General Election Mayoral Race for Midway
October 22, 2017
Two Women Address Campaign Issues
by Robin M Johnson
While both candidates for mayor want many of the same things for Midway their approach and leadership styles differ. Both women are dynamic leaders and each offers strong, positive qualities to take Midway through the next four years.
As the campaign draws to a close each candidate accepted an invitation to answer questions in the following areas.
- Campaign Slogans
- Open Space and Growth
- Highway 113 and UDOT Traffic Control
- Large Transmission Power Line Project
- Mitigation and Compromise
- Public Input in City Meetings
CAMPAIGN SLOGANS
CELESTE: Your campaign slogan says Your Voice. Your Midway. Your Mayor. Given the challenges in representing all viewpoints please tell us about your slogan , what it means to you, and how you plan to represent the citizens of Midway?
I have a clear message. The voices of all Midway citizens will be heard and respected. I will inform the citizens through as many methods as possible, before decisions are made and will encourage involvement in the process. As Mayor, serving on intergovernmental boards, I will speak up for Midway citizens and will keep their needs as my foremost concern.
COLLEEN: Your campaign slogan is ‘Experience Matters’. What specific experience have you gleaned over the past four years as mayor and your previous years on the city council that will be most beneficial to Midway citizens if you are re elected?
My specific experience includes knowledge of our water system; I have a good grasp of the complexities. Midway City and Midway Irrigation Company share and manage spring sources. Midway City owns the culinary water and MIC owns the secondary system for outside needs and the needs of farmers. There is plenty of water for everyone’s needs. We have a good working relationship but it hasn’t always been that way. Cities all over Utah are fighting over water issues. Together we formed the Midway Water Board; I sit on the board and have a good understanding of the needs on both sides. I also sit on the Sewer District Board and have a good understanding of the sewer system.
Working with our city engineer the council came up with a ten year road plan. We look ahead at not only which roads need replacement or maintenance, but also what infrastructure inside the road needs updating. It can be frustrating when roads are replaced, but one of the reasons they take so long is because we are not only replacing the road but updating and replacing the water lines, sewer lines and other buried infrastructure for cost effectiveness. The road budget for replacement comes from the General Fund plus we use Impact Fees developers are required to pay for surface treatment maintenance, chip seal, slurry seal, and crack chip. We have paid every penny with no debt.
When I began working on the council nearly sixteen years ago I was handed a gift, public parks. Midway had hardly any parks except Town Square. I have had the opportunity to work with youth on service projects that add aesthetic value and amenities to our parks. Eagle Scouts have landscaped and planted trees in the parks, installed the flag poles at Hamlet Park, laid recycled grass taken from Town Square in Hamlet Park when the Ice Rink was installed, and added Frisbee golf in Valais Park to name a few. Impact fees paid by developers are used to pay for park improvements. Replacement and maintenance costs come from the General Fund.
I have built strong working relationships with the Midway Boosters, the city staff, with Wasatch County police, fire, and public works.
OPEN SPACE & GROWTH
BACKGROUND: Open Space and Growth have been discussed
in Midway for over twenty years. This has resulted in many open space provisions
in city ordinances. Discussion focused on preserving Midway’s rural heritage through
protecting open space, historic buildings, and barns. Recently, both in the community and at city
meetings this discussion centered around placing a bond referendum on the
General Election 2017 ballot. Pure Midway and other concerned citizens held
town meetings and conducted a survey then presented their findings to the city
council. There was discussion about the definition of open space, the reduction
of density in city codes to preserve open space, the amount of time the city
had to prepare for the bond, and debate over when and how to introduce a bond
to the citizenry for a vote. Ultimately, the council voted not to place an open
space bond on the ballot for this election. At the same time Wasatch County is
also considering an open space bond for the General Election 2018 which could
result in Midway citizens facing two property tax increases for open space
bonding. Wasatch County could possibly award a portion of their bond to Midway
City eliminating the need for Midway to have a separate bond.
QUESTIONS FOR BOTH CANDIDATES: What
is your personal definition of open space and will it affect decisions you make
on open space as Midway’s mayor? Will you be able to put aside your personal
opinion if the definition of open space gathered through city sponsored public
hearings and town meetings from all concerned citizens differs from your own? Do you feel the city has ‘missed the bus’ in
efforts to preserve open space? If
Wasatch County decides to place a bond on the ballot in 2018 and offer Midway a
percentage of the bond to be spent west of the Provo River will you still
encourage Midway to pursue a bond of its own?
CELESTE: I am passionate about preserving Midway’s rural heritage and small town feel. Earlier this year I visited our sister city in Switzerland, Trubschachen and was impressed at how they balanced growth, open space and historic preservation. Open space and our historic buildings are perishable resources and once they are gone we don’t get a second chance to preserve them.
I believe in walkability, bikeability, trail connectivity, view corridors and getting grants for the preservation of historic buildings and barns. I also believe in making it as easy as possible for those who want to keep their farms and large animals in Midway, to do so. I have spoken with so many people in Midway who believe the farms, historic homes and barns are what make Midway unique. I support the citizens in whatever definition of open space is chosen by the majority. It’s my job to listen and serve them.
COLLEEN: Midway has been preserving open space for sixteen years. Open space in the city includes city parks, trails, park strips on collector roads, protection of view corridors through setbacks, height limits on buildings, etc, entryway features, and farms. The city passed the farm preservation ordinance earlier this year to offer developers another open space preservation option. I want to find useful ways to use open space so it benefits all citizens in Midway. I want to protect our entryway and view corridors so everyone, our citizens and our visitors, can see the views of Mt Timpanogos and the other mountains surrounding us.
We live in a Republic, the mayor and council’s job is to listen all sides and make the best decision for all residents in Midway.
The bus that has left the station is just the open space bond for this year. There is still another bus at the station with other options for open space including Wasatch County’s bond, possibly our own bond, and the avenues for creating open space in the general plan that are currently in the codification process. We will continue to find options for open space preservation.
Pursuing our own bond will depend on recommendations from our Open Space Committee after they receive public input. The council will discuss the matter publicly and make a final decision in the best interest of all Midway citizens.
QUESTIONS FOR CELESTE: Will you be able to put aside the official
collective opinion of Pure Midway and other concerned citizens if the definition
of open space gathered through city sponsored public hearings and town meetings
from all concerned citizens differs from the views of Pure Midway? Will you continue to sit on Pure Midway’s
board if you are elected as mayor? What is smart growth?
As mayor, my first priority will be to serve the residents of Midway. If the majority of the residents’ interests are aligned with Pure Midway’s mission of thoughtful growth and preserving Midway’s rural heritage, then I will continue to serve on the Board because doing so will benefit my constituents. If their interests are misaligned, then I will need to step down from the Pure Midway Board. My constituents will always be number one
QUESTIONS FOR COLLEEN: As mayor you had no vote on the motion regarding a 2017 bond
referendum since the mayor only votes to break a tie. If there had been a tie
how would you have voted at the August bond referendum meeting, for or against
a bond referendum in the 2017 General Election? How did you advise the council
members on the issue prior to the vote? Has the Wasatch County council decided
yet whether Midway City would be allotted a percentage of the open space bond
to spend on property west of Provo River? If so, have they determined an amount
they want the county to bond for and indicated what percentage they are willing
to give Midway? What is responsible growth?
