and empty houses that may never be filled. We need to insure future developments help us maintain that small-town feel we all enjoy and that they fit into the community. Second, economic development and growth. I will work with other city leaders and employees to create a plan that will provide space for both industrial and commercial businesses, and then work to bring those businesses to our town. Third, maintaining an appropriate and balanced budget. It is easy to say we will have a balanced budget, but more importantly we must make sure that all spending is appropriate, that items that are not needed are cut, programs that we can do without during lean years are dropped, and those city services that are required are properly funded to ensure that the people of Grantsville do not suffer because of poor management.
3. How would you balance Grantsville City’s budget during this time of declining revenues? Are you in favor of a tax increase?
The current administration did a very good job of trimming the excess from the current budget in order to not raise taxes, and I will continue to look at what can be cut from the budget before recommending any tax increase. With that said, the budget can only be cut to a point until city services start to suffer, and at that point a tax increase will be needed. The nearly 50 percent increase that had been proposed might have been excessive, however an increase of around 5 percent may have been in order to help make sure that city services did not suffer and that the city can maintain a balanced budget. I also believe that the city should create a rainy-day fund that would be available to help with future economic downturns, so the city is not placing an additional burden on the public when everyone is feeling the impact and any increase in taxes can hurt.
4. What are the city’s greatest public infrastructure needs and how would you go about building those facilities?
One of the greatest needs is that of safe walkways for the citizens of Grantsville. Anyone that has children in Willow Elementary School knows there is no greater need than along Willow Street. There is also a need along Durfee Street for those students that are leaving both the junior high and Willow Elementary. We also need to see improvements in the sewer and water systems. Funding for these needs could be found with a small increase in taxes that would be earmarked for the needed improvements to the city.
5. What would you do to increase economic development in the city?
Economic development can be accomplished by setting up specific areas of the city to allow for both industrial and commercial businesses to come to Grantsville. This is more than simply adding another strip mall along Main Street. We can do this by expanding our town in order for new business to come in and have the room they need. These new business will provide additional funding for the city budget in both property taxes as well as the sales taxes from the business and the services they provide.
James Vera
1. Explain how your education, professional background or previous public service makes you qualified for this office.
I have facilitated seventeen root cause projects at the Tooele Chemical Weapons Incinerator. This training and experience has given me a unique set of skills which enable me to research problems, understand the root and contributing causes, and then recommend corrective actions to prevent recurrence of those problems. The knowledge I have gained from this will help me truly understand all of the issues I would vote on as a Grantsville City Councilman. I have lived in Grantsville for 40 years and graduated from Grantsville High School. I also have training and experience in Human Performance Technology (HPT). HPT allows a systems view of all organizations. A systems view of Grantsville City provides an opportunity to align all city functions such that the citizens of Grantsville receive the best service in the most efficient and cost-effective way. I am a member of the Board of Trustees for the Mountain West Medical Center in Tooele. This experience helps me understand business and the influence of a quality health care system on our community.
2. What are your top three priorities? Please explain each in detail.
Balance the city budget. The law requires that the city maintain a balanced budget. As a city leader, it would be my stewardship to ensure that a balanced budget remain a constant priority. The old adage “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail” still holds true. Once we have a balanced budget, there must be a plan for maintaining it. Currently there is no formal systematic approach to develop a sustainable revenue stream. This plan will provide the criteria for evaluating potential businesses and revenue opportunities. Develop a plan to ensure the economic viability of Main Street. The old abandoned buildings on Main Street make it evident that a plan is needed. Facilitate city improvement projects. I was told that a city leader should not just “mow the lawns and pay the bills.” The citizens deserve more. Part of my strategy would be to collect a list of projects that citizens desire most. Then, as money and resources become available, we know where to direct them.
3. How would you balance Grantsville City’s budget during this time of declining revenues? Are you in favor of a tax increase?
I would volunteer to facilitate a performance improvement project — a process that involves defining desired results, measuring performance, and analyzing causes for the difference between performance and desired outcomes — to balance the city budget. As a facilitator by trade, I understand that I don’t have to know all the answers. I just have to know where to get the answers. I would assemble a committee of good financial minds, whose charter would include, but not be limited to: (1) analyses of city functions to ensure that the city is running as efficiently as possible; (2) ensure that we have given city businesses all the assistance within our power for them be successful. I cannot say I would never vote to raise taxes, but I can say it would be an absolute last resort. Many people in this country have become conditioned to believe that it is “our patriotic duty” to pay taxes. We have to get innovative in our attempt to create revenue streams which will sustain our city expenses, because “just raise taxes” cannot be the first response.
4. What are the city’s greatest public infrastructure needs and how would you go about building those facilities?
One of the first infrastructure priorities is a sidewalk for Willow Elementary. I believe that the conditions on that street are hazardous for the students and parents commuting to and from school. With winter coming, conditions will only get worse. A temporary measure is in place, but a sidewalk from the school to Durfee Street is needed. The sewer treatment facility needs to be updated. The treatment facility is almost at capacity. Our current city leaders have already arranged for funding of a new facility, but it would be a priority of mine to ensure that the project has the needed oversight to ensure its completion. Also, many of our roads need repair to avoid further costly damage to them. This effort needs to become and remain an ongoing priority. In the past there was an aggressive, successful effort to secure federal grants for infrastructure improvements. I want to resume the effort to secure funds for continued road improvement.
5. What would you do to increase economic development in the city?
First, we have to ensure we have an economic development plan. I would support a project to benchmark other cities of similar size to see how they are handling economic development. We need to stretch our thinking and search for new ideas. It is a mistake to believe that we have limited options. We need innovation for a sound economic development plan, for our current economy and the future. Second, we have to be business-friendly. We want current businesses to become/remain strong. We want to remove, not create obstacles for prospective businesses while also being considerate of home owners.
Compiled by Tim Gillie.
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