Each candidate was asked the following questions:
- Where do you see the city in the next five years, and what would you do to make that future a good one?
- What are some of the things you feel are of great concern to those you would serve?
- South Ogden has partnered with the school district in the past year to build gym space for both the school and the city. Do you think it's a worthwhile venture to partner with other entities to fulfill the needs of your citizens?
Some of these questions were touched on during our "meet the candidate night", but in this forum the candidates have been able to expand on their answer a little further.
The topic I would like to highlight is question #2. It is directly related to #3 because of how each candidate answered the question.
I find John Bradley's answer to be very interesting. He states, "We cannot pay more taxes," and "...city officials should vote the way the majority of citizens want." I couldn't agree with this statement more. But then why did John Bradley vote to raise your taxes this year for a gym space the majority of us said we didn't want. Even the majority attending the meeting said they didn't want it or wouldn't use it. I sound like a broken record on this topic but see the following posts - (See Here and Here)
Vicki Mattson also notes in her answers, community members are troubled with their property taxes. Yet she voted to increase property taxes this year for this same gym space.
Jim Minster exclaims the economy is the biggest issue and we need to watch out for those on a fixed incomes. Well guess what, Jim voted to raise your taxes too.
Rick wasn't on the council, so he didn't vote for this tax increase. However he does recognize the worry we all have for increased taxes. He also recognize there was potentially not a true need for the gym in the first place.
I open the topic to you all to discuss the tax increase you all will be feeling when it comes time to elect a new mayor.
4 comments:
This is very frustrating to me too. I had the opportunity to have a very nice conversation with Jim Minster on my door step. He's a very nice person and has served our community for many years.
I asked him about the gym facility and he told me that the plans for it started 2-3 years ago when the economy was good and that, if it had happened today, they wouldn't have done it.
What is so frustrating is that the vote was "today" (a few weeks ago) and that they did do it.
I understand that the plans for the $2 million basketball court have been going on for several years. I'm sure blueprints were drawn up and informal promises were made. It would be embarrassing for those involved to pull out at the last minute.
But- so what? We need leaders who are willing to listen to the people they serve, even if it causes some embarrassment or inconvenience to them personally.
This same thing happened to Golf City. Ivory Homes bought the property based on an unofficial statement from a city employee that the land could be rezoned. Rather than sticking with their guns and listening to the community, the city council saved face and passed the rezoning, totally ignoring the city's twenty year master plan for green space.
So now, in a city that is nearly at build-out, we are sorely missing green space and a recreation center for the entire community. Thanks to our leaders, we now have yet another community of McMansions and soon every South Ogden household will be paying an average of $30 a year for a basketball court that will be used a relatively minuscule number of basketball leagues.
Thanks for your Comments Mike, I agree with you 100%.
I actually got up in City Council meeting and stated a number of times that this was the wrong time to be raising taxes. But they didn't listen.
So to hear Jim say what he did is so amazing; especially since he did nothing to stop this. Instead he made some speech about how he didn't know how he was going to come up with the $30 but it was worth it. This was right after the Mayor said he would never use the gym--ever.
Thanks again.
Let me add something that has already really been said many times on this blog and around. It seems to me that people aren't happy with status quo. I say "happy" because there are many that are simply apathetic and don't really believe that change is possible. It is. It can happen if you have people in positions that are willing to make the changes within. There are a lot of pressures to being in government. The problem is that when the tail wags the dog, what you get isn't government. What you get is a monarchy.
It's sad to me that our city officials have allowed themselves to be intragoverned. There are people in positions in our city that have gotten there because of who they know. That shouldn't happen within government. Who you know should matter to the citizens.
The real question I want the electorate to ask themselves is that: What will be different if one of the three council members gets elected mayor? How will they be any different as mayor than council members?
It's time for a fresh start. It's time for a change. It's time to take care of the city. Let me.
Rick thanks so much for your comments, you are right on the money.
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