Salem City Meet the Candidates Recap

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.”