Grantsville voters will head to the polls Nov. 6 to decide between six candidates — one incumbent and five challengers — vying for three open seats on the Grantsville City Council. To help voters make an informed choice, the Transcript-Bulletin sent each of the candidates a questionnaire addressing issues currently facing the city. Their responses, along with condensed biographical information, are included below.

Candidates competing for seats on the Stansbury Service Agency will be featured in next Tuesday's edition of the paper.

Todd Castagno

Todd Castagno was born and raised in Grantsville. He has lived in other parts of Utah and Tooele County before returning to Grantsville eight years ago. He is a self-employed mortgage broker and owner of Willow Creek Lending. He has served on the City Council for four years and on the Grantsville Planning and Zoning Commission for two years prior to that.

Mike Colson

Mike Colson has lived in Grantsville for three years, and has worked in the town for 11 years. He is co-owner of SC Builders.

Mike Johnson

Mike Johnson has lived in Grantsville for 28 years. He is an excavation contractor and co-owner of Hometown Hardware, a local business.

DeRay Sparks

DeRay Sparks has lived in Grantsville for 31 years. He worked at Dugway Proving Ground as a finance accounting officer and assistant accountant for 14 years and is now self-employed as an accountant.

Lynn Taylor

Lynn Taylor has been living in Grantsville since 1979. He is the watermaster of the Grantsville Irrigation Company. He previously served on the City Council for eight years.

Tom Tripp

Tom Tripp has been a resident of Grantsville for 26 years. He is an engineer and a manager at US Magnesium.

Q: If elected/re-elected to the City Council, what will your top three priorities be?

Castagno: My top three priorities would be maintaining our rural way of life, continuing to work on our trail system, which includes sidewalks for our children, and improving and protecting our water resources.

Colson: Managing growth is a top priority for Grantsville. We need to control growth and ensure it's in harmony with Grantsville's general plan. We need to make decisions based on what is best for our community now and in the future. My second priority is to address water and sewer capacity issues. The costs associated with sewer expansion and water infrastructure need to be passed on to developers. My third priority is to listen to Grantsville citizens and be their voice in city government. I will work hard for Grantsville, not special interest groups.

Johnson: My top three priorities would be to manage the growth Grantsville is experiencing, continue to look for economic development opportunities, and ensure the funding needed for the police department, fire department and city employees to secure the well-being of Grantsville.

Sparks: My top three priorities would be Grantsville, Grantsville, Grantsville. Improvements can always be made. However, I do not have a personal agenda in seeking to serve the residents of Grantsville. Roads, recreation and infrastructure are equally important, as well as affordable housing.

Taylor: My top priorities would be, first, to ensure that the decisions I make are in the best interests of the most and not the one, so everyone is treated fairly. Second, to make sure the cost of new development does not fall back on existing citizens, but takes care of itself. Those already here should not have to pay for those that come later. All of the existing infrastructure needs to be taken care of. Third, to try and maintain the existing small-town atmosphere that everyone who comes here likes about our city.

Tripp: My top three priorities would be to reign in uncontrolled growth so it doesn't overrun infrastructure such as roads, sewer and water; create assets that will contribute to the long-term benefit of Grantsville citizens; and make adjustments to the current city planning system.

Q: Do you think Grantsville is becoming overdeveloped? How will you ensure that future growth is sustainable and managed?

Castagno: This is one of the hardest questions that I get asked. Yes, I wish Grantsville was the way it was 40 years ago, but growth happens whether we want it to or not. I firmly believe in personal property rights and the free-market economy that made this nation great. By working with growth instead of against it, we have the unique opportunity to shape that growth into quality growth for a rural future. We work hard to ensure that development pays its own way. We have updated our capital facilities plans and have raised impact fees to ensure that growth pays for needed improvements. We are looking at the possibility of implementing a road impact fee. This would further help ensure that development pays for the financial impacts it creates.

Colson: Grantsville City is at a critical crossroad regarding growth and development. To preserve Grantsville's rural heritage we need to re-focus our attention and commitment to Grantsville's general plan. This plan "identifies goals, strategies, and actions necessary to guide the future growth and development of the city." The plan also states any new development "pay for the facilities and services necessary to support the needs of new residents and business activity." Methods need to be in place to ensure 100 percent completion of developments and developers" promised open spaces, parks and improvements.

Johnson: It doesn't matter if we believe Grantsville has become overdeveloped or underdeveloped. Growth has found our city and we need to ensure that future growth is managed and sustainable by ensuring proper zoning, holding developers to the promises they make while developing individual projects, keeping watch on our resources — such as water and sewer needs — and maintaining open spaces and city parks in a safe, quality manner for our community to enjoy and be proud of.

