I love the city of Uintah. I am grateful to the people who have made this town what it is. I am running because I feel an obligation to the citizens of Uintah.
Below I have listed three fundamental attributes that I believe are critical to Uintah.
Transparency:
• Increase Public Awareness of the City dealings
• Make city action items on the docket available to ALL residents
• No more closed door meetings
• Make city budget available on the website
Citizens will not only be encouraged to come to city council meetings, but they will be given adequate time to represent their views.
The issue of the highway 89 project is a perfect instance of how closed door meetings and behind the scene posturing caused a huge uproar in the town. The city had plans and knowledge of the 89 project, however we found out when it seemed the deal was already complete. At that point it seemed almost futile to fight. Thank goodness we had such a large turnout of dissatisfied residents to stop it for now.
Accountability:
• Be accountable to the people that elected you
• If you are elected, complete and fulfill the term you committed to
• Better chain of command during emergencies
• Own up to your decisions, no more passing the buck
• No false promises
• Explain the decisions you make
• Be responsible with the city (taxpayers) money
This last year (2011) Uintah saw four out of its five elected council members resign. This left the city in a position where people had to be appointed and residents were left with only one elected official. Only under the most extreme circumstances should an elected official resign and relinquish their obligations to the residents of the city.
As a public official you should be able to respond to questions and concerns without trying to hide anything. Another problem I saw during the 89 talks was that no one on the council was willing to give a straight answer. It was either passing the buck or PR answers like; "We'll see what happens" when asked what their opinion was about the project. Own up to your decision.
Tradition:
• Stopping “Urban Creep”
• Continue with small town atmosphere
• Small government
• Encouraging citizens to be self sufficient
• Safety
• Strong community networks
The city of Uintah has a rich history and great traditions. During U-day, I set up a booth and handed out questionnaires to see what the people of this town felt and concerns they had. It was pretty evident that the people of this town love the small town feel that the founders created.
I would like the city to continue with Uintah’s small town traditions. Recently, I have seen Uintah’s city government enter into government projects that would threaten this feel. The "urban creep" needs to stop.
This city has a tradition of safety, and I would like to continue with this, and also improve upon it.
Uintah’s agricultural roots are also being threatened by ambitious politics. Well intentioned policies and ordinances, like the recent nuisance ordinance. Many of these ordinances and policies promise to provide convenience and appeal; however they seem to encroach upon our freedoms when you read the fine print. Depending on who is in charge of enforcing and interpreting this policy, it could mean drastic implications for the city. We need to look at the nuisance ordinance along with others like it and either repeal it or severally tone them down.
We have a tradition of people uniting together. With proper leadership in government, we can harness the energy of this town for a better place to live.