I would not have voted for the bond referendum that night
because I felt it would be irresponsible. Anytime there is a decision before the
council that will impact citizen taxes I am 100% behind their right to vote on
it. The council needed more time to prepare the bond referendum. I didn’t think
the bond would pass if we rushed the process and went forward with inadequate information
for the public to base their decision on. Once a bond has been voted down it is
very hard to get it voted on a second time.
The council was concerned how the bond decision would impact
the election. Each one asked me what they should do. I told the council they
had a week to think about the bond and they should vote their conscience, no
matter what they decided I would be fine either way. A really good leader
counsels together with their council members, but does not persuade or tell
them how to vote.
Citizens for open space and smart growth gathered good
information, they have good ideas and have done the background work that helped
inform the city. Their open space meetings were handled well. Unfortunately
many in the community did not know about the meetings and need an opportunity
for input on an open space definition. We need to work together in a cohesive
way. If the process was started earlier and submitted signatures met the April
deadline as a Citizens Initiative there would have been time to put together a solid
bond referendum with broad public input on an open space definition. The
process to educate the public about the bond takes time to get the message out
accurately and increase the likelihood the bond will pass.
Wasatch County will put their committee together in November.
Midway City will have a representative on that committee. Their open space committee
will define open space, identify open space goals, and discuss Midway receiving
a percentage, then make a recommendations to the council.
Responsible growth is balancing the needs of all parties
as land use decisions are made. As the city moves forward responsible growth is
not just about the developer. I don’t roll over for developers anywhere. They
know I am tough. My responsibility is not just about protecting the land owner,
or protecting the developer, and it’s not just about protecting the home owner
who doesn’t want the field behind his home to go away. At the end of the day it’s
about give and take from everyone to make something good happen. We have to
look at all the options. I have watched growth in Midway for twenty five years.
I don’t feel the panic about growth. There are things we can and will do to
create less density. We need to find a place for young families with modest
incomes to afford homes. We need young
families for vibrancy and balance in our community. As I look around the
community and meet the new people moving in they add value to our community. I
think I can work with everyone in the community to balance needs and find
compromises. No one gets everything they want. We have to work together and
compromise to get things done.
HIGHWAY 113 UDOT TRAFFIC CONTROL
BACKGROUND: Summer 2018 the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) plans to
install a second traffic light in Midway City on Main Street and River Road
within their right of way. This year Midway City widened and paved Michie Lane
from about 300 East to Center Street. Michie Lane is designated as a collector
road and it is anticipated traffic turning left off of Midway Lane just before
The Hamlet onto Highway 113 will increase greatly now that Michie Lane goes all
the way through to Center Street. UDOT will soon be looking into solutions to
slow traffic and possibly create a left turn lane.
QUESTIONS FOR CELESTE: How will you handle these matters with UDOT if you become mayor? Will you ask UDOT to revisit their plans for River Road and Main? Would you try to persuade UDOT to redesign for a round about? What process do you believe should happen between the city and UDOT as plans are made for better traffic flow at the Midway Lane and Michie Lane intersection?
We are lucky to live in a place with easy access to experts on so many topics. I will consult with traffic experts who are willing to donate their time to studying any UDOT proposals. After I have that information, I will explain all of the options to Midway residents.
If the residents support the UDOT proposal, then I will support it. If the residents have issues with the UDOT proposal and their concerns can be solved by working with the experts and UDOT then I will arrange meetings with both. While UDOT’s actions may take precedence over Midway’s objections, we are NOT powerless in this situation.
QUESTIONS FOR
COLLEEN: How much input did the city
have on the River Road and Main Street plans for a traffic light? Why was the
city unable to influence UDOT toward a roundabout? Will the city handle the process of making
plans for the Midway Lane and Michie Lane intersection differently than they
did for the two Main Street lights by informing citizens of impending decisions
and seeking citizen input through public hearings if you are re elected? Why or
why not?
After UDOT completed their traffic study the city engineer
and I had input and discussion about the results. We made a decision that best meets
our needs and theirs. UDOT owns the road and the liability on the road. UDOT
uses roundabouts in areas where they have a larger right of way and little
pedestrian traffic. In a limited right of way with pedestrian traffic similar
to Midway UDOT has found traffic lights are safer and friendlier. UDOT will pay
for the cost of installing a traffic light.
If Midway paid for the rest of the
roundabout costs, including the purchase of private property, they will install
it. However, there has to be a willing seller, cities are not allowed to use
eminent domain to acquire private property for a roundabout. Fiscal
responsibility is a high priority to Midway City. In my opinion, since Main
Street is a UDOT road, I have bigger things I need to do for the city than
micro manage UDOT.
Michie Lane exits onto Highway 113, a UDOT road; they own
the safety and maintenance. UDOT wants to make their roads as safe as possible.
We will work with UDOT to meet safety needs and we will work with Wasatch
County to beautify the right of way.
LARGE TRANSMISSION POWER LINES
BACKGROUND: There is joint project
between Heber Light and Power and Rocky Mountain Power to bring large overhead transmission
power lines through the south section of Midway City. Part of the project is
already installed in the Heber Valley. The two power companies have been
working together toward this project for over ten years in order to address the
demand for power both inside and outside the valley.
QUESTIONS FOR BOTH CANDIDATES: What advantages do you see to locating the large transmission power lines through Midway? What are the drawbacks? What is the final outcome of your cost/benefit analysis regarding the power lines?
QUESTIONS FOR CELESTE: As mayor you will be in a position to
know information from working with other entities such as Heber Light and Power
or UDOT, to name a few. How will you balance the public’s need to know with an
entity such as Heber Light and Power or UDOT’s need for confidentiality and
their right to manage their affairs according to the laws and/or bylaws that
govern their release of information to the public?
I am in
full support of being transparent with the citizens. I will take the extra time to educate the
citizens on the pros and cons of any proposal affecting the city early on in
the process so we can make a decision together.
I will also educate myself and the city about alternatives to proposals
with which the citizens have concerns. I
am certain there are alternatives in almost every proposal. At the same time, I am bound to uphold the
law and I will respect any laws dictating confidentiality. An informed citizenry builds bridges and
understanding.
QUESTIONS FOR
COLLEEN: As a member of Heber Light
and Power’s board you have been directly involved in this issue. Has this issue been discussed in city public
meetings either as an agenda item or in Department Reports? How long have you been aware of plans for the
large transmission power lines? What criteria do you use to determine when the
public has been informed about issues such as these power lines or the
installation of a traffic light?
Heber Light and Power is on Midway City’s agenda to present
an annual report to the city council once every year with updates on their
projects. In 2014 they provided drawings of the alignment and the plan for phasing
of the project. The two power companies have been working on the plan for over
12 years and we have discussed it in department reports.
Rocky Mountain Power needs to come through the Heber Valley
to get power to Provo. Heber Light and Power needs to update their transmission
power to meet the demand for electricity. By working together the valley will
only be impacted by one large line instead of two and meet the needs for both
companies. Also sharing the transmission lines allows the power companies to help
each other by looping the lines for redundancy in the event of a power outage
in either system. If the power goes down
in an area they can reroute and get power back to that area as quickly as
possible.
