
Project 320
Salem City Meet the Candidates Recap
Updated: Oct 12, 2019
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019
WHERE: Salem City Community Center
WHO: Council Candidates: Seth Sorenson, Delys Snyder, and Tim DeGraw
OPENING STATEMENTS:
Tim -
Resident of Salem for 12 years
City of peace
Likes parks, emergency service
Preserve Salem’s identity
Concerned with land use and its environmental impacts
Mr. Degraw has been a resident of Salem for 12 years and currently works as an executive at Ancestry.com. In his opening statements, he stressed parks and emergency services as important pieces of the community, as well as preserving Salem’s identity.
Delys -
“Delys rhymes with police, so now you’ll never forget my name!”
17 yrs in Salem
Retired BYU English department, 34 yrs there
Concerned with small country roads becoming the thoroughfare to the freeway
Wants open space
Likes peace
“We move here to stay here”
Growth can plan to encourage businesses along highway
Wants to enlarge library, arts, and include all who live here
Dr. Snyder has lived in Salem for 17 years, and is a former BYU English professor. She is concerned with the small country roads becoming a thoroughfare to the freeway and wants to preserve open space. Dr. Snyder outlined her goals to encourage businesses along the highway, enlarge the library, and arts. “We move here to stay here,” she said, and wants to include all who live in Salem.
Seth -
Nebo schools
Youth - coached sports teams
Wants to keep taxes low, likes new sewer, likes general plan, likes open spaces
Mr. Sorenson has served on the city council for the last two years and works currently at Nebo School District. He has coached youth sports teams and raised his family in Salem. Detailing his vision, Mr. Sorenson said he wants to keep taxes low, likes the new sewer plan, general plan, and wants to increase the open space in Salem.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO LIKE AND WANT TO CHANGE ABOUT SALEM?
Tim -
Likes:
Community
“We really exemplify a community”
We come together, congregate, recreate
Safety and public services
Wants to Change:
Keep taxes low, stay in budget
Delys -
Likes:
Open feel
Agriculture
Peace
Salem was the #2 safe city in UT last year
Wants to Change:
Add more trails
Develop wetlands as open spaces
Address the traffic on collector roads such as 300W and 100E
Want to increase volunteers in the arts
Seth -
Likes:
Kids can play outside and we don’t have to worry
Small rural feel
Wants to Change:
Salem needs more parks and open space
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BRINGING FIBER INTERNET TO SALEM? HOW SHOULD WE?
Tim -
Currently 6 internet providers in Salem
We get what we pay for
We need to give constructive feedback to these companies
Make sure younger populations have access
Delys -
How will we expand this access?
Not like Spanish Fork
We should vet the companies first
Find one good company
“Let Payson make the mistakes first, then we can learn from them”
Seth -
Bring community into conversations about the internet
Top priority of the current council
GROWTH?
Tim -
Need developments for older folks
Need houses for populations just starting out
“Vibrant communities have a good mix of all ages.”
Need to preserve the identity of Salem
Delys -
Arrowhead Highway is a good example of more housing areas for Salem
Right now the high density housing being pitched is also high cost
We could zone for square feet affordability
Seth -
We aren’t taking in people from far away, California, etc. it’s our own kids moving back to Salem
The housing is too much for them
We need a variety of options
Developments by the freeway are a possibility for the high density housing
WHAT ARE YOUR OPINIONS ON ACCESSORY APARTMENTS?
Tim -
We achieve greater density without going out of the geographical footprint
Could create zoning issues
Good for aging population
Delys -
Pro - low cost housing that isn’t the typical high density
Con - traffic and parking
Good next step for the city
Seth -
Source of affordable housing
Parking is a problem
Utilities need to be ready for a potential influx
HOW ABOUT COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT?
Tim -
Small business support is key
Need to provide traffic to existing and future businesses in Salem
Expands tax base,the freeway is a great place to expand businesses
Need to ensure access to reasonably nice property for owners to build businesses
Delys -
Highway and 8000S are places to start considering businesses
Need to make Salem a place for people to shop, needs to attract more people
“Talk more about Salem businesses.”
Seth -
Untapped potential in the freeway space
Commercial development means a good tax base
WHERE DO YOU SEE SALEM IN 20 YRS?
Tim -
Salem is currently at:
4.9% growth rate
11,000 people projected in 2024
Most growth will come from young families until 2046
Need to maintain unique identity but accommodate growth
Stay safe, inviting
Delys -
City of peace
Wetlands won’t be developed and can serve as green space
Need to be wise in how we develop - ensure access to open spaces, mountain access
Have to be vigilant in zoning policies
Seth -
Rural, peaceful with more perks
Trails, parks and rec
Businesses
“Not having to leave Salem to buy groceries.”
Self sustaining community
More education opportunities
Branches of universities and schools like MTECH
WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS ON CURB AND GUTTER DEVELOPMENT?
Tim -
100 years storm impacted a lot of people
A fan of gutters, etc. but they are expensive
We need to start with the most critical areas
Safety of pedestrians is key
Delys -
Very excited about curbs and gutters
Likes them because the property looks finished
Downtown - water can absorb into the property instead of flooding
Need sidewalks all around the city
Seth -
Saves money when we invest in curbs and gutters, roads don’t deteriorate as fast
Sidewalks are a safety issue
WHAT ARE YOUR STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING OPEN SPACE?
Tim -
We are environmentally responsible
Developers should contribute to that responsibility
Especially on the bench/wetlands
Delys -
Open space is very important
Private conservation funds are a way to increase green spaces
Seth -
Plans are in the general plan already to preserve
We should require developers to cooperate with our vision of open space
RECYCLING? WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE?
Tim -
Recycling isn’t being bought currently
We still should make an effort to recycle
Move away from plastics
Nothing is happening but “we need to talk about it”
Delys -
Most waste goes to the landfill
We should adjust our system to recycling what actually gets recycled
Seth -
We don’t get paid for the recycling, we pay to recycle.
WHAT INFLUENCED YOU TO SERVE?
Tim -
My family
Salem provides safety and emergency services
He is civically minded
Concerned that there are 3 seats available and only 5 candidates running
Wants to give back
Delys -
Volunteering for the library and Salem Days
“We have a culture of volunteering in Salem”
Retired now and she has more time to dedicate
“Passion for living here and even dying here, I even have my plot picked out.”
Seth -
Wants kids to be proud of the community they live in
Best town for his family
Volunteerism
Give something back to the community
CONCLUSIONS:
Tim -
City council is responsible for giving a voice to organizations that work with the well being of youth in the community
Title 9 - sexism in schools
Even in the city of peace it’s a problem
Classes for parents
Teen suicide
Need community to understand mental health
Provide education on mental health
Also give individuals the opportunity to get involved in a community
Fiscal conservative
Delys -
Fan of collaboration
Wants people who disagree to be together on the council
“Diversity in thought, background, gender… helps create community.”
Keep ahead of problems
Transportation
Mental health
People are usually interested when topics are trendy, we need to get ahead
“So that we can be ready when hard things come and when growth comes.”
Seth -
New general plan is important
Keeps Salem small
Provides opportunities
Growth in a logical way
New sewer
Salem should have a trails masterplan
Need to plan now for transportation
They may not develop for 20 years but we don’t want gridlock like Provo and Orem
Recreation for youth
“Keep youth active and engaged in the community.”

