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Managing growth keeps Hyrum City Council, mayor busy year-round
By Kathryn Summers
HYRUM -- The problem with Hyrum is that it is too big for a part-time mayor, but not big enough for a full-time mayor, says Gordon Olson. Olson has been the mayor of Hyrum, a city of about 6,000 residents, for a year and a half. He spends about 20 hours a week on his mayoral duties in addition to working full time as a physical therapist at Sunshine Terrace in Logan. "We spend the majority of our time dealing with growth and the planning and zoning problems," Olson said. "If we didn't have that, we probably wouldn't have anything to do." Hyrum's City Council meetings, held the first and third Thursdays of each month, usually go two to three hours because of these growth issues. Developers want to make money and city officials want the city to be beautiful. Sometimes these two goals can be hard to achieve at the same time. Some of the responsibilities of a mayor as defined in the Utah State Code are to enforce the laws and ordinances of the municipality, execute policies adopted by council, and attend all meetings of council and participate in the discussions. Olson said his main duties as mayor of Hyrum are enforcing laws, being the chief budget officer, overseeing meetings and controlling the agenda and overseeing all employees of Hyrum city government. Hyrum has a traditional form of government with a six-person council including the mayor. Olson doesn't have veto power and he doesn't vote except to break a tie. The mayor can't dictate laws to the council and city administrator. "My job is to enforce the laws, whether I agree with them or not," Olson said. As chief budget officer, he prepares and presents a budget, which, after adopted by the council, by law can't be exceeded. Olson said he is very conservative when he prepares the budget. The mayor oversees the employees, but the council decides their salaries. The mayor may want to hire someone, but "the City Council decides how many people will work for Hyrum City," Olson explained. Olson holds office hours on Tuesday and Thursday nights. He meets with citizens to discuss complaints, projects and suggestions. On Tuesday mornings he meets for about three hours with the city administrator and the public works director. He also has meetings with the citizens committees he created. Each council member is head of at least one citizens committee. The only woman on the Hyrum City Council, Dixie Clawson, is over an eight-member youth council. The students on the council do service projects once a month for the community, raise money for charities and donations to city organizations, and learn about city government and participation. Clawson is also on the sidewalk committee, which was part of her campaign platform. "I love to walk and I hate cruddy sidewalks," she said. So she decided to do something about the deteriorating sidewalks in Hyrum. After the sidewalks down Main Street, Center Street and in the park were replaced, Clawson said she would see families out walking and it just thrilled her. She is also in charge of the huge July Fourth festivities in Hyrum. Clawson said planning for the celebration starts in January, with meetings once a month. June and July are "horrendous" because of all the final planning. "Everyone needs to be involved with their city" is Clawson's philosophy. She said all the members of the council are friends. This has helped them to get a lot accomplished. "You have to laugh a little and work together," she said. "You don't need to agree all the time," but when it's decided, work together, she said. Olson agrees there should be different ideas. "I encourage that," but he also stressed the need to "disagree without being disagreeable." Olson ran for City Council four years ago, then friends petitioned him to run for mayor two years later. He has always been interested in history and city government, he said. Being mayor has been a good experience, with some bumps in the road. "I've spent some sleepless nights," he admits. "But it is gratifying to see progress, and be an agent for change." In Cache Valley the time spent by the mayors varies, as do the salaries. In Hyrum, Olson said, the mayor is paid $1,000 per month and council members receive $300 each per month. In Logan, the mayor earns $62,000 per year for his service as mayor, said Diane Astle, human resources director for Logan. The mayor of Providence, Alma Leonhardt, works full time as city manager. For his services as mayor he said he receives a $2,640 expense account for the year. Olson said he thinks public service in smaller communities should be a labor of love. There is ìs so much to know, so much to learn, so much to be involved in and that's what makes public service great, for him. "I'm doing it because I want the city to work," Clawson explained
about why she is on the council. Being the only woman doesn't daunt
her at all, she says. The other Council members are very polite, kind
and courteous. "Besides," she said with a smile, "I can hold my own." |
Archived Months:
September
1998 |
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