The power poles planned for Midway will be in the same Heber
Light and Power right of way. They will replace the current wooden poles with new
wooden poles that are ten feet taller except on corners or at a turn or bend in
the road. The corner, turn, or bend towers will be metal like those installed
last year during Phase one on Highway 40 by the UVU Wasatch Campus. Home owners
along the Midway route, 970 South, who built homes 12 years ago were required
to have an extra 20 foot setback from the road to accommodate the towers. Easements
for the right of way were noted on the plat when recorded with the county.
Our public meetings and Heber Light and Power’s public meetings
are posted one week in advance. The city posts on its website, its facebook
page, in The Wasatch Wave, and in three public locations. It is important the
public come and ask questions if they have concerns. We all have an open door
policy.
MITIGATION AND COMPROMISE
BACKGROUND: While
the city council is elected to represent those who voted them into office they
are also charged by the state of Utah to uphold developer rights and property
owner rights as outlined in both state and city laws. This puts the council in
a unique position of becoming an intermediary between its constituents and the developer
and/or property owner. Balancing mitigation between all parties toward
compromise does present some fine lines for elected officials to sort through
when making decisions. In legal matters affecting citizen, developer or
property owner rights the council relies on the advice of the city attorney
regarding potential lawsuits due to improper mitigation.
QUESTIONS FOR BOTH
CANDIDATES: What do you see as
issues that the council must mitigate between citizens, developers, and
property owners? Do you think there are things citizens want mitigated that are
not allowed for in state or city codes? If so, should these issues become part
of state and city code? How do you or will you handle the mitigation process? In
your opinion is it part of the council’s responsibility to protect city coffers
from development lawsuits? Under what circumstances is it appropriate to
disregard legal advice from the city attorney regarding potential lawsuits?
CELESTE: I
support any opportunity to let citizens express concerns regarding development
that will impact their town. I will
encourage and support cooperation between the citizens of Midway and Midway’s
City Council, and will prioritize this interaction.
While there are state laws governing some
aspects of development, there are many things we can control as a City. We have excellent legal counsel to advise us.
While no one wants a lawsuit, the City does have insurance for this, and with
clear understanding of the laws and codes, we need not let fear of a lawsuit be
the reason a decision is made.
COLLEEN: It shouldn’t always be about what is legal and what is not legal. According to case law based on decisions made by judges, legally you can take up to 90% of a person’s property without it being a taking as long as there is what the courts call just compensation.
However, to me there is a moral component. As we consider changes in our code and changes in open space in our community we need to look beyond just the legal implications and also consider the ethical and moral responsibility of the role of city government.
I have a passion for finding a good balance in responsible growth.There must be buy in from the land owners. Developers need incentives to be willing to help the city meet its goals. Citizens need a chance to give valuable input to the city as decisions are made that impact their neighborhood and community.
PUBLIC INPUT IN CITY
MEETINGS
BACKGROUND: The Utah state code
provides guidance on public input. There are two types of city meetings, Public
Meetings and Public Hearings, and two ways to be recognized to speak. During a Public
Meeting the city council conducts city business with city staff; developers or
their representatives, property owners, and citizens must be recognized by the
mayor before speaking. Discretion is given to the mayor on how much input to
allow, if any. During a Public Hearing, which happens inside a Public Meeting,
the mayor sets the parameters for comment, opens to floor to public comment, recognizes
each speaker, and at the end closes the floor to public comment. The mayor and council
determine the duration of the Public Hearing and how many minutes to allow each
speaker.
QUESTIONS FOR BOTH
CANDIDATES: Why would these policies be important in governing city Public
Meetings and Public Hearings? What would you consider an appropriate reason to allow
a citizen to speak in a Public Meeting? What factors would you take into
consideration before allowing public comment in a Public Meeting? When public comment is allowed during a
Public Hearing why do you think the state of Utah would consider time limits appropriate
and important? How do you balance the need of the public to have input in the
city process and the need for city meetings to be efficient and fair to all of
those involved?
CELESTE: I
believe in public input using a variety of means in addition to official
meetings. The standards for how official
meetings are conducted are a minimum requirement and much more can be done to
allow for citizen involvement. In
addition to official meetings, I am in favor of Monthly Mayor Meetings, where
residents can have conversations with myself and other elected officials. I think these kinds of meetings build bridges,
create understanding and preserve civility because every side feels heard and
appreciated. It’s our primary job as
Midway’s elected officials to listen to residents and to make sure the lines of
communication are open in both directions.
COLLEEN: Public input
has a process to follow for order and efficiency in public meetings. As the current mayor I want city meetings to be organized and efficient. That is why we have Robert’s Rules
of order.
In a Public Hearing we must be considerate of everyone and follow the
process. Time limits are about allowing as many citizens to speak as possible
in the allotted time. Time limits also help the meeting move forward so the
council can continue to discuss other agenda items in a timely manner and be
alert for clear thinking and sound decision making. Often the council tables the
item to act on at the next meeting for two reasons. To give the council time to
consider what was said in the public hearing and to give the public more time
to give valuable input through letters or emails written to the council or
personal conversations with council members.
Accepting public comment outside of Public Hearings can depend
on the size of the agenda. The city must conduct its business before the public. If the agenda is lengthy I can choose not to accept public
comment. My reasons are again to act on city business in a timely manner while
council members are alert for clear thinking and sound decision making. Meetings
that begin at 6:00 pm and go past midnight are tiring for everyone involved.
FINAL NOTE : Midway UT Messages & Milestones wishes to thank each candidate for taking time from their busy schedules to answer these questions. Good luck to each of you.
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While both candidates for mayor want many of the same things for Midway their approach and leadership styles differ. Both women are dynamic leaders and each offers strong, positive qualities to take Midway through the next four years.
As the campaign draws to a close each candidate accepted an invitation to answer questions in the following areas.
- Campaign Slogans
- Open Space and Growth
- Highway 113 and UDOT Traffic Control
- Large Transmission Power Line Project
- Mitigation and Compromise
- Public Input in City Meetings
CAMPAIGN SLOGANS
CELESTE: Your campaign slogan says Your Voice. Your Midway. Your Mayor. Given the challenges in representing all viewpoints please tell us about your slogan , what it means to you, and how you plan to represent the citizens of Midway?
I have a clear message. The voices of all Midway citizens will be heard and respected. I will inform the citizens through as many methods as possible, before decisions are made and will encourage involvement in the process. As Mayor, serving on intergovernmental boards, I will speak up for Midway citizens and will keep their needs as my foremost concern.
COLLEEN: Your campaign slogan is ‘Experience Matters’. What specific experience have you gleaned over the past four years as mayor and your previous years on the city council that will be most beneficial to Midway citizens if you are re elected?
My specific experience includes knowledge of our water system; I have a good grasp of the complexities. Midway City and Midway Irrigation Company share and manage spring sources. Midway City owns the culinary water and MIC owns the secondary system for outside needs and the needs of farmers. There is plenty of water for everyone’s needs. We have a good working relationship but it hasn’t always been that way. Cities all over Utah are fighting over water issues. Together we formed the Midway Water Board; I sit on the board and have a good understanding of the needs on both sides. I also sit on the Sewer District Board and have a good understanding of the sewer system.
