Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Thank You!
Thanks to everyone who got out and voted. I look forward to serving on the Rexburg City Council for the next 4 years
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Trunk or Treat
Trunk or Treat was a huge success with more than 700 kids attending. I'd like to wish everyone a safe and fun Halloween & don't forget to vote on Tuesday.
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Rexburg City Council Forum
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Interview Q & A With The Rexburg Standard Journal
The Rexburg Standard Journal newspaper interviewed the candidates for Rexburg City Council. The following is from the article.
Why did you decide to run for office this year?
I am running for re-election to the Council and am just completing my first term. I want to continue my service on the Council as an advocate for the people of Rexburg. Being a lifelong resident, I want to see our city grow and prosper and have a hand in that. Rexburg is an amazing community. I feel I have been an asset to the Council because of my real-estate experience, my knowledge of zoning issues and my love for the city.
What talents or skills do you have that will enable you to best serve Rexburg?
Serving my community in many capacities has always been important to me. Rexburg has provided me with a great place to live, work and raise my family, and I want to give back. My mother, Ruth Smith, was the first woman elected to the City Council, in 1969. I have been involved with Madison Economic Partners, the economic development organization for Madison County, for nearly 20 years. I served as president for two terms and am a member of the executive board. I have been an elected Chamber of Commerce board member for 6 years and served previously as the liaison for MEPI. I have been the chairman for United Way in Madison County and a member of the Family Crisis Center board of directors, helping facilitate their move to their current location on Main Street. I have been an active member of the Upper Valley Association of Realtors, having served in all offices and as president twice. In 2012 I served as the first female president of the Snake River Multiple Listing Service. I have been the president of the City Council for past 2 years, having been elected unanimously by the Council members. I am a good listener and care about what the residents say.
What do you feel is the biggest issue facing Rexburg right now, and how do you intend to address it?
We are currently experiencing tremendous growth, mostly due to the continuing increase in students at BYU-Idaho. As a city we need to be conscientious in planning correctly for future needs. I understand that more people means more services, improved roads, more infrastructure and more recreational opportunities. Over the past 4 years we have actively incorporated a 5-year street plan, begun work on a multimillion-dollar wastewater facility, established an infill plan, created a zoning task force to streamline our zoning ordinance and much more. We have completed more playing fields at Rexburg Rapids and other areas, and next year will begin to construct a baseball quad located near the Jr. High. These fields will serve local athletes as well as bring in larger tournaments, which is a great economic development driver.
What do you feel should be done to continue to improve the relationship between the city and BYU-Idaho?
The relationship between the city and BYU-Idaho is good. City officials and staff meet monthly with University representatives, and both have an open-door policy. We as a council are invited often to tour and learn about new facilities and projects underway on the campus. Ongoing communication is important, and we have a University liaison who attends City Council and fields any questions we have. President Gilbert has also stressed the importance of good relations between the city and the University and is great to work with.
What do you feel is the best way to balance the interests of the student population and longtime residents?
A few years ago a survey was taken among the students asking them what their hometown was. Many of the married students who were not necessarily from the area answered Rexburg. By creating the PEZ (Pedestrian Emphasis Zone), most of the single students live near the campus. By allowing multifamily zones outside of this, many of the married students live away from campus and are integrated into our neighborhoods helping them get to know the residents, making them part of our community. Many of the students are offered internships with local businesses, and hopefully many will return to those employers full-time after graduation. The city invites and utilizes many students to assist at events such as the Teton Dam Marathon and others throughout the year, which is valuable in building relationships with the local residents.
As Rexburg continues to grow, how can the community still maintain its small-town values?
The residents of Rexburg are our most valuable assets. Even as growth continues, our people will still feel the sense of community because that’s who we are. As a city we can understand the importance of these small town values and be smart in our planning and zoning decisions. As the University grows and expands, we need to understand that neighborhoods change. We need to encourage and approve new neighborhoods for growth and development while keeping that small-town feel. An exercise of Envision Madison mapping was giving residents a chance to say where they would like to see the growth, and city leaders are, and should be, cognizant of that in future planning. Rexburg can always be “America’s Family Community.”
Friday, October 23, 2015
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