Sparks: Grantsville is in danger of being overdeveloped. So many outside interests have been allowed to develop expensive housing with large lots that many of Grantsville's new and younger couples do not have the ability to purchase affordable housing. Developments must be promoted that allow for affordable housing as well as expensive, large, exclusive homes with large lots. The master plan that was developed for the city must be followed. Otherwise, new and younger families will not have a bright future within Grantsville.

Taylor: I think that boosted economy will take care of growth if it is followed through. We need to make sure the roads, sewer, water, parks and other infrastructure that are in the new developments are paid for by the developers.

Tripp: The current rate of growth is extreme for a small community. New development proposals are coming too fast for the available infrastructure. Approvals are being given so fast that it is often unclear what is being agreed to in the Grantsville City Council and the planning meetings. The urgent needs and schedules of developers should be secondary to the needs of current Grantsville citizens. The developments need to be controlled by a clear long-term plan.

Q: Would you like to see greater economic development in Grantsville? If so, how would you accomplish this?

Castagno: I would like to see greater economic development in Grantsville. Sales tax revenue is what allows a city to provide amenities to its citizens. Over the past two years, I have worked with several local business owners to help create the Grantsville Business Alliance, with the goal of promoting local business. In the coming months and years, you will see more and more public events to promote local business.

Colson: I'd like to see greater economic growth in Grantsville. It's critical for Grantsville to attract industry and business. Grantsville benefits from tax revenues and businesses will provide employment. Grantsville is quickly becoming a bedroom community for Salt Lake City and Tooele. We need to maintain our industrial and business land-use areas, provide buffer zones and not allow residential growth to encroach on these areas.

Johnson: I would like to see greater economic development in Grantsville because we need the tax base that comes with business. The funds will go to ensure a higher-quality community we can all be proud of. To accomplish this we need to work with and support the Tooele County Economic Development Advisory Committee that is already looking for business opportunities that will fit the needs of Grantsville residents.

Sparks: Economic development within Grantsville is improving. This is always the last area of change in a growth cycle. The recent completion of strip malls in the center of town and on the east side are examples of that growth. There are also plans for an additional commercial area on the east side as well. Every proposal should be given a reasonable opportunity for review and evaluation to determine if it will be of benefit to Grantsville.

Taylor: We need to approach businesses to encourage them to open here, but not at a cost to taxpayers.

Tripp: With the increases in population, Grantsville needs more commercial development to generate tax income. Commercial development needs to be encouraged in areas that make the most sense. Areas targeted and encouraged for commercial growth should likely focus on routes in and out of town, and areas near major commercial zones such as the Wal-Mart Distribution Center and in the vicinity of Miller Motorsports Park.

Q: What do you see as Grantsville's most pressing infrastructure needs? How would you fund and advance these projects?

Castagno: One of our most pressing infrastructure needs is a rebuild of our current sewer treatment facility. We need to build a modern mechanical system that will allow us to reuse wastewater for outdoor irrigation. We are currently in the design and analysis stage of this project. The new sewer treatment facility should be online within the next three years. We are looking at several funding sources including grant money and low-interest loans.

Colson: Other than water and sewer capacity, we need to improve pedestrian access to schools. We have grants available and developers' commitments for trails and sidewalks that connect along Durfee Street. Completion of these trails and sidewalks should be a priority. The senior citizen center is in need of a major overhaul. Our elderly population is growing rapidly and we need to address this before it becomes critical.

Johnson: Grantsville's most pressing infrastructure needs are the sewer system, the water capacity needed to sustain growth, and the ability to maintain roads and sidewalks. This can be done by applying for grants and using impact fees already collected from previous developments.

Sparks: Currently, infrastructure needs for Grantsville are being met. However, in the very near future there will exist a need for major improvements in our sewer system. In addition, there are roads that need improvements. Impact fees have been in place for some of these projects. However, there will always be a need for funds to pay for improvements. Community block grants, bonding and appropriate increases in user fees are sources of funds for improvements that are required.

Taylor: With all of the development going on, water, sewer and roads, as well as the police and fire departments, are being stretched to their limits. We need to make sure that is looked at ahead of time and taken care of. If managed carefully, I believe the extra growth will take care of the extra cost. I will make sure police, fire and maintenance crews will have what they need to keep our city in good shape.

Tripp: Grantsville needs to add/improve roads to handle increased growth. The sewer system needs to be upgraded. There needs to be an assessment to determine the actual amount of water available to the city, since water rights don't necessarily equal available water. I'd propose the city substantially increase impact fees on new homes and implement substantial fees on new developments to fund needed infrastructure and city improvements.

Sarah Miley: swest@tooeletranscript.com