Working with our city engineer the council came up with a ten year road plan. We look ahead at not only which roads need replacement or maintenance, but also what infrastructure inside the road needs updating. It can be frustrating when roads are replaced, but one of the reasons they take so long is because we are not only replacing the road but updating and replacing the water lines, sewer lines and other buried infrastructure for cost effectiveness. The road budget for replacement comes from the General Fund plus we use Impact Fees developers are required to pay for surface treatment maintenance, chip seal, slurry seal, and crack chip. We have paid every penny with no debt.
When I began working on the council nearly sixteen years ago I was handed a gift, public parks. Midway had hardly any parks except Town Square. I have had the opportunity to work with youth on service projects that add aesthetic value and amenities to our parks. Eagle Scouts have landscaped and planted trees in the parks, installed the flag poles at Hamlet Park, laid recycled grass taken from Town Square in Hamlet Park when the Ice Rink was installed, and added Frisbee golf in Valais Park to name a few. Impact fees paid by developers are used to pay for park improvements. Replacement and maintenance costs come from the General Fund.
I have built strong working relationships with the Midway Boosters, the city staff, with Wasatch County police, fire, and public works.
OPEN SPACE & GROWTH
BACKGROUND: Open Space and Growth have been discussed
in Midway for over twenty years. This has resulted in many open space provisions
in city ordinances. Discussion focused on preserving Midway’s rural heritage through
protecting open space, historic buildings, and barns. Recently, both in the community and at city
meetings this discussion centered around placing a bond referendum on the
General Election 2017 ballot. Pure Midway and other concerned citizens held
town meetings and conducted a survey then presented their findings to the city
council. There was discussion about the definition of open space, the reduction
of density in city codes to preserve open space, the amount of time the city
had to prepare for the bond, and debate over when and how to introduce a bond
to the citizenry for a vote. Ultimately, the council voted not to place an open
space bond on the ballot for this election. At the same time Wasatch County is
also considering an open space bond for the General Election 2018 which could
result in Midway citizens facing two property tax increases for open space
bonding. Wasatch County could possibly award a portion of their bond to Midway
City eliminating the need for Midway to have a separate bond.
QUESTIONS FOR BOTH CANDIDATES: What
is your personal definition of open space and will it affect decisions you make
on open space as Midway’s mayor? Will you be able to put aside your personal
opinion if the definition of open space gathered through city sponsored public
hearings and town meetings from all concerned citizens differs from your own? Do you feel the city has ‘missed the bus’ in
efforts to preserve open space? If
Wasatch County decides to place a bond on the ballot in 2018 and offer Midway a
percentage of the bond to be spent west of the Provo River will you still
encourage Midway to pursue a bond of its own?
CELESTE: I am passionate about preserving Midway’s rural heritage and small town feel. Earlier this year I visited our sister city in Switzerland, Trubschachen and was impressed at how they balanced growth, open space and historic preservation. Open space and our historic buildings are perishable resources and once they are gone we don’t get a second chance to preserve them.
I believe in walkability, bikeability, trail connectivity, view corridors and getting grants for the preservation of historic buildings and barns. I also believe in making it as easy as possible for those who want to keep their farms and large animals in Midway, to do so. I have spoken with so many people in Midway who believe the farms, historic homes and barns are what make Midway unique. I support the citizens in whatever definition of open space is chosen by the majority. It’s my job to listen and serve them.
COLLEEN: Midway has been preserving open space for sixteen years. Open space in the city includes city parks, trails, park strips on collector roads, protection of view corridors through setbacks, height limits on buildings, etc, entryway features, and farms. The city passed the farm preservation ordinance earlier this year to offer developers another open space preservation option. I want to find useful ways to use open space so it benefits all citizens in Midway. I want to protect our entryway and view corridors so everyone, our citizens and our visitors, can see the views of Mt Timpanogos and the other mountains surrounding us.
We live in a Republic, the mayor and council’s job is to listen all sides and make the best decision for all residents in Midway.
The bus that has left the station is just the open space bond for this year. There is still another bus at the station with other options for open space including Wasatch County’s bond, possibly our own bond, and the avenues for creating open space in the general plan that are currently in the codification process. We will continue to find options for open space preservation.
Pursuing our own bond will depend on recommendations from our Open Space Committee after they receive public input. The council will discuss the matter publicly and make a final decision in the best interest of all Midway citizens.
QUESTIONS FOR CELESTE: Will you be able to put aside the official
collective opinion of Pure Midway and other concerned citizens if the definition
of open space gathered through city sponsored public hearings and town meetings
from all concerned citizens differs from the views of Pure Midway? Will you continue to sit on Pure Midway’s
board if you are elected as mayor? What is smart growth?
As mayor, my first priority will be to serve the residents of Midway. If the majority of the residents’ interests are aligned with Pure Midway’s mission of thoughtful growth and preserving Midway’s rural heritage, then I will continue to serve on the Board because doing so will benefit my constituents. If their interests are misaligned, then I will need to step down from the Pure Midway Board. My constituents will always be number one
QUESTIONS FOR COLLEEN: As mayor you had no vote on the motion regarding a 2017 bond
referendum since the mayor only votes to break a tie. If there had been a tie
how would you have voted at the August bond referendum meeting, for or against
a bond referendum in the 2017 General Election? How did you advise the council
members on the issue prior to the vote? Has the Wasatch County council decided
yet whether Midway City would be allotted a percentage of the open space bond
to spend on property west of Provo River? If so, have they determined an amount
they want the county to bond for and indicated what percentage they are willing
to give Midway? What is responsible growth?
I would not have voted for the bond referendum that night
because I felt it would be irresponsible. Anytime there is a decision before the
council that will impact citizen taxes I am 100% behind their right to vote on
it. The council needed more time to prepare the bond referendum. I didn’t think
the bond would pass if we rushed the process and went forward with inadequate information
for the public to base their decision on. Once a bond has been voted down it is
very hard to get it voted on a second time.
The council was concerned how the bond decision would impact
the election. Each one asked me what they should do. I told the council they
had a week to think about the bond and they should vote their conscience, no
matter what they decided I would be fine either way. A really good leader
counsels together with their council members, but does not persuade or tell
them how to vote.
Citizens for open space and smart growth gathered good
information, they have good ideas and have done the background work that helped
inform the city. Their open space meetings were handled well. Unfortunately
many in the community did not know about the meetings and need an opportunity
for input on an open space definition. We need to work together in a cohesive
way. If the process was started earlier and submitted signatures met the April
deadline as a Citizens Initiative there would have been time to put together a solid
bond referendum with broad public input on an open space definition. The
process to educate the public about the bond takes time to get the message out
accurately and increase the likelihood the bond will pass.
Wasatch County will put their committee together in November.
Midway City will have a representative on that committee. Their open space committee
will define open space, identify open space goals, and discuss Midway receiving
a percentage, then make a recommendations to the council.
Responsible growth is balancing the needs of all parties
as land use decisions are made. As the city moves forward responsible growth is
not just about the developer. I don’t roll over for developers anywhere. They
know I am tough. My responsibility is not just about protecting the land owner,
or protecting the developer, and it’s not just about protecting the home owner
who doesn’t want the field behind his home to go away. At the end of the day it’s
about give and take from everyone to make something good happen. We have to
look at all the options. I have watched growth in Midway for twenty five years.
I don’t feel the panic about growth. There are things we can and will do to
create less density. We need to find a place for young families with modest
incomes to afford homes. We need young
families for vibrancy and balance in our community. As I look around the
community and meet the new people moving in they add value to our community. I
think I can work with everyone in the community to balance needs and find
compromises. No one gets everything they want. We have to work together and
compromise to get things done.
HIGHWAY 113 UDOT TRAFFIC CONTROL
BACKGROUND: Summer 2018 the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) plans to
install a second traffic light in Midway City on Main Street and River Road
within their right of way. This year Midway City widened and paved Michie Lane
from about 300 East to Center Street. Michie Lane is designated as a collector
road and it is anticipated traffic turning left off of Midway Lane just before
The Hamlet onto Highway 113 will increase greatly now that Michie Lane goes all
the way through to Center Street. UDOT will soon be looking into solutions to
slow traffic and possibly create a left turn lane.
QUESTIONS FOR CELESTE: How will you handle these matters with UDOT if you become mayor? Will you ask UDOT to revisit their plans for River Road and Main? Would you try to persuade UDOT to redesign for a round about? What process do you believe should happen between the city and UDOT as plans are made for better traffic flow at the Midway Lane and Michie Lane intersection?
We are lucky to live in a place with easy access to experts on so many topics. I will consult with traffic experts who are willing to donate their time to studying any UDOT proposals. After I have that information, I will explain all of the options to Midway residents.
If the residents support the UDOT proposal, then I will support it. If the residents have issues with the UDOT proposal and their concerns can be solved by working with the experts and UDOT then I will arrange meetings with both. While UDOT’s actions may take precedence over Midway’s objections, we are NOT powerless in this situation.
QUESTIONS FOR
COLLEEN: How much input did the city
have on the River Road and Main Street plans for a traffic light? Why was the
city unable to influence UDOT toward a roundabout? Will the city handle the process of making
plans for the Midway Lane and Michie Lane intersection differently than they
did for the two Main Street lights by informing citizens of impending decisions
and seeking citizen input through public hearings if you are re elected? Why or
why not?
After UDOT completed their traffic study the city engineer
and I had input and discussion about the results. We made a decision that best meets
our needs and theirs. UDOT owns the road and the liability on the road. UDOT
uses roundabouts in areas where they have a larger right of way and little
pedestrian traffic. In a limited right of way with pedestrian traffic similar
to Midway UDOT has found traffic lights are safer and friendlier. UDOT will pay
for the cost of installing a traffic light.
If Midway paid for the rest of the
roundabout costs, including the purchase of private property, they will install
it. However, there has to be a willing seller, cities are not allowed to use
eminent domain to acquire private property for a roundabout. Fiscal
responsibility is a high priority to Midway City. In my opinion, since Main
Street is a UDOT road, I have bigger things I need to do for the city than
micro manage UDOT.
Michie Lane exits onto Highway 113, a UDOT road; they own
the safety and maintenance. UDOT wants to make their roads as safe as possible.
We will work with UDOT to meet safety needs and we will work with Wasatch
County to beautify the right of way.
LARGE TRANSMISSION POWER LINES
BACKGROUND: There is joint project
between Heber Light and Power and Rocky Mountain Power to bring large overhead transmission
power lines through the south section of Midway City. Part of the project is
already installed in the Heber Valley. The two power companies have been
working together toward this project for over ten years in order to address the
demand for power both inside and outside the valley.
QUESTIONS FOR BOTH CANDIDATES: What advantages do you see to locating the large transmission power lines through Midway? What are the drawbacks? What is the final outcome of your cost/benefit analysis regarding the power lines?
QUESTIONS FOR CELESTE: As mayor you will be in a position to
know information from working with other entities such as Heber Light and Power
or UDOT, to name a few. How will you balance the public’s need to know with an
entity such as Heber Light and Power or UDOT’s need for confidentiality and
their right to manage their affairs according to the laws and/or bylaws that
govern their release of information to the public?
I am in
full support of being transparent with the citizens. I will take the extra time to educate the
citizens on the pros and cons of any proposal affecting the city early on in
the process so we can make a decision together.
I will also educate myself and the city about alternatives to proposals
with which the citizens have concerns. I
am certain there are alternatives in almost every proposal. At the same time, I am bound to uphold the
law and I will respect any laws dictating confidentiality. An informed citizenry builds bridges and
understanding.
QUESTIONS FOR
COLLEEN: As a member of Heber Light
and Power’s board you have been directly involved in this issue. Has this issue been discussed in city public
meetings either as an agenda item or in Department Reports? How long have you been aware of plans for the
large transmission power lines? What criteria do you use to determine when the
public has been informed about issues such as these power lines or the
installation of a traffic light?
Heber Light and Power is on Midway City’s agenda to present
an annual report to the city council once every year with updates on their
projects. In 2014 they provided drawings of the alignment and the plan for phasing
of the project. The two power companies have been working on the plan for over
12 years and we have discussed it in department reports.
Rocky Mountain Power needs to come through the Heber Valley
to get power to Provo. Heber Light and Power needs to update their transmission
power to meet the demand for electricity. By working together the valley will
only be impacted by one large line instead of two and meet the needs for both
companies. Also sharing the transmission lines allows the power companies to help
each other by looping the lines for redundancy in the event of a power outage
in either system. If the power goes down
in an area they can reroute and get power back to that area as quickly as
possible.
The power poles planned for Midway will be in the same Heber
Light and Power right of way. They will replace the current wooden poles with new
wooden poles that are ten feet taller except on corners or at a turn or bend in
the road. The corner, turn, or bend towers will be metal like those installed
last year during Phase one on Highway 40 by the UVU Wasatch Campus. Home owners
along the Midway route, 970 South, who built homes 12 years ago were required
to have an extra 20 foot setback from the road to accommodate the towers. Easements
for the right of way were noted on the plat when recorded with the county.
Our public meetings and Heber Light and Power’s public meetings
are posted one week in advance. The city posts on its website, its facebook
page, in The Wasatch Wave, and in three public locations. It is important the
public come and ask questions if they have concerns. We all have an open door
policy.
MITIGATION AND COMPROMISE
BACKGROUND: While
the city council is elected to represent those who voted them into office they
are also charged by the state of Utah to uphold developer rights and property
owner rights as outlined in both state and city laws. This puts the council in
a unique position of becoming an intermediary between its constituents and the developer
and/or property owner. Balancing mitigation between all parties toward
compromise does present some fine lines for elected officials to sort through
when making decisions. In legal matters affecting citizen, developer or
property owner rights the council relies on the advice of the city attorney
regarding potential lawsuits due to improper mitigation.
QUESTIONS FOR BOTH
CANDIDATES: What do you see as
issues that the council must mitigate between citizens, developers, and
property owners? Do you think there are things citizens want mitigated that are
not allowed for in state or city codes? If so, should these issues become part
of state and city code? How do you or will you handle the mitigation process? In
your opinion is it part of the council’s responsibility to protect city coffers
from development lawsuits? Under what circumstances is it appropriate to
disregard legal advice from the city attorney regarding potential lawsuits?
CELESTE: I
support any opportunity to let citizens express concerns regarding development
that will impact their town. I will
encourage and support cooperation between the citizens of Midway and Midway’s
City Council, and will prioritize this interaction.
While there are state laws governing some
aspects of development, there are many things we can control as a City. We have excellent legal counsel to advise us.
While no one wants a lawsuit, the City does have insurance for this, and with
clear understanding of the laws and codes, we need not let fear of a lawsuit be
the reason a decision is made.
COLLEEN: It shouldn’t always be about what is legal and what is not legal. According to case law based on decisions made by judges, legally you can take up to 90% of a person’s property without it being a taking as long as there is what the courts call just compensation.
However, to me there is a moral component. As we consider changes in our code and changes in open space in our community we need to look beyond just the legal implications and also consider the ethical and moral responsibility of the role of city government.
I have a passion for finding a good balance in responsible growth.There must be buy in from the land owners. Developers need incentives to be willing to help the city meet its goals. Citizens need a chance to give valuable input to the city as decisions are made that impact their neighborhood and community.
PUBLIC INPUT IN CITY
MEETINGS
BACKGROUND: The Utah state code
provides guidance on public input. There are two types of city meetings, Public
Meetings and Public Hearings, and two ways to be recognized to speak. During a Public
Meeting the city council conducts city business with city staff; developers or
their representatives, property owners, and citizens must be recognized by the
mayor before speaking. Discretion is given to the mayor on how much input to
allow, if any. During a Public Hearing, which happens inside a Public Meeting,
the mayor sets the parameters for comment, opens to floor to public comment, recognizes
each speaker, and at the end closes the floor to public comment. The mayor and council
determine the duration of the Public Hearing and how many minutes to allow each
speaker.
QUESTIONS FOR BOTH
CANDIDATES: Why would these policies be important in governing city Public
Meetings and Public Hearings? What would you consider an appropriate reason to allow
a citizen to speak in a Public Meeting? What factors would you take into
consideration before allowing public comment in a Public Meeting? When public comment is allowed during a
Public Hearing why do you think the state of Utah would consider time limits appropriate
and important? How do you balance the need of the public to have input in the
city process and the need for city meetings to be efficient and fair to all of
those involved?
CELESTE: I
believe in public input using a variety of means in addition to official
meetings. The standards for how official
meetings are conducted are a minimum requirement and much more can be done to
allow for citizen involvement. In
addition to official meetings, I am in favor of Monthly Mayor Meetings, where
residents can have conversations with myself and other elected officials. I think these kinds of meetings build bridges,
create understanding and preserve civility because every side feels heard and
appreciated. It’s our primary job as
Midway’s elected officials to listen to residents and to make sure the lines of
communication are open in both directions.
COLLEEN: Public input
has a process to follow for order and efficiency in public meetings. As the current mayor I want city meetings to be organized and efficient. That is why we have Robert’s Rules
of order.
In a Public Hearing we must be considerate of everyone and follow the
process. Time limits are about allowing as many citizens to speak as possible
in the allotted time. Time limits also help the meeting move forward so the
council can continue to discuss other agenda items in a timely manner and be
alert for clear thinking and sound decision making. Often the council tables the
item to act on at the next meeting for two reasons. To give the council time to
consider what was said in the public hearing and to give the public more time
to give valuable input through letters or emails written to the council or
personal conversations with council members.
Accepting public comment outside of Public Hearings can depend
on the size of the agenda. The city must conduct its business before the public. If the agenda is lengthy I can choose not to accept public
comment. My reasons are again to act on city business in a timely manner while
council members are alert for clear thinking and sound decision making. Meetings
that begin at 6:00 pm and go past midnight are tiring for everyone involved.
FINAL NOTE : Midway UT Messages & Milestones wishes to thank each candidate for taking time from their busy schedules to answer these questions. Good luck to each of you.
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Primary Mayoral Race for Midway
August 2, 2017
Three Women Speak on City Issues
by
Robin M Johnson
There is something
especially interesting about Midway’s 2017 Mayoral race. Last Monday, July 31, on KPCW radio of Park City,
Carolyn Murray was the first to talk about Midway City’s unique race with three
women on the ballot, the first time all candidates vying for the small Utah
town’s mayor are female. In alphabetical order by last name the mayoral candidates are Colleen Bonner, incumbent, Celeste Johnson, and Pat Vaughn.
To hear Murray's story click here:Three Midway Women Running for Mayor or copy and paste this link in your browser:
http://kpcw.org/post/three-midway-women-running-mayor
Also, Monday morning all three women were interviewed by Leslie Thatcher & The Local Newshour, KPCW. To hear the interview click here:
The Local News Hour or copy and paste this link into your browser:
http://kpcw.org/post/local-news-hour-july-31-2017
While this new development is interesting, it is also important to note that women have been running Midway City from the mayor's office for the last three terms. Twelve years ago this fall Connie Tatton, former
mayor, won her 2005 bid for mayor becoming the first woman to hold the office
in Midway City. Tatton won again in 2009, she served as mayor for two terms, a
total of eight years.
Four years ago Colleen Bonner, current mayor, won the mayor's seat after serving three consecutive terms on the city council becoming the second woman to hold the same honor, back to back. Bonner's years of service to Midway City total sixteen (16), twelve (12) as city council member and four (4) as mayor. Her first term ends in January 2018. Should Bonner win again she will also serve two terms, or eight years. Before her elected service Bonner was instrumental in forming the Midway Business Alliance.
 |
| Beautiful home on the corner of Main Street and River Road (400 East) typifies challenges facing Midway. There seems to be general agreement Midway is a beautiful place in need of minor adjustments,repairs, and course corrections. What to repair first, when and where to make adjustments, why is course correction is needed, who to lead, and how much will it change the picture? Photo credit: Robin M Johnson (c) 2011, 2017 |
However the election turns out -- by the next election cycle in 2021, four consecutive terms totaling sixteen years will have passed with a woman manning the city's helm.
Last weekend Midway UT Messages
& Milestones reached out to Midway city’s three candidates for mayor. All
three accepted the invitation to answer questions crafted by the blog’s author.
Below are seven topics with
questions followed by candidates’ answers, again in last name alphabetical order. Topics
include:
- defining Midway and personal qualifications for serving in the mayor’s office
- open space bonding, definitions of open space, other open space tools to consider
- commercial district direction for the future, expand? increase tourism?
- plans to recover the projected $500,000 income loss after the 2020 census disqualifies the city from imposing the Resort Communities Tax
- balancing the needs of all Midway citizens, property owners, developers, etc.
- addressing how to handle working professionally with other governmental bodies like the Utah Department of Transportation and Wasatch County’s Inter-local Government committee.
MIDWAY:
Define Midway, what is Midway
to you? What qualifies you to serve as Midway’s Mayor from January 2018 to
January 2022?
Colleen Bonner, incumbent: Midway is a beautiful small town nestled in
the majestic mountains of the Wasatch Back. I have lived in Wasatch County
since I was 18 years old, and in Midway for the past 24 years. I married a local boy and we never left. My husband Steve and I raised our four children
here. Steve and I are both currently owners of small businesses in Midway. To
me, Midway is simply HOME.
As the current and incumbent Mayor of Midway,
I feel I am the best qualified and the most experienced woman in this race. I
have previously served on the Midway City Council for 12 years, and have had
the privilege of serving as Midway’s Mayor the past four (4) years. This has given me the chance to serve on
various committees and truly understand the inner workings of our city.
Celeste
Johnson: Midway is a rare and unique place. It’s beauty and peace offers a profound
serenity from the fast pace, congested traffic, and poor air quality of the
cities which are only 40 minutes away.
Midway provides a lifestyle that is enhanced by its rural charm. The quality of life we enjoy here is borne
out by a recent study which found Wasatch County to be the healthiest county in
the state.
I
have over 30 years experience in the business world, first as a small business
owner where I grew my professional home cleaning franchise to over 40 employees. After I successfully sold that company I went
into corporate marketing and sales. In
both businesses, I honed an ability to motivate those I worked with, and create
an environment of cooperation. I also
was on the board of Salt Lake Valley Habitat for Humanity for seven (7) years serving a
committee chairman for five (5) years and President of the board for one (1) year. I was the PTA president for one (1) year at a time
when our community needed to find overcrowding solutions for our school. And I
have served on 2 HOA boards on the executive committee and as Board President. My professional and volunteer opportunities
have given me the opportunity to grow as a leader and team builder.
Pat Vaughn: Midway
is a place I call home. It is a place
that frankly, I don’t want to ever leave.
My husband (a retired Air Force fighter pilot) and I move to Utah in
1999. Simply, we found where we belong. We
moved to Midway seven years ago. While
we see near perfection, we also see a need to implement practices that preserve
our Midway heritage while embracing a growing populace and potential growing
economy. What I love about Midway: I
sit on my front porch and if I’m lucky, I see the local resident deer pass
through. My favorite local activities
include the Midway Plein Air and attending the Homestead open air free concerts. I appreciate its quaint, laid back
atmosphere where ‘everyone knows your name’.
Ironically for me, the populace of Midway is the same size as my high
school; perhaps that is the reason I find such comfort in living here. But Midway is growing and I understand
that. I would like to find a way that
everyone can benefit financially from this opportunity. I want to explore our options on how we can
maintain a quaint, friendly, small town atmosphere (which we all love) and
still allow those that are vested, profit.
I believe there are solutions that will come with listening, learning,
collaboration and cooperation. There is
no doubt we can do it. We need a mind
shift that allows for new-thought, ideas, and concepts to emerge.
Beyond my passion for
Midway Living I believe my career of over twenty (20) years helping organizations grow
and expand through their most valuable asset, people, uniquely qualifies me to
be mayor. Isn’t that what this job is
about? Bringing people together,
building relationships, hearing all voices and working in a collaborative
fashion? I was tapped on the
shoulder by the Jon Huntsman administration, former state governor, to become part of
his new Economic Development initiative.
The results of that endeavor are witnessed today by the tremendous
growth of Provo, Orem, Lehi, and Silicon Slopes. Don’t let that scare you. It was targeted growth for the I-15 corridor. During that process, however, I learned that
there are regional, state and federal resources that can help Midway in a
variety of ways. We don’t want to become Provo, so we would seek out and build
initiatives focused on what Midway wants and needs. Helping Midway identify these outside
resources would be a primary role in my position. Additionally, I am an
instructor at Stevens Henager College.
That role teaches me every day how important communication and education
of issues are to everyone. In the end,
Midway belongs to its people. Through
great communication and education, they get to decide who we become when we
grow up, not government.
OPEN
SPACE:
What
is your position on open space in Midway? What does open space mean to you? Are
you for or against bonding for open space? What tools for creating open space
do you believe are important for the committee on open space to address once it
is formed? Which are the most valuable?
Colleen
Bonner, incumbent: Midway is surrounded with thousands of acres
of open space including the state parks, golf courses, and the Provo River and
Snake Creek corridors. In the sixteen
(16) years that I have served as a council member and Mayor, we have bonded
only one time. The bond was for
additional property to expand the cemetery.
I could support a bond either in conjunction with Wasatch County or for
Midway City, provided the citizens know exactly what is being purchased and
bonded for. Midway City currently has in
place, several codes and tools to deal with open space in new
developments. Once an open space
committee has been formed, I believe the most important function would be to
identify valuable parcels or farm land that would preserve the rural heritage
of this community.
Celeste
Johnson: Open Space is absolutely critical if we want
to maintain the character of Midway.
Open space is large plots of agricultural land, and it’s also small
pockets of land that dot our cities landscape.
It’s connected trails and parks that provide recreational opportunities. And it’s neighborhoods with low density. I am in favor of bonding to increase the
options for acquiring open space. It
would become one of many tools in Midways toolbox. Others are increasing setback requirements
for new building to maintain view corridors. Work with the county in decreasing
the number of acres required to qualify for ‘green belt’ tax incentives. While we have good definitions of what
protected/sensitive lands are, we need to amend our city code to reflect the
ways they are used in developments. As a
part of a grassroots movement to protect our open spaces, we organized two (2) very
effective meetings where citizens were able to come and discuss these very
points. Excellent suggestions came out
of those meetings and we continue to spend countless hours towards looking into
all options.
Some
criteria for determining what qualifies for open space that the city could
purchase are those areas that have potential to preserve functional
agricultural activities, that provide connectivity to existing trails, that
preserve wildlife habitat, wetlands, geothermal areas etc., and that preserve
unique scenic or historical features.
Pat
Vaughn: My
position is that if Midway wants to exist as a unique destination and build
upon that image – open space is essential.
But that is up to the residents, not government. I support the linking of trails with the
understanding that this is not ‘open space’.
Open space retains the look, feel, ambiance, and quaint village feel
from a visual perspective. Our
development opportunities must factor this in.
If Midway governance is not negotiating with developers to retain this,
it is missing a huge future opportunity to distinguish itself as a destination
unique from Heber, Provo, Orem, Lehi, and Park City. That would be a missed opportunity
economically.
I
am steadfast in supporting what the community residents want. Having said that, I’m primarily open to
looking at various resources or methods to investigate and learn. What are the best methodologies? We don’t
have to reinvent the wheel; there are examples of successful implementations
all across the country. Let’s learn from
the best and resist the mistakes others have made! I am open to any method to
get us there.
COMMERCIAL
DISTRICT:
What
is your vision for economic development in Midway? What do you believe is the
best plan for developing Midway’s commercial district in the future?
Colleen
Bonner, incumbent: I’m excited that seven (7) of our commercial
district properties that have been listed for sale are currently under contract
or have been opened for business in the last 90 days. With the help of Wasatch County Tourism and
Economic Development, Midway City has supported the re-forming of the Midway
Business Alliance. I believe a couple of
issues that need to be addressed are parking and walkability.
Celeste
Johnson: Does a town our size need or want a
‘commercial district’? To get the answer
to that, we are going to need community involvement and a great deal of
research, especially in other small towns that have boosted their tax base
without losing their towns character. I
absolutely believe there are solutions, that with community involvement, and
looking at what’s been done in other towns, we can incorporate in Midway. Some
immediate things we all agree on are ways of enhancing our current businesses
which are charming specialty shops, boutiques and restaurants, and creating
ways of drawing tourists there and promoting a ‘shop local’ environment. I would support marketing that would draw
tourists to Midway. We can do this
through events that already fit in our community, as well as creating other
options. I look forward to using my
marketing background as we find solutions.
Pat
Vaughn: This
is critical. We need to build upon the
existing infrastructure. Make the downtown
historic district attractive to new entrepreneurial businesses through
incentives. Build our arts and culture
toward the venues that offer complete vacation venues and help support the
resort and hospitality business. There
are so many unexplored resources to help attract and 'incentivize' micro/small and
entrepreneurial business to our core business district. It is exciting for me to want to explore this
option for Midway.
PROPERTY
TAX INCREASE:
How
should Midway handle the impending loss of approximately $500,000 annually
beginning in 2021, following the 2020 Census? Raise taxes, cut services,
increase tourism through economic development, or some combination of these
options? Do you have other ideas for replacing this loss?
Colleen
Bonner, incumbent: We need to make up the impending loss of the
resort tax; I believe we are going to have to look at all of our options. Cutting services and raising taxes would be
my LEAST favorable choices. Helping to
grow tourism in our resort areas needs to be a high priority. By supporting the growth in the resort areas,
hopefully our commercial district will feel the ripple effect of this and grow
as well. However, this question requires
a crystal ball; I wished I had one!
Celeste
Johnson: Again, experts in our community and in other
communities need to be utilized to find the answers. My
frustration is that we’ve had this information for several years and there has
yet to be any public forums or discussion.
The only thing that has been done to date, is to cut services. I intend to look at all options, and quickly! I have learned from the City Planner and the
Mayor, in many of the City Council meetings I have attended that development is
actually costing the city money, not the other way around. That is something that needs to change
immediately. Also, I will look into
possibilities such as taxing tourist revenue at the cash register and creating
a nightly rental zone to name a few.
Pat
Vaughn: This
is an urgent and critical issue which I can’t believe has not been highlighted
until now. I support the full
exploration of options that may be available to us on a regional (county),
state and even federal level. I suspect
there is so much that has not been explored and we need to do that. With information, data and facts, let’s build
a swap team to address this specific issue and determine what can realistically
be done.
PARKS
AND TRAILS:
What
direction would you lead the newly formed Parks and Trails committee? Do you
see Parks and Trails as planned open space? Do you feel Midway has enough
Parks, why or why not? How should Midway fund maintenance of city parks and
trails?
Colleen
Bonner, incumbent: I would love to see our parks and trails systems
become more interconnected with the parks serving as trail heads and the trails
themselves being used as alternative means of moving pedestrian traffic throughout
our city. Midway City currently has enough parks and I would recommend continuing
to fund their maintenance through the general fund. I believe that both our parks and trails
systems are an important part of our existing open space.
Celeste
Johnson: A critical
component to all of this is fiscal responsibility. Do we have the resources to maintain what we
currently have? And it isn’t just a
question of if we have enough parks, but are they the right kind and in the
right places. I recently helped organize
a petition drive to get this very topic on the City Council Agenda. Again, viable, affordable solutions were shared
by the people who these parks would serve and these are the people who I will
encourage the Parks and Trails committee to be listening to.
Pat
Vaughn: Yes! We need this committee and we need other
committees that represent the voice of the people. What about a committee that
every PUD or HMA has representation in helping carve the future of our little
township. The shape of Midway should be
determined by its residents, not by government!
BALANCING
WANTS AND NEEDS OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS:
As
you serve your term as Mayor how will you balance federal, state, and city
laws, varying viewpoints of Midway citizens, property rights, developer’s
rights, and your own desires in governing matters before you?
Colleen
Bonner, incumbent: In my second term as Midway’s Mayor, I will continue
to work closely with our staff, along with all government agencies, to support
the laws of the land, the law of the State of Utah and the property rights of
our citizens. As Mayor for the past four
years, I have ALWAYS had an open door policy, and I plan on continuing this
practice as long as I serve. I encourage citizens to come to me to discuss
concerns and make suggestions.
Celeste
Johnson: First of all, ‘my desire’ is to lead, not use
my position to promote my personal agenda.
The federal, state and city laws have to be taken into account on all
decisions we make and we have a City Attorney to make sure we are compliant. So
the real key to success as we work toward solutions will be transparency from
elected officials. If the community is
informed and involved at the onset, I believe we will have more solutions and
less anger and frustration. Balancing
viewpoints then becomes much more realistic.
Pat
Vaughn: I
believe I am well prepared to build collaborative relationships. I did this when working with Former Governor
Jon Huntsman in Economic Development. I
dealt with multiple departments with multiple self interest and issues. In the
end, I was successful in writing a grant that brought nearly 8 million dollars
into Utah for the building of programs and initiatives that would create the
future talent base for Utah. I did it
there and I can do it again.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONSHIPS:
How
will you interact with other governmental entities on issues affecting Midway
residents? Specifically the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) regarding State
Highway 113 which includes Main Street from Center Street to Heber City’s Main
Street, and Center Street from Main Street to Charleston’s Highway 189 junction;
also, the Wasatch County Council’s Inter-local Committees?
Colleen
Bonner, incumbent: Wasatch County is currently one of the
fastest growing counties in Utah. It is
important that we continue the good working relationship that we have with our
county representatives. The decisions
that they make, and the decisions that we make, have a great effect on each
other. This spring, the commissioners
from UDOT toured our valley with a stop in Midway. I was able to discuss with them a variety of
safety issues and concerns from our citizens.
I will continue an open dialogue with both UDOT and Wasatch County via
our inter-local committee that has been in place for several years.
Celeste
Johnson: I’m so grateful for this question because
recent events have pointed clearly to a lack of transparency and questionable concern
for Midway residents by our elected officials.
I would point to two things in particular, the new traffic light and the
power lines.
First,
the traffic light. Was this a UDOT
decision? Yes. But did our elected
officials inform the city at the onset, give the citizens an opportunity to
meet with UDOT, explore alternative solutions, and fight for our rural town? Evidently not. A
posting on the city’s website “First Stop Light in Midway: History of How it Came to be” was just that,
a history. Why wasn’t there a posting last
year that said “UDOT is encouraging a Stop Light in Midway. Come learn more”?
Second, the proposed new power lines and
structures on the south side of the city.
Again, these new power lines have been in the works for at least
four (4) years. Our Mayor sits on the Heber Power and Light board. How is it that citizens are just now getting information on this?
four (4) years. Our Mayor sits on the Heber Power and Light board. How is it that citizens are just now getting information on this?
I believe that Midway citizens should be
the top priority of any of our elected officials, regardless of the name of the
board they are sitting on. As mayor, I
will interact with other governmental entities as much as possible, but more
importantly that interaction will be transparent.
Pat
Vaughn: I
am 100% behind resident driven decision making.
I support 100% government transparency on ALL issues, concerns and
financial responsibility. The major decisions of this town should not be
determined by the planning committee, city council or the Mayor’s office alone.
It is the collective voice of the residents to determine Midway’s future. That time has come. For the first time in years, Midway residents
have a choice. I hope they exercise
their voice with their vote!
I
was very dissatisfied with how the traffic signal decision went down. I don’t
know if it was the best decision for Midway but I do know that the residents
and citizens of Midway were not made aware of this nor included in the decision
making of this. That is simply
wrong. There should have been
significant dialog regarding this. Even
if this was a UDOT decision, which I respect, certainly there was knowledge of
this happening far prior to the construction that no one was informed of. That is not acceptable.
FINAL
NOTE : Midway
UT Messages & Milestones wishes to thank each candidate for taking time
from their busy schedules to answer these questions. Good luck to each one.
With an eye looking forward it is anticipated two of these candidates will have this
opportunity again, very soon, before the General Election this coming fall